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| Language: | Old English |
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of S1 W1
1 used to show what a part belongs to or comes from : 
the back of the housethe last scene of the movie the end of the day
the back of the housethe last scene of the moviethe end of the day2 used to show who something or someone belongs to or has a connection with : a friend of Mark's Avocado salad is a favourite of mine. Product inspection is the responsibility of the employees themselves.
a friend of Mark'sAvocado salad is a favourite of mine.Product inspection is the responsibility of the employees themselves.3 used when talking about a feature or quality that something has : the cost of the meal the beauty of the scenery the length of the swimming-pool
the cost of the mealthe beauty of the scenerythe length of the swimming-pool4XX used to show what group one or more things or people belong to : some of the students 'Sunflowers' is one of his best-known paintings. Two of the guests are vegetarian. a member of the baseball team
some of the students'Sunflowers' is one of his best-known paintings.Two of the guests are vegetarian.a member of the baseball team5XX used to show what type of substance or thing you are referring to, when talking about an amount : two kilos of sugar millions of dollars a bar of chocolate
two kilos of sugarmillions of dollarsa bar of chocolate6 used to say what something contains : a cup of coffee several packets of cigarettes truckloads of refugees
a cup of coffeeseveral packets of cigarettestruckloads of refugees7 used to say what type of things or people are in a group : a herd of elephants his circle of friends a bunch of bananas
a herd of elephantshis circle of friendsa bunch of bananas8XX
a) used to state specifically which thing of the general type mentioned you are referring to : the city of New York the art of painting the problem of unemployment
the city of New Yorkthe art of paintingthe problem of unemploymentb) used to state specifically what a particular number, amount, age etc is : at the age of 52 an increase of 3%
at the age of 52an increase of 3%9 used to talk about things produced by a famous or skilled writer, artist etc : the plays of Shakespeare the paintings of Picasso the work of a great architect
the plays of Shakespearethe paintings of Picassothe work of a great architect10 used to say what a story, some news etc is about, or what a picture, map etc shows : a story of love and loss news of his arrest a photo of Elizabeth a map of Indonesia
a story of love and lossnews of his arresta photo of Elizabetha map of Indonesia11
a) used after nouns that refer to actions, or to people who do something, in order to show who or what the action is done to : the cancellation of the meeting the killing of innocent children supporters of the project
the cancellation of the meetingthe killing of innocent childrensupporters of the projectb) used after nouns that refer to actions in order to show who or what does the action : the ringing of the phone the arrival of a visitor
the ringing of the phonethe arrival of a visitor12 used after some adjectives that describe feelings, to show who or what the feeling is directed towards : He's always been frightened of spiders. Most children want their parents to feel proud of them.
He's always been frightened of spiders.Most children want their parents to feel proud of them.13 used when referring to the day, moment etc when something happened : the day of the accident the week of the festival
the day of the accidentthe week of the festival14 used to say where something is in relation to a place or thing I live within a mile of here.
I live within a mile of here.15 used to describe a person or thing by saying what their main qualities or features are : Albright was seen as a woman of great determination. It's an area of considerable historical interest.
Albright was seen as a woman of great determination.It's an area of considerable historical interest.16 used to say what someone's age is : He has two children, a boy of twelve and a girl of fifteen.
He has two children, a boy of twelve and a girl of fifteen.17 used to say that someone's action shows a particular quality : It was kind of you to remember my birthday.
it is kind/stupid/careless etc of somebody (to do something)
It was kind of you to remember my birthday.18 used to say where someone comes from : the people of China Jesus of Nazareth
the people of ChinaJesus of Nazareth19 used to show the country, organization, or group in which someone has a particular position : King Philip II of Spain the secretary of the tennis club
King Philip II of Spainthe secretary of the tennis club20 used in dates before the name of the month : the 27th of July
the 27th of July21 used to say when something happened : the presidential election of 1825 one of the biggest upsets of recent years
the presidential election of 1825one of the biggest upsets of recent years22 American English spoken used in giving the time, to mean 'before' [= to British English]
23 used to show the cause of someone's death : He died of cancer.
He died of cancer.24 literary used to say what material has been used to make something : a dress of pure silk
a dress of pure silk25 in the evenings, at weekends etc : We often used to walk by the river of an evening.
of an evening/of a weekend etc
British EnglishWe often used to walk by the river of an evening.GRAMMAR GRAMMAR
To refer to someone or something that belongs to or is connected with someone, it is usual to use -'s or -s' (NOT of) with short noun phrases • Dad's car (NOT the car of Dad) • a child's bike (NOT the bike of a child) • my sister's boyfriend (NOT the boyfriend of my sister) • the miners' strike (NOT the strike of the miners) When referring to one of several people or things belonging to or connected with someone, or when using 'this' or 'that', use of + mine/yours/his/hers/ours/theirs • a friend of mine (NOT a friend of me) • a relation of ours (NOT a relation of us) • that car of yours (NOT that car of you) To talk about the person who sang, wrote, painted, or composed a particular work, use by not of • a song by Mariah Carey (NOT of Mariah Carey)
GRAMMAR To refer to someone or something that belongs to or is connected with someone, it is usual to use -'s or -s' (NOT of) with short noun phrases • Dad's car (NOT the car of Dad) • a child's bike (NOT the bike of a child) • my sister's boyfriend (NOT the boyfriend of my sister) • the miners' strike (NOT the strike of the miners) When referring to one of several people or things belonging to or connected with someone, or when using 'this' or 'that', use of + mine/yours/his/hers/ours/theirs • a friend of mine (NOT a friend of me) • a relation of ours (NOT a relation of us) • that car of yours (NOT that car of you) To talk about the person who sang, wrote, painted, or composed a particular work, use by not of • a song by Mariah Carey (NOT of Mariah Carey)
