Sign In Get Started
Prepositions after verbs

Enable by or enable in?

Enable is usually followed directly by an object and often by to plus an action. The phrases by and in are normally separate modifiers, not fixed combinations with enable.

Quick answer

How to use enable with by and in

Enable commonly appears as enable someone or something to do something. The prepositions by and in can appear after enable, but they usually introduce extra information such as method or context rather than forming fixed verb-preposition combinations.

The update enables users to work remotely.
The app was enabled by a recent software patch.
The feature is enabled in the settings menu.

Choose the pattern by meaning

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

1
enable + object + to + verb

Showing what someone or something can do

This is the most common structure with enable.

The new system enables employees to access files securely.
The scholarship enabled her to continue her studies.
2
enable + object

Activating or turning on something

Enable can mean activate a feature or function.

Please enable notifications on your phone.
The technician enabled the firewall before the test.
3
enabled by + source or cause

Explaining what makes something possible

By introduces the cause, method, or agent that enables something. It is not a fixed verb-preposition pattern.

Remote access was enabled by cloud technology.
The project was enabled by donor support.
4
enabled in + place or system

Showing where a feature is active

In usually refers to location, context, or system settings.

Dark mode is enabled in the latest version.
The option can be enabled in your account settings.

See the difference in context

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

Construction
Example
Meaning
enable + object + to + verb
The software enables teams to collaborate online.
Standard structure meaning make something possible.
enabled by + cause
The expansion was enabled by new funding.
By introduces the source or cause that made something possible.
enabled in + place/system
The feature is enabled in the mobile app.
In shows the location or context where something is active.
enable by + noun
They enabled access by using temporary codes.
Directly after enable, by usually starts a method phrase rather than forming a fixed combination with enable.

Common mistakes

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

Using in instead of to before an action

Enable is normally followed by to plus a verb when describing an action.

✕ The tool enables users in share files. ✓ The tool enables users to share files.

Treating by as the main pattern after enable

Enable by is not usually a fixed verb-preposition combination. Use by only to add method or cause information.

✕ The program enables by automation. ✓ The program is enabled by automation.

Forgetting the object after enable

Enable usually needs an object before the action.

✕ The update enabled to work faster. ✓ The update enabled the team to work faster.

Using enable in for actions

In normally refers to a place, system, or context, not an action.

✕ The feature enables users in save drafts. ✓ The feature enables users to save drafts.

Quick practice

Choose the expression that matches the intended meaning.

1. The new platform enables students ___ access lectures online.
2. The service was enabled ___ improved network infrastructure.
3. Parental controls can be enabled ___ the app settings.

Check your sentence in context

Paste the complete sentence below. Linguix checks the preposition together with grammar, spelling, punctuation, and style.

Free to try · No signup required

Frequently asked questions

Is enable by a standard verb-preposition combination?

No. By usually introduces the cause, method, or agent after enable rather than forming a fixed combination.

When do we use enable in?

Use in to show the place, system, or context where something is enabled, such as in an app or in settings.

What is the most common structure with enable?

The most common pattern is enable someone or something to do something.

earmark-for-by-as-about, at "earn from", "earn by" or "earn in"? "ease into", "ease by" or "ease in"? "eat at", "eat with" or "eat in"? "echo in" or "echo by"? edit by, for, in, to or from? "educate in" or "educate at"? eject from, at, in, into or by? elaborate on, in, upon, by or about? "elect to" or "elect by"? elevate to, in, above, by or as? "eliminate from", "eliminate in" or "eliminate by"?

Write with confidence in Linguix

Create a free account to check complete texts, apply suggestions, and save your documents.

Create a free account