Regarding a use of preposition

Question

Sentence: Everything is not hunkydory. For some Robinhood was a goon of/from Yorkishire.My question: Confusing situation, I feel prepositon ofshould come but not utterly sure about it so seeking your help. Can you tell me what prepositon would be grammatically correct to use there? And please also tell what article does the word goon need, "a" or "the"? Thanks and regards

CalifJim · Accepted Answer

RazerI feel the preposition of should ~~come~~ be used

No. With place names that represent a person's origin, it's from.

Where are you from?
He comes from Detroit.
She's a woman from France.
___________

a goon, that is, an example of a goon. Some people thought of him as an example of a goon.

CJ

Joe2012 · Answer

CalifJim No. With place names that represent a person's origin, it's from.

Where are you from?
He comes from Detroit.
She's a woman from France.
___________

a goon, that is, an example of a goon. Some people thought of him as an example of a goon.

CJ

Ok. But then why do people use the preposition "of" when the words get change in a similiar types of contexts. For example: "Tony Twist the infamous mafia don of New York City". Here the mafia don has replaced the word goon but the preposition "of" has been used. Why, as you said, "person's origin" rule did not come into play here? Isn't this place representing person's origin? Another example: "He was a goon of xyz place".

Regards

Clive · Answer

Hi,

"Tony Twist the infamous mafia don of New York City". Broadly speaking, suggests that that's where he lives.

"Tony Twist the infamous mafia don from New York City". Broadly speaking, suggests that he doesn't live there anymore, or at least that he's not there right now.

Clive

CalifJim · Answer

RazerBut then