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Prepositions after verbs

batter and prepositions

Batter is most often used directly with an object or with with to name the instrument. Some other prepositions can appear in separate time or place phrases.

Quick answer

How batter combines with prepositions

Use batter with for the instrument or force used to hit something. Batter at appears in some contexts for repeated attacks. By, in, during, and from usually introduce separate details such as time, cause, or place rather than fixed patterns after batter.

battered with heavy rain
batter at the door
The coast was battered during the storm.

Choose the pattern by meaning

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

1
batter with + instrument or force

What causes the damage?

With introduces the thing causing repeated hits or damage.

The windows were battered with stones.
2
batter at + target

What is repeatedly struck?

At can describe repeated blows directed toward a target.

Protesters battered at the gate for hours.
3
batter + time adjunct with during

When does the action happen?

During introduces a time period and is not a fixed complement of batter.

The village was battered during the hurricane.
4
batter + cause adjunct with by

What external force is involved?

By may appear in passive sentences to name the cause or agent.

The coastline was battered by strong winds.

See the difference in context

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

Construction
Example
Meaning
batter by
The town was battered by waves.
By appears naturally in passive constructions to name the cause or agent.
batter in
They battered in the metal panel.
In is part of a different phrasal meaning meaning to force inward.
batter at
He battered at the locked door.
Shows repeated blows directed toward a target.
batter during
The region was battered during the night.
During adds time information, not a selected complement.
batter from
The shelter protected them from the rain that battered the roof.
From is not normally used directly after batter as its complement.

Common mistakes

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

Using from directly after batter

From is not a standard complement after batter.

✕ The coast was battered from waves. ✓ The coast was battered by waves.

Confusing batter in with batter in something

Batter in is a separate phrasal verb meaning to force inward.

✕ They battered in the door with rain. ✓ Rain battered the door.

Using at in passive weather descriptions

Weather and natural forces usually take by or with.

✕ The village was battered at heavy rain. ✓ The village was battered by heavy rain.

Quick practice

Choose the expression that matches the intended meaning.

1. The roof was battered ___ hail.
2. Someone was battering ___ the front door.
3. The coast was battered ___ the storm.

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Paste the complete sentence below. Linguix checks the preposition together with grammar, spelling, punctuation, and style.

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Frequently asked questions

Is batter with correct?

Yes. Batter with is common for the instrument or force causing damage.

Can batter at be used literally and figuratively?

Yes. It can describe physical blows or repeated pressure.

Does batter from sound natural?

No. English normally uses by or with instead.

back-by-away-out-in, up backfire on, in, as, at or with? backtrack on, to, in, after or by? "baffle by" or "baffle as"? "bake in" or "bake for"? balance by, in, on, with or between? ban from, in, for, by or on? "bang on" or "bang for"? "banish from" or "banish to"? baptize in, by, into, with or on? "bargain for" or "bargain with"? "bark at" or "bark in"?

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