of
1[ uhv, ov; unstressed uhv or, especially before consonants, uh ]
/ ʌv, ɒv; unstressed əv or, especially before consonants, ə /
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preposition
QUIZ
CAN YOU ANSWER THESE COMMON GRAMMAR DEBATES?
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Question 1 of 7
Which sentence is correct?
Origin of of
1usage note for of
Of is sometimes added to phrases beginning with the adverb how or too followed by a descriptive adjective: How long of a drive will it be? It's too hot of a day for tennis. This construction is probably modeled on that in which how or too is followed by much, an unquestionably standard use in all varieties of speech and writing: How much of a problem will that cause the government? There was too much of an uproar for the speaker to be heard. The use of of with descriptive adjectives after how or too is largely restricted to informal speech. It occurs occasionally in informal writing and written representations of speech. See also couple, off.
Words nearby of
oestrone, oestrous, oestrous cycle, oestrus, oeuvre, of, of age, of a kind, O'Fallon, of all things, O'Faoláin
Other definitions for of (2 of 4)
of2
[ uhv ]
/ əv /
auxiliary verb Nonstandard.
have: He should of asked me first.
Compare a4.
Origin of of
2A phonetic spelling representing the pronunciation of the word in continuous rapid speech
usage note for of
Because the preposition of, when unstressed ( a piece of cake ), and the unstressed or contracted auxiliary verb have ( could have gone, could've gone ) are both pronounced [uhv] /əv/ or [uh] /ə/ in connected speech, inexperienced writers commonly confuse the two words, spelling have as of ( I would of handed in my book report, but the dog ate it ). Professional writers have been able to exploit this spelling deliberately, especially in fiction, to help represent the speech of the uneducated: If he could of went home, he would of.
Other definitions for of (3 of 4)
Other definitions for of (4 of 4)
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
How to use of in a sentence
British Dictionary definitions for of (1 of 2)
of
/ (ɒv, unstressed əv) /
preposition
Word Origin for of
Old English (as prep and adv); related to Old Norse af, Old High German aba, Latin ab, Greek apo
undefined of
See off
British Dictionary definitions for of (2 of 2)
OF
abbreviation for
Old French (language)
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
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