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Prepositions after verbs

Arrest with for, in, on, by, and at

Arrest commonly uses for with crimes and by with authorities. Other prepositions usually add time or place information.

Quick answer

Natural combinations with arrest

Use arrest someone for a crime. By introduces the officer or authority in passive sentences. In, on, and at usually describe place or time.

He was arrested for theft.
She was arrested by local police.

Choose the pattern by meaning

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

1
arrest someone for + crime

Reason for the arrest

For introduces the offence or accusation.

They arrested him for fraud.
2
arrested by + authority

Who made the arrest?

By introduces police or other authorities.

The suspect was arrested by customs officers.
3
arrested at/in + place

Where did it happen?

At and in describe location.

He was arrested at the airport.
4
arrested on + date/charge

Time or legal basis

On may refer to a date or formal grounds.

She was arrested on suspicion of bribery.

See the difference in context

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

Construction
Example
Meaning
arrest for
He was arrested for robbery.
state the crime
arrest by
The man was arrested by police.
name the authority
arrest in
Two people were arrested in London.
state the place
arrest at
She was arrested at the station.
specific location
arrest on
He was arrested on suspicion of theft.
legal grounds or date

Common mistakes

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

Using arrest by actively

By is mainly used in passive sentences.

✕ Police arrested by the suspect. ✓ Police arrested the suspect.

Confusing for and on

For names the crime directly; on often appears in legal phrases.

✕ He was arrested on theft. ✓ He was arrested for theft.

Quick practice

Choose the expression that matches the intended meaning.

1. The suspect was arrested ___ fraud.
2. She was arrested ___ the airport.
3. The thief was arrested ___ detectives.

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Frequently asked questions

What preposition follows arrest for crimes?

Use for: 'arrested for theft'.

Can arrest in be correct?

Yes. It usually describes the place: 'arrested in Paris'.

When do we use arrested on?

Often in legal phrases such as 'on suspicion of fraud'.

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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