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Anonymous Posted 18 years ago
Grammar

more than one preposition in a given context?

Hi,

I sometimes think more than one preposition is acceptable to convey about an equal overall meaning of an sentence. For example:

1. It was a different situation to (from??) the pioneer missionary work she had done ...
2.She is not urged to sacrifice legitimate scholastic objectives to (toward) that end.
  

Top answer

Your suggestion may have some merit, but in my opinion your examples don't support it. " You may contribute your efforts to/toward a goal, and you may sacrifice your goals to an end, but I don't think you can sacrifice your goals toward an end. "To" has many uses, some of which could be fulfilled by "toward," but I don't think this is one of them.

— Avangi

  • Your suggestion may have some merit, but in my opinion your examples don't support it.
  • " You may contribute your efforts to/toward a goal, and you may sacrifice your goals to an end, but I don't think you can sacrifice your goals toward an end.
  • "To" has many uses, some of which could be fulfilled by "toward," but I don't think this is one of them.
  • I think "sacrifice toward" is ungrammatical.
  • I could be wrong.
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4 Answers
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Your suggestion may have some merit, but in my opinion your examples don't support it. For example, "sacrifice" doesn't work like "contribute." You may contribute your efforts to/toward a goal, and you may sacrifice your goals to an end, but I don't think you can sacrifice your goals toward an end. "To" has many uses, some of which could be fulfilled by "toward," but I don't think this is one
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Avangi makes sense (as usual!). However, it is true that in many cases one can choose from two prepositions without any real difference in meaning. In some cases one preposition may be more common in Britain and another in the USA. Of course there may also be endless disagreement on the correct preposition. I remember two native lecturers at Helsinki University, one British, the other American, w
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Thank you, Cool Breeze.

You wrote:

I remember two native lecturers at Helsinki University, one British, the other American, who disagreed on the preposition different requires: His hat was tilted in a different direction from/to his head.

Which preposition should I use?

1. I remember a professor
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Anonymous 1. I remember a professor from (at?? or of?? ) *** University who liked to eat sushi. "From" and "at" are good. "At" implies you were there at the time, "from" implies you were not." You could say, "I remember a professor of Russian Literature from Kiev."

2. Let me introduce to you a professor from (at??) *** University. He he
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