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Prepositions after adjectives

Divine: which preposition to use

Divine can describe something related to a god, spiritually excellent, or wonderful. Different prepositions express different relationships.

Quick answer

Natural uses of divine

Use divine to someone for something perceived or pleasing to a person. Divine by often describes source or authority, as in divine by nature. In and within usually introduce location or context rather than fixed adjective patterns.

The music sounded divine to the audience.
The king claimed to rule by divine right.
She believed there was something divine within every person.

Choose the pattern by meaning

These forms are not interchangeable. Choose the construction by meaning, not by which preposition appears most often.

1
divine to + person

Showing perception or appeal

Use to when something seems heavenly or wonderful to someone.

The dessert tasted divine to me.
Her singing was divine to the crowd.
2
divine by + source

Describing sacred origin or authority

By can introduce the source or basis of divine status.

The ruler governed by divine authority.
Some traditions describe the text as inspired by divine power.
3
divine within + person/place

Referring to inner spiritual qualities

Within usually refers to something existing internally.

They searched for the divine within themselves.
The story explores the divine within nature.
4
divine in + context

Describing where divine qualities appear

In often introduces a context or field rather than a fixed complement.

Many people see the divine in nature.
She finds something divine in simple rituals.

See the difference in context

The same subject can take different constructions because each sentence answers a different question.

Construction
Example
Meaning
divine to someone
The fragrance smelled divine to the guests.
extremely pleasing from someone's perspective
divine by something
The emperor claimed authority by divine right.
connected to sacred source or authority
divine within someone
They believe in the divine within every person.
inner spiritual presence
divine in something
He sees the divine in everyday life.
divine qualities appear in a context
divine for something
This is uncommon as a direct adjective pattern.
for is generally not selected directly by divine

Common mistakes

Some combinations appear in real text but do not mean what learners often assume.

Using divine for as a fixed pattern

Divine is not normally followed directly by for.

✕ The meal was divine for me. ✓ The meal was divine to me.

Confusing divine and divinely

Divine is an adjective, while divinely is an adverb.

✕ The choir sang divine. ✓ The choir sang divinely.

Using by with ordinary praise

By divine is mainly used for sacred source or authority.

✕ The cake was divine by everyone. ✓ The cake was divine to everyone.

Treating within as a required complement

Within usually keeps its literal meaning of internal location.

✕ The answer is divine within. ✓ They believe in the divine within each person.

Quick practice

Choose the expression that matches the intended meaning.

1. The perfume smelled divine ___ me.
2. The doctrine was justified ___ divine authority.
3. She believes in the divine ___ every person.

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Frequently asked questions

Can divine be followed by to?

Yes. Divine to someone means extremely pleasing or wonderful from that person's perspective.

What does by divine right mean?

It refers to authority believed to come from a god or sacred source.

Is divine for correct?

It is uncommon as a direct adjective pattern. Other structures such as divine to someone are more natural.

daily, for, daily, with, daily, in damaging to, for, of, in or as? damn about, near, for, to or as? "dangerous for" or "dangerous to"? "dark in", "dark for" or "dark of"? "daunting for" or "daunting to"? dead in, on, by, at or of? deadly to, in, for, of or with? "deaf to" or "deaf in"? dear to, in, for, of or as? deceased in, to, for, at or on? "decent in" or "decent for"?

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