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Prepositions with nouns

Of wife or with wife?

With wife usually needs a possessive determiner, such as with my wife. Of wife is uncommon alone and usually appears in longer structures like wife of the author.

Quick answer

Common uses of wife

Use with my wife, with his wife, and similar phrases to show company. Use wife of someone in formal descriptions or titles. Bare forms like with wife and of wife are usually incomplete in standard English.

I travelled with my wife last summer.
She is the wife of a diplomat.
He arrived with his wife and children.

Choose the pattern by meaning

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

1
with + possessive + wife

Being together with a wife

Use with followed by a possessive determiner to show company.

They had dinner with their wife's relatives.
He appeared with his wife at the ceremony.
2
wife of + noun

Formal identification

Use wife of in formal or descriptive contexts.

She became the wife of the king at a young age.
The article mentioned the wife of the scientist.
3
man and wife

Fixed expression for marriage

This traditional expression means legally married.

They lived as man and wife for many years.
The couple were declared man and wife.

See the difference in context

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

Construction
Example
Meaning
of wife
The phrase is usually incomplete alone; English prefers wife of someone.
Formal relationship description.
with wife
English usually says with my wife or with his wife.
Company or accompaniment.
wife of
She is the wife of a musician.
Identifies a marital relationship.

Common mistakes

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

Missing possessive with wife

Use a possessive determiner before wife in most contexts.

✕ He travelled with wife. ✓ He travelled with his wife.

Using of wife alone

Add another noun after wife.

✕ The story of wife was sad. ✓ The story of the wife was sad.

Quick practice

Choose the expression that matches the intended meaning.

1. She went to the event ___ her wife.
2. He is the husband ___ the mayor.
3. The article discussed the wife ___ the actor.

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Frequently asked questions

Is with wife correct?

In standard English, people usually say with my wife, with his wife, or another possessive form.

Can I say wife of someone?

Yes. It is common in formal descriptions, such as wife of the president.

Is man and wife still used?

Yes, but some speakers prefer married couple because it sounds more modern and neutral.

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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