Sign In Get Started
Prepositions after verbs

How to use prepositions with repair

Repair most often means fix something, but repair to also exists in formal English with a different meaning.

Quick answer

Which prepositions are used with repair?

Repair usually takes a direct object: repair a car, repair damage. Repair to is a formal expression meaning go to a place. Repair in and repair by are not fixed combinations after the verb, though in and by can add place or method information.

They need to repair the roof
After dinner, the guests repaired to the garden
The watch was repaired by a specialist

Choose the pattern by meaning

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

1
repair + object

Fixing something

This is the most common meaning of repair.

Engineers repaired the bridge
2
repair to + place

Moving to a place in formal style

Repair to means go to a place and sounds literary or old-fashioned.

The group repaired to the library
3
repair in + place

Adding location information

In can show where repairs happen.

The device was repaired in the workshop
4
repair by + person/method

Naming the agent or method

By introduces who performed the repair or how it was done.

The painting was repaired by experts

See the difference in context

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

Construction
Example
Meaning
repair to
The guests repaired to the terrace.
formal expression meaning go to a place
repair in
The phone was repaired in one day.
in introduces place or time
repair by
The machine was repaired by technicians.
by introduces the agent
repair + object
She repaired the chair.
fix something

Common mistakes

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

Using repair to for fixing

Repair to does not mean fix something for someone.

✕ They repaired to the computer. ✓ They repaired the computer.

Adding an unnecessary preposition

Repair usually takes a direct object.

✕ He repaired on the engine. ✓ He repaired the engine.

Confusing formal and everyday meanings

Repair to is literary and uncommon in everyday speech.

✓ After the meeting, they repaired to the lounge.

Quick practice

Choose the expression that matches the intended meaning.

1. The mechanic repaired ___ engine.
2. After the ceremony, the guests repaired ___ the hall.
3. The bicycle was repaired ___ a local technician.

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 repair to correct English?

Yes, but mainly in formal or literary language meaning go to a place.

Do we usually use a preposition after repair?

No. The common pattern is repair plus a direct object.

Can repair in be correct?

Yes. In can introduce place or time information, such as repaired in the workshop.

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