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Prepositions after adjectives

Recognizable with different prepositions

Recognizable combines naturally with to, by, as, and from. Recognizable in is less common and usually contextual.

Quick answer

Main patterns

Use recognizable to for the people who can identify something, by for the feature used to identify it, as for the identity, and from for the source of recognition.

Her voice is recognizable to millions.
He was recognizable by his accent.
The actor was recognizable as the king.
I recognized her from her photograph.

Choose the pattern by meaning

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

1
recognizable to + person

Showing who can identify something

To introduces the observer.

The logo is instantly recognizable to consumers.
2
recognizable by + feature

Explaining the identifying feature

By names the clue used for recognition.

The bird is recognizable by its red tail.
3
recognizable as + identity

Naming the role or identity

As introduces what something is perceived to be.

She was barely recognizable as the shy student I knew.
4
recognizable from + source

Showing the source of recognition

From introduces the source of information or memory.

I knew him immediately from his laugh.

See the difference in context

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

Construction
Example
Meaning
recognizable to
The tune is recognizable to older listeners.
Known by a group of people.
recognizable by
The house is recognizable by its blue door.
Identified through a feature.
recognizable as
He was recognizable as the company founder.
Seen in a particular identity.
recognizable in
Her style is recognizable in all her paintings.
In introduces the place or work where recognition occurs.
recognizable from
She is recognizable from television.
Known because of a source or experience.

Common mistakes

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

Using by for people

Use to for the people who recognize something.

✕ The song is recognizable by teenagers. ✓ The song is recognizable to teenagers.

Using as for a feature

As names identity, not identifying clues.

✕ recognizable as his beard ✓ recognizable by his beard

Forgetting context with in

In usually refers to a place or body of work.

✓ Her influence is recognizable in the design.

Using from after recognizable directly

Recognizable from is correct, but recognize from is often more natural in active sentences.

✓ I recognized him from his voice.

Quick practice

Choose the expression that matches the intended meaning.

1. The artist is recognizable ___ her bright colours.
2. The character is recognizable ___ children worldwide.
3. She was recognizable ___ the lead singer.

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Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between recognizable to and by?

To refers to the observer; by refers to the identifying feature.

Can I say recognizable from?

Yes. It refers to the source of recognition, such as television or a photo.

Is recognizable in correct?

Yes, when in introduces a place, work, or context.

racist-in-against-for-to, towards "radical in" or "radical for"? rampant in, among, with, on or throughout? "rare in" or "rare for"? "rational for" or "rational in"? "raw in", "raw for" or "raw with"? reachable by, from, on, in or through? "reactive to", "reactive rather" or "reactive in"? ready for, to, in, at or by? "realistic about" or "realistic in"? "real to", "real for" or "real in"? rearing of, as or on?

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