Forgive someone for something is the standard pattern. The other prepositions usually do not form fixed combinations directly after forgive.
Use forgive someone for something or forgive something. Forgive by, forgive in, and forgive of are generally not standard combinations after the verb. Because usually introduces a clause rather than following forgive directly.
These forms are not interchangeable. Choose the construction by meaning, not by which preposition appears most often.
Use for before the reason, action, or behaviour.
Forgive can take a direct object without a preposition.
Because can introduce a reason clause, but it is not a fixed pattern after forgive.
In, by, and of usually have their own meanings outside the verb pattern.
The same subject can take different constructions because each sentence answers a different question.
Some combinations appear in real text but do not mean what learners often assume.
Use for to introduce the reason or action.
✕ I forgive you of your behaviour. ✓ I forgive you for your behaviour.Because is followed by a clause.
✕ She forgave him because the mistake. ✓ She forgave him because the mistake was minor.By usually appears in passive sentences.
✕ They forgave by their parents. ✓ They were forgiven by their parents.Choose the expression that matches the intended meaning.
Paste the complete sentence below. Linguix checks the preposition together with grammar, spelling, punctuation, and style.
Yes. You can forgive a person or forgive an action directly.
It is not standard in current everyday English. Use forgive for instead.
By commonly marks the agent in passive sentences, such as was forgiven by his family.
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