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Prepositions after verbs

Swallow by or swallow for?

Swallow usually takes a direct object without a preposition. Swallow by and swallow for are not standard fixed combinations after the verb.

Quick answer

Does swallow take by or for?

Normally, no. We usually say swallow something. By and for may appear later in the sentence with different functions, but they are not standard verb-preposition patterns with swallow.

Please swallow the pill with water.
He swallowed his pride and apologised.
The town was swallowed by floodwater.
She paused for a moment before swallowing.

Choose the pattern by meaning

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

1
swallow + object

Taking food, drink, or medicine into the body

Swallow commonly takes a direct object with no preposition.

She could barely swallow the tablet.
The child swallowed the juice too quickly.
2
swallow + emotion/words

Using swallow figuratively

Swallow can describe suppressing emotions or accepting something difficult.

He swallowed his anger during the meeting.
She had to swallow her pride and ask for help.
3
swallowed by + thing

Passive meaning of being covered or absorbed

By is natural in passive structures when something is overtaken or absorbed.

The path was swallowed by fog.
Several villages were swallowed by the sea.

See the difference in context

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

Construction
Example
Meaning
swallow by
The city was swallowed by smoke.
possible only in passive structures
swallow for
She took the medicine for her cough before swallowing.
for does not directly follow swallow here
swallow + object
He swallowed the capsule.
standard active pattern
swallow up
The forest seemed to swallow up the road.
completely absorb or cover

Common mistakes

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

Adding by after active swallow

Swallow usually takes a direct object directly.

✕ She swallowed by the pill. ✓ She swallowed the pill.

Using swallow for as a verb pattern

For normally expresses purpose or benefit elsewhere in the sentence.

✕ He swallowed for the pain. ✓ He swallowed the medicine for the pain.

Forgetting the passive structure

By works naturally when swallow is passive.

✕ The fog swallowed by the town. ✓ The town was swallowed by the fog.

Quick practice

Choose the expression that matches the intended meaning.

1. Please swallow ___ with water.
2. The beach was swallowed ___ the storm.
3. He swallowed his pride and asked ___ help.

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Frequently asked questions

Is swallow by ever correct?

Yes, in passive sentences such as swallowed by the sea.

Does swallow need a preposition?

Usually not. It normally takes a direct object.

Can swallow be figurative?

Yes. Expressions like swallow your pride or swallow your anger are common.

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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