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Prepositions after verbs

Drink in, from, at, with or on?

The verb 'drink' combines with different prepositions for different meanings. 'Drink from' and 'drink with' are common. 'Drink in' has a separate meaning. 'Drink at' and 'drink on' are usually not standard verb-preposition combinations.

Quick answer

Common prepositions with 'drink'

Use 'drink from' for containers or sources, 'drink with' for companions or ingredients, and 'drink in' to mean absorb or enjoy fully. 'Drink at' is uncommon as a fixed combination, and 'drink on' is generally not idiomatic after 'drink'.

She drank from a glass bottle.
We drank with colleagues after work.
Tourists drank in the mountain views.

Choose the pattern by meaning

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

1
drink from + container/source

Talking about where a drink comes from

Use 'from' for cups, bottles, taps, rivers, and other sources.

He drank from a paper cup.
The hikers drank from a mountain stream.
2
drink with + person

Talking about companions

Use 'with' to say who you share drinks with.

I drank with my neighbours last night.
She rarely drank with coworkers.
3
drink with + ingredient

Describing an added ingredient

Use 'with' for milk, ice, lemon, sugar, and similar additions.

He likes coffee with oat milk.
She ordered tea with lemon.
4
drink in + experience

Meaning absorb or enjoy fully

The phrasal verb 'drink in' means to take in something with great interest or pleasure.

They stood quietly and drank in the atmosphere.
She drank in every detail of the performance.

See the difference in context

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

Construction
Example
Meaning
drink from
She drank from a metal flask.
Standard for containers or sources of liquid.
drink with
We drank with old friends after dinner.
Standard for companions or added ingredients.
drink in
He drank in the city lights.
A phrasal verb meaning absorb or appreciate fully.
drink at
They drink at the corner pub every Friday.
Here 'at the corner pub' is a place adjunct, not a fixed verb-preposition combination.
drink on
The phrase 'drink on' is not normally used after 'drink' in standard English.
Use another structure such as 'drink from' or 'keep drinking' depending on the meaning.

Common mistakes

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

Using 'drink on' for containers

Use 'from' for cups, glasses, and bottles.

✕ She drank on a bottle. ✓ She drank from a bottle.

Confusing 'drink in' with literal drinking

'Drink in' usually means absorb mentally or emotionally.

✕ He drank in a cup. ✓ He drank from a cup.

Treating place expressions as fixed combinations

In sentences like 'They drink at that café', 'at' shows location, not a special verb pattern.

✓ They drink at that café every weekend.

Omitting the companion preposition

Use 'with' to mention the people you drink alongside.

✕ I drank my colleagues. ✓ I drank with my colleagues.

Quick practice

Choose the expression that matches the intended meaning.

1. She drank ___ a glass bottle during the hike.
2. We sat quietly and drank ___ the sunset.
3. He often drinks ___ his cousins on holidays.

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Frequently asked questions

Is 'drink from' correct?

Yes. It is the standard choice for containers and sources of liquid.

What does 'drink in' mean?

'Drink in' means to absorb or enjoy something fully, especially sights, sounds, or experiences.

Can I say 'drink at a bar'?

Yes, but 'at a bar' is a location phrase. The preposition is connected to the place, not selected by the verb itself.

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