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Prepositions after verbs

How to use prepositions with suffer

Suffer is most commonly followed by from for illnesses and problems. Other prepositions are used in more specific contexts.

Quick answer

Common prepositions with suffer

Use suffer from for illnesses, conditions, or ongoing problems. Use suffer for in the sense of being punished. In, by, and with usually add context rather than acting as fixed complements.

She suffers from asthma.
He suffered for his mistakes.
Many businesses suffered in the recession.

Choose the pattern by meaning

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

1
suffer from + illness or problem

Experiencing illness or difficulty

From is the standard preposition for conditions, pain, or ongoing problems.

He suffers from anxiety.
The town suffered from flooding last winter.
2
suffer for + action

Being punished or harmed because of something

For introduces the reason someone experiences punishment or consequences.

They suffered for their decisions.
He suffered for ignoring the warnings.
3
suffer in + situation

Experiencing difficulty in a context

In introduces the situation or environment where suffering occurs.

Small firms suffered in the economic downturn.
Many athletes suffer in extreme heat.
4
suffer by + cause

Showing the cause of harm

By can introduce the cause in more formal or passive-style wording.

The crops suffered by prolonged drought.
Several areas suffered by repeated power cuts.
5
suffer with + illness

Alternative illness pattern

With is sometimes used for illnesses, especially in British English, though from is more common.

She suffers with severe migraines.
Many patients suffer with chronic pain.

See the difference in context

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

Construction
Example
Meaning
suffer from
He suffers from back pain.
Standard pattern for illness or ongoing problems.
suffer in
Tourism suffered in the pandemic.
In introduces the situation where difficulties happen.
suffer for
They suffered for their mistakes.
Shows punishment or negative consequences.
suffer by
The region suffered by years of neglect.
Formal or less common way to show the cause of suffering.
suffer with
She suffers with arthritis.
Alternative illness pattern, especially in British English.

Common mistakes

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

Using suffer of

English does not normally use of after suffer.

✕ He suffers of insomnia. ✓ He suffers from insomnia.

Confusing suffer for and suffer from

From is for conditions; for is for consequences or punishment.

✕ She suffered for asthma. ✓ She suffered from asthma.

Overusing suffer by

By is less common and can sound formal or awkward.

✓ The area suffered from drought for several years.

Quick practice

Choose the expression that matches the intended meaning.

1. She suffers ___ allergies every spring.
2. He suffered ___ his careless decision.
3. Many shops suffered ___ the economic crisis.

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Frequently asked questions

Is suffer from the most common pattern?

Yes. It is the standard expression for illnesses and problems.

Can I say suffer with?

Yes. It is used by some speakers, especially in British English, mainly for illnesses.

What does suffer for mean?

It means experience punishment or negative consequences because of something.

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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