Sign In Get Started
Prepositions after verbs

Inspired by or inspire to?

Inspired by is the usual adjective pattern, while inspire someone to do something is the common verb pattern.

Quick answer

Common patterns with inspire

Use inspired by for the source of an idea or feeling. Use inspire someone to do something for motivation toward an action. Inspired from appears occasionally but is less standard than inspired by.

She was inspired by her teacher.
The speech inspired thousands to vote.
He felt inspired by nature.

Choose the pattern by meaning

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

1
inspired by + source

Show the source of inspiration

Use by to name the person, event, or thing that gives inspiration.

The design was inspired by traditional architecture.
2
inspire someone to + verb

Motivate someone to act

Use to before an infinitive when someone is motivated to do something.

Her story inspired me to apply for the job.
3
inspire confidence in + person

Create a feeling in someone

Use in when a quality or feeling is created in people.

The leader inspired confidence in the team.
4
inspire enthusiasm for + topic

Create enthusiasm about something

Use for with nouns such as enthusiasm, respect, or passion.

The course inspired enthusiasm for science.

See the difference in context

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

Construction
Example
Meaning
inspired by
The film was inspired by real events.
Standard pattern for the source of inspiration.
inspired from
The painting was inspired from childhood memories.
Less standard than inspired by in modern English.
inspire in
The coach inspired discipline in the players.
Standard when a feeling or quality is created in someone.
inspire to
The article inspired me to travel.
Standard when followed by an object and infinitive.
inspire for
The teacher inspired respect for the law.
Possible in patterns with nouns such as respect or enthusiasm.

Common mistakes

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

Using inspired from instead of inspired by

Inspired by is the usual modern form.

✕ The song was inspired from folk music. ✓ The song was inspired by folk music.

Omitting the object before to

Inspire to usually needs a person or group before the infinitive.

✕ The speech inspired to act. ✓ The speech inspired people to act.

Using by with actions

Use to + verb for actions people are motivated to do.

✕ She inspired me by study harder. ✓ She inspired me to study harder.

Quick practice

Choose the expression that matches the intended meaning.

1. The novel was inspired ___ true events.
2. Her example inspired us ___ volunteer.
3. The manager inspired confidence ___ the staff.

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 inspired from wrong?

It appears sometimes, but inspired by is more natural and widely accepted.

Can inspire be followed by to?

Yes, in patterns such as inspire someone to succeed.

Why do we say inspire confidence in someone?

In shows that a feeling or quality is created inside people.

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