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Prepositions with nouns

Rest with prepositions

At rest is a common fixed phrase meaning inactive or peaceful.

Quick answer

Is it at rest or of rest?

At rest is the standard expression for being inactive, calm, or dead. Of rest is not normally used alone, though it may appear in phrases like a place of rest.

at rest after the long trip
The particles are at rest
a place of rest
lay him to rest

Choose the pattern by meaning

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

1
at rest

Inactive or peaceful state

Use at rest for stillness, calm, or death.

The machine is at rest
2
place of rest

A restful location

Of rest belongs to another noun such as place.

a final place of rest

See the difference in context

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

Construction
Example
Meaning
at rest
Her mind was finally at rest.
calm, inactive, or peaceful
of rest
Of rest is not idiomatic alone.
nonstandard as an independent phrase
place of rest
The garden became a place of rest.
restful place

Common mistakes

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

Using of rest alone

English normally uses at rest.

✕ of rest ✓ at rest

Confusing physical and emotional meanings

At rest can describe both objects and feelings.

✕ the engine of rest ✓ the engine is at rest

Missing the verb

At rest usually follows a form of be.

✕ he at rest now ✓ he is at rest now

Overusing formal phrases

Place of rest is literary or formal.

✕ office of rest ✓ rest area

Quick practice

Choose the expression that matches the intended meaning.

1. After the ceremony, everyone felt ___ rest.
2. The statue remained ___ rest for centuries.
3. Which phrase is generally nonstandard alone?

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Frequently asked questions

What does at rest mean?

It means calm, inactive, still, or sometimes dead.

Is of rest correct?

Not usually as a standalone phrase.

Can of rest appear in English?

Yes, in larger expressions such as place of rest.

"across border" or "of border"? as, in, of, to or for part? at, from, of, to or for home? at, of, after, on or for launch? At, of, in, from or with bay? at, of, in, to, from, airport at, of, to, above or by sea? at, of, to, for or in conference? at, of, to, in or for university? at, of, without, for or on fault? "at risk" or "of risk"?

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