What is On behalf of? The meaning, structure, and usage of On behalf of in English

On behalf of is a prepositional phrase that is quite familiar to people in spoken and written English. What exactly does On behalf of in English mean, and in what situations is it used? Let's explore the details with PREP in the following article!

I. What is On behalf of in English?

On behalf of is a prepositional phrase in English, meaning to act or speak for someone else, to represent or be a spokesperson on their behalf. For example:

• On behalf of all 12th-grade students, I read the thoughts during the coming-of-age ceremony. 
• I went to receive the reward on behalf of my team. 

II. The structure and usage of On behalf of in English

On behalf of is used when someone refers to someone representing or acting on behalf of an organization, entity, or individual. Specifically, the basic structure of this phrase is as follows:

On behalf of + somebody = on somebody’s (possessive adjective) + behalf

For example: 

• On behalf of my parents, I received the cultural family gift.
• On his school’s behalf, he participated in the provincial running competition. 

III. Some notes on On behalf of in English

When using 'On behalf of', you may come across the phrase 'In behalf of'. 'In behalf of' is not a special usage but rather an alternative way of using 'On behalf of' in American English. For example: 'In behalf of the entire company, I would like to thank him for all his work.'

IV. Synonymous phrases for On behalf of in English

"Step into the breach" means to take action or assume responsibility in a situation where there is a gap or a need. For example:

• The manager has just resigned, so I will step into the breach until someone is hired. 
• I step into the breach here temporarily waiting for the host to return. 

V. Exercises on On behalf of in English

To remember how to use this structure, you can practice with some basic exercises!

1. Exercises

Exercise 1: Rewrite the following sentences with On behalf of:

• The director is absent. He attended the meeting.
• My parents just went on a trip. I attended the ceremony to celebrate my uncle’s life.
• Authorized by the president. She signs an affiliate contract with a partner.
• The lawyer spoke in support of his client during the trial.
• The manager signed the contract for the company.
• She accepted the award on behalf of her team.
• He made a donation to the charity on behalf of his deceased grandmother.
• The ambassador delivered a speech representing his country's interests.
• Sarah thanked everyone for attending the event.
• The CEO apologized for the company's mistake.
• The president congratulated the team on their success.
• The spokesperson expressed condolences to the victims' families.
• The teacher welcomed the new students to the class.

Exercise 2: Complete the following sentences using "on behalf of."

1. ___________, I would like to express our gratitude for your generous donation.
2. ___________, I accept this award with great honor and humility.
3. ___________, we would like to extend our deepest condolences to the family of the deceased.
4. ___________, I apologize for any inconvenience caused by the delay in delivery.
5. ___________, I would like to welcome you all to our annual charity event.

2. Answer key

Exercise 1:

• Because the director was absent, I attended the meeting on his behalf.
• My parents just went on a trip, so I attended the ceremony to celebrate my uncle’s life on their behalf.
• She signs an affiliate contract with a partner on behalf of the president.
• The lawyer spoke in support of his client during the trial on behalf of his client.
• The manager signed the contract for the company on behalf of the company.
• She accepted the award on behalf of her team.
• He made a donation to the charity on behalf of his deceased grandmother.
• The ambassador delivered a speech representing his country's interests on behalf of his country.
• Sarah thanked everyone for attending the event on behalf of the organizers.
• The CEO apologized for the company's mistake on behalf of the company.
• The president congratulated the team on their success on behalf of the organization.
• The spokesperson expressed condolences to the victims' families on behalf of the organization.
• The teacher welcomed the new students to the class on behalf of the school.

Exercise 2:

1. On behalf of our organization, I would like to express our gratitude for your generous donation.
2. On behalf of myself and my team, I accept this award with great honor and humility.
3. On behalf of the entire company, we would like to extend our deepest condolences to the family of the deceased.
4. On behalf of the company, I apologize for any inconvenience caused by the delay in delivery.
5. On behalf of the organizing committee, I would like to welcome you all to our annual charity event.

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