a boyfriend of

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a boyfriend of" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to someone in the context of their relationship with a specific person. Example: "She introduced him as a boyfriend of her best friend."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

42 human-written examples

(The wall was installed by a boyfriend of the roommate).

The New York Times

I was 12 or 13 when a boyfriend of my sister started coming to our house.

The Guardian - Music

As if the idea of having a boyfriend, of being straight, required straightening out in other ways.

The New Yorker

The world cannot allow Eleanor a boyfriend of any kind, because she's poor and fat and dresses funny.

The New York Times - Books

The police focused their attention on a boyfriend of Ms. Castro's who was said to be abusive.

The New York Times

But the only person positively identified from the DNA swabs was a boyfriend of one of the older girls.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

13 human-written examples

If you are trying to choose a boyfriend out of a herd of thousands, you may choose none of them.

The New Yorker

And you never know, you may get a boyfriend out of it!

WikiHow

Now I'm a junior with a sophomore boyfriend of over a year.

Huffington Post

Volochkova's version is that it was because of the influence of a former boyfriend of hers, a powerful billionaire.

The New Yorker

Ms. Winter's character gets a boyfriend, kind of.

The New York Times - Arts

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using the phrase "a boyfriend of", ensure the context clearly identifies who the boyfriend belongs to in order to avoid ambiguity. For example, specify "a boyfriend of my sister" instead of just "a boyfriend".

Common error

Avoid using "a boyfriend of" followed by pronouns that could create ambiguity. For example, instead of saying "a boyfriend of hers", specify "a boyfriend of Jane's" to ensure clarity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a boyfriend of" functions as a prepositional phrase that modifies a noun, specifying whose boyfriend is being referred to. It indicates a relationship between two people, highlighting the connection of one person as the boyfriend of another, as evidenced by Ludwig's numerous examples.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

79%

Wiki

9%

Formal & Business

3%

Less common in

Science

3%

Encyclopedias

3%

Reference

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "a boyfriend of" is a common and grammatically correct prepositional phrase used to specify a romantic relationship between two individuals. As confirmed by Ludwig, it appears frequently in various contexts, particularly in news and media sources, and serves the purpose of identifying or describing someone in relation to their partner. While generally neutral in register, ensuring clarity in pronoun usage and context is crucial. When alternative phrasing is desired, options like "partner of" or "romantic interest of" can be considered to convey slightly different nuances.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

partner of

Emphasizes a more committed or long-term relationship than just a boyfriend.

man she's dating

Focuses on the action of dating rather than the formal relationship.

romantic interest of

Highlights the romantic aspect of the relationship, suitable for a formal tone.

the guy seeing

More casual and conversational, indicating a current dating situation.

date of

Implies a more casual and less serious relationship.

male companion of

A more neutral term, suitable when the nature of the relationship is unknown or unimportant.

the boyfriend belonging to

Highlights the fact that the boyfriend is an element of another person's life.

friend of (who is a boyfriend)

Clarifies the relationship status within a broader social connection.

suitor of

Suggests courtship and a more traditional dynamic.

beau of

An older, somewhat archaic term for boyfriend.

FAQs

How can I use "a boyfriend of" in a sentence?

Use "a boyfriend of" to specify someone's romantic partner, such as, "He is "a boyfriend of" my sister" or "She dated "a boyfriend of" her roommate".

What are some alternatives to saying "a boyfriend of"?

Depending on the context, you could use alternatives such as "partner of", "date of", or "romantic interest of".

Is it grammatically correct to say "a boyfriend of"?

Yes, "a boyfriend of" is grammatically correct when you want to specify that someone is the boyfriend of a particular person. For example, "He is "a boyfriend of" hers."

What's the difference between "a boyfriend" and "a boyfriend of"?

"A boyfriend" generally refers to someone in a relationship, while ""a boyfriend of"" specifies whose boyfriend the person is. For example, "He is "a boyfriend of" my friend," clarifies that he's dating your friend.