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Prepositions with nouns

Prepositions used with “contract”

Different prepositions with contract express different meanings. Common patterns include contract for, under contract, contract on, and contract with.

Quick answer

Which preposition should you use with contract?

Use contract for for the purpose or subject of an agreement, under contract for employment status, contract on for working on a project, and contract with for the other party. Contract of appears in fixed legal terms such as contract of employment. In contract and to contract are less common and usually belong to specific expressions.

They signed a contract for road repairs.
She is under contract until 2028.
Several engineers worked on contract for the company.
We entered into a contract with a local supplier.

Choose the pattern by meaning

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

1
contract for + purpose

Naming what the agreement covers

Use contract for to describe the work, service, or item involved.

The city approved a contract for waste collection.
They negotiated a contract for software development.
2
under contract

Showing legal or employment status

Use under contract when someone is legally bound by an agreement.

The player remains under contract next season.
All staff are under contract with the agency.
3
on contract

Describing temporary contracted work

Use on contract to describe work done under a contract arrangement.

She was hired on contract for six months.
Many designers work on contract rather than full-time.
4
contract with + person or company

Naming the other party

Use contract with for the person or organisation involved in the agreement.

The school signed a contract with a catering company.
We are under contract with an international distributor.
5
contract of + noun

Using fixed legal expressions

Contract of appears in established legal phrases.

She received a contract of employment on her first day.
The dispute involved a contract of sale.

See the difference in context

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

Construction
Example
Meaning
contract for
They won a contract for bridge construction.
agreement covering a service or project
on contract
He works on contract in Dubai.
working under a temporary agreement
under contract
The actor is under contract to the studio.
legally bound by an agreement
contract with
The company signed a contract with a vendor.
agreement involving another party
to contract
The company plans to contract more drivers.
to contract is usually a verb, not a preposition pattern with the noun contract

Common mistakes

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

Using in contract instead of under contract

Under contract is the normal phrase for legal obligation.

✕ She is in contract with the team. ✓ She is under contract with the team.

Using to contract after the noun contract

To contract is generally a verb phrase, not a noun pattern.

✕ They signed a contract to the supplier. ✓ They signed a contract with the supplier.

Quick practice

Choose the expression that matches the intended meaning.

1. The company signed a contract ___ a new office building.
2. She is still ___ contract with the publisher.
3. We signed a contract ___ a local supplier.

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Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between on contract and under contract?

On contract describes a work arrangement, while under contract emphasises legal obligation.

Is contract of still used?

Yes, mainly in formal legal phrases such as contract of employment.

Can I say in contract?

It is not the usual expression for legal agreements. Under contract is standard.

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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