Taken with vs. Taken by – Which is Correct?
“Taken with” and “taken by” are both correct, but they express different relationships. “Taken with” commonly means photographed alongside something or affected by a feeling, while “taken by” often identifies the person who captured something or someone impressed by it. Choose the phrase based on who or what follows next.
Because “taken” is a past participle, comparing it with “took” clarifies the tense distinction explained in Took vs. Taken.
Taken with or Taken by – Which is Correct?
“Taken with” and “taken by” are both correct American English phrases. The correct choice depends on the meaning and the noun or pronoun that follows.
Use “taken with” when you mean that someone or something was included in a photograph, or when a person is strongly affected, attracted, or impressed by something. For example, “She was taken with the charming village” means that she liked or admired it.
Use “taken by” when you identify the person or device that captured a photograph, or when someone is impressed, attracted, or emotionally affected by another person or thing. For example, “The photograph was taken by Marcus” identifies Marcus as the photographer.
The Best Trick to Remember the Difference
Ask what role the phrase has in the sentence. If the phrase tells you what appears alongside the subject in a photograph or what has impressed someone, use “taken with.” If it tells you who captured the photograph or what caused someone’s reaction, use “taken by.”
A useful swap test is this: “with” suggests togetherness, while “by” suggests the agent or cause. Thus, “a picture taken with my sister” shows who was present, while “a picture taken by my sister” shows who operated the camera.
| Word | Part of Speech | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| taken with | Past participle + preposition | Photographed alongside someone or something; attracted to or impressed by something | “I was taken with the town’s quiet beauty.” |
| taken by | Past participle + preposition | Captured by a person or device; impressed, attracted, or affected by someone or something | “The portrait was taken by a professional photographer.” |
How to Use Taken with
“Taken with” has several common uses. In photography, it indicates that the subject appears together with another person, object, or place. In a more figurative sense, “taken with” means attracted to, charmed by, impressed by, or fond of someone or something.
The phrase is grammatically neutral, although the figurative meaning can sound slightly polished or literary. In everyday conversation, speakers may also say “really liked,” “impressed by,” or “charmed by.”
Example 1: We had our picture taken with the mayor after the ceremony.
Example 2: The children were taken with the colorful science exhibit.
Example 3: I was immediately taken with the apartment’s large windows.
Etymology of the phrase “taken with”
“Taken” is the past participle of take, a verb that comes from Old Norse taka and entered English during the Middle English period. “With” comes from Old English wið, meaning against, alongside, or in the company of. The phrase developed its literal sense of being together and its figurative sense of being emotionally captured or charmed.
How to Use Taken by
“Taken by” commonly identifies the agent responsible for an action. In photography, “taken by” tells readers who created the photograph: “The image was taken by Elena.” It can also identify the device or method used, as in “a photograph taken by a drone.”
In another common construction, “taken by” means impressed, attracted, charmed, or emotionally affected. The person or thing after “by” is the source of that reaction. For example, “He was taken by her confidence” means that her confidence attracted or impressed him.
“Taken by” also appears in fixed expressions such as “taken by surprise,” where it means caught unexpectedly, and “taken by storm,” where it means rapidly and enthusiastically accepted or conquered.
Example 1: The documentary was taken by an award-winning filmmaker.
Example 2: She was taken by the artist’s unusual use of color.
Example 3: The team was taken by surprise when the opposing side changed its strategy.
Etymology of the phrase “taken by”
“Taken” comes from Old Norse taka, while “by” comes from Old Norse byr, meaning a farm, settlement, or place. In English, “by” developed uses involving proximity, agency, and cause. These meanings explain why “taken by” can identify either the person who performs an action or the source of an emotional response.
Related Concepts
Understanding prepositions, passive constructions, and participles makes the difference between “taken with” and “taken by” easier to recognize.
- Past participles: “Taken” is the past participle of “take.” It works with forms of “be” in passive sentences, as in “The photograph was taken by Lena.”
- Prepositions: “With” often expresses association or togetherness, while “by” commonly expresses agency, method, proximity, or cause.
- Passive voice: In a passive sentence, “by” can introduce the person or thing that performed the action. “The portrait was taken by Jordan” means Jordan took the portrait.
- Figurative language: Both phrases can describe emotional reactions. “Taken with” and “taken by” may mean impressed, attracted, charmed, or captivated, depending on the context.
Examples from Media and Literature
Both phrases appear frequently in captions, reviews, storytelling, and everyday descriptions. The following examples illustrate their most common uses:
- Photography caption: “The cast was photographed together in a picture taken with the director.” Here, “with” identifies the person appearing alongside the subjects.
- News photography: “The image, taken by a local photojournalist, showed the crowd gathered outside the courthouse.” Here, “by” identifies the photographer.
- Film review: “Viewers may be taken with the film’s gentle humor and memorable characters.” Here, “taken with” means charmed or impressed by.
- Literary description: “The visitor was taken by the quiet beauty of the countryside.” Here, “taken by” means strongly affected or attracted.
- Action narrative: “The soldiers were taken by surprise at dawn.” This fixed expression means they were caught unexpectedly.
Practice Exercises
Choose the correct phrase, taken with or taken by, to complete each sentence.
- The wedding photograph was ______ a professional photographer.
- We were ______ the museum’s collection of ancient maps.
- She had her picture ______ her grandparents.
- The audience was ______ surprise when the lights went out.
- He was completely ______ her sense of humor.
Answer Key
- taken by — “By” identifies the photographer.
- taken with — “Taken with” means impressed or charmed by something.
- taken with — “With” identifies the people appearing alongside her.
- taken by — “Taken by surprise” is a fixed expression.
- taken by — “Taken by” means attracted to or impressed by someone.
Taken with Synonyms
| Synonym | Definition |
|---|---|
| Photographed with | Appearing alongside someone or something in a photograph |
| Charmed by | Pleasantly attracted to or delighted by someone or something |
| Impressed by | Affected by something admirable or remarkable |
| Enamored of | Strongly attracted to or fond of someone or something |
Taken by Synonyms
| Synonym | Definition |
|---|---|
| Photographed by | Captured in an image by a person or device |
| Attracted to | Drawn toward someone or something |
| Captivated by | Deeply interested in or fascinated by something |
| Caught by | Surprised, captured, or affected by something, depending on context |
Frequently Asked Questions
Question 1: Is it “a picture taken with” or “a picture taken by” someone?
Use “a picture taken with someone” when that person appears in the picture alongside the subject. Use “a picture taken by someone” when that person operated the camera or created the image.
Question 2: Is “taken by” a synonym for “impressed by”?
Yes. In a figurative context, “taken by” can mean impressed, attracted, charmed, or captivated. For example, “The guests were taken by the host’s generosity” means that the generosity impressed them.
Question 3: Is “taken with” the same as “taken by”?
They can overlap when they describe attraction or admiration, but they are not interchangeable in every sentence. “Taken with” often emphasizes fondness or charm, while “taken by” can emphasize the source of an impression or reaction. In photography, their meanings are clearly different.
Conclusion
“Taken with” and “taken by” are both correct, but “with” usually expresses togetherness or fondness, while “by” identifies an agent, cause, or source of attraction. Remember that a picture is taken with the people who appear in it and taken by the person or device that captures it. Pro tip: choosing the precise preposition strengthens your writing and protects your professional credibility.
