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Prepositions with nouns

How to use prepositions with mortgage

Mortgage is commonly used with on, for, and to in financial contexts.

Quick answer

Common combinations with mortgage

Use mortgage on for property secured by a loan, mortgage for for the loan purpose or amount, and mortgage to for the lender. Mortgage of appears in formal legal language. Mortgage in is uncommon except in wider clauses.

They took out a mortgage on the house.
She applied for a mortgage yesterday.
The property was mortgaged to the bank.

Choose the pattern by meaning

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

1
mortgage on + property

Identifying secured property

Use mortgage on for the property connected to the loan.

He still has a mortgage on his apartment.
2
apply for a mortgage

Requesting a loan

For is used after apply when requesting a mortgage.

They plan to apply for a mortgage next year.
3
mortgaged to + lender

Showing the lender

Use mortgaged to when naming the institution holding the loan.

The land was mortgaged to a private bank.
4
mortgage of + property

Formal legal wording

Mortgage of appears in legal or technical language.

The contract covered the mortgage of commercial buildings.
5
interest in a mortgage

Using mortgage with in

In usually belongs to another noun such as interest or investment.

She has an interest in a mortgage company.

See the difference in context

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

Construction
Example
Meaning
mortgage on
They have a mortgage on their home.
loan secured against property
for a mortgage
He applied for a mortgage.
requesting or seeking a loan
mortgaged to
The estate was mortgaged to the lender.
connected legally to a lender
mortgage of
The mortgage of the property was registered.
formal legal expression
mortgage in
Mortgage in is uncommon as a direct combination.
usually part of a larger structure

Common mistakes

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

Using mortgage to for applications

Use apply for a mortgage, not apply to a mortgage.

✕ She applied to a mortgage ✓ She applied for a mortgage

Confusing mortgage on and mortgage of

Mortgage on is common everyday English; mortgage of is formal.

✕ a mortgage of my house in conversation ✓ a mortgage on my house

Using in directly after mortgage

Mortgage in is rarely used alone.

✕ a mortgage in the house ✓ a mortgage on the house

Leaving out the article

Mortgage is usually countable.

✕ They took out mortgage ✓ They took out a mortgage

Quick practice

Choose the expression that matches the intended meaning.

1. They still have a mortgage ___ their house.
2. She wants to apply ___ a mortgage.
3. The property was mortgaged ___ the bank.

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Frequently asked questions

What does mortgage on mean?

It refers to a loan secured against a property.

Is mortgage of formal?

Yes. It is more common in legal or technical writing.

Can I say apply to a mortgage?

No. Standard English uses apply for a mortgage.

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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