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Prepositions with nouns

With hole vs of hole

With hole is a natural descriptive pattern in English. Of hole is usually nonstandard unless hole is part of a larger noun phrase such as edge of the hole.

Quick answer

Which phrase is correct?

Use with hole to describe something that has a hole. Of hole is generally not used as a standalone combination in modern English.

I found a sock with a hole in it.
They bought bread with holes throughout the loaf.
She repaired the bag with a hole near the handle.

Choose the pattern by meaning

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

1
with a hole

Describing something that has one hole

Use with a hole after a noun to describe an object containing a hole.

He wore a shirt with a hole in the sleeve.
We used a bucket with a hole at the bottom.
2
with holes

Describing something with many holes

Use with holes for plural or repeated openings.

The road was covered with holes after the storm.
They served cheese with holes in it.
3
hole in + object

Showing where the hole is located

Use in to identify the object or surface containing the hole.

There was a hole in the wall.
She noticed a hole in her pocket.

See the difference in context

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

Construction
Example
Meaning
with a hole
He bought a shoe with a hole in it.
Having a hole as a feature or defect.
with holes
The net was old and full of holes.
Containing many holes.
of hole
The phrase of hole is not normally used alone in English.
Usually nonstandard except inside a larger phrase.
full of holes
Your argument is full of holes.
Containing many gaps or weaknesses.

Common mistakes

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

Using of hole as a description

English normally uses with a hole or hole in for physical description.

✕ I found a sock of hole. ✓ I found a sock with a hole in it.

Missing the article

Singular countable nouns usually need a or the.

✕ She wore shirt with hole. ✓ She wore a shirt with a hole.

Using with hole without context

Add details about where the hole is when needed.

✕ The bag with a hole was expensive. ✓ The bag with a hole near the zipper was expensive.

Quick practice

Choose the expression that matches the intended meaning.

1. He threw away the sock ___ a hole in the toe.
2. There is a hole ___ the roof.
3. Which phrase is generally nonstandard?

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Frequently asked questions

Can I ever use of hole?

It can appear inside larger structures such as the edge of the hole, but not as a simple descriptive phrase.

Is with hole always correct?

Usually English uses with a hole for singular countable nouns.

What is the difference between with a hole and hole in?

With a hole describes an object. Hole in names the position of the hole.

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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