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Prepositions after verbs

conceive: which preposition to use

Conceive is commonly followed by of when talking about imagining or forming an idea. Other prepositions such as by and through appear in specific contexts, while in is usually not directly linked to conceive.

Quick answer

Common uses of conceive with prepositions

Use conceive of for imagining, understanding, or forming an idea. Use conceive as to describe how someone or something is viewed. Use conceive by or conceive through in medical or biological contexts about reproduction methods. In is usually a separate place or time phrase, not a preposition selected by conceive.

I cannot conceive of a better solution.
The project was conceived as a community space.
The child was conceived by IVF.
The baby was conceived through donor insemination.

Choose the pattern by meaning

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

1
conceive of + idea

Talking about imagining or understanding something

Conceive of means to imagine, form, or understand an idea or possibility.

Few people could conceive of such rapid change.
She conceived of a new marketing strategy.
2
conceive as + role or identity

Describing how something is viewed or planned

Conceive as shows the intended character, function, or interpretation of something.

The building was conceived as a public library.
He conceives of himself as an independent researcher.
3
conceive by + method

Referring to biological conception methods

Conceive by is used with methods such as IVF or artificial insemination.

The twins were conceived by IVF.
She was able to conceive by artificial insemination.
4
conceive through + process or means

Referring to conception through a particular process

Conceive through is used when emphasising the process or means that made conception possible.

The child was conceived through fertility treatment.
They hoped to conceive through IVF treatment.

See the difference in context

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

Construction
Example
Meaning
conceive of
Can you conceive of living without electricity?
Standard expression for imagining or understanding something.
conceive as
The app was conceived as a learning tool.
Describes the intended role or identity of something.
conceive by
The child was conceived by IVF.
Used for the method of biological conception.
conceive through
They conceived through fertility treatment.
Emphasises the process or means of conception.
conceive in
She conceived in Paris during her studies.
Here in indicates place, not a fixed verb-preposition combination with conceive.

Common mistakes

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

Using conceive instead of conceive of for ideas

When talking about imagining or understanding, conceive usually needs of.

✕ I cannot conceive such a plan. ✓ I cannot conceive of such a plan.

Using in as if it were the normal complement

In usually adds information about place or time rather than completing the verb.

✕ They conceived in a new business model. ✓ They conceived of a new business model.

Confusing conceive as and conceive of

Use conceive as for roles or identities and conceive of for imagining ideas.

✕ The project was conceived of a museum. ✓ The project was conceived as a museum.

Using by with ideas

Conceive by is mainly used for biological methods, not for imagination.

✕ She conceived by a brilliant solution. ✓ She conceived of a brilliant solution.

Quick practice

Choose the expression that matches the intended meaning.

1. I cannot ___ a world without the internet.
2. The centre was conceived ___ a space for local artists.
3. The baby was conceived ___ IVF treatment.

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Frequently asked questions

Is conceive of always necessary?

For meanings related to imagining or understanding, conceive of is the usual and most natural form in modern English.

Can I say conceive as?

Yes. Conceive as is used to describe how something is planned, understood, or characterised.

Is conceive in correct?

It can be correct when in introduces place or time information, such as conceived in France, but it is not the standard complement after conceive for ideas.

calculate, by, calculate, in, calculate, from "call for" or "call on"? "campaign for" or "campaign against"? cancel by, due, at, in or for? capitulate to, in, like, by or after? captivate by, for, with, from or in? "capture by" or "capture in"? "care about" or "care for"? carry with, by, in, to or into? carve into, out, in, on or with? cast in, into, for, by or on? "catch in", "catch by" or "catch on"?

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