preposition
HELPNOTE For the special uses of from in phrasal verbs, look at the entries for the verbs. For example keep sth from sb is in the phrasal verb section at keep.
1 used to show where sb/sth starts:
She began to walk away from him. * Has the train from Bristol arrived?
2 used to show when sth starts:
We're open from 8 to 7 every day. * He was blind from birth.
3 used to show who sent or gave sth/sb:
a letter from my brother * information from witnesses * the man from (= representing) the insurance company
4 used to show what the origin of sb/sth is:
I'm from Italy. * documents from the sixteenth century * quotations from Shakespeare * heat from the sun
5 used to show the material that sth is made of:
Steel is made from iron.
6 used to show how far apart two places are:
100 metres from the scene of the accident
7 used to show sb's position or point of view:
You can see the island from here. * From a financial point of view the project was a disaster.
8 ~ sth (to sth) used to show the range of sth:
The temperature varies from 30 degrees to minus 20. * The store sells everything from shoelaces to computers. * Conditions vary from school to school.
9 ~ sth (to sth) used to show the state or form of sth/sb before a change:
Things have gone from bad to worse. * translating from English to Spanish * You need a break from routine.
10 used to show that sb/sth is separated or removed:
The party was ousted from power after eighteen years.
11 used to show that sth is prevented:
She saved him from drowning.
12 used to show the reason for sth:
She felt sick from tiredness.
13 used to show the reason for making a judgement:
You can tell a lot about a person from their handwriting. * From what I heard the company's in deep trouble.
14 used when distinguishing between two people or things:
Is Portuguese very different from Spanish? * I can't tell one twin from the other.
IDIOMS
from...on starting at the time mentioned and continuously after that:
From now on you can work on your own. * She never spoke to him again from that day on.
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