Sign In Get Started
preposition after verb

How to use "impose" with prepositions

Impose commonly uses on to show who receives a burden, rule, or duty.

Quick answer

Standard pattern

Use impose something on someone. By is usually used only to identify the agent in passive sentences.

impose restrictions on visitors
imposed on local businesses

Choose the pattern by meaning

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

1
impose + thing + on + person/group

Showing who receives the burden

On introduces the affected person or group.

impose taxes on imports
2
impose on + someone

Forcing yourself on others

Impose on can also mean inconvenience or take advantage of someone.

impose on your neighbours
3
imposed by + authority

Naming the agent

By is common in passive constructions.

The ban was imposed by the court

See the difference in context

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

Construction
Example
Meaning
impose on
The rules were imposed on all employees.
Standard pattern.
impose by
The fee was imposed by the council.
By names the agent in passive voice.
impose with
The phrase is generally nonstandard.
Use on for the affected person or group.

Common mistakes

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

Using by for the affected group

By does not normally introduce the recipient of the burden.

✕ They imposed new rules by staff. ✓ They imposed new rules on staff.

Dropping on

Impose usually needs on before the affected person.

✕ The law imposed citizens. ✓ The law imposed duties on citizens.

Quick practice

Choose the expression that matches the intended meaning.

1. The school imposed a ban ___ mobile phones.
2. The restrictions were imposed ___ the government.
3. Don't impose ___ your hosts.

Check your sentence in context

Paste the complete sentence below. Linguix checks the preposition together with grammar, spelling, punctuation, and style.

Free to try · No signup required

Frequently asked questions

Is "impose on" correct?

Yes. It is the standard pattern.

Can I use "impose by"?

Only when by introduces the agent in a passive sentence.

What does "impose on someone" mean socially?

It can mean to inconvenience someone or take too much of their time.

identify-with-by-in-as, for "ignore by" or "ignore in"? illuminate by, with, at, for or in? "illustrate by" or "illustrate in"? "imagine for", "imagine by" or "imagine in"? imbue with, in, by or onto? immigrate to, from, in, with or into? impair by, for, in, because or throughout? "impart to", "impart in" or "impart by"? "impeach by" or "impeach for"? "impinge on" or "impinge upon"? "implement in" or "implement by"?

Write with confidence in Linguix

Create a free account to check complete texts, apply suggestions, and save your documents.

Create a free account