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Prepositions after verbs

Stain with or stain on?

Use stain with for the substance that causes a mark. Use on to show where the stain appears.

Quick answer

Stain with vs. stain on

Stain with is the standard verb pattern when you mention the material causing the stain: stain the shirt with wine. Stain on usually does not follow the verb directly; on normally introduces the surface or object where a stain exists.

She stained the tablecloth with coffee.
There was a dark stain on the carpet.
The artist stained the wood with oil.

Choose the pattern by meaning

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

1
stain + object + with + substance

Showing what caused the stain

Use with to name the liquid, dye, or material that leaves the mark.

He stained his gloves with paint.
The berries stained the towel with purple marks.
2
be stained with + substance

Describing a marked surface

The passive form focuses on the condition of the object.

Her fingers were stained with ink.
The wall was stained with smoke.
3
stain on + surface

Showing the location of a stain

On usually belongs to the noun stain, not directly to the verb stain.

We found a stain on the sofa.
There is a coffee stain on my notebook.

See the difference in context

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

Construction
Example
Meaning
stain with
They stained the fabric with tea.
Correct pattern for the substance causing the stain.
stain on
There is a stain on the fabric.
On shows the location of the stain, not the material.
stain by
The paper was stained by water.
By can name the cause in passive sentences.

Common mistakes

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

Using on for the staining substance

Use with when naming the material that causes the stain.

✕ She stained the dress on wine. ✓ She stained the dress with wine.

Confusing the verb with the noun phrase

On usually follows the noun stain, not the verb stain.

✕ He stained on the carpet. ✓ He left a stain on the carpet.

Quick practice

Choose the expression that matches the intended meaning.

1. They stained the wood ___ dark oil.
2. There is a coffee stain ___ the report.
3. Her hands were stained ___ ink.

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Frequently asked questions

Can I say stain on clothes?

Yes. On can describe the location of a stain: a stain on your clothes.

Is stain with always about colour?

No. It can describe any substance that leaves a mark, such as wine, ink, or smoke.

Can by replace with?

Sometimes in passive sentences. Stained by smoke is possible, but stained with smoke is more common for the substance itself.

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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