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Bandoff Posted 13 years ago
Grammar

Fight For X with Y

Need help with the possible sentence patterns 'fight for X with Y' and 'fight with Y for X'.

1 "He had to fight for a job with other applicants."
2 "He had to fight with other applicants for a job."

In this dictionary , under the entry for 'fight for', there is no examples where the 'fight for X' part is followed immediately by the 'with Y' part. So, sentence 1 appears to be wrong.

But then in the same dictionary, under the entry for 'fight with', there is no examples where the 'fight with Y' part is followed immediately by the 'for X' part. So, sentence 2 appears to be wrong too.

Is my analysis good, and are sentences 1 & 2 are poor English?
  

Top answer

They are both OK, although I think I prefer #2. The verb 'fight' can be used with a lot of prepositions. I wouldn't expect a dictionary to list every preposition that can be used with every verb.

— Clive

  • They are both OK, although I think I prefer #2.
  • The verb 'fight' can be used with a lot of prepositions.
  • I wouldn't expect a dictionary to list every preposition that can be used with every verb.
  • Clive
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2 Answers
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They are both OK, although I think I prefer #2.

The verb 'fight' can be used with a lot of prepositions.
I wouldn't expect a dictionary to list every preposition that can be used with every verb.

Clive
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You could also say "He had to fight other applicants for the job."
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