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Prepositions with nouns

"With friend" or "of friend"?

"With friend" is possible in limited contexts, but English usually needs an article or possessive. "Of friend" is generally not idiomatic on its own.

Quick answer

Using prepositions with "friend"

English normally says "with a friend," "with friends," or "a friend of mine." The phrase "of friend" is not standard by itself. "With" expresses company, while "of" usually appears in possessive structures such as "friend of my brother."

She went to the concert with a friend.
He is a friend of mine from university.
They travelled with friends during the summer.

Choose the pattern by meaning

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

1
with a friend

Being together with someone

Use "with" to show company or companionship.

I had lunch with a friend yesterday.
2
with friends

Talking about groups of friends

Use the plural form without an article for friends in general.

She enjoys spending time with friends on weekends.
3
friend of + possessive

Relationships and belonging

Use "friend of mine," "friend of hers," or similar possessive structures.

Carlos is a friend of ours.
4
friend of + noun

Connection to another person

Use "friend of" before a noun to show whose friend someone is.

She is a friend of my sister.

See the difference in context

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

Construction
Example
Meaning
with friend
She travelled with a friend.
Correct when an article or determiner is included.
of friend
He is a friend of my brother.
"Of friend" alone is not idiomatic; use a possessive or noun after "of."
friend with
She became friends with her neighbour.
A different structure using the adjective/plural form "friends with."
friend of
He is a friend of the family.
Shows relationship or association.

Common mistakes

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

Leaving out the article after "with"

Singular countable nouns usually need an article or determiner.

✕ I went with friend. ✓ I went with a friend.

Using "of friend" alone

Use "friend of" with a noun or possessive.

✕ She is of friend. ✓ She is a friend of mine.

Confusing "friend" and "friends"

The plural form is needed for general groups.

✕ He spends time with friend. ✓ He spends time with friends.

Using "friend with" instead of "friends with"

The common expression is "be friends with."

✕ I am friend with her. ✓ I am friends with her.

Quick practice

Choose the expression that matches the intended meaning.

1. I went to the café with ___ friend.
2. She is a friend ___ mine.
3. They became friends ___ each other at school.

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Frequently asked questions

Is "with friend" correct?

Usually you need an article or plural noun: "with a friend" or "with friends."

Can I say "of friend"?

Not by itself. English normally uses "friend of mine," "friend of hers," or "friend of my brother."

What is the difference between "friend of" and "friends with"?

"Friend of" identifies a relationship, while "friends with" describes mutual friendship.

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