1. Of indicates belonging or connection.

a. Of identifies a thing as a connection or part of another thing.
the pages of the book
the leaves of the tree

b. Of identifies people, animals, or plants as part of a larger group.

Pattern: noun + of + this/that + noun
the women of that family
the people of that religion

Nouns commonly used after of:
city, club, company, country, culture, descent, faith, family, gender, genus, group, ilk, organization, race, religion, society, species

c. Of identifies ideas or works with their author, artist, or composer.

Pattern: noun + of + noun the works of Shakespeare
the methods of the teacher

Nouns often used before of:
essays, ideas, method, music, novels, opinion, paintings, plays, poems, poetry, songs, work, writing

d. Of identifies an individual or special member of a group or institution.

Pattern: noun + of + noun
the president of the class
the coordinators of the program

Nouns commonly used before of:
captain, citizen, coordinator, dictator, head, hero, heroine, leader, loser, manager, mayor, member, president, secretary, servant, star, student, teacher, treasurer, villain, winner

e. Of identifies a person’s occupation or area of specialization.

Pattern: noun + of + noun
a professor of mathematics
students of cardiology
practitioner of medicine

f. Of indicates a connection with a place.

Pattern: noun + of + noun
a native of Alaska
the birds and animals of Australia

Nouns often used before of:
animal, bird, citizen, graduate, inhabitant, native, people, resident

g. Of indicates a connection with a period of time.
the music of the eighties
the dances of her youth the fourth of July

Fact
In the 1905 football season, 18 men were killed in college games in the United States, and 159 more were permanently injured.      .. More >>