Sign In Get Started
Prepositions after verbs

Recite in, recite to or recite by?

Recite to is the standard pattern for an audience or listener. In and by usually belong to separate ideas such as language, place, or method.

Quick answer

Which preposition is correct after recite?

Use recite to someone when naming the listener. Recite in can describe the language or setting. Recite by is uncommon after recite but may appear in phrases about method or authorship.

The student recited to the class from memory.
She recited in French during the ceremony.
The poem was recited by a local actor.

Choose the pattern by meaning

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

1
recite to + listener

Naming the audience

Use to for the person or group listening to the recitation.

He recited to his children before bedtime.
The actor recited to a packed theatre.
2
recite in + language or setting

Describing the language or context

In can introduce the language, style, or setting of the recitation.

They recited in Arabic at the event.
She recited in a calm voice.
3
recited by + performer

Using a passive structure

In passive sentences, by introduces the person performing the recitation.

The speech was recited by the lead student.
The verses were recited by members of the choir.

See the difference in context

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

Construction
Example
Meaning
recite to
She recited the poem to her teacher.
To introduces the listener or audience.
recite in
He recited the prayer in Latin.
In introduces the language or manner, not the listener.
recite by
The passage was recited by a guest speaker.
By is mainly used in passive constructions.
recite from memory
The child recited the lines from memory.
From memory is a common related expression.

Common mistakes

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

Using in for the audience

Use to for the listener.

✕ She recited the poem in her classmates. ✓ She recited the poem to her classmates.

Using by as the normal listener pattern

By is not used for the audience after active recite.

✕ He recited the story by the children. ✓ He recited the story to the children.

Confusing language and listener

In can describe language or style, not the audience.

✕ They recited in the judges. ✓ They recited to the judges.

Quick practice

Choose the expression that matches the intended meaning.

1. The boy recited the speech ___ the audience.
2. She recited the poem ___ Italian.
3. The prayer was recited ___ the choir leader.

Check your sentence in context

Paste the complete sentence below. Linguix checks the preposition together with grammar, spelling, punctuation, and style.

Free to try · No signup required

Frequently asked questions

Is recite to the standard pattern?

Yes. Use recite to someone when naming the listener.

Can I say recite in English?

Yes. In can introduce the language used for the recitation.

When is recite by correct?

It is mainly used in passive structures such as The poem was recited by an actor.

radiate-from-into-around-to, with "raise in" or "raise by"? rake in, through, across, at or over? rally in, around, to, behind or on? "rape by" or "rape in"? ratify by, in, on, according or as? ravage by, from, on, through or with? rave about, at, from, to or before? reach for, by, at, to or into? react to, with, in, by or like? read about, in, on, through or for? "realize in", "realize at" or "realize by"?

Write with confidence in Linguix

Create a free account to check complete texts, apply suggestions, and save your documents.

Create a free account