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Prepositions after verbs

Evict from, in, by, for or on?

The standard pattern is evict someone from a place. Other prepositions may appear in a sentence with evict, but they usually express time, method, reason, or location rather than a fixed verb pattern.

Quick answer

Which preposition is used with evict?

Use evict from when saying the place a person is removed from. Other prepositions such as in, by, for, and on are usually separate details in the sentence, not part of the core pattern.

The landlord evicted the tenants from the apartment.
They were evicted from the building after months of unpaid rent.
Several families were evicted by court order.

Choose the pattern by meaning

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

1
evict someone from + place

Removing a person from a property or area

Use from to name the place someone must leave.

The owner evicted the couple from the house.
Security evicted him from the stadium.
2
evict someone for + reason

Giving the reason for the eviction

For can introduce the reason, especially in legal or housing contexts. It is not the main preposition selected by evict.

The tenant was evicted for failing to pay rent.
They evicted him for repeated violations of the lease.
3
evict someone by + method

Describing the means or authority used

By often introduces the authority, process, or method connected with the eviction.

The family was evicted by court order.
The protesters were evicted by police late at night.
4
evict someone in + time or situation

Adding a time or contextual detail

In is not normally the preposition chosen after evict. It usually introduces a time expression or situation.

They were evicted in the middle of winter.
Several residents were evicted in 2024.

See the difference in context

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

Construction
Example
Meaning
evict from
The landlord evicted them from the property.
Standard pattern for removing someone from a place.
evict in
They were evicted in January.
In gives a time expression, not the destination or source of removal.
evict by
The tenants were evicted by court order.
By shows method or agent connected with the eviction.
evict for
He was evicted for breaking the lease.
For introduces the reason for the eviction.
evict on
They were evicted on Monday.
On usually introduces a date or day, not a fixed pattern after evict.

Common mistakes

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

Using the wrong preposition for the place

Use from to identify the property or area someone leaves.

✕ The landlord evicted them of the apartment. ✓ The landlord evicted them from the apartment.

Treating in as the main pattern

In can describe time or context, but not the place removed from.

✕ They evicted her in the flat. ✓ They evicted her from the flat.

Confusing reason with location

For explains why the eviction happened, not where.

✕ The manager evicted him for the office. ✓ The manager evicted him from the office.

Using on for the place

On usually refers to dates or surfaces, not the property being left.

✕ They were evicted on the apartment. ✓ They were evicted from the apartment.

Quick practice

Choose the expression that matches the intended meaning.

1. The family was evicted ___ the building.
2. The tenants were evicted ___ unpaid rent.
3. Several residents were evicted ___ court order.

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Frequently asked questions

Is evict from the most common pattern?

Yes. Evict someone from a place is the standard structure in English.

Can I use evict for?

Yes, but for usually introduces the reason for the eviction, not the place.

Does evict on exist?

On can appear with dates or days, such as evicted on Friday, but it is not the core verb pattern.

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"?

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