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Prepositions after verbs

Receive from or receive by?

Receive from names the source of something. Receive by is usually part of a different structure about method, transport, or an agent in passive-style wording.

Quick answer

Which preposition goes with receive?

Use receive from for the person, company, or place that gives something. Use by for method or delivery channel, not as the normal source after receive.

I received from the bank a confirmation email.
The package was received by courier on Monday.
She received from her aunt a handwritten letter.

Choose the pattern by meaning

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

1
receive from + source

Naming who gives or sends something

Use from to identify the source of money, information, messages, or objects.

We received from the supplier a revised invoice.
He received from his doctor clear instructions.
2
receive by + method

Describing how something arrives

By can describe the method, channel, or transport connected with receiving something.

You can receive by email or text message.
The samples were received by air freight.
3
receive + object + from + source

Using a direct object with the source

This is the most common full pattern with receive.

They received a grant from the city council.
I received an invitation from Maya yesterday.

See the difference in context

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

Construction
Example
Meaning
receive from
She received a reply from the editor.
The editor is the source of the reply.
receive by
Customers can receive updates by email.
By introduces the delivery method.
receive by someone
The goods were received by the warehouse team.
By introduces the agent in a passive-style structure, not the source.
receive from someone by email
I received the contract from HR by email.
From gives the source; by gives the method.

Common mistakes

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

Using by instead of from for the source

Use from for the giver or sender.

✕ I received a gift by my friend. ✓ I received a gift from my friend.

Confusing source and method

By usually describes method, not the person sending something.

✕ We received the notice by the manager. ✓ We received the notice from the manager.

Leaving out the source preposition

From is needed before the source noun.

✕ She received advice her mentor. ✓ She received advice from her mentor.

Quick practice

Choose the expression that matches the intended meaning.

1. I received an email ___ the admissions office.
2. Customers will receive updates ___ text message.
3. The documents were received ___ courier.

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Frequently asked questions

Is receive by always wrong?

No. It is correct when by introduces a method, transport, or agent, such as receive by email or received by staff.

What is the usual preposition after receive for a person?

Use from: receive from a colleague, receive from a company, or receive from a friend.

Can I say receive something from someone by email?

Yes. From names the sender, and by names the method: I received the file from Anna by email.

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