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Prepositions after verbs

Applaud by or applaud for?

Use applaud someone for something to express approval. By usually appears only in passive constructions such as was applauded by.

Quick answer

Which form is correct?

Applaud is usually followed by a direct object, often with for to explain the reason. Applaud by is not a standard active pattern, but by is natural in passive sentences.

Everyone applauded the speaker.
She was applauded for her honesty.
The team was applauded by the crowd.

Choose the pattern by meaning

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

1
applaud + person/thing

Showing approval directly

Use applaud with a direct object.

Critics applauded the performance.
2
applaud + person + for + action

Giving a reason for approval

Use for to explain what is being praised.

They applauded her for speaking openly.
3
be applauded by + group

Using the passive voice

By introduces the people giving applause in passive sentences.

The decision was applauded by environmental groups.

See the difference in context

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

Construction
Example
Meaning
applaud someone
The audience applauded the pianist.
Standard active verb pattern.
applaud someone for
We applauded him for his leadership.
Standard pattern giving the reason for praise.
applauded by
The proposal was applauded by experts.
Passive construction showing who approved.
applaud by
The audience applauded the cast.
Do not use applaud by as an active verb-preposition pattern.

Common mistakes

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

Using by after active applaud

Applaud normally takes a direct object in active clauses.

✕ They applauded by the coach. ✓ They applauded the coach.

Omitting the object

Applaud usually needs a person, group, or action as an object.

✕ The crowd applauded for hours. ✓ The crowd applauded the band for hours.

Using for without an object

For explains the reason after the object.

✕ She applauded for his courage. ✓ She applauded him for his courage.

Quick practice

Choose the expression that matches the intended meaning.

1. The students applauded the teacher ___ her creativity.
2. The speech was applauded ___ journalists.
3. Everyone applauded ___ winning the award.

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Frequently asked questions

Can I say applaud by?

Only in passive constructions such as was applauded by the audience.

What preposition follows applaud?

For commonly follows applaud when giving the reason for approval.

Does applaud need an object?

Usually yes. The object is the person, group, or action receiving approval.

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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