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Prepositions after verbs

Retain by or retain in?

Retain usually takes a direct object. Retain in can describe location or inclusion, while by often belongs to passive structures.

Quick answer

How is retain used with prepositions?

Retain is commonly used without a preposition: retain control, retain staff. Retain in can describe where something remains. Retain by is uncommon as a direct combination, though by is natural in passive sentences such as was retained by the company.

The museum retained the original documents.
Water is retained in the soil.
She was retained by the law firm.
The company retained ownership of the brand.

Choose the pattern by meaning

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

1
retain + object

Keeping something

Retain usually takes a direct object with no preposition.

The team retained its title.
He retained control of the project.
2
retain in + place

Showing location or containment

Retain in describes where something stays or is kept.

Heat is retained in the building.
Moisture is retained in the fabric.
3
retained by + agent

Passive structures

By commonly introduces the agent in passive sentences with retained.

The consultant was retained by the bank.

See the difference in context

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

Construction
Example
Meaning
retain + object
The company retained its staff.
keep or continue to have something
retain in
Carbon is retained in the soil.
remain or be kept inside a place
retain by
She was retained by a client.
passive structure showing who kept or hired someone
retain by + noun
They retained by strong leadership.
not a standard active pattern

Common mistakes

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

Using retain by in active voice

Retain by is not normally used as an active verb pattern.

✕ The firm retained by experience. ✓ The firm retained experienced staff.

Adding unnecessary prepositions

Retain usually takes a direct object.

✕ They retained on control. ✓ They retained control.

Confusing passive and active forms

By usually appears in passive constructions.

✕ The lawyer retained by the case. ✓ The lawyer was retained by the client.

Using retain in for abstract possession

Use direct objects for possession or authority.

✕ She retained in authority. ✓ She retained authority.

Quick practice

Choose the expression that matches the intended meaning.

1. The club retained ___ championship title.
2. Water is retained ___ the reservoir.
3. The expert was retained ___ the company.

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Frequently asked questions

Does retain usually need a preposition?

No. Retain most often takes a direct object.

When is retain in used?

It is used for location or containment, such as retained in the body.

Is retain by correct?

It is mainly correct in passive structures like retained by the company.

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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