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Prepositions after verbs

Approve of vs approve by

Use approve of to express support or agreement. By is mainly used in passive constructions.

Quick answer

Correct use of approve

Approve of means 'consider something good or acceptable'. Approve by is not the normal active pattern, but by can appear after approved in passive sentences.

My parents approve of the plan.
The budget was approved by the committee.

Choose the pattern by meaning

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

1
approve of + noun/idea

Showing agreement

Use approve of for opinions, actions, or behaviour.

They approve of remote work.
2
approve + object

Officially accept something

Approve can also take a direct object.

The board approved the proposal.
3
approved by + authority

Who gave approval?

By introduces the approving body in passive sentences.

The design was approved by regulators.

See the difference in context

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

Construction
Example
Meaning
approve of
She approves of the decision.
support or agree with something
approve by
The plan was approved by the mayor.
by names the approving authority
approve + object
They approved the request.
officially accept

Common mistakes

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

Using approve by in active sentences

Use approve of or approve directly.

✕ I approve by this idea. ✓ I approve of this idea.

Adding of after direct approval

Official approval often takes a direct object.

✕ The agency approved of the licence. ✓ The agency approved the licence.

Quick practice

Choose the expression that matches the intended meaning.

1. Do you approve ___ the changes?
2. The contract was approved ___ the board.
3. The manager approved ___ request.

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Frequently asked questions

Can approve take no preposition?

Yes. For example: 'They approved the budget.'

Is approve by correct?

Only in passive structures such as 'approved by the committee'.

What is the difference between approve and approve of?

Approve often means official acceptance. Approve of means agreement or support.

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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