Imagine does not usually take fixed prepositions such as for, by, or in directly after the verb. These prepositions often belong to other parts of the sentence.
Imagine is usually followed by a noun clause, pronoun, or verb form: imagine a city, imagine that, imagine doing something. Phrases with for, by, or in can appear after imagine, but they normally express purpose, method, or location rather than fixed verb-preposition combinations.
These forms are not interchangeable. Choose the construction by meaning, not by which preposition appears most often.
Imagine commonly takes a direct object or a clause.
Use a gerund after imagine for actions or situations.
In usually belongs to a following noun phrase, such as a place or role.
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.
Imagine does not normally take by directly as its complement.
✕ I imagine by this plan a better future. ✓ I imagine a better future with this plan.Imagine usually needs a direct object or clause.
✕ Can you imagine for the future? ✓ Can you imagine the future?Use himself, herself, or themselves when talking about a person's imagined role.
✕ She imagined in a new apartment. ✓ She imagined herself in a new apartment.Choose the expression that matches the intended meaning.
Paste the complete sentence below. Linguix checks the preposition together with grammar, spelling, punctuation, and style.
Usually no. Imagine commonly takes a direct object, clause, or gerund.
It can be correct when in introduces a place, role, or situation, such as imagine yourself in another country.
Only in special contexts where by introduces method or means. It is not a standard verb-preposition combination.
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