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Prepositions after adjectives

Permanent: which preposition follows it?

Permanent is most commonly used with in or as. Other prepositions may appear in different sentence structures but are usually not selected directly by permanent.

Quick answer

Common combinations with permanent

Permanent in is used for places, roles, or situations. Permanent as describes a lasting role or status. Permanent for often refers to duration or suitability in a wider structure, not a fixed adjective-preposition pair. Permanent with and permanent by are uncommon after permanent.

She now has a permanent position in the company.
He was appointed permanent as team captain.
The damage may be permanent for some patients.

Choose the pattern by meaning

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

1
permanent in + place or organisation

Showing a lasting position or presence

Use permanent in for membership, residence, employment, or placement within something.

They received permanent status in Canada.
She holds a permanent role in finance.
2
permanent as + role

Describing a lasting function or identity

Use permanent as before a job, title, or function.

He stayed permanent as chair of the committee.
The actor became permanent as the show's host.
3
permanent for + person or period

Referring to effect or suitability

Permanent for usually connects to the wider meaning of the sentence rather than forming a fixed pair with permanent.

The injury was permanent for the athlete.
This solution is not permanent for long-term use.

See the difference in context

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

Construction
Example
Meaning
permanent in
She has a permanent position in the department.
Standard for lasting placement, membership, or involvement.
permanent as
He remained permanent as director.
Used for a continuing role or identity.
permanent for
The effects may be permanent for some users.
Possible when referring to people, periods, or purposes in the sentence.
permanent with
The stain is permanent with this type of fabric.
Usually not a fixed combination after permanent; with often introduces a separate detail.
permanent by
The rule became permanent by law.
By normally expresses method or cause, not a standard complement after permanent.

Common mistakes

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

Using with as a direct complement

Permanent with is usually not the natural choice after the adjective.

✕ She has a permanent contract with the office. ✓ She has a permanent contract in the office.

Confusing as and in

Use as for a role and in for an organisation or area.

✕ He is permanent in manager. ✓ He is permanent as manager.

Using by to mean role

By does not normally follow permanent to describe status or position.

✕ She became permanent by supervisor. ✓ She became permanent as supervisor.

Quick practice

Choose the expression that matches the intended meaning.

1. She now works ___ the company on a permanent basis.
2. He remained permanent ___ team captain.
3. The damage may be permanent ___ some patients.

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Frequently asked questions

Is permanent with correct?

It is uncommon as a direct adjective-preposition combination. With usually introduces another relationship in the sentence.

Do we say permanent in or permanent at?

Permanent in is more common for positions, membership, or involvement. At may describe location separately.

Can permanent be used without a preposition?

Yes. For example: She has a permanent contract.

packed-with-to-in-on, into "paid for" or "paid up"? painful for, to, in, at or of? "palatable to" or "palatable for"? "pale in" or "pale of"? "pandemic of" or "pandemic in"? "paramount to" or "paramount in"? paranoid about, of, in, with or over? partial to, of, in, towards or for? participating in, of, on, at or for? "particular about" or "particular to"? part-time at, in, for, as or with?

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