Prepositions after verbs

Remember for, remember as or remember in?

Remember can be followed by for or as with different meanings. In usually introduces a time or place expression, not a fixed complement.

Quick answer

Using remember with prepositions

Use remember for to describe the reason someone or something is remembered. Use remember as for the role or image people keep in memory. Remember in is usually part of a time or place phrase, such as remember in childhood.

She is remembered for her scientific work.
He is remembered as a generous teacher.
I still remember living there in the 1990s.

Choose the pattern by meaning

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

remember for + reason

Why someone or something is remembered

Use remember for to show achievements, qualities, or events associated with memory.

The city is remembered for its historic architecture.

She will be remembered for her courage.

remember as + role/image

How someone is remembered

Use remember as for identity, reputation, or role.

He is remembered as a pioneer of modern design.

The actor is remembered as a comic genius.

remember in + time/place adjunct

Using in with time or place expressions

In is not a fixed complement after remember. It usually introduces a separate time or place phrase.

Many people remember life in the village fondly.

She remembered the excitement in her first year at university.

See the difference in context

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

Construction

Example

Meaning

remember for

She is remembered for her leadership.

the reason someone is remembered

remember as

He is remembered as a brilliant surgeon.

the identity or role remembered

remember in

I remember him in his school uniform.

in introduces a separate description, time, or place

remember about

Remember about is uncommon in standard English.

usually replaced by remember or remember to

Common mistakes

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

Using remember in as a fixed pattern

In usually belongs to a time or place phrase, not directly to remember.

✕ She is remembered in her kindness. ✓ She is remembered for her kindness.

Confusing for and as

For gives the reason; as gives the identity.

✕ He is remembered for a great leader. ✓ He is remembered as a great leader.

Using remember about unnecessarily

Remember often takes a direct object without about.

✕ I remember about that trip. ✓ I remember that trip.

Forgetting the passive structure

Remembered for and remembered as are often used in the passive.

✕ People remember for his humour. ✓ People remember him for his humour.

Quick practice

Choose the expression that matches the intended meaning.

1. The scientist is remembered ___ her discoveries.

2. He is remembered ___ a fair leader.

3. I remember living abroad ___ the early 2000s.

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Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between remembered for and remembered as?

Remembered for gives the reason or achievement. Remembered as gives the role or image.

Is remember in correct?

It can appear before time or place expressions, but it is not usually a fixed verb-preposition combination.

Can remember take no preposition?

Yes. You can say I remember her face or I remember meeting him.

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