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Prepositions after verbs

Love for, about, to, by or in?

Love is usually used without a preposition before the object. Some prepositions appear in specific expressions such as love for or in love with.

Quick answer

Using prepositions with love

Love normally takes a direct object: I love music. Love for is common as a noun phrase. Love about appears in expressions like what I love about. Love to introduces an infinitive. Love by and love in are not standard patterns after the verb love.

I love to travel.
Her love for animals is obvious.
What I love about this city is the food.

Choose the pattern by meaning

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

1
love + object

What does someone love?

Love usually takes a direct object without a preposition.

They love jazz music.
I love long walks.
2
love to + verb

What does someone enjoy doing?

Use love to before an infinitive.

She loves to cook.
3
love for + noun

Strong affection or enthusiasm

Love for is common when love functions as a noun phrase.

His love for football started early.
4
love about + noun clause

What quality is appreciated?

Use love about in expressions such as what I love about something.

What I love about this café is the atmosphere.

See the difference in context

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

Construction
Example
Meaning
love for
Her love for art grew over time.
Natural with the noun love.
love about
What do you love about your job?
Asks which qualities someone likes.
love to
I love to read before bed.
Introduces an action.
love by
The phrase love by someone is not a standard pattern after the verb love.
Use loved by when love is passive.
love in
Love in this phrase usually refers to place, not a fixed verb pattern.
Example: They fell in love in Paris.

Common mistakes

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

Adding a preposition before the object

Love normally takes a direct object.

✕ I love for music. ✓ I love music.

Using love by as an active pattern

Use be loved by in passive structures.

✕ People love by their fans. ✓ People are loved by their fans.

Confusing love in with in love

In love is a fixed adjective phrase.

✕ They love in each other. ✓ They are in love with each other.

Quick practice

Choose the expression that matches the intended meaning.

1. I love ___ learn languages.
2. What do you love ___ this book?
3. Her love ___ animals is well known.

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Frequently asked questions

Can love be used without a preposition?

Yes. This is the most common pattern: I love coffee.

Is love for only a noun pattern?

Mostly yes. It commonly appears with the noun love rather than the verb.

Is love by correct?

Not as an active verb pattern. In passive structures, loved by is correct: She is loved by her students.

label, as, label, with lag behind, in, from, on or by? "land on" or "land in"? languish in, at, on, for or near? last for, from, until, in or through? "latch onto" or "latch on"? laugh at, with, about, in or for? launch in, by, on, at or into? "lay on" or "lay in"? lead to, by, up, in or from? "leak to" or "leak from"? lean on, towards, against, toward or to?

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