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Angliholic Posted 18 years ago
Grammar

compete to win the Boston Marathon

Many people compete to win the Boston Marathon.

Hi,

Could I replace "compete" in the above with "contend/contest/rival/vie" without making a change in meaning? Thanks.
  

Top answer

Hi, Many people compete to win the Boston Marathon. Could I replace "compete" in the above with "contend/contest/rival/vie" without making a change in meaning? 'Rival' and 'contest' don't fit your sentence, because they need a direct object and there is none.

— Clive

  • Hi, Many people compete to win the Boston Marathon.
  • Could I replace "compete" in the above with "contend/contest/rival/vie" without making a change in meaning?
  • 'Rival' and 'contest' don't fit your sentence, because they need a direct object and there is none.
  • You could say 'contend' or 'vie' although, from the choices you offer, 'compete' is the most common.
  • However, in everyday English, you'd typically say something like Many people try to win the Boston Marathon.
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4 Answers
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Hi,

Many people compete to win the Boston Marathon.

Could I replace "compete" in the above with "contend/contest/rival/vie" without making a change in meaning?
'Rival' and 'contest' don't fit your sentence, because they need a direct object and there is none. You could say 'contend' or 'vie' although, from the c
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Thanks, Clive.

By the way, do the following sound right?

I rival/contest John to win a badminton game, singles.

The two lions rival/contest each other to get the meat.
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Hi,

do the following sound right?

I rival/contest John to win a badminton game, singles.

The two lions rival/contest each other to get the meat.

No.

The typical grammar with these two words is

You rival someone in a contest of some kind

or
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