Sign In Get Started
Prepositions after verbs

Request for or request by?

Request for and request by are both correct, but they express different ideas. One names what is wanted, and the other names who made the request.

Quick answer

Understanding request for and request by

Use request for to say what someone asks for. Use request by to identify the person or group making the request, usually with the noun request rather than the verb.

They submitted a request for additional funding.
The delay happened after a request by the client.
She requested a meeting yesterday.

Choose the pattern by meaning

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

1
request for + thing

Name what is being asked for

For introduces the thing, action, or information wanted.

We received a request for technical support.
2
request by + person

Name the requester

By identifies the person or organization making the request.

The change followed a request by local residents.
3
request + object

Use request as a verb

As a verb, request usually takes a direct object without a preposition.

The manager requested a copy of the report.

See the difference in context

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

Construction
Example
Meaning
request for + thing
They made a request for more time.
Names what is wanted.
request by + person
The closure followed a request by the mayor.
Names who made the request.
request + object
She requested assistance.
Verb pattern without a preposition.
request to + verb
He requested to speak privately.
Asks for permission or an action.

Common mistakes

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

Using by for the thing requested

By names the requester, not the item requested.

✕ They sent a request by more information. ✓ They sent a request for more information.

Adding for after the verb request

Request as a verb usually takes a direct object.

✕ She requested for a refund. ✓ She requested a refund.

Confusing noun and verb patterns

The noun request often uses for; the verb usually does not.

✕ We request for immediate action. ✓ We request immediate action.

Quick practice

Choose the expression that matches the intended meaning.

1. The company received a ___ extra equipment.
2. The rule changed after a ___ several teachers.
3. She ___ a later appointment.

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

Can request for and request by both appear in one sentence?

Yes. For can name the thing requested, and by can name the requester.

Is requested for correct?

Usually no in modern standard English. Use requested + object instead.

Does request by mainly appear with the noun request?

Yes. It is most common when request is a noun phrase.

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