Kidnap normally takes a direct object. By is common in passive sentences to name the kidnappers. In usually introduces a place or situation, not a fixed combination after the verb.
Use kidnapped by in passive sentences to identify who committed the kidnapping. Use kidnapped in when referring to the location or context of the crime. Do not use kidnap by as an active verb-preposition combination.
These forms are not interchangeable. Choose the construction by meaning, not by which preposition appears most often.
Kidnap is usually a transitive verb followed directly by the victim.
Use by in passive sentences to identify the people responsible.
In introduces the place where the kidnapping happened.
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.
By belongs mainly in passive constructions.
✕ They kidnapped by the tourists. ✓ They kidnapped the tourists.In usually introduces a location or situation.
✕ The criminals kidnapped in demanding money. ✓ The criminals kidnapped the victim and demanded money.Kidnap normally needs a direct object in active voice.
✕ The gang kidnapped. ✓ The gang kidnapped a businessman.Choose the expression that matches the intended meaning.
Paste the complete sentence below. Linguix checks the preposition together with grammar, spelling, punctuation, and style.
Not usually in active voice. Use by mainly in passive forms such as was kidnapped by pirates.
It refers to the place or context where the kidnapping happened, as in kidnapped in the city centre.
In active sentences, kidnap normally takes a direct object naming the victim.
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