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Preposition after verb

fascinate by or fascinate with

Fascinate is usually used without a preposition: something fascinates someone. In passive structures, by introduces the cause. Fascinate with is uncommon as a direct combination and often sounds unnatural.

Quick answer

How is fascinate normally used?

The usual pattern is “something fascinates someone.” In passive voice, use fascinated by for the thing that causes interest. Fascinated with appears in some contexts but is much less common than fascinated by.

Ancient maps fascinate me.
She was fascinated by the documentary.
Children are often fascinated by insects.

Choose the pattern by meaning

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

1
fascinate + person

Direct object after fascinate

Use fascinate directly with the person who feels strong interest.

Space exploration fascinates young scientists.
The story fascinated everyone at dinner.
2
be fascinated by + thing

Cause of strong interest

Use fascinated by in passive structures to name what creates fascination.

He is fascinated by medieval history.
We were fascinated by the machine's design.
3
be fascinated with + subject

Strong personal interest

Fascinated with exists but is less standard than fascinated by. It often emphasises ongoing personal interest.

She became fascinated with marine biology.
Teenagers can be fascinated with celebrity culture.

See the difference in context

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

Construction
Example
Meaning
fascinate someone
The exhibition fascinated visitors.
standard active structure
fascinated by
I was fascinated by the results.
most common passive pattern
fascinated with
He has long been fascinated with photography.
possible but less common and more personal
fascinate by
The design fascinated me.
by is not normally used directly after active fascinate
fascinate with
The speech fascinated the audience.
with is generally not used directly after active fascinate

Common mistakes

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

Adding by after active fascinate

Active fascinate takes a direct object without a preposition.

✕ The film fascinated by me. ✓ The film fascinated me.

Using with after active fascinate

Do not normally place with directly after active fascinate.

✕ The book fascinated with readers. ✓ The book fascinated readers.

Confusing fascinated by and fascinated with

By is the more standard choice in most situations.

✕ I was fascinated with the lecture. ✓ I was fascinated by the lecture.

Missing the object

Fascinate usually needs a person or group affected.

✕ The topic fascinates. ✓ The topic fascinates students.

Quick practice

Choose the expression that matches the intended meaning.

1. The documentary fascinated ___ audience.
2. She was fascinated ___ the artist's technique.
3. He has always been fascinated ___ astronomy.

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Frequently asked questions

Is fascinated with wrong?

No, but fascinated by is more standard and more widely used.

Can I say fascinate by in active voice?

No. Use fascinate someone, not fascinate by someone.

What is the most natural pattern?

The most natural patterns are fascinate someone and be fascinated by something.

face, with, face, by facilitate by, in, with, for or through? "fade into", "fade to" or "fade from"? fail in, at, to, on or for? "fall into" or "fall in"? falter in, after, for, on or under? fantasize about, on, of or over? fare in, against, to, as or on? "fasten to", "fasten on" or "fasten with"? favor by, in, for, from or of? favour by, in, for, over or of? "fear for", "fear in" or "fear of"?

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