from
from — preposition
1. used to state the place where a person, vehicle, or object begins moving or bein
used to state the place where a person, vehicle, or object begins moving or being sent.
Leo took the train from Taipei to Kaohsiung for the weekend trip.
from + place (movement between locations)
A letter arrived from an address in Tokyo that Anna did not recognise.
Bao drove all the way from his village to the city hospital.
Smoke was rising from the chimney of the old stone farmhouse.
from + noun (point of origin for physical movement)
Shirin picked a single red flower from the garden and held it up.
- from ... to
- from ... until
- come from
- arrive from
- rise from
- to
indicates destination rather than starting point
Grammar Patterns
from + place
Usage Note
Often paired with to or until to show both endpoints of a journey: from Taipei to Kaohsiung.
Common Mistakes
2. used to state the point in time when an event, period, or process begins.
used to state the point in time when an event, period, or process begins.
The shop is open from nine in the morning until six at night.
from + time + until/to + time
Asher has worked at the library from the very first day it opened.
From next Monday the bus fare will be reduced by five dollars.
This old photograph dates from the year Marco's grandfather was born.
from + date/year (starting point in past)
From the moment the bride walked in, the whole room fell silent.
- from ... to
- from ... until
- from ... onwards
- date from
- open from
- starting
more emphatic and less common in everyday speech
- until
marks the endpoint, not the beginning
Grammar Patterns
from + time expression
Usage Note
Typically paired with to, until, or till to indicate the endpoint of the period. Can also stand alone when the endpoint is clear from context (e.g. from 1990).
3. used to show that something began at a stated time and has continued without sto
used to show that something began at a stated time and has continued without stopping after that point.
From the age of six, Obi has been playing the piano every single day.
from + age (continuous activity up to present)
From now on I will check my email before leaving the office.
The two children have been best friends from the day they met at nursery school.
Min has lived in the same small apartment from 2010 right up to the present.
from + year + up to the present (unbroken duration)
From that night onward Joaquín never touched another cigarette again.
- from now on
- from then on
- from ... onward
- from ... onwards
- from ... right up to
- since
more precise for a specific past starting point still relevant now
Grammar Patterns
from + time/age + onward/clause
Usage Note
Distinguish from sense 2: this sense emphasises the continuing duration after the starting point (often using onward, on, or a present-perfect verb). Sense 2 simply marks when something begins, regardless of duration.
4. used to indicate the amount of space separating one location from another locati
used to indicate the amount of space separating one location from another location.
The beach is only two hundred metres from the hotel where we are staying.
distance measure + from + place
The library is about a ten-minute walk from the train station.
We could see the mountain peak from several kilometres away.
see/hear + from + distance away
The car was parked roughly fifty feet from the entrance to the building.
Michael lives just three blocks from the main town square.
- kilometres from
- miles from
- minutes from
- blocks from
- away from
- far from
Grammar Patterns
from + place (distance measure)
5. used to identify the place, person, or thing that someone or something originall
used to identify the place, person, or thing that someone or something originally comes from.
Christopher is a journalist from Canada who now lives in Berlin.
person + from + place of origin/nationality
This ancient recipe comes from a village in the mountains of northern Italy.
The painting dates from the seventeenth century and is very valuable.
Tara received a postcard from her cousin who is travelling across Europe.
receive + from + person (sender)
The survey data was collected from over two thousand households across the island.
- come from
- be from
- hear from
- receive from
- date from
- a gift from
- originating in
more formal; used in writing rather than speech
Grammar Patterns
from + place/person (origin)
Usage Note
Covers both geographical origin (from Canada) and personal origin (a gift from my aunt). When the emphasis is on the sender rather than the starting point, the meaning overlaps with sense 1.
Common Mistakes
6. used to state the substance or material that a thing is made of, especially when
used to state the substance or material that a thing is made of, especially when the original form is changed.
The statue was carved from a single block of white marble.
carved + from + material (transformation of substance)
Wine is made from grapes that are grown in warm, sunny climates.
The night-shift nurse built a small bookshelf from wood she found in the garage.
Traditional Japanese houses are often made from paper, wood, and bamboo.
made from + materials (demonstrating constituent substances)
The cheese is produced from the milk of goats that graze on the hillside.
- made from
- carved from
- built from
- fashioned from
- brewed from
- produced from
- of
used when the material is still recognisable in its original form
Grammar Patterns
be made/formed/carved/built from + material
Usage Note
Compare with made of: made from suggests the original material was changed or transformed into something different (grapes → wine), whereas made of typically describes the physical substance you can still recognise (a table made of wood).
Common Mistakes
7. marks the lowest point in a range of numbers, prices, or amounts — for example,
marks the lowest point in a range of numbers, prices, or amounts — for example, tickets from $10 to $50.
Tickets for the concert cost from $25 to $80, depending on the seat.
pattern: from [amount] to [amount] for range
The hotel offers rooms from £90 a night during the low season.
from + [price] without 'to' when upper bound is known
Children from age five can join the swimming class at the community centre.
There were from thirty to forty guests at the wedding reception.
from + [number] + to + [number] for estimate
The shop sells handmade woollen scarves from just twelve dollars.
