Sign In Get Started
Preposition after verb

Snatch from or snatch by?

Snatch from is the normal pattern for taking something away from a person or place. Snatch by is not a standard active combination.

Quick answer

Which construction is standard?

Use snatch from to show where or from whom something is taken. By usually appears in passive clauses such as was snatched by a thief, where by introduces the agent.

Someone snatched the bag from her hand.
The child snatched the toy from his brother.
The purse was snatched by a cyclist.

Choose the pattern by meaning

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

1
snatch from + person or place

Taking something away quickly

From introduces the source or owner.

He snatched the letter from the table.
They snatched victory from defeat.
2
be snatched by + agent

Passive meaning

By introduces the person or thing performing the action in passive clauses.

The phone was snatched by a thief.
The chance was snatched by a rival company.

See the difference in context

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

Construction
Example
Meaning
snatch from
She snatched the keys from him.
Standard active pattern.
snatch by
The wallet was snatched by a stranger.
Natural in passive voice, not as an active pattern.
snatch at
He snatched at the opportunity.
Try eagerly to get something.

Common mistakes

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

Using by after active snatch

Active snatch normally takes from for the source.

✕ He snatched the bag by her. ✓ He snatched the bag from her.

Confusing from and by in passive clauses

From marks the source, while by marks the agent.

✕ The purse was snatched from a thief. ✓ The purse was snatched by a thief.

Quick practice

Choose the expression that matches the intended meaning.

1. She snatched the papers ___ my desk.
2. The necklace was snatched ___ two men on a motorbike.
3. He snatched ___ the final ticket immediately.

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 snatch from be figurative?

Yes. You can snatch victory from defeat or snatch time from a busy schedule.

Is snatch by incorrect?

It is not standard as an active verb pattern, but it is normal in passive clauses.

What is the difference between snatch and grab?

Snatch usually suggests quicker or more sudden movement.

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?

Write with confidence in Linguix

Create a free account to check complete texts, apply suggestions, and save your documents.

Create a free account