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Prepositions after verbs

separate from and separate by

Separate from and separate by are both used in English, but they express different ideas.

Quick answer

Separate from or separate by?

Use separate from to show division or distance between things. Use separate by when naming what creates the division, often in passive structures such as separated by a wall.

The kitchen is separate from the dining room.
The two villages are separated by a river.
Children were separated from their parents.
The lanes are separated by a white line.

Choose the pattern by meaning

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

1
separate from + person/thing

Showing division or distinction

Use from to show that two things are not together.

Keep raw meat separate from fresh vegetables.
Her office is separate from the main building.
2
separated by + barrier/distance

Naming what divides things

Use by to identify the barrier, feature, or distance between things.

The gardens are separated by a fence.
The towns are separated by several miles.
3
separate A from B

Removing or distinguishing one thing from another

This pattern is common when dividing, sorting, or distinguishing.

The test helps separate fact from opinion.
Workers separated the glass from the plastic.

See the difference in context

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

Construction
Example
Meaning
separate from
The studio is separate from the house.
shows that two things are distinct or apart
separated by
The rooms are separated by a hallway.
names what lies between two things
separate A from B
Please separate white clothes from dark clothes.
means divide one group from another

Common mistakes

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

Using by instead of from for distinction

Use separate from when saying that things are distinct.

✕ The office is separate by the warehouse. ✓ The office is separate from the warehouse.

Forgetting the passive form with by

Separated by is more natural than separate by in many descriptions.

✕ The fields separate by a road. ✓ The fields are separated by a road.

Confusing physical division and distance

From focuses on separation itself, while by names the divider.

✕ The countries are separate from a mountain range. ✓ The countries are separated by a mountain range.

Omitting from after separate

Separate often needs from when two things are contrasted.

✕ Keep the chemicals separate food. ✓ Keep the chemicals separate from food.

Quick practice

Choose the expression that matches the intended meaning.

1. The parking area is separate ___ the main building.
2. The two paths are separated ___ a stone wall.
3. Please separate the recyclable waste ___ the regular trash.

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Frequently asked questions

Is separate by correct English?

Yes, especially in passive structures such as separated by a river or separated by a wall.

What is the difference between separate from and separated by?

Separate from focuses on being distinct, while separated by names the thing creating the division.

Can separate be used without a preposition?

Yes. For example, Separate the papers into two piles uses a direct object instead of from or by.

sack, by, sack, for, sack, from "sacrifice for" or "sacrifice to"? sail from, in, for, to or through? "salvage from" or "salvage in"? sanction by, for, in, with or according? satisfy with, by, in, about or after? "saturate with" or "saturate in"? save by, for, from, on or in? "say in", "say about" or "say to"? "scan for", "scan in" or "scan through"? "scar by" or "scar on"? scatter in, across, around, throughout or on?

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