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Prepositions after verbs

How to use prepositions with restrain

Restrain most commonly combines with from to mean preventing an action. By and in are used in different grammatical roles.

Quick answer

Use restrain from to prevent an action

Restrain someone from doing something is the standard pattern. By usually introduces the method in passive structures, while in can describe the area or activity where control is shown.

She restrained herself from laughing.
The suspect was restrained by security staff.
He showed restraint in negotiations.

Choose the pattern by meaning

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

1
restrain + person + from + -ing

Preventing an action

Use from before the action that is stopped or controlled.

They restrained him from speaking publicly.
2
restrained by + agent/method

Naming who or what applies restraint

By commonly appears in passive structures.

The crowd was restrained by barriers.
3
restrain oneself from + -ing

Controlling your own behaviour

This pattern describes self-control.

I could not restrain myself from smiling.
4
restraint in + activity

Describing controlled behaviour in an area

In is natural with the noun restraint, or as an adjunct, but restrain in is less common as a fixed verb pattern.

She showed restraint in her comments.

See the difference in context

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

Construction
Example
Meaning
restrain from
The law restrains companies from misleading consumers.
prevent an action
restrain by
The patient was restrained by medical staff.
show the agent or method of restraint
restrain in
They restrained him in the hallway.
in here introduces location, not a fixed verb-preposition pattern
restraint in
He demonstrated restraint in negotiations.
the noun restraint naturally combines with in for areas of behaviour

Common mistakes

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

Using restrain by for prevented actions

Use from before an action that is stopped.

✕ She restrained him by shouting. ✓ She restrained him from shouting.

Using restrain in as a standard fixed pattern

In usually adds location or context rather than forming the main pattern.

✓ They restrained him in the lobby.

Forgetting the -ing form after from

Restrain from is followed by a gerund.

✕ He restrained himself from speak. ✓ He restrained himself from speaking.

Quick practice

Choose the expression that matches the intended meaning.

1. She restrained herself from ___ anything rude.
2. The protesters were restrained ___ police officers.
3. They restrained him ___ entering the building.

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Frequently asked questions

What is the standard preposition after restrain?

From is the standard choice when describing an action that is prevented.

Can restrain be used with by?

Yes. By commonly introduces the agent or method in passive constructions.

Is restrain in correct?

It can appear when in introduces location or context, but it is not usually a fixed verb-preposition combination.

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"?

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