Use the word "colonies" with the article "the" as the subject of a sentence. For example, "The colonies declared their independence from a retributive and overweening monarchy."
Use the word "colonies" with the preposition "of" to indicate the composition or make-up of colonies. For example, "The colonies of blue-beaked gulls gathered on the cliff made a fearful noise."
Precede the word "colonies" in a sentence with an attributive adjective when you are expressing an attribute or distinguishing characteristic of colonies. For example, "The earliest colonies in North America occupied favorable harbors along the eastern seaboard of the American continent."
Use the word "colonies" preceded by "of the" in a sentence when you are describing a characteristic or possession of colonies. For example, "The pH of the bacterial colonies examined was slightly basic at 8.97."
Use the word "colonies" with the word "the" as the direct object of a verb when you are describing something done to or for colonies. For example, "A harsh Atlantic winter drove the green-kneed booby colonies into absolute isolation."
Use the word "colonies" with the preposition "to" in a sentence when you are indicating direction toward colonies. For example, "The British judicial system once dispatched hardened criminals to penal colonies in Australia."