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Prepositions before nouns

Of sentence, in sentence, or to sentence?

The noun sentence appears in several common patterns. In a sentence and sentence to are usually the most natural combinations.

Quick answer

Common uses with sentence

Use in a sentence for words or grammar inside a sentence. Use sentence to plus a punishment for legal judgments. Of a sentence usually describes a part or feature of the sentence.

Use the new word in a sentence.
The judge sentenced him to five years in prison.
The last part of the sentence is unclear.

Choose the pattern by meaning

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

1
in a sentence

Words or grammar inside a sentence

Use in a sentence when discussing language examples or placement.

Can you use this adjective in a sentence?
The error appears in the sentence above.
2
sentence someone to + punishment

Legal punishment

Use sentence as a verb with to before the punishment.

The court sentenced her to community service.
He was sentenced to ten years in prison.
3
of the sentence

Parts or characteristics of a sentence

Use of when describing a section or feature belonging to the sentence.

The meaning of the sentence changed completely.
The first half of the sentence is formal.

See the difference in context

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

Construction
Example
Meaning
of the sentence
The structure of the sentence is confusing.
Shows a feature or part belonging to the sentence.
in a sentence
Please use the phrase in a sentence.
Inside the sentence as language content.
sentence to
The judge sentenced him to probation.
Legal punishment pattern with sentence as a verb.
to a sentence
He objected to the sentence.
To introduces a separate object, not a fixed phrase with sentence.

Common mistakes

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

Using sentence to as a noun phrase

Sentence to is natural mainly when sentence is a verb.

✕ This word appears sentence to the paragraph. ✓ This word appears in the sentence.

Missing the article in in a sentence

The common expression includes a or the.

✕ Use the word in sentence. ✓ Use the word in a sentence.

Confusing sentence and judgement

Sentence refers specifically to legal punishment.

✕ The court gave a sentence about the contract. ✓ The court gave a judgement about the contract.

Quick practice

Choose the expression that matches the intended meaning.

1. Please use the word ___ a sentence.
2. The judge sentenced him ___ six months in jail.
3. The meaning ___ the sentence is unclear.

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Paste the complete sentence below. Linguix checks the preposition together with grammar, spelling, punctuation, and style.

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Frequently asked questions

Do we say in sentence or in a sentence?

In a sentence is the usual and correct expression.

Why does sentence take to in legal English?

When sentence is a verb, to introduces the punishment: sentenced to prison.

Can of sentence be correct?

Yes, in phrases such as meaning of the sentence or structure of the sentence.

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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