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Prepositions after verbs

Capture by or capture in?

Capture in is common for showing where something is recorded. Capture by usually appears in passive sentences to name the agent.

Quick answer

Using capture with prepositions

Use capture in to describe the form or medium where something appears. Capture by is usually part of a passive structure such as captured by police.

The emotion was captured in the photograph.
The suspect was captured by border guards.

Choose the pattern by meaning

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

1
capture in + medium

Showing something within a form

In introduces the medium or format.

The scene was captured in vivid detail.
2
captured by + agent

Who performs the capture

By names the person or force responsible.

The town was captured by enemy troops.

See the difference in context

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

Construction
Example
Meaning
capture in
The feeling is captured in the novel.
recorded or expressed within a medium
capture by
The thief was captured by police.
passive agent structure

Common mistakes

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

Using by for a medium

Use in for books, photos, or films.

✕ The moment was captured by the painting. ✓ The moment was captured in the painting.

Using in for the agent

Use by to name who performed the action.

✕ The prisoner was captured in soldiers. ✓ The prisoner was captured by soldiers.

Quick practice

Choose the expression that matches the intended meaning.

1. The atmosphere was captured ___ the documentary.
2. The rebels were captured ___ government forces.
3. Choose the correct sentence.

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Frequently asked questions

Can capture by be active?

Usually by appears in passive structures.

What does capture in mean?

It means represent or record something within a medium.

Can I say captured on camera?

Yes. On is also common with recording devices.

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