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Prepositions after verbs

Invade by, in, from, at or on?

The verb invade usually takes a direct object without a preposition: The army invaded the country. Prepositions such as by, in, from, at, and on usually belong to separate parts of the sentence.

Quick answer

Does invade need a preposition?

Usually no. Invade directly takes the place, area, or thing affected: Troops invaded the city. In passive sentences, by can introduce the invading force: The city was invaded by troops.

The army invaded the island.
The town was invaded by enemy forces.
Weeds invaded the garden.

Choose the pattern by meaning

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

1
invade + place

Entering a place by force

Invade normally takes a direct object with no preposition.

The soldiers invaded the border region.
Tourists invaded the beach town in summer.
2
invaded by + agent

Using the passive form

By introduces the invading force or cause.

The city was invaded by foreign troops.
The kitchen was invaded by ants.
3
invade + abstract noun

Figurative uses

Invade can describe unwanted spread into feelings, privacy, or space.

Fear invaded his thoughts.
Cameras invaded the actor's privacy.

See the difference in context

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

Construction
Example
Meaning
invade
The army invaded the territory.
Standard structure with a direct object.
invaded by
The region was invaded by rebels.
Passive form naming the invader.
invade in
They invaded in the north.
In can introduce location separately, but not as a fixed complement after invade.
invade from
The attack came from the sea after they invaded the coast.
From usually describes direction separately, not a direct complement of invade.
invade on
The troops invaded on Monday.
On introduces time here, not a fixed pattern after invade.

Common mistakes

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

Adding an unnecessary preposition

Invade usually takes a direct object.

✕ They invaded into the country. ✓ They invaded the country.

Using in after invade

Do not use in before the invaded place.

✕ The army invaded in the city. ✓ The army invaded the city.

Confusing passive and active structures

Use by only in passive constructions.

✕ They invaded by rebels the region. ✓ The region was invaded by rebels.

Quick practice

Choose the expression that matches the intended meaning.

1. The insects invaded ___ the storage room.
2. The village was invaded ___ enemy forces.
3. Tourists invaded the island ___ summer.

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Frequently asked questions

Can invade be used without a preposition?

Yes. That is the normal structure: invade a country, invade a market, invade privacy.

Why do I sometimes see invaded by?

By appears in passive sentences to name the invader or cause.

Is invade into correct?

No in standard English. Use invade directly with the object: invade the building.

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"?

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