| part of speech: |
preposition |
| definition 1: |
We often use "of" when we are talking about something belonging to or being connected with a person or thing. The name of your family, is your family's name. The sister of your mother is your mother's sister.
What is the name of the book you're reading?My friend Alan is the son of a car mechanic. |
| definition 2: |
We often use "of" when we are talking about things and their parts. When we say the handle of the spoon, we mean the handle that belongs to the spoon as one part.
Someday I want to climb to the top of a mountain.The cover of a book might look boring, but the story might be really good. |
| definition 3: |
Sometimes we use "of" to tell where something or someone lives or comes from.
The people of Mexico speak mostly Spanish. |
| definition 4: |
If a queen has rings of gold, it means that the queen has rings made from gold.
Maddy and her sister made crowns of flowers and put them on their heads.Cars have parts of both metal and plastic. |
| definition 5: |
A bowl of soup is a bowl that has soup in it.
Kayla had a glass of orange juice with her breakfast. |
| definition 6: |
When we say something like "the country of France," we mean the country that is named France.
The state of California has more people than any other state in America. |
| definition 7: |
When you go out of town, it means that you go away from town.
We were within a mile of the school when the car stopped working. |
| definition 8: |
Sometimes we use "of" to tell the cause or reason for something.
Grace and her brother were sad when their dog died of old age. |
| definition 9: |
If you are a person of honesty, it means that you are a person who has honesty as an important part of who you are. If a country is a place of great beauty, it means that the country has great beauty. Maybe it is famous for its beauty.
Everyone praised the neighbor as a woman of courage after she saved the children next door from a fire. |
| definition 10: |
If you talk of your summer vacation, it means that you talk about your summer vacation.
Last night, Josh dreamed of eating a pizza that was the size of his house.Lena's dad and uncles talked of their favorite sports teams all evening. |