Full Of: Standard Pattern
Full Of: Standard Pattern records a directly documented English construction and keeps guidance bounded to the evidenced pattern rather than turning one attested complement into a universal prohibition.
Use “full of” when something contains a lot of something or is strongly characterized by it.
Key details
Choose the right form
| Meaning / situation | Form / construction | Decision |
|---|---|---|
| literal contents | full of + noun | Use the pattern when something contains a lot of the named thing. |
| strong characteristic | full of + abstract noun | Use the pattern for broader descriptive characterizations. |
| another use of “full” | different construction may be appropriate | Do not assume every sense of “full” requires an of-phrase. |
Quick tests
Meaning / construction test
Does the complement name what something contains or is strongly characterized by?
If yes: Use “full of.”
If no: Choose the construction that matches the intended sense of “full.”
Caveat: Cambridge documents literal and broader descriptive uses of “full of”; this does not make “of” obligatory after every use of “full.”
Examples
The box is full of cables.
The of-phrase names the contents.
Her explanation was full of useful detail.
The of-phrase names a strong characteristic.
The hall was full before noon.
“Full” can also stand without an of-phrase.
Further guidance
Construction
Use “full of” when something contains a lot of something or is strongly characterized by it.
Style Boundary
Cambridge documents “full of” for literal contents and broader descriptive uses; this guide does not claim that every use of “full” requires an of-phrase.
Sources and evidence
Sources are shown with the role they play in this guide. Historical or style-sensitive claims are kept within the evidence boundary described above.
- Full (opens in a new tab)Cambridge University Press · Direct learner-dictionary evidence for the full of construction and its containing/characterizing senses.