About the preposition OF.

Hi!
I've seen these sentences.
1.From a scientific standpoint, space exploration has been responsible for rapid developments in materials and processes which have also been of benefit to people on earth.

2.Opponents argue that the space technology is of limited use to society and that the research could be used more profitably to try to solve some of the more pressing problems which we face.

What does OF mean in the above sentences, please?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by hoangkha

Hi!
I've seen these sentences.
1.From a scientific standpoint, space exploration has been responsible for rapid developments in materials and processes which have also been of benefit to people on earth.

2.Opponents argue that the space technology is of limited use to society and that the research could be used more profitably to try to solve some of the more pressing problems which we face.

What does OF mean in the above sentences, please?

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Hi

To be of use
To be of no use
To be of great use
To be of no/little account
To be of concern
.
.
.
You can find more of them in dictionary, they simply mean "to be". For example "to be of use" means: to be useful.
Good luck

It's also more formal than 'to be useful'.

Plus,
to be useful (to be + adj)

to be of use (to be+ of + noun)

of benefit = beneficial

be limited us = limitedly useful

:) an adjective form

be of limited use = be limitedly useful