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Prepositions with nouns

Of cheese or with cheese?

Use of cheese for composition or type, and with cheese for added ingredients or accompaniment.

Quick answer

How do these phrases differ?

Use of cheese to describe what something is made from or contains as a defining ingredient. Use with cheese when cheese is an added topping, filling, or side ingredient.

a sauce made of cheese
a burger with cheese
They ordered fries with cheese.

Choose the pattern by meaning

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

1
made of cheese

Describing material or composition

Use of cheese after made when something consists mainly of cheese.

The sculpture was made of cheese.
2
with cheese

Adding cheese to food

Use with cheese for toppings, fillings, or accompaniments.

I'd like a sandwich with cheese.
3
plate of cheese

Naming quantities or servings

Of cheese is also used after quantity nouns such as piece, slice, or plate.

They shared a plate of cheese after dinner.

See the difference in context

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

Construction
Example
Meaning
of cheese
The dip is made of cheese.
describes composition or ingredient
with cheese
She ordered pasta with cheese.
describes an added ingredient or topping
slice of cheese
He added a slice of cheese to the burger.
quantity or portion expression
cheese sandwich
I packed a cheese sandwich.
noun modifier without a preposition

Common mistakes

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

Using with for composition

With cheese suggests an addition, not the main material.

✕ The statue is made with cheese. ✓ The statue is made of cheese.

Using of cheese after food orders

Restaurants usually use with cheese for additions.

✕ I want a burger of cheese. ✓ I want a burger with cheese.

Quick practice

Choose the expression that matches the intended meaning.

1. The model was made ___ cheese.
2. She ordered nachos ___ cheese.
3. They served a plate ___ cheese.

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Frequently asked questions

Can made with cheese be correct?

Yes, when cheese is one ingredient among others, such as pasta made with cheese and cream.

Why do menus use with cheese?

With cheese shows that cheese is added to the main dish.

Is of cheese only for materials?

No. It is also common in quantity expressions such as piece of cheese or bowl of cheese sauce.

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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