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Prepositions after verbs

Annex to or annex by?

Annex usually means attach or add something to a larger whole. The most common pattern is annex to.

Quick answer

Which preposition is used with annex?

Use annex to when something is attached or added to something else. Annex by is not a standard active combination, although by may appear in passive sentences to name the agent.

The territory was annexed to the empire.
A glossary was annexed to the report.
The region was annexed by a neighbouring state.

Choose the pattern by meaning

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

1
annex to + larger whole

Adding or attaching something

Use to for incorporation into a larger document, area, or institution.

Several pages were annexed to the contract.
The island was annexed to the kingdom.
2
annex + object

Using annex as a transitive verb

Annex often takes a direct object without a preposition.

The country attempted to annex the border region.
They decided to annex additional land.
3
annexed by + agent

Naming who performed the annexation

By is used in passive structures to identify the agent.

The area was annexed by the empire in 1890.
The territory was annexed by force.

See the difference in context

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

Construction
Example
Meaning
annex to
The appendix was annexed to the agreement.
standard pattern meaning attached or added
annex by
The province was annexed by a larger state.
by introduces the agent in a passive sentence
annex + object
The government annexed the territory.
standard active verb pattern
attach to
Please attach the form to your email.
common alternative for physical or document attachment

Common mistakes

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

Using annex by in active sentences

Annex by is not a normal active verb-preposition pattern.

✕ They annexed by the coastal region. ✓ They annexed the coastal region.

Using wrong preposition for attachment

Use to when something is added or attached.

✕ The note was annexed with the file. ✓ The note was annexed to the file.

Omitting the object in active use

Annex usually needs an object.

✕ The empire planned to annex. ✓ The empire planned to annex the territory.

Quick practice

Choose the expression that matches the intended meaning.

1. The document was annexed ___ the final report.
2. The empire annexed ___ neighbouring region.
3. The territory was annexed ___ a foreign power.

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Frequently asked questions

Is annex to correct?

Yes. It is the standard pattern for attaching or adding something.

Can I say annex by?

Only in passive structures such as was annexed by another country.

Does annex always need a preposition?

No. In active sentences, annex commonly takes a direct object.

abandon, by, abandon, in "abduct by", "abduct in" or "abduct from"? abide by, in, with, to or on? "abolish in" or "abolish by"? "abound in" or "abound with"? "absorb by", "absorb into" or "absorb in"? "accelerate by", "accelerate to" or "accelerate in"? accentuate by, with, in or under? accept by, in, as, for or into? "accommodate in", "accommodate for" or "accommodate to"? "accomplish by" or "accomplish in"? "accord to" or "accord with"?

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