Grammar check

This post is written for those who want to learn more about the prepositionof in English grammar. It will describe when and why to use of, and also how to use of correctly in a sentence.

The first thing you want to do is make sure you need to use of.

Of can only be used as a preposition. Of is not a conjunction. Of is not a verb.

Is of a preposition or conjunction

Of is not a pronoun.

How to use Of as a preposition

Of can be used in the following 8 ways as a preposition. Try to think of another example of each situation so that you can really understand this.

To show origin

We use of to show where something comes from.

This can sound formal in English and the preposition from is more common in modern English.

This tea is of Chinese origin.

This can also be for the names of people.

Be of use in a sentence

This probably comes from the Latin word “De” which can be translated as of or from. Aristocratic surnames needed this of to show which house or place they were born into.

Robert of House Baratheon

Charles de Gaulle

We also use of when we talk about the reason(ie origin) of something

He died of a hea