kids encyclopedia robot

Of facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts

The word of is a common preposition in the English language. It helps connect words and show different kinds of relationships between them. Think of it like a bridge between ideas in a sentence. It can tell you who something belongs to, what something is made from, or how much of something there is.

What 'Of' Means

The word "of" is super useful because it can mean many things depending on how it's used. It's one of the most frequent words you'll see in English! It helps us understand how one thing relates to another.

Showing Ownership or Belonging

One of the main ways "of" is used is to show that something belongs to someone or something else. It's like saying "whose" or "belonging to."

  • Example: "the color of the sky" means the sky has a certain color.
  • Example: "the father of Mike" means Mike's father.
  • Example: "the top of the mountain" means the mountain has a top part.

Talking About Parts or Amounts

"Of" can also help us talk about a part of a larger group or a certain amount of something.

  • Example: "a slice of cake" means one piece from a whole cake.
  • Example: "a cup of tea" means a specific amount of tea that fits in a cup.
  • Example: "most of the students" means a large number from the total group of students.
  • Example: "one of the books" means a single book from a collection.

Describing What Something is Made From

Sometimes, "of" tells us what material something is made from.

  • Example: "a house of bricks" means the house is built using bricks.
  • Example: "a dress of silk" means the dress is made from silk fabric.

Showing Origin or Source

"Of" can also show where something comes from or its origin.

  • Example: "the city of London" means London is a city.
  • Example: "a person of courage" means a person who has courage.

Why 'Of' is Important

Using "of" correctly makes your sentences clearer and more precise. It helps you explain relationships between nouns and pronouns without having to use longer, more complicated phrases. It's a small word that does a lot of work in the English language!

kids search engine
All content from Kiddle encyclopedia articles (including the article images and facts) can be freely used under Attribution-ShareAlike license, unless stated otherwise. Cite this article:
Of Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.