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Prepositions with nouns

“Of river” or “in river”?

Use in a river or in the river to show location inside the water. Of river usually appears in phrases that describe type, source, or relation, such as the banks of the river.

Quick answer

Which preposition is correct with river?

Use in with river for physical location: in the river. Use of when river modifies another noun or shows relationship: the sound of the river. The phrase of river alone is not a usual standalone pattern.

They were swimming in the river all afternoon.
We could hear the roar of the river from the bridge.
Several fish live in rivers across the region.

Choose the pattern by meaning

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

1
in + river

Location inside the water

Use in the river to describe something physically located in the river.

The children played in the river during the summer.
A bicycle was found in the river yesterday.
2
of + river

Relationship or description

Use of the river when river is connected to another noun or idea.

The colour of the river changes after heavy rain.
They studied the history of the river in class.
3
river + noun

River as a modifier

River can directly modify another noun without of.

river water is unsafe to drink.
river traffic increased in spring.

See the difference in context

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

Construction
Example
Meaning
in the river
There are crocodiles in the river.
inside the river or water
of the river
The banks of the river were crowded.
connected with the river
of river
The phrase of river alone is uncommon in modern English.
usually needs an article or another noun
by the river
They built a cabin by the river.
next to the river

Common mistakes

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

Using of river for location

Use in the river for physical position inside the water.

✕ The boat sank of river. ✓ The boat sank in the river.

Omitting the article

River usually needs an article in singular countable use.

✕ They swam in river. ✓ They swam in the river.

Quick practice

Choose the expression that matches the intended meaning.

1. The children were swimming ___ the river.
2. We admired the beauty ___ the river.
3. They had a picnic ___ the river.

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Frequently asked questions

Can I say in river without the?

Usually no. Say in the river unless you are speaking very generally or using a fixed expression.

Is of river grammatical?

It can appear inside longer phrases, but it is not usually used alone as a standard pattern.

What preposition is used for movement into a river?

Use into: The dog jumped into the river.

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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