free of vs. free from

[Clark]

Is it possible to distinguish between:
'to free sb from sth' vs. 'to free sb of sth',
'to be free from sth' vs 'to be free of sth'?

Very often both of the prepositions are possible:
He is suffering from / of pain.

How about 'Let's open the window to free the room from / of smoke'?

Could you make up a sentence where only one of the prepositions could be used?

[Anglika]

Is it possible to distinguish between:
'to free sb from sth' vs. 'to free sb of sth',
'to be free from sth' vs 'to be free of sth'?

Very often both of the prepositions are possible:
He is suffering from / of pain. He is suffering from pain; He is free of pain

How about 'Let's open the window to free the room from / of smoke'? Very uncolloquial: "Let's open the window to get rid of the smoke".

Could you make up a sentence where only one of the prepositions could be used?

He was freed from prison last week.
He is free of his imprisonment now.

Please can you make sure you are free from infection before coming into the hospital.
Please ensure that the passage way is free of clutter.

[colloquium]

This is an example where of is not possible.

They will free John from Jail tomorrow.

They will free John of jail tomorrow. X

I am not not a teacher.