Sign In Get Started
Prepositions after verbs

Retrieve from or retrieve by?

Retrieve commonly uses from to show the source. By usually introduces a method or appears in passive structures.

Quick answer

Which preposition follows retrieve?

Use retrieve from to show where something is obtained or recovered from. Retrieve by is not a common fixed pattern after the verb retrieve, though by can describe a method or appear in passive voice.

She retrieved the file from the archive.
Data can be retrieved from the server.
The information was retrieved by investigators.
Users can retrieve records by entering an ID number.

Choose the pattern by meaning

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

1
retrieve + object from + source

Recovering something from a place

Use from to show the source or location.

He retrieved the keys from his bag.
The system retrieved data from the database.
2
retrieve by + method

Showing the method

By can introduce the method used to retrieve something.

Customers can retrieve orders by tracking number.
3
retrieved by + agent

Passive structures

In passive sentences, by introduces the person or thing performing the action.

The documents were retrieved by the police.

See the difference in context

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

Construction
Example
Meaning
retrieve from
She retrieved the package from the locker.
recover something from a source or place
retrieve by
You can retrieve files by keyword.
use a method or criterion
retrieved by
The records were retrieved by staff.
passive structure showing the agent
retrieve by + place
He retrieved by the archive.
nonstandard for source; use retrieve from the archive

Common mistakes

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

Using by instead of from for sources

From introduces the place or source.

✕ She retrieved the letter by the drawer. ✓ She retrieved the letter from the drawer.

Confusing method and location

By usually expresses method.

✕ Data was retrieved by the database. ✓ Data was retrieved from the database.

Omitting the object unnecessarily

Retrieve usually needs an object.

✕ He retrieved from the shelf. ✓ He retrieved the book from the shelf.

Using passive forms incorrectly

Use by in passive voice to name the agent.

✕ The files retrieved by the technician yesterday. ✓ The files were retrieved by the technician yesterday.

Quick practice

Choose the expression that matches the intended meaning.

1. She retrieved the photos ___ the cloud.
2. Users can retrieve records ___ customer number.
3. The evidence was retrieved ___ forensic experts.

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 retrieve from correct?

Yes. It is the standard pattern for recovering something from a place or source.

Can retrieve by be used?

Yes, when by introduces a method, such as retrieve by name or by code.

What is the difference between retrieve from and retrieved by?

Retrieve from names the source, while retrieved by identifies the agent in a passive sentence.

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