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Prepositions after verbs

Consume by or consume in?

Consume usually takes a direct object without a preposition. By and in are normally part of passive or adjunct structures.

Quick answer

How consume is normally used

Use consume directly with an object: consume energy, consume food. Consume by is common in passive structures such as consumed by fear. Consume in is uncommon as a fixed pattern and usually introduces a place or activity.

The device consumes less power.
She was consumed by anxiety.
Most calories are consumed in the evening.

Choose the pattern by meaning

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

1
consume + object

Using consume directly

Consume usually does not need a preposition before its object.

Cars consume fuel quickly.
2
consumed by + emotion/fire

Passive meaning of being overtaken

By introduces the force or thing causing the effect.

He was consumed by jealousy.
3
consume in + place/time

Adjunct use with in

In usually adds location or time information rather than forming a fixed combination.

Most electricity is consumed in winter.

See the difference in context

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

Construction
Example
Meaning
consume by
The building was consumed by flames.
standard passive pattern
consume in
Most media is consumed in short sessions.
in introduces context, place, or manner
consume + object
Children consume a lot of sugar.
most common active structure

Common mistakes

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

Adding by in active sentences

Consume normally takes a direct object.

✕ People consume by too much sugar. ✓ People consume too much sugar.

Using in as the object marker

In usually adds context, not the thing consumed.

✕ She consumed in the meal quickly. ✓ She consumed the meal quickly.

Quick practice

Choose the expression that matches the intended meaning.

1. The old house was consumed ___ fire.
2. Teenagers consume a lot ___ online media.
3. Most coffee is consumed ___ the morning.

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Frequently asked questions

Is consume by always passive?

Almost always. It usually appears as consumed by something.

Can I say consume in public?

Yes. In public describes the location or context of consumption.

Does consume have formal tone?

It is more formal than eat, drink, or use in many contexts.

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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