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Prepositions before nouns

Prepositions used with enemy

Enemy can combine with several prepositions. The correct choice depends on whether you mean source, opposition, support, or relationship.

Quick answer

Which prepositions are used with enemy?

Enemy of is the most common pattern for identifying opposition. Enemy against is used in contexts of action against an enemy. Enemy from can identify origin. By enemy usually appears in passive clauses, and behind enemy lines is a fixed military expression.

He was considered an enemy of the state.
The troops advanced against the enemy at dawn.
The village suffered attacks by enemy forces.
They operated behind enemy lines for weeks.

Choose the pattern by meaning

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

1
enemy of + group/person

Identifying opposition

Use enemy of to show who or what is opposed.

The dictator became an enemy of democracy.
She was treated as an enemy of the company.
2
against + enemy

Describing action or resistance

Use against enemy or against the enemy for conflict, defence, or opposition.

The army launched an attack against the enemy.
Citizens united against the enemy invasion.
3
by + enemy

Showing the acting force

By enemy usually appears in passive constructions, especially military writing.

The bridge was destroyed by enemy fire.
The city was surrounded by enemy troops.
4
behind enemy lines

Referring to territory controlled by opponents

Behind enemy lines is a fixed military expression.

The pilot landed behind enemy lines.
They carried out missions behind enemy lines.
5
from + enemy

Showing origin or source

Use from enemy to describe something coming from opposing forces.

The soldiers captured supplies from the enemy.
We received threats from an enemy online.

See the difference in context

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

Construction
Example
Meaning
enemy of
He was seen as an enemy of reform.
Shows who or what is opposed.
by enemy
The camp was attacked by enemy forces.
By introduces the attacking force in a passive sentence.
against enemy
The border was defended against the enemy.
Shows resistance or action directed at opponents.
behind enemy
The standard expression is behind enemy lines.
Behind enemy alone is incomplete in most contexts.
from enemy
They recovered documents from the enemy.
Shows source or origin.

Common mistakes

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

Using enemy against as a noun phrase

Enemy against is not a standard noun pattern. Use enemy of or action against the enemy.

✕ an enemy against the government ✓ an enemy of the government

Using behind enemy without lines

The fixed expression is behind enemy lines.

✕ They travelled behind enemy. ✓ They travelled behind enemy lines.

Confusing by enemy with enemy of

By enemy introduces an acting force, while enemy of identifies opposition.

✕ He is by enemy forces. ✓ He was captured by enemy forces.

Quick practice

Choose the expression that matches the intended meaning.

1. She was described as an enemy ___ progress.
2. The base was damaged ___ enemy fire.
3. The soldiers operated behind enemy ___.

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Frequently asked questions

Is enemy of the state a fixed expression?

Yes. It is a common political and legal expression.

Can I say against the enemy?

Yes. It is common when describing conflict, defence, or opposition.

Why is behind enemy lines common?

It is a fixed military phrase meaning in territory controlled by opposing forces.

of, about, against, to or for racism? of, about, for, in or on friendship? of, about, for, on or to thing? of, about, for, to or with sex? of, about, on, to or for moon? "of access" or "with access"? "of accommodation" or "for accommodation"? "of accuracy" or "for accuracy"? "of action" or "in action"? "of actor", "with actor" or "by actor"? "of address" or "to address"? "of administration" or "in administration"?

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