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Preposition before noun

"Of cash" or "In cash"?

Use "in cash" when talking about payment. "Of cash" is not used for payment method, but it can appear in other structures such as "a shortage of cash".

Quick answer

Which form is correct?

Use "in cash" to describe paying with physical money. Do not use "of cash" for payment method.

They paid in cash.
Customers can pay in cash or by card.
The refund was given in cash at the counter.

Choose the pattern by meaning

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

1
pay in cash

Describing a payment method

Use "in cash" after verbs about paying or receiving money.

He paid in cash.
We received the deposit in cash.
2
cash payment

Using an adjective instead of a prepositional phrase

English also uses "cash" directly before nouns such as "payment" or "transaction".

They requested a cash payment.
The shop offers discounts for cash purchases.
3
of cash

Showing amount or type, not payment method

"Of cash" can appear after another noun, such as "pile" or "shortage". Here, "of" links two nouns and does not mean payment method.

The company reported a shortage of cash.
Police found a bag of cash in the car.

See the difference in context

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

Construction
Example
Meaning
in cash
She paid in cash at the restaurant.
Used to describe payment with physical money.
pay by card
Most customers pay by card now.
Used for electronic or card payment methods.
of cash
The office keeps a reserve of cash.
Used after another noun to describe quantity or type, not method of payment.

Common mistakes

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

Using "of cash" for payment

Use "in cash" when talking about how someone pays.

✕ I paid of cash. ✓ I paid in cash.

Forgetting the preposition after "pay"

English normally uses a preposition with payment methods.

✕ They paid cash at the desk. ✓ They paid in cash at the desk.

Confusing payment method and quantity

"Of cash" describes an amount or supply of money, not the way payment happens.

✕ Customers must pay of cash. ✓ Customers must pay in cash.

Quick practice

Choose the expression that matches the intended meaning.

1. The customer paid ___ because the card machine was broken.
2. The store keeps a reserve ___ for emergencies.
3. Which phrase correctly describes a payment method?

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Frequently asked questions

Is "pay by cash" correct?

"Pay in cash" is more natural in standard English.

Can "of cash" ever be correct?

Yes. It is correct in phrases such as "a pile of cash" or "a shortage of cash", where "of" links nouns.

What does "in cash" mean?

It means paying with physical money rather than by card, cheque, or transfer.

of, about, against, to or for racism? of, about, for, in or on friendship? of, about, for, on or to thing? of, about, for, to or with sex? of, about, on, to or for moon? "of access" or "with access"? "of accommodation" or "for accommodation"? "of accuracy" or "for accuracy"? "of action" or "in action"? "of actor", "with actor" or "by actor"? "of address" or "to address"? "of administration" or "in administration"?

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