Drain combines with different prepositions depending on movement, removal, or loss. Some combinations are standard, while others are uncommon or used differently.
Use drain from for the source of liquid, drain into for the destination, drain of for removing something completely, and drain out for liquid leaving a container. Drain by is not a standard pattern after the verb drain.
These forms are not interchangeable. Choose the construction by meaning, not by which preposition appears most often.
Use drain from to name the place or container where liquid starts.
Use drain into to describe the destination of water or another liquid.
Use drain of when something removes energy, money, strength, or resources.
Use drain out when liquid flows away from a container or area.
The same subject can take different constructions because each sentence answers a different question.
Some combinations appear in real text but do not mean what learners often assume.
Drain by usually introduces method or means, not a selected preposition after drain.
✕ The sink drained by the pipe. ✓ The sink drained through the pipe.From marks the source, while into marks the destination.
✕ The river drained from the sea. ✓ The river drained into the sea.Use of when someone loses energy, money, or another resource.
✕ The work drained him energy. ✓ The work drained him of energy.Drain out is usually intransitive.
✕ They drained out the pool. ✓ They drained the pool.Choose the expression that matches the intended meaning.
Paste the complete sentence below. Linguix checks the preposition together with grammar, spelling, punctuation, and style.
Not usually as a fixed verb-preposition pattern. By normally introduces method, time, or agency.
Drain from focuses on the source, while drain out focuses on the liquid leaving completely.
Yes. You can say something drained someone of energy, hope, or confidence.
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