- from … to …
- from … up to …
- range from
- cost from
- prices from
Grammar Patterns
from + [number/amount] + to + [number/amount]
Usage Note
Often paired with 'to' to show the full range boundary, though the upper limit can be left implied.
Common Mistakes
8. indicates the state, form, or condition that existed before a change or transfor
indicates the state, form, or condition that existed before a change or transformation into something different.
The old factory was converted from a grain mill into a modern art gallery.
passive: be converted from [old state] into [new state]
Élise translated the novel from French into English over two years.
translate from [language] into [language]
The weather changed from warm and sunny to cold and rainy in just one hour.
Arjun rose from office clerk to regional manager within five years.
rise from [low position] to [high position] for career
The recipe can be adapted from a family dish to a restaurant menu item.
- change from
- convert from
- translate from
- rise from
- adapt from
Grammar Patterns
from + [state A] + to/into + [state B]
Usage Note
The second state is typically introduced by 'to' or 'into'. Frequently used with verbs of transformation such as change, convert, translate, and adapt.
Common Mistakes
9. shows the cause of an event or explains why someone does something — for example
shows the cause of an event or explains why someone does something — for example, acting from fear or crying from pain.
The child was crying from hunger after missing lunch at school.
cry from [physical cause]
Talia helped the neighbour from a sense of kindness, not for money.
do something from [emotion/motive]
Many people in the village suffer from a lack of clean drinking water.
The plant died from too much direct sunlight and not enough water.
die from [cause] — physical cause
Hassan made his decision from fear rather than from careful thought.
from [emotion] rather than from [reason] — contrast
- suffer from
- die from
- cry from
- act from
- tired from
- because of
more explicit causal connector, used in more formal contexts
- due to
formal; often used in official or written explanations
- out of
similar meaning, especially for emotions; 'out of kindness' equals 'from kindness'
Grammar Patterns
from + [noun phrase indicating cause]
Usage Note
Common after verbs like suffer, die, cry, act when the following noun names a cause, not a person or place. Distinguish from sense 7 (number range) and sense 10 (basis for judgment).
Common Mistakes
10. indicates the facts, information, or opinions that someone uses to form a judgme
indicates the facts, information, or opinions that someone uses to form a judgment, an opinion, or a decision.
From the look on her face, Leila could tell she was not happy.
fronted: From + [noun phrase], [main clause]
The police concluded from the evidence that the fire was an accident.
conclude from [evidence] that [clause]
From what the manager said, the company plans to hire more staff.
from what + [clause] — followed by wh-clause
Aoi could tell from the man's accent that he grew up in the south.
The doctor knew from her long experience that the treatment would work.
- tell from
- know from
- conclude from
- judge from
- from what…
- based on
more explicit; often used with evidence or facts
- judging by
used at the start of a sentence to introduce a guess
Grammar Patterns
from + [noun phrase] / from + [wh-word + clause]
Usage Note
Often occurs with perception and conclusion verbs: tell, know, conclude, judge, guess. The phrase can appear at the start of a sentence (fronted) or in the middle.
Common Mistakes
11. marks the departure of a person from a location, or the act of removing or detac
marks the departure of a person from a location, or the act of removing or detaching an object from where it originally was.
Two valuable paintings were stolen from the museum during the night.
passive: be stolen from [place]
The nurse removed the bandage from Layla's arm very gently.
remove [object] from [body part]
The children were told to stay away from the construction site.
stay away from [place] — warning/instruction
Hoa wiped the dust from the old wooden shelf with a cloth.
The cat jumped from the table when it heard the loud noise.
- stolen from
- removed from
- wiped from
- stay away from
- jump from
- to
opposite direction — movement toward a place
Grammar Patterns
[verb] + [object] + from + [place/thing]
Usage Note
Distinguish from sense 1 (starting place): sense 1 names the origin without implying removal. Here the verb itself (steal, remove, wipe) expresses a detaching action.
Common Mistakes
12. marks the reduction of a total by removing a portion — for example, deducting a
marks the reduction of a total by removing a portion — for example, deducting a fee from an account balance.
If you take five from twelve, the answer you get is seven.
take [number] from [number] for arithmetic subtraction
Each month, the bank deducts a small fee from Cyrus's account.
deduct [amount] from [account]
After tax is deducted from a salary, the worker takes home about two thousand dollars.
Ten points were deducted from the team's score for breaking the rules.
passive: be deducted from [score]
- take from
- deduct from
- subtract from
- points deducted from
- minus
used in arithmetic; 'ten minus five equals five'
- add to
opposite operation — increasing a total
Grammar Patterns
[verb] + [amount] + from + [total]
Usage Note
Less common in everyday speech outside arithmetic and financial contexts. The verbs take, deduct, and subtract are the typical anchors. 'Deduct from' is especially common in formal or business settings.
Common Mistakes
13. used to mark how two people, things, or ideas differ — for example, telling one
used to mark how two people, things, or ideas differ — for example, telling one thing apart from another, or saying that a person's views are not the same as someone else's.
