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Prepositions after adjectives

Lawful: which preposition follows it?

Lawful commonly appears with for, to, and under. The choice depends on whether you mean permission, legal systems, or a formal legal style.

Quick answer

Most common uses of lawful

Use lawful for someone to do something to describe permission or legality. Use lawful under with laws, rules, or agreements. Lawful in is usually followed by a place or context, not directly selected by lawful. Unto is an old-fashioned legal word and is rare in modern English.

It is lawful for residents to park here.
The action is lawful under state law.
The search was lawful in that jurisdiction.

Choose the pattern by meaning

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

1
lawful for + person + to + verb

Showing that an action is permitted

Use lawful for before a person or group and an infinitive.

It is lawful for employees to discuss pay.
Was it lawful for the company to collect that data?
2
lawful under + law/rule

Referring to a legal authority

Use under when naming the law, regulation, contract, or constitution that permits something.

The payment is lawful under the contract.
The search was lawful under federal law.
3
lawful to + verb

Using an infinitive after lawful

Lawful can be followed directly by an infinitive, especially in formal writing.

It is lawful to record the meeting with consent.
Is it lawful to sell these products online?
4
lawful in + place/context

Describing where something is legal

In usually introduces a place or situation rather than being selected by lawful itself.

The practice is lawful in several countries.
Online betting became lawful in the state last year.

See the difference in context

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

Construction
Example
Meaning
lawful for
It is lawful for tenants to keep pets here.
Standard pattern showing permission or legality for a person or group.
lawful to
It is lawful to carry the tool in public.
Standard formal pattern before an infinitive.
lawful under
The transfer is lawful under company policy.
Standard pattern naming the legal basis.
lawful in
The activity is lawful in that country.
In introduces a place or context where something is legal.
lawful unto
The agreement grants all lawful rights unto the buyer.
Rare and highly formal legal style; unto usually belongs to the legal wording, not to lawful itself.

Common mistakes

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

Using under for a person

Under normally introduces a law or rule, not the person allowed to act.

✕ It is lawful under drivers to park here. ✓ It is lawful for drivers to park here.

Confusing lawful in with lawful under

Use under for the legal authority and in for the place or context.

✕ The action is lawful in the contract. ✓ The action is lawful under the contract.

Using unto in ordinary English

Unto sounds archaic or legalistic in modern everyday English.

✕ It is lawful unto residents to enter. ✓ It is lawful for residents to enter.

Leaving out to before a verb

Use an infinitive after lawful when describing an action.

✕ It is lawful employees park here. ✓ It is lawful for employees to park here.

Quick practice

Choose the expression that matches the intended meaning.

1. It is lawful ___ visitors to take photographs here.
2. The deduction is lawful ___ tax regulations.
3. The activity is lawful ___ several European countries.

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Frequently asked questions

Is lawful for correct English?

Yes. Lawful for someone to do something is a standard and common pattern.

What is the difference between lawful under and lawful in?

Lawful under names the law or rule that permits something. Lawful in names the place or context where it is legal.

Is lawful unto modern English?

Unto is mostly limited to old-fashioned or highly formal legal language today.

labour-in-for-with-on, to "large in" or "large of"? "late in" or "late for"? "lax in", "lax on" or "lax about"? lazy in, about, with, to or for? "leading to" or "leading of"? leery of, about or over? left in, for, over, with or to? leftover from, of, for, in or after? "legal in" or "legal for"? "legitimate for" or "legitimate in"? lesser of, in, for, on or to?

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