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Preposition after verb

Forget about, in, by, to or for?

Forget about and forget to are common patterns. In, by, and for are usually separate expressions rather than fixed combinations after forget.

Quick answer

Which prepositions are used with forget?

Use forget about to mean stop thinking about something, and forget to for an action you failed to do. Forget in, forget by, and forget for are not standard fixed patterns, although those prepositions may appear later in the sentence.

Try to forget about the argument.
I forgot to lock the door.
She never forgets about her old friends.
He forgot to send the email.

Choose the pattern by meaning

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

1
forget about + topic

Stop thinking about something

Use forget about for ideas, worries, plans, or people you no longer consider.

You should forget about that mistake.
They decided to forget about the proposal.
2
forget to + verb

Fail to do something

Use forget to before another verb.

I forgot to call my parents.
She forgot to save the file.
3
forget + noun

Not remember something

Forget can take a direct object without a preposition.

He forgot her name immediately.
I forgot the meeting yesterday.
4
forget in/by/for + expression

Separate time or place expressions

In, by, and for can appear after the clause with their own meanings.

I forgot my bag in the taxi.
She forgot the date by accident.

See the difference in context

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

Construction
Example
Meaning
forget about
Forget about the delay and continue working.
Stop thinking about something.
forget to
I forgot to reply to her message.
Fail to perform an action.
forget in
He forgot his keys in the office.
In shows location, not a fixed pattern with forget.
forget by
She forgot the rule by mistake.
By introduces manner or cause.
forget for
I forgot about the appointment for a moment.
For often introduces duration or purpose, not a fixed pattern after forget.

Common mistakes

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

Using about before a verb

Use to before another verb.

✕ I forgot about call you. ✓ I forgot to call you.

Using forget in as a fixed pattern

In usually introduces place information.

✕ She forgot in the report. ✓ She forgot the report in the car.

Confusing forget and leave

Forget means not remember; leave means not take something away.

✕ I forgot my umbrella at home intentionally. ✓ I left my umbrella at home intentionally.

Quick practice

Choose the expression that matches the intended meaning.

1. I ___ send the invitation yesterday.
2. You should ___ that rude comment.
3. Choose the correct sentence.

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Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between forget about and forget to?

Forget about means stop thinking about something. Forget to means fail to do something.

Can forget be followed directly by a noun?

Yes. You can say forget a name, forget the date, or forget the meeting.

Is forget for correct?

Not as a common fixed pattern. For may appear later in the sentence with a separate meaning.

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? "fascinate by" or "fascinate with"? "fasten to", "fasten on" or "fasten with"? favor by, in, for, from or of? favour by, in, for, over or of?

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