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Anonymous Posted 13 years ago
Vocabulary

Attempt at OR attempt to

an attempt at understanding the cause

an attempt to understanding the cause

which is correct?
thanks
  

Top answer

I doubt there's a strong "rule" for these prepositions, but here's what sounds natural to me: We attempt to do (verb) something; we make an attempt at something (noun, of which the -ing form of the verb is one). I'm sure others will chime in on this.

— Philip

  • I doubt there's a strong "rule" for these prepositions, but here's what sounds natural to me: We attempt to do (verb) something; we make an attempt at something (noun, of which the -ing form of the verb is one).
  • I'm sure others will chime in on this.
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4 Answers
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I doubt there's a strong "rule" for these prepositions, but here's what sounds natural to me: We attempt to do (verb) something; we make an attempt at something (noun, of which the -ing form of the verb is one). I'm sure others will chime in on this.
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Thank you Philip

Then the first is correct
I could write:

I made an attempt at understanding the cause

While the second is incorrect and should be:

I attempted to understanding the cause
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Not quite: I attempted to understand
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