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Prepositions after verbs

How to use provide with for and by

Provide for is a standard verb pattern meaning support or prepare for needs. Provide by is not normally a fixed combination; by usually introduces the person or method in passive structures.

Quick answer

Standard use

Use provide for when talking about supporting someone or planning for a need. Provide by is usually not a direct verb-preposition combination, although by may appear separately in passive sentences such as provided by the company.

She works hard to provide for her family.
The service is provided by local volunteers.

Choose the pattern by meaning

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

1
provide for + person

Supporting someone financially

Provide for means supply what someone needs.

He struggled to provide for his children.
2
provide for + situation

Preparing for a possibility

Provide for can mean make plans or arrangements.

The contract provides for annual reviews.
3
provided by + source

Naming the provider in passive voice

By introduces the source in passive structures, not a fixed combination with provide.

Internet access is provided by the hotel.

See the difference in context

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

Construction
Example
Meaning
provide for
The charity provides for elderly residents.
support or supply needs
provide by
The event was provided by sponsors.
by identifies the source in a passive sentence
provide with
They provided us with equipment.
give someone something
provide against
The policy provides against fraud.
protect against a risk in formal language

Common mistakes

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

Using provide by as an active pattern

Provide by is not normally used directly after the active verb provide.

✕ They provide by free meals. ✓ They provide free meals.

Confusing provide for and provide with

Provide for means support; provide with means give something to someone.

✕ She provided for us new uniforms. ✓ She provided us with new uniforms.

Missing the object after provide for

Provide for usually names the person or need.

✕ He works to provide for. ✓ He works to provide for his family.

Quick practice

Choose the expression that matches the intended meaning.

1. She saved money to provide ___ her children.
2. The software is provided ___ the university.
3. The agreement provides ___ emergency funding.

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Frequently asked questions

Is provide by correct?

Not usually as a direct active pattern. By commonly appears in passive structures such as provided by the company.

What does provide for mean?

It means support someone or make arrangements for a need or situation.

What is the difference between provide for and provide with?

Provide for means support or plan for. Provide with means give someone a thing.

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