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Prepositions after adjectives

Holy with prepositions

Holy commonly appears with to or in fixed religious expressions. Other prepositions usually introduce separate details such as place or purpose.

Quick answer

Which prepositions go with holy?

Holy to is common for people or things considered sacred. Holy for appears in some religious or literary contexts about a purpose or occasion. Holy in often introduces a place or area where something is sacred. Holy of and holy by are not standard adjective patterns.

This river is holy to local communities.
The city is holy in several religions.
Friday is holy for many believers.

Choose the pattern by meaning

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

1
holy to + person/group

Showing who considers something sacred

Use holy to say that something is sacred in the eyes of a person or group.

The mountain is holy to the local tribe.
2
holy in + religion/place

Referring to a context or tradition

Use holy in when naming the religion, tradition, or area where something has sacred status.

Jerusalem is holy in Judaism, Christianity, and Islam.
3
holy for + occasion/purpose

Describing a sacred time or purpose

Holy for is less common but can describe a special sacred use or occasion.

The month is holy for fasting and prayer.

See the difference in context

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

Construction
Example
Meaning
holy to
The site is holy to Buddhists.
accepted and natural for sacred importance to a group
holy in
The river is holy in Hindu tradition.
natural when naming a religion or context
holy for
This day is holy for many families.
used for sacred occasions or purposes
holy of
They spoke of the holy city.
of does not normally follow holy as its selected preposition
holy by
The church was blessed by a priest.
by usually introduces an agent, not a pattern with holy

Common mistakes

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

Using holy of as a fixed pattern

Holy does not normally take of directly after it.

✕ The place is holy of Christians. ✓ The place is holy to Christians.

Confusing holy in with location

In may describe the religion or tradition, not physical position.

✓ The river is holy in local belief.

Quick practice

Choose the expression that matches the intended meaning.

1. The temple is holy ___ the local community.
2. The city is holy ___ several religions.
3. This season is holy ___ many believers.

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Frequently asked questions

Is holy to the most common pattern?

Yes. Holy to is the clearest standard pattern for something regarded as sacred by people.

Can I say holy in Christianity?

Yes. Holy in can introduce a religious tradition or context.

Is holy of correct?

Not as a normal adjective pattern. Of usually belongs to another structure in the sentence.

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