Word
from
US/ˈfɹəm/
UK/fɹˈɒm/
Definition
prep. used to show where something starts or where it comes from. You use it for places, times, or the beginning of a range.
prep. indicating the point in space, time, or scale at which a logical sequence, motion, or amount begins.
Examples
“The train travels from London to Paris.”
“The shop is open from nine in the morning until six in the evening every weekday.”
“The data set includes results from a wide variety of sources, ranging from small local surveys to large international studies conducted over several decades.”
Examples
simple
“The train travels from London to Paris.”
contextual
“The shop is open from nine in the morning until six in the evening every weekday.”
complex
“The data set includes results from a wide variety of sources, ranging from small local surveys to large international studies conducted over several decades.”
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “from” in context.
Usage
Commonly paired with 'to' or 'until' to define a range or duration.
Pitfall
It depends from the weather.
It depends on the weather.
Learners often translate directly from their native language and use 'from' with 'depend', but the correct preposition is 'on'.
Confusables
Since marks the start of a period that continues until now, while from marks a starting point without implying the action is still happening.
RememberSince = Still happening. From = Fixed start.
Etymology
From Middle English from (“from”), from Old English from, fram (“forward, from”), from Proto-West Germanic fram, from Proto-Germanic fram (“forward, from, away”). Cognate with Old Saxon fram (“from”) and Old High German fram (“from”), Danish frem (“forth, forward”), Danish fra (“from”), Swedish fram (“forth, forward”), Swedish från (“from”), Norwegian Nynorsk fram (“forward”), Norwegian Nynorsk frå (“from”), Icelandic fram (“forward, on”), Icelandic frá (“from”), Albanian pre, prej. More at fro.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Related words
Grammar
For Mandarin speakers
Grammar Mandarin indicates source or starting points using the coverb 从 (cóng) which is placed before the main verb. Because of this word order, learners often produce structures like 'I from London come' (我从伦敦来 wǒ cóng Lúndūn lái) instead of placing the prepositional phrase after the verb.
Collocations The Mandarin structure 离 (lí)... 远 (yuǎn) is used to express distance from a point, leading learners to say 'My home is far away to the school' or 'far away away from' rather than the standard 'far from'.
For Japanese speakers
Grammar Japanese marks the source or starting point with the postpositional particle 'から (kara)'. Because Japanese is a head-final language, learners often place the preposition after the noun, producing 'Tokyo from' instead of 'from Tokyo'.
Collocations The Japanese expression 'ここから (koko kara)' is often used to mean 'from now on' or 'starting now'. This leads learners to produce 'from here' when they intend to refer to a starting point in time rather than a physical location.
Domain
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.A1 MoversIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.2.0–3.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 1.0–1.50–23TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.120–224
- Frequency
- Very common
- Level
- A1 · BeginnerOxford
- Updated
- アルファベット
- 読み方の一覧 →
QR code
englishreference.com/q/from