Preposition problem

I think you need to rewrite the sentence.

Also, you have used the word “overhauled”. That’s not the word you want.

After entering Mr Owen’s home and xxxxxxxxxxx his papers, they found a red flag. He had the same right to have a red flag in his home as he did a green or yellow one.

John

Hi

The most common use of "overhaul" is to give a piece of machinery - say, a car - a thorough examination for faults and then repair it

However, in UK English at least, it is a common metaphor for someone breaking into your house and examining your belongings to find evidence or whatever else the intruders are looking for

- After the gang had worked him over in the bar,

My goodness - you learn something new every day!

There's nothing wrong with "overhauling", Chivalry.

Pardon me.

John

I agree with John. Perhaps the expression you be looking for (instead of overhauled) is went through.

Hope this helped.

Dory

Hi

Do you mean they've given the place a right going over?

Dave

It's easy to get lost in some of these sentences, isn't it? Unfortunately, JohnParis changed the meaning. To keep the same meaning: He had the same right to have a red flag in his home as you do [to have] a green or yellow one [in yours].

The original poster asked if that was wrong. In informal speaking or writing, I would have only a nitpicking objection to the elliptical

I hadn't noticed that I changed the meaning of the sentence.

Yet, as I read and re-read the initial question I can see my mistake and how I made it. This wasn't one of my better threads.

Thanks for pointing out what I had missed.

Regards,

John

I just want to add that (sorry) "that" is not a preposition.

My choice:

They entered Mr Owen's house and overhauled his papers. They found a flag, a red one, which he had the same right to have in his house AS you have, etc.

JK