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Prepositions before nouns

"in tournament" or "of tournament"?

Tournament usually appears with articles and other nouns. In a tournament is common, while of tournament is limited to larger noun phrases.

Quick answer

Natural combinations with tournament

Use in a tournament to mean participating in an event. Of tournament is uncommon alone, but it appears in phrases such as winner of the tournament. English also uses tournament of in names and titles.

She competed in a tournament last weekend.
the winner of the tournament received a trophy
the Tournament of Champions begins tomorrow

Choose the pattern by meaning

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

1
in a tournament

Participating in an event

Use in a tournament for players, teams, or activities inside the event.

They played in a tournament in Madrid.
2
winner of the tournament

Showing relationship to the event

Of the tournament links a person or result to a specific tournament.

the champion of the tournament was undefeated
3
tournament of + noun

Using tournament in titles

Tournament of appears in formal names and titles.

the Tournament of Roses parade
4
at a tournament

Talking about location or attendance

Use at a tournament for being present at the event.

We met at a tournament in July.

See the difference in context

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

Construction
Example
Meaning
in tournament
This form is uncommon without an article.
usually expanded to in a tournament
of tournament
The phrase alone is not natural.
normally part of a larger phrase such as winner of the tournament
in a tournament
He scored twice in a tournament.
participating in the event
tournament of
Tournament of Champions
used in names or titles

Common mistakes

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

Leaving out the article after in

Tournament normally needs an article or determiner.

✕ She played in tournament. ✓ She played in a tournament.

Using of tournament alone

Use a fuller phrase such as of the tournament.

✕ He was champion of tournament. ✓ He was champion of the tournament.

Confusing in and at

In often means participating; at often means present.

✕ We watched in the tournament. ✓ We watched the matches at the tournament.

Quick practice

Choose the expression that matches the intended meaning.

1. They competed ___ a tournament last month.
2. She was the winner ___ the tournament.
3. We met ___ the tournament venue.

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Frequently asked questions

Is in tournament correct?

Usually English uses in a tournament or in the tournament.

Can I say of tournament?

Only as part of a longer phrase such as winner of the tournament.

What is the difference between in and at a tournament?

In often focuses on participation, while at focuses on location or attendance.

"in act" or "of act"? "in agreement" or "of agreement"? "in appearance" or "of appearance"? "in area" or "of area"? in, at, on, of or to hand? "in attempt" or "of attempt"? "in battle" or "of battle"? "in celebration", "of celebration" or "for celebration"? "in chain" or "of chain"? "in chapter" or "of chapter"? "in charge" or "of charge"? "in check" or "of check"?

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