Prepositions before nouns

Prepositions used with privilege

Privilege appears in several standard patterns. The most common are privilege of and privilege to, depending on the meaning.

Quick answer

Which prepositions work with privilege

Use privilege of before an activity or relationship, as in the privilege of meeting you. Use privilege to before an infinitive, as in the privilege to speak. In privilege is uncommon except in wider phrases, while from privilege and with privilege depend on the surrounding sentence.

It was a privilege to work with the team.
She had the privilege of meeting the author.
Children with privilege often have more opportunities.

Choose the pattern by meaning

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

privilege of + activity

Describing an honour or special experience

Use privilege of before a noun or -ing form.

We had the privilege of hosting the event.

It was the privilege of a lifetime.

privilege to + verb

Introducing an action

Use privilege to before an infinitive verb.

It is a privilege to serve this community.

with privilege

Describing advantage or social position

Use with privilege to describe people or groups that possess social advantages.

Students with privilege may not notice these barriers.

privilege in + field

Describing advantage within an area

Use privilege in when talking about a specific context or system.

The report examined privilege in education.

See the difference in context

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

Construction

Example

Meaning

privilege of

She had the privilege of speaking first.

Refers to an honour, experience, or opportunity.

privilege to

It was a privilege to meet you.

Introduces an action with an infinitive verb.

privilege in

Researchers studied privilege in society.

Refers to privilege within a system or area.

privilege from

Some families benefit from privilege.

From privilege usually expresses source or cause, not a fixed combination.

privilege with

Children with privilege often have better access to education.

With privilege describes someone possessing advantage.

Common mistakes

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

Using privilege to before a noun

Use privilege of before a noun or -ing form.

✕ She had the privilege to your support. ✓ She had the privilege of your support.

Confusing privilege of and privilege to

Use privilege to with a verb and privilege of with a noun or -ing form.

✕ It was a privilege of meet the director. ✓ It was a privilege to meet the director.

Quick practice

Choose the expression that matches the intended meaning.

1. It was a privilege ___ work with the team.

2. She had the privilege ___ meeting the president.

3. The article discussed privilege ___ higher education.

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Frequently asked questions

Is privilege to correct?

Yes. Privilege to is standard before an infinitive verb, such as privilege to speak.

Can I say privilege of doing something?

Yes. Privilege of is common before nouns and -ing forms.

Is with privilege a fixed phrase?

It is not a fixed idiom, but it is natural when describing people who possess social or economic advantages.

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