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Prepositions after adjectives

Entire of, in, with, on or to?

Entire usually does not take a fixed preposition. Most combinations with prepositions depend on the rest of the sentence rather than the adjective itself.

Quick answer

Does entire need a preposition?

Entire is usually used without a preposition: the entire book. Entirely different expressions may include prepositions after the noun or clause, but entire of, entire in, entire with, entire on, and entire to are not standard fixed adjective patterns.

She read the entire report overnight.
The cabin remained entirely intact after the storm.
The speech was entire in itself.

Choose the pattern by meaning

These forms are not interchangeable. Choose the construction by meaning, not by which preposition appears most often.

1
entire + noun

Referring to the whole of something

Use entire directly before a noun.

We spent the entire day at the beach.
He watched the entire series twice.
2
entirely + adjective

Using the adverb form

Entirely is often more natural when modifying adjectives or verbs.

The results were entirely unexpected.
I entirely agree with you.
3
entire in + respect

Limiting the meaning to one area

In can follow entire when introducing a specific respect or aspect, not as a fixed adjective pattern.

The argument was entire in scope but weak in detail.

See the difference in context

The same subject can take different constructions because each sentence answers a different question.

Construction
Example
Meaning
entire of
The phrase entire of is not standard in modern English.
Use entire without of in most cases.
entire in
The account was entire in structure.
In may introduce a specific aspect or context.
entire with
The phrase entire with is not a standard adjective pattern.
With normally belongs to another part of the sentence.
entire on
The phrase entire on is not idiomatic as a fixed pattern.
On is generally unrelated to the adjective entire.
entire to
The phrase entire to is not standard.
Use entirely devoted to or similar expressions instead.

Common mistakes

Some combinations appear in real text but do not mean what learners often assume.

Adding of after entire

Entire already means whole and does not normally take of.

✕ the entire of the city ✓ the entire city

Using entire instead of entirely

Use the adverb entirely before adjectives and verbs.

✕ The plan was entire wrong. ✓ The plan was entirely wrong.

Quick practice

Choose the expression that matches the intended meaning.

1. She cleaned the ___ apartment in one afternoon.
2. The results were ___ different.
3. Which phrase is standard English?

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Frequently asked questions

Does entire normally take a preposition?

No. Entire usually appears directly before a noun without a preposition.

Is entire of correct?

No. Modern English normally uses entire without of.

What is the difference between entire and entirely?

Entire is an adjective before nouns, while entirely is an adverb modifying adjectives, verbs, or clauses.

eager-for-to-in-about, on "early in", "early on" or "early for"? earnest in, with, on, for or at? easy for, on, in, to or with? "economical with" or "economical in"? "ecstatic about" or "ecstatic with"? "effective in", "effective at" or "effective for"? "efficient in" or "efficient at"? elderly in, with, at, of or as? elegant in, with, of, as or to? eligible for, to, in or under? "embarrassed by" or "embarrassed about"?

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