undertake + task/project
Accepting responsibility for work
Use undertake directly with the activity or responsibility.
They agreed to undertake the survey this summer.
Undertake by or undertake in?
Undertake usually takes a direct object. Expressions with by or in often belong to another part of the sentence rather than directly to the verb.
Quick answer
How to use undertake with prepositions
Undertake normally appears without a fixed preposition: undertake a project, undertake research. “Undertake in” is uncommon in current English. “Undertake by” is not a standard verb-preposition combination, but by can introduce the method or agent in the sentence.
The company will undertake the review next month.
She undertook extensive training before the expedition.
The repairs were completed by local engineers.
She undertook extensive training before the expedition.
The repairs were completed by local engineers.
Choose the pattern by meaning
These forms are not interchangeable. Choose the construction by meaning, not by which preposition appears most often.
undertake to + action
Making a formal promise
Undertake to means promise or agree formally to do something.
The contractor undertook to finish the work by Friday.
undertake for + person
Doing something on behalf of someone
For can show the person who benefits from the action.
She will undertake the negotiations for the client.
undertake in + field
Limited use in formal contexts
Undertake in is rare and usually appears when in introduces a field or area, not as a fixed combination.
Researchers undertook studies in marine biology during the project.
See the difference in context
The same subject can take different constructions because each sentence answers a different question.
Construction
Example
Meaning
undertake + object
We will undertake a full investigation.
Standard pattern meaning accept or begin a task.
undertake by
The work was completed by volunteers.
By does not normally follow undertake directly; it usually introduces the agent or method.
undertake in
She undertook research in public health.
In introduces the field or context, not a fixed verb-preposition pattern.
Common mistakes
Some combinations appear in real text but do not mean what learners often assume.
Adding an unnecessary preposition
Undertake usually takes a direct object without a preposition.
✕ They undertook in a new project. ✓ They undertook a new project.Using undertake by as a fixed phrase
Use by for method or agent, not as the normal complement after undertake.
✕ The team undertook by experts the review. ✓ The review was undertaken by experts.Confusing undertake and participate
Undertake means take responsibility, not simply join an activity.
✕ She undertook in the meeting. ✓ She participated in the meeting.Quick practice
Choose the expression that matches the intended meaning.
1. The agency will ___ a detailed assessment.
2. He undertook to ___ the report by Monday.
3. She undertook research ___ climate policy.
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Frequently asked questions
Is undertake in correct English?
Usually no as a fixed combination. In often introduces a field or context after the object, such as undertake research in medicine.
Can I say undertake by someone?
Not as a direct verb-preposition pattern. Use a passive structure such as The work was undertaken by someone.
What does undertake mean?
It means accept responsibility for, begin, or promise to do something serious or important.
Related preposition guides
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