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Preposition before noun

Prepositions used with deputy

Deputy is commonly followed by to when naming the senior person. Other prepositions appear in different structures and meanings.

Quick answer

Which prepositions are natural with deputy?

The most common structure is deputy to someone. As deputy is used after verbs such as serve or act. Deputy for appears in some official titles. Deputy of is uncommon in modern English, and deputy with usually introduces an additional phrase rather than a fixed combination.

She was appointed deputy to the director.
He served as deputy during the crisis.
The minister spoke with the deputy after the meeting.

Choose the pattern by meaning

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

1
deputy to + person

Naming the senior person

Use to for someone who works directly under another person.

He became deputy to the mayor.
She is deputy to the finance minister.
2
serve as deputy

Describing a role or function

As follows verbs such as serve, work, or act.

She served as deputy for two years.
He acted as deputy during the transition.
3
deputy for + area

Referring to responsibility

For may introduce an area of responsibility in titles.

She was appointed deputy for operations.
He works as deputy for finance at the agency.
4
by the deputy

Showing the agent of an action

By is not selected by deputy itself; it introduces the doer in passive sentences.

The report was signed by the deputy yesterday.
The decision was announced by the deputy mayor.

See the difference in context

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

Construction
Example
Meaning
deputy to
She is deputy to the chief executive.
Standard structure for a subordinate role.
as deputy
He served as deputy for six months.
Describes someone acting in the role.
deputy for
They appointed a deputy for communications.
Shows responsibility or department.
deputy of
The deputy of the committee attended the event.
Possible in limited or translated contexts, but not the usual modern pattern.
with deputy
She met with the deputy after lunch.
With is part of a separate phrase, not a fixed combination with deputy.

Common mistakes

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

Using deputy of instead of deputy to

Modern English usually prefers deputy to for a subordinate position.

✕ She is deputy of the director. ✓ She is deputy to the director.

Treating with deputy as a fixed phrase

With normally introduces company, not a deputy construction.

✕ He works with deputy the manager. ✓ He works with the deputy manager.

Missing an article before deputy

Deputy often needs a or the when used as a countable noun.

✕ She spoke to deputy. ✓ She spoke to the deputy.

Using to after serve

After serve or act, use as.

✕ He served to deputy. ✓ He served as deputy.

Quick practice

Choose the expression that matches the intended meaning.

1. She was appointed deputy ___ the president.
2. He served ___ deputy during the emergency.
3. The statement was released ___ the deputy minister.

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Frequently asked questions

Is deputy to more common than deputy of?

Yes. Deputy to is the standard modern pattern for a subordinate role.

Can deputy be followed by for?

Yes. Deputy for is used in some official titles and responsibilities.

Is with deputy correct?

Usually with introduces a separate phrase, such as meet with the deputy. It is not a fixed deputy pattern.

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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