1expressing the relationship between a part and a whole:
with the word denoting the part functioning as the head of the phrase:the sleeve of his coatin the back of the carthe days of the week
after a number, quantifier, or partitive noun, with the word denoting the whole functioning as the head of the phrase:nine of the children came to the showa series of programmes [with mass noun]:a piece of cake
2expressing the relationship between a scale or measure and a value:an increase of 5%a height of 10 metres
expressing an age:a boy of 15
3indicating an association between two entities, typically one of belonging, in which the first is the head of the phrase and the second is something associated with it:the son of a friendthe government of Indiaa photograph of the bride [with a possessive]:a former colleague of John’s
expressing the relationship between an author, artist, or composer and their works collectively:the plays of Shakespearethe paintings of Rembrandt
4expressing the relationship between a direction and a point of reference:north of Watford
5expressing the relationship between a general category or type and the thing being specified which belongs to such a category:the city of Praguethe idea of a just societythe population of interbreeding individualsthis type of book
6expressing the relationship between an abstract concept having a verb-like meaning and a noun denoting the subject of the underlying verb:the opinion of the directorsthe decision of the County Council
where the second noun denotes the object of the underlying verb:the murder of two boyspayment of his debtsan admirer of Dickens
where the head of the phrase is a predicative adjective:it was kind of you to askI am certain of that
7indicating the relationship between a verb and an indirect object:
with a verb expressing a mental state:I don’t know of anything that would be suitable
expressing a cause:he died of cancer
8indicating the material or substance constituting something:the house was built of brickswalls of stone
9North American expressing time in relation to the following hour:it would be just a quarter of three in New York
be of
possess intrinsically; give rise to:this work is of great interest and value
of all
denoting the least likely or expected example:Jordan, of all people, committed a flagrant foul