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Verb + preposition

hasten with different prepositions

Hasten is most commonly followed by to + verb or by a place or method expression. Some combinations are rare or depend on physical movement.

Quick answer

Common uses of hasten

Use hasten to + verb for acting quickly: hasten to reply. Use hasten into or hasten from for movement. Hasten after is uncommon and literary. By usually introduces method or transport, not a fixed verb pattern.

hasten to apologize
They hastened into the room
We hastened from the building

Choose the pattern by meaning

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

1
hasten to + verb

Act quickly to do something

This is the most common structure.

She hastened to explain the mistake
2
hasten into + place

Move quickly into somewhere

Into shows direction toward the inside of a place.

The children hastened into the shelter
3
hasten from + place

Move quickly away from somewhere

From marks the starting point.

People hastened from the station after the alarm
4
hasten by + means

Describe transport or method

By is usually an adjunct, not a fixed complement of hasten.

They hastened by train to the capital

See the difference in context

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

Construction
Example
Meaning
hasten to
She hastened to answer the email.
act quickly to do something
hasten into
The crowd hastened into the hall.
move quickly inside
hasten from
They hastened from the scene.
move away quickly
hasten after
The dog hastened after its owner.
follow quickly; literary or uncommon

Common mistakes

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

Using by as a fixed complement

By usually expresses method or transport, not the main pattern after hasten.

✕ He hastened by finish the work. ✓ He hastened to finish the work.

Using after for ordinary actions

Hasten after is mainly used for physical pursuit and sounds literary.

✕ She hastened after reply. ✓ She hastened to reply.

Quick practice

Choose the expression that matches the intended meaning.

1. The manager hastened ___ clarify the policy.
2. Guests hastened ___ the ballroom before the rain started.
3. Workers hastened ___ the factory after the alarm.

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Frequently asked questions

Is hasten to old-fashioned?

It is formal but still common in news, literature, and careful writing.

Can I say hasten after someone?

Yes, but it is uncommon and usually means to chase or follow quickly.

Does hasten by mean the same as hasten to?

No. By usually introduces transport or method, such as by car or by shortcut.

hack-into-by-at-to, in "haggle with" or "haggle for"? "hail from" or "hail as"? hamper by, due, in, for or throughout? "handle by" or "handle in"? hang in, from, over, around or onto? "happen to" or "happen in"? harass by, in, at, for or with? "harm by" or "harm to"? harvest from, in, for, at or by? hate on, for, by, about or in? haul in, before, by, into or over?

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