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S.P.I. Posted 17 years ago
Grammar

Bad influence on/for

a) They are a bad influence on you

b) They are a bad influence for you.

The correct choice is obviously a, but isn't b technically ok too?

Thanks.
  

Top answer

I don't see that (b) violates any rules of grammar -- it's just not so idiomatic (not to me, anyway). This is common with prepositions. Often there's one (or more) prepositions that "sound right", and others that don't sound quite so right, even though there may be no obvious reason why.

— Mr Wordy

  • I don't see that (b) violates any rules of grammar -- it's just not so idiomatic (not to me, anyway).
  • This is common with prepositions.
  • Often there's one (or more) prepositions that "sound right", and others that don't sound quite so right, even though there may be no obvious reason why.
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1 Answers
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I don't see that (b) violates any rules of grammar -- it's just not so idiomatic (not to me, anyway). This is common with prepositions. Often there's one (or more) prepositions that "sound right", and others that don't sound quite so right, even though there may be no obvious reason why.
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