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Prepositions with nouns

Of city or in city?

Use in the city for location. Use of the city for connection or belonging. English usually needs an article before city in these phrases.

Quick answer

Which preposition goes with city?

Use in the city to talk about location inside an urban area. Use of the city for relationships such as the history of the city. Direct forms like of city or in city are uncommon without an article.

They live in the city now.
The mayor of the city spoke to reporters.
The history of the city is complex.

Choose the pattern by meaning

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

1
in the city

Location inside a city

Use in the city for being or happening within an urban area.

Traffic is heavy in the city during winter.
She works in the city but lives nearby.
2
of the city

Connection or belonging

Use of the city to show relationship, ownership, or description.

The centre of the city was crowded.
Many traditions of the city are centuries old.
3
city of + name

Official or descriptive naming

Use city of before a place name or title in formal expressions.

They visited the City of London last year.
She calls Paris the city of light.

See the difference in context

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

Construction
Example
Meaning
in the city
They found an apartment in the city.
inside the urban area
of the city
The museums of the city attract tourists.
belonging or connected to the city
in city
This form is uncommon without an article in standard English.
usually replaced by in the city or in a city
of city
This direct combination is generally nonstandard.
normally replaced by of the city

Common mistakes

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

Leaving out the article with city

City often needs the or a after prepositions.

✕ She lives in city. ✓ She lives in the city.

Using of city directly

English normally uses of the city.

✕ the history of city ✓ the history of the city

Quick practice

Choose the expression that matches the intended meaning.

1. They work ___ the city during the week.
2. The culture ___ the city attracts visitors.
3. She moved ___ a city near the coast.

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Frequently asked questions

Can I say in city without an article?

Usually no. Standard English normally uses in the city or in a city.

What does of the city mean?

It shows connection, ownership, or description related to the city.

Is City of London different from the city of London?

Yes. City of London is a specific official name, while the city of London can refer more generally to the urban area.

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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