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Prepositions with nouns

How to use mercy with prepositions

Mercy commonly appears in fixed phrases such as mercy of someone and ask for mercy. The choice depends on meaning.

Quick answer

Common combinations with mercy

Use for mercy when someone requests compassion or forgiveness. Use the mercy of someone to mean controlled or dependent on another person. The phrase of mercy alone is uncommon except in longer expressions such as acts of mercy.

The prisoner begged for mercy.
The village was at the mercy of the storm.
They carried out acts of mercy during the war.

Choose the pattern by meaning

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

1
ask for mercy

Requesting compassion or forgiveness

Use for after verbs such as ask, beg, or plead.

She pleaded for mercy from the judge.
2
at the mercy of + person or force

Being controlled by someone or something

This fixed expression means having no protection or control.

Small boats are often at the mercy of rough seas.
3
act of mercy

Describing a compassionate action

Use of to describe the type of act.

The nurse considered it an act of mercy.

See the difference in context

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

Construction
Example
Meaning
for mercy
The rebels begged for mercy.
a request for compassion
of mercy
The charity was known for acts of mercy.
part of a longer noun phrase describing compassion
mercy on
Have mercy on us.
show compassion to someone

Common mistakes

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

Using of mercy as a general request

English normally uses for mercy after ask or beg.

✕ They cried of mercy. ✓ They cried for mercy.

Omitting of in a fixed phrase

At the mercy requires of before the controlling force.

✕ We were at the mercy the weather. ✓ We were at the mercy of the weather.

Quick practice

Choose the expression that matches the intended meaning.

1. The prisoner pleaded ___ mercy.
2. The hikers were at the mercy ___ the storm.
3. The volunteers performed acts ___ mercy.

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Frequently asked questions

Is for mercy correct?

Yes. It is standard after verbs such as ask, beg, and plead.

Can I say of mercy alone?

Usually no. Of mercy normally appears inside a larger phrase such as act of mercy.

What does at the mercy of mean?

It means completely controlled or affected by someone or something.

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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