Prepositions after verbs

How to use prepositions with expect

Expect from and expect of are both common, but they have different meanings. Expect in is usually part of a separate time or place phrase.

Quick answer

Expect from vs expect of

Use expect from when talking about what you will receive from someone or something. Use expect of when talking about standards, duties, or behaviour. Expect in is usually followed by a time or place phrase, not a direct object.

expect help from your manager
expect professionalism of all employees
expect changes in the future

Choose the pattern by meaning

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

expect from + person or thing

Receiving something from someone

Use from for results, help, behaviour, or reactions coming from a source.

We expect better service from this company.

She expects honesty from her friends.

expect of + person or group

Describing standards or duties

Use of when referring to what is required or considered normal.

Good manners are expected of all students.

Too much was expected of the new employee.

expect in + time or situation

Using in as a separate phrase

In usually introduces a time period, place, or context rather than following expect directly.

Experts expect growth in the next quarter.

We expect improvements in rural areas.

See the difference in context

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

Construction

Example

Meaning

expect from

I expect clear communication from my team.

Refers to something received or produced by a source.

expect of

High standards are expected of doctors.

Refers to duties, standards, or behaviour.

expect in

They expect delays in winter.

In introduces the context or time where something happens.

expect something from someone

She expects support from her family.

A very common pattern for receiving help or action.

expect something of someone

The coach expects discipline of the players.

Focuses on requirements or standards.

Common mistakes

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

Using of for receiving something

Use from when talking about what comes from someone.

✕ I expect quick replies of my assistant. ✓ I expect quick replies from my assistant.

Using from for standards and duties

Use of for expectations about behaviour or responsibility.

✕ Professional conduct is expected from all judges. ✓ Professional conduct is expected of all judges.

Treating in as the direct complement

In usually belongs to a separate phrase of time, place, or context.

✕ We expect in the market. ✓ We expect growth in the market.

Quick practice

Choose the expression that matches the intended meaning.

1. We expect honesty ___ our employees.

2. She expects support ___ her colleagues.

3. Analysts expect changes ___ the economy next year.

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Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between expect from and expect of?

Expect from refers to what you receive, while expect of refers to standards or obligations.

Can I use expect in?

Yes, but in usually introduces a separate phrase about time, place, or context.

Is expected of more formal?

It is common in formal and neutral English, especially in rules, education, and professional settings.

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