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Prepositions with nouns

On TV or of TV?

Use on TV for programmes, appearances, and broadcasts. Of TV is not a normal fixed phrase.

Quick answer

Which expression should you use?

Use on TV when something appears or is broadcast on television. Of TV is only natural inside larger phrases such as the history of TV.

She appeared on TV last night.
The match is on TV at eight.
They discussed the future of TV in the interview.

Choose the pattern by meaning

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

1
on TV

Broadcasts and appearances

Use on TV for programmes, films, news, and people appearing on television.

I saw the interview on TV yesterday.
2
watch TV

Television as an activity

TV is often used without a preposition after watch.

We usually watch TV after dinner.
3
the future of TV

Describing television as an industry or medium

Use of TV when another noun is linked to TV.

Experts debate the future of TV.

See the difference in context

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

Construction
Example
Meaning
on TV
The documentary was on TV all weekend.
broadcast or shown on television
of TV
The influence of TV on children is widely discussed.
part of a larger noun phrase, not a broadcast expression
on television
She works on television now.
more formal alternative to on TV
in a TV show
He acted in a TV show.
inside a specific programme

Common mistakes

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

Using of TV for broadcasts

Do not use of TV to mean shown on television.

✕ The game was of TV. ✓ The game was on TV.

Using article with TV generally

TV usually appears without an article when meaning television in general.

✕ We watched the TV all evening. ✓ We watched TV all evening.

Quick practice

Choose the expression that matches the intended meaning.

1. The interview will be ___ TV tonight.
2. Scholars studied the impact ___ TV.
3. We usually ___ TV after work.

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Frequently asked questions

Is on TV informal?

It is neutral and very common in everyday English.

Can I say on television instead?

Yes. On television is slightly more formal than on TV.

Why does of TV sometimes appear?

It appears when another noun is connected to TV, as in the history of TV.

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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