In English, certain verbs are commonly followed by the preposition ‘of’. One example is the phrase ‘deprive of’, which means ‘to take something away from someone’. But are there other verbs that use ‘of’ in a similar way? Let’s explore common verbs that take ‘of’ and their meanings, along with examples to help you understand their usage more clearly.
1. ‘Deprive of’ and Its Meaning
When we use the verb ‘deprive’, it is often followed by ‘of’ to indicate that someone has been stripped of something, typically a possession, right, or quality. For example:
- ‘The thief deprived the museum of its valuable artwork.’
- ‘She felt deprived of her freedom.’
2. Other Common Verbs That Use ‘of’
Several verbs are followed by ‘of’ to indicate the removal, loss, or attribution of something. Here are some examples:
- Accuse of: ‘He was accused of cheating on the test.’
- Rob of: ‘The bandits robbed him of his money.’
- Deprive of: (as explained) ‘She was deprived of the opportunity.’
- Rid of: ‘They rid the house of pests.’
- Convince of: ‘I convinced him of my sincerity.’
3. Why These Verbs Use ‘of’
The preposition ‘of’ in these cases helps to show the relationship between the verb and the object being affected. It often points to the thing that is being taken away, given, or otherwise affected. This is why many verbs that involve removal or attribution commonly use ‘of’.
4. Can Other Emotions and States Be Expressed with ‘of’?
While ‘of’ is used with verbs indicating actions like removal or giving, it’s not limited to negative actions. For example, ‘convince of’ shows the attribution of belief, while ‘rid of’ shows the removal of something unwanted. Emotions like ‘joy’, ‘love’, or ‘pride’ are less commonly paired with ‘of’, but they can appear in structures like ‘proud of’ or ‘jealous of’.
5. Conclusion: Verbs with ‘of’ in English
Understanding the use of ‘of’ with verbs is important for mastering more complex English sentence structures. By learning the most common examples, you can start using these phrases more naturally in conversation and writing.
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