0
Angliholic Posted 17 years ago
Grammar

Left a message with/for/to his secretary

Tom didn't answer his phone, so I left a message with/for/to his secretary.

Hi,
Do all of the prepositions between slashes work in the above? If not, could you tell me why in a few words? Thanks.
  

Top answer

You left the message with his secretary. The message wasn't for the secretary, it was for Tom - Tom was the intended recipient. To normally implies movement - you could say "I gave a message to his secretary", (but the "left with" construction it is better).

  • You left the message with his secretary.
  • The message wasn't for the secretary, it was for Tom - Tom was the intended recipient.
  • To normally implies movement - you could say "I gave a message to his secretary", (but the "left with" construction it is better).
Free · every Monday

Get the Weekly English Kit 📬

New words, one handy idiom, and a 2-minute quiz — delivered to your inbox to keep your streak alive.

1 Answers
0
You left the message with his secretary.

The message wasn't for the secretary, it was for Tom - Tom was the intended recipient.

To normally implies movement - you could say "I gave a message to his secretary", (but the "left with" construction it is better).

Related Questions