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Prepositions after verbs

Stab to or stab in?

Stab in is a normal English pattern. Stab to is not used after the verb stab in this meaning.

Quick answer

Correct prepositions with stab

Use stab in to mention the body part or location affected. English normally does not use stab to after stab. Other common patterns are stab with and stab at.

He was stabbed in the arm.
The victim was stabbed with a knife.
The attacker stabbed at the guard.

Choose the pattern by meaning

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

1
stab in + body part

Naming the place of injury

Use in before the body part or area affected.

She was stabbed in the shoulder.
2
stab with + weapon

Naming the weapon used

Use with to identify the instrument.

He was stabbed with a broken bottle.
3
stab at + target

Describing an attempted strike

Use at when the action is directed toward someone or something.

The man stabbed at the door wildly.

See the difference in context

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

Construction
Example
Meaning
stab in
The soldier was stabbed in the leg.
injury to a body part
stab to
Nonstandard in this meaning
not an idiomatic preposition after stab
stab with
She stabbed him with a fork.
showing the weapon used
stab at
He stabbed at the attacker.
attempting to strike

Common mistakes

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

Using stab to for body parts

English uses in, not to, before the injured area.

✕ He was stabbed to the chest. ✓ He was stabbed in the chest.

Confusing stab at and stab

Stab at can suggest an attempt that may not hit the target.

✕ He stabbed at him and injured him immediately. ✓ He stabbed him and injured him immediately.

Quick practice

Choose the expression that matches the intended meaning.

1. The victim was stabbed ___ the hand.
2. She stabbed the meat ___ a fork.
3. The suspect stabbed ___ the officer during the struggle.

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Frequently asked questions

Is stab to ever correct?

Not as a normal verb-preposition combination meaning attack with a knife. English uses stab in, stab with, or stab at.

Why do we say stabbed in the arm?

In introduces the body part where the injury happened.

Can stab at mean miss?

Yes. It often suggests repeated or attempted strikes that may not connect.

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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