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Akdom Posted 18 years ago
Grammar

a desire "by" --- a desire "of"

The following is a quote from NYtimes:

"Mr. Friedman and other like-minded leadership educators have tapped into a desire by both students and established entrepreneurs for more integration of their careers and personal lives."
I don't get the preposition "by"; what's its function in this sentence? shouldn't there be a "of " instead?
"a desire of both students and ..."???
  

Top answer

akdom I don't get the preposition " by "; what's its function in this sentence? shouldn't there be a " of " instead? "???

— RayH

  • akdom I don't get the preposition " by "; what's its function in this sentence?
  • shouldn't there be a " of " instead?
  • "???
  • Strictly speaking you are correct but this formulation is so common I doubt that most native speakers would even notice it.
  • If you hadn't pointed it out I certainly wouldn't have.
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3 Answers
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akdomI don't get the preposition "by"; what's its function in this sentence? shouldn't there be a "of " instead?
"a desire of both students and ..."???
Strictly speaking you are correct but this formulation i
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So, the form will be "a desire by somebody"?
So, native speakers will follow desire with a "by"?

Would you please give me some examples? demo sentences to illustrate your explanations? thx.
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akdomSo, the form will be "a desire by somebody"?
So, native speakers will follow desire with a "by"?

Would you please give me some examples? demo sentences to illustrate your explanations? thx.

Sorry if I wasn't clear. I didn't say it was
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