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Prepositions with nouns

Province with of and to

Province of is common in names and descriptions. To province is not a standard fixed phrase, though to a province is natural for movement.

Quick answer

Which phrase is correct?

Use province of in official names or descriptions, such as the Province of Ontario. To province is not idiomatic as a fixed phrase. Use to a province when talking about movement or direction.

They moved to the Province of Alberta.
She travelled to a province in the north.

Choose the pattern by meaning

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

1
Province of + name

Using official regional names

Province of commonly appears in formal names.

He was born in the Province of Quebec.
2
province in + country

Locating a province

In introduces the larger country or region.

It is a small province in eastern Spain.
3
to a province

Expressing movement

To can introduce direction, but it is not a fixed complement of province.

They relocated to a province near the coast.
4
provincial government of + province

Showing association

Of links institutions with a province.

The government of the province announced reforms.

See the difference in context

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

Construction
Example
Meaning
of province
the history of the province
showing relationship to a province
to province
They moved to a province inland.
direction toward a province, not a fixed phrase
Province of
the Province of Manitoba
official name or formal designation
province in
a province in Canada
location within a country

Common mistakes

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

Using to province without an article

Province is usually countable and needs an article in this meaning.

✕ They moved to province. ✓ They moved to a province.

Treating to province as a fixed expression

To belongs to the verb of movement, not to province itself.

✕ the route to province ✓ the route to the province

Omitting of in formal names

Formal regional names often require of.

✕ Province Ontario ✓ Province of Ontario

Using of when direction is meant

Use to for movement toward a place.

✕ They travelled of the province. ✓ They travelled to the province.

Quick practice

Choose the expression that matches the intended meaning.

1. She grew up in the ___ British Columbia.
2. They moved ___ after graduation.
3. It is a rural province ___ southern Italy.

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Frequently asked questions

Is to province correct?

Not as a fixed phrase. Use to a province or to the province for movement.

When do we use Province of?

It appears in formal names such as Province of Alberta.

Can province take of?

Yes. Of is common in phrases like history of the province.

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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