About the preposition OF.

Status
Not open for further replies.

hoangkha

Member
Joined
Oct 4, 2011
Member Type
Student or Learner
Native Language
Vietnamese
Home Country
Vietnam
Current Location
Vietnam
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?
 

moonlike

Member
Joined
Mar 26, 2012
Member Type
English Teacher
Native Language
Persian
Home Country
Iran
Current Location
Iran
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?


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
 

TrishaC

New member
Joined
Apr 5, 2012
Member Type
English Teacher
Native Language
English
Home Country
Canada
Current Location
UK
It's also more formal than 'to be useful'.

Plus,
to be useful (to be + adj)

to be of use (to be+ of + noun)
 

michael147

Member
Joined
Apr 20, 2012
Member Type
Interested in Language
Native Language
Chinese
Home Country
China
Current Location
China
of benefit = beneficial

be limited us = limitedly useful

:) an adjective form
 

michael147

Member
Joined
Apr 20, 2012
Member Type
Interested in Language
Native Language
Chinese
Home Country
China
Current Location
China
be of limited use = be limitedly useful
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Top