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Prepositions with nouns

Using prepositions with state

State combines with several prepositions depending on whether you mean condition, government, or change.

Quick answer

Which prepositions are common with state?

Use state of for condition or situation, in a state of for physical or emotional condition, and state to for saying something formally. By state and for state are limited to specific meanings.

The country entered a state of emergency.
She arrived in a state of panic.
The report failed to state the exact cost.

Choose the pattern by meaning

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

1
state of + condition

Situation or condition

Use state of to describe a condition, system, or situation.

The roads are in a poor state of repair.
The country declared a state of emergency.
2
in a state of + emotion or condition

Physical or emotional condition

Use in a state of before emotions or conditions.

He was in a state of shock.
The patient remained in a state of confusion.
3
state to + person

Communicating formally

Use state to when someone expresses information formally to another person.

She clearly stated to the committee that changes were needed.
The witness stated to police that he saw the accident.
4
by state

Grouped according to states or regions

Use by state mainly in administrative or statistical contexts.

The data is organised by state and population.
Sales figures were reported by state.

See the difference in context

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

Construction
Example
Meaning
state of
The building is in a state of decay.
describes condition or situation
in a state of
She was in a state of excitement.
describes emotional or physical condition
to state
The contract fails to state the deadline.
verb phrase meaning express formally
by state
The survey compares income by state.
grouped according to regions
for state
Funding for state schools increased.
for state is usually part of a larger noun phrase, not a fixed combination

Common mistakes

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

Using state for instead of state of

State of is the normal expression for condition.

✕ the state for repair ✓ the state of repair

Confusing the noun and verb

State can be a noun or a verb.

✕ He state to the judge that he was absent. ✓ He stated to the judge that he was absent.

Using by state for emotional condition

By state refers to classification, not feelings or condition.

✕ She was by state of panic. ✓ She was in a state of panic.

Quick practice

Choose the expression that matches the intended meaning.

1. The country declared a state ___ emergency.
2. She arrived in a state ___ shock.
3. The report failed ___ state the exact figures.

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Frequently asked questions

What does in a state of mean?

It describes someone's emotional, mental, or physical condition.

Is by state a common phrase?

It is mostly used in statistics, administration, or organisation by region.

Can state be a verb?

Yes. To state means to express something clearly or formally.

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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