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Preposition after verb

tow and prepositions

Tow usually takes a direct object and may be followed by phrases showing destination or means. Tow to and tow by are not common fixed combinations.

Quick answer

How do you use tow correctly?

Use tow + object for the basic meaning: tow a car, tow a trailer. To can introduce a destination, and by can introduce the vehicle or method doing the towing. These are not fixed verb-preposition patterns.

They towed the car to the garage.
The boat was towed by a rescue ship.
We towed a trailer across the country.

Choose the pattern by meaning

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

1
tow + object

Pulling a vehicle or object

Tow usually takes a direct object.

The truck towed the van off the road.
2
tow + object + to + destination

Showing the destination

To introduces the place where something is taken.

They towed the boat to shore.
3
tow by + vehicle/agent

Showing what performs the towing

By appears mainly in passive structures.

The aircraft was towed by a tractor.

See the difference in context

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

Construction
Example
Meaning
tow to
They towed the car to a repair shop.
To introduces the destination, not a fixed combination.
tow by
The barge was towed by two boats.
By introduces the agent in a passive sentence.
tow + object
He towed a camper behind the truck.
Standard active use of tow.

Common mistakes

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

Using to without a destination

To should introduce a place or endpoint.

✕ They towed to the vehicle. ✓ They towed the vehicle to the garage.

Using by in active sentences incorrectly

By is usually used in passive constructions.

✕ They towed by a truck the car. ✓ The car was towed by a truck.

Quick practice

Choose the expression that matches the intended meaning.

1. They towed the boat ___ the harbour.
2. The car was towed ___ a recovery vehicle.
3. We need to ___ the trailer.

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Frequently asked questions

Does tow need a preposition?

No. Tow normally takes a direct object.

Is tow to correct?

Only when to introduces a destination, such as tow the car to the garage.

When is tow by used?

Usually in passive sentences to show the vehicle or agent doing the towing.

tackle by, in, for, with or on? tack-on-onto-to-across, as "tag with" or "tag in"? tailor to, for, from, toward or towards? "taint by" or "taint with"? "take into", "take in" or "take to"? "talk about" or "talk to"? tally with, in, for, up or at? "tap into" or "tap on"? target at, by, for, to or in? tarnish by, in, with, after or as? "taste like", "taste of" or "taste in"?

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