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Prepositions after verbs

Free from, in, of, on, or to?

Free is used with several different prepositions depending on the meaning. Free from and free of describe absence. Free to describes permission. Free in and free on are uncommon and usually belong to another part of the sentence.

Quick answer

Which prepositions go with free?

Use free from or free of to mean without something unwanted: free from errors, free of charge. Use free to for permission or opportunity: free to leave. Free in and free on are not common fixed combinations with this meaning.

The product is free from artificial colours.
The service is free of charge.
You are free to ask questions at any time.

Choose the pattern by meaning

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

1
free from + problem

Showing absence of something unwanted

Free from is common for danger, stress, errors, or restrictions.

The report was free from major mistakes.
They wanted a life free from fear.
2
free of + substance/cost

Showing something is absent

Free of is common with costs, chemicals, debt, or unwanted material.

The drinks are free of added sugar.
Admission is free of charge.
3
free to + action

Showing permission or opportunity

Free to is followed by a verb and means allowed or able to act.

You are free to leave early today.
Employees are free to suggest improvements.
4
free in + area/context

Using free with a separate adjunct

In is not usually selected by free. It can introduce a place or context, as in free in the evening.

She is free in the afternoons.
Are you free in July?
5
free on + day/topic

Using free with time expressions

On is not a fixed complement after free. It commonly introduces a day or topic.

I am free on Friday morning.
The guide is free on our website.

See the difference in context

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

Construction
Example
Meaning
free from
The water is free from pollution.
Without something harmful or unwanted.
free of
The software is free of charge.
Without cost or without a substance.
free to
You are free to disagree.
Allowed or able to do something.
free in
I am free in the evening.
In introduces a time or context, not a fixed expression with free.
free on
She is free on Monday.
On introduces a day or platform, not a fixed complement with free.

Common mistakes

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

Using free to with a noun

Free to should be followed by a verb.

✕ The product is free to sugar. ✓ The product is free of sugar.

Confusing free from and free of

Both are possible, but free from is common for problems and free of is common for substances or cost.

✕ The ticket is free from charge. ✓ The ticket is free of charge.

Treating in or on as fixed complements

In and on usually introduce time or place information.

✕ This medicine is free on chemicals. ✓ This medicine is free from harmful chemicals.

Quick practice

Choose the expression that matches the intended meaning.

1. The room is completely ___ smoke.
2. Students are ___ use the library after class.
3. The service is ___ charge.

Check your sentence in context

Paste the complete sentence below. Linguix checks the preposition together with grammar, spelling, punctuation, and style.

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Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between free from and free of?

Both can mean without, but free from is common for problems or restrictions, while free of is common for cost or substances.

Is free to followed by a noun or a verb?

Free to is followed by a verb, such as free to leave or free to choose.

Are free in and free on correct?

They can be correct when in or on introduces time, place, or context, but they are not fixed combinations selected by free.

face, with, face, by facilitate by, in, with, for or through? "fade into", "fade to" or "fade from"? fail in, at, to, on or for? "fall into" or "fall in"? falter in, after, for, on or under? fantasize about, on, of or over? fare in, against, to, as or on? "fascinate by" or "fascinate with"? "fasten to", "fasten on" or "fasten with"? favor by, in, for, from or of? favour by, in, for, over or of?

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