My taste in music is very different from my sister's taste.
different from — comparing two people's preferences
The twins look so alike that even their teacher cannot tell one from the other.
tell one from the other — distinguishing similar things
Nora can usually separate useful information from advertisements when she reads online.
Élise's cooking style is quite distinct from her mother's traditional methods.
distinct from — formal difference
- different from
- separate from
- tell apart from
- distinguish from
- distinct from
- versus
used for direct contrast rather than describing a difference (e.g., 'the decision versus the alternative')
Grammar Patterns
from in comparative and differentiating patterns
Usage Note
Often paired with comparative verbs and adjectives such as differ, tell, distinguish, separate, and different, all followed by from.
Common Mistakes
14. used to introduce the position, standpoint, or way of looking at a matter — for
used to introduce the position, standpoint, or way of looking at a matter — for example, considering a situation from a parent's perspective, or observing a building from a particular spot.
From a parent's point of view, the shorter school hours are very convenient.
from a [role]'s point of view — expressing a perspective
Lakan watched the whole parade from the second-floor window of his apartment.
From an environmental standpoint, the new factory uses far less energy than the old one.
from a ... standpoint — formal perspective marker
The old castle looks especially impressive from a distance on a clear morning.
Sumin explained the whole problem from a beginner's perspective to help the new team members.
- from a ... point of view
- from a ... perspective
- from a ... standpoint
- from a distance
- from where I stand
- according to
used to cite another person's view rather than stating one's own position (e.g., 'according to the report')
- through the eyes of
more metaphorical and vivid, used for sharing someone else's experience
Grammar Patterns
from + noun phrase (from X's perspective)
from + adverb phrase (from here/where I stand)
Usage Note
Can express both a literal physical position (from a window, from the top) and an abstract viewpoint (from my point of view, from a legal standpoint). Not interchangeable with in my opinion, though both express personal views.
Common Mistakes
15. used to indicate what a person or thing is guarded or shielded against — for exa
used to indicate what a person or thing is guarded or shielded against — for example, protecting children from cold, or sheltering your skin from the sun.
The thick woollen blanket protected the children from the cold night air.
protect from — keeping someone safe
Amira wore a wide hat to shelter her face from the strong desert sun.
shelter from — shielding against weather
The new vaccine keeps the body safe from several serious winter illnesses.
keep safe from — disease prevention
A good raincoat will guard you from getting wet even in a heavy storm.
- protect from
- shelter from
- keep safe from
- guard from
- shield from
- defend from
Grammar Patterns
from after verbs of protection (protect from, shelter from, keep safe from)
Usage Note
Always follows a verb or phrase expressing protection (protect, shelter, shield, guard, keep safe, defend). The object after from is the danger or harm being avoided.
Common Mistakes
16. introduces the thing being stopped or the information being withheld — for insta
introduces the thing being stopped or the information being withheld — for instance, someone prevented from entering a building, or a secret that is kept from a family member.
The sudden heavy rain prevented Yara from going to the park that afternoon.
prevent from — stopping an action
Why did you keep this important news from your best friend for so long?
keep from — hiding information
The security guard stopped everyone from entering the building during the fire alarm.
stop from — preventing movement
Adina kept the bad news from her grandmother to avoid upsetting her.
- prevent from
- stop from
- keep from
- prohibit from
- ban from
- hide from
Grammar Patterns
from after verbs of prevention (prevent from, stop from) and secrecy (keep from, hide from)
Usage Note
Follows verbs of prevention (prevent, stop, prohibit, ban) or secrecy (keep, hide, withhold, conceal). The pattern after from always uses a gerund for actions, or a noun/noun phrase for secrets or information.
Common Mistakes
from… on
idiomStarting at a specific time and continuing after that.
From now on, Maya will check her email every morning.
Did Brian promise to help more from next week on?
Synonym discussion
Sense: preposition/5
From vs. since (time): 'From' simply marks the starting point of a period ('from 9 am to 5 pm'), while 'since' emphasises that the action continues up to now ('I have worked here since 2019'). Use 'since' only with perfect tenses for a past starting point that is still relevant. — From vs. of (origin): 'From' identifies the place or source a thing originates ('wine from France'), whereas 'of' suggests belonging or composition ('the colour of the wine', 'a bottle of wine'). After 'made', use 'from' when the original material is transformed ('wine made from grapes') and 'of' when it stays recognisable ('a table made of wood'). — From vs. out of (removal): 'From' works for general separation ('take the book from the shelf'), while 'out of' implies the inside of a container or enclosed space ('take the book out of the bag'). For emotions, 'out of' can replace 'from' in causal uses ('out of kindness' = 'from kindness').
Common collocations
Phrases
- from … to …
- from time to time
- from now on
- from then on
- from scratch
- from day one
- from start to finish
- from beginning to end
- from head to toe
- from cover to cover
- from door to door
- from place to place
- from person to person
- from morning till night
Etymology
From comes from Old English 'fram', which originally meant 'forward, onward' or 'movement away'. It traces back to Proto-Germanic *fram- ('forward, from'), and is related to Old Norse 'frá', Old High German 'fram' ('forward, away'), and modern German 'von'. The core idea of movement away from something developed into the modern use for indicating a starting point in place, time, origin, or cause.