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Prepositions with nouns

With partner or of partner?

With partner is a common way to show company or cooperation. Of partner is usually nonstandard unless partner is part of a larger noun phrase.

Quick answer

Which form is correct?

Use with partner to mean together with a partner or accompanied by a partner. Of partner is not a normal standalone combination in current English, though partner can follow of in longer phrases such as the name of a partner.

She attended the event with her partner.
The founders worked with a partner for years.
We travelled with our business partner last month.

Choose the pattern by meaning

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

1
with + partner

Showing company or cooperation

Use with partner to mean together with another person in a relationship or business arrangement.

He opened the shop with a partner.
She arrived with her partner.
2
partner in + activity

Naming a shared role

Use partner in to describe a role in business, crime, research, or another activity.

They are partners in the project.
She became a partner in the firm last year.
3
partner of + noun

Showing association in a larger noun phrase

Of can follow partner when another noun comes first, such as member, friend, or name.

He is the business partner of my cousin.
We discussed the name of the partner yesterday.

See the difference in context

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

Construction
Example
Meaning
with partner
She moved abroad with her partner.
Accompanied by or together with a partner.
of partner
The name of the partner was missing.
Possible only as part of a larger phrase, not usually as a standalone pattern.
partner in
He is a partner in the company.
Having a role in a business or activity.

Common mistakes

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

Using of partner alone

English does not normally use of partner by itself to mean together with a partner.

✕ She came of partner. ✓ She came with her partner.

Missing an article

Partner often needs a determiner in singular countable use.

✕ He started business with partner. ✓ He started a business with a partner.

Quick practice

Choose the expression that matches the intended meaning.

1. She attended the conference ___ her partner.
2. He became a partner ___ the firm.
3. The name ___ the partner was printed incorrectly.

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Frequently asked questions

Is of partner ever correct?

It is usually only correct inside a larger phrase such as the role of partner or the name of the partner.

Can I say with my partner?

Yes. This is a common and natural way to refer to being together with a romantic or business partner.

What is the difference between partner in and with partner?

Partner in describes a role or membership, while with partner describes company or cooperation.

with, dignity, of, dignity "with disability" or "of disability"? "with distinction" or "of distinction"? "with emphasis" or "of emphasis"? "with friend" or "of friend"? with, of, to, between or for husband? with, of, under, for or in load? "without exception", "of exception" or "with exception"? "without notice" or "of notice"? "without warning" or "of warning"? without, with, of, in or as regard? "with smile" or "of smile"?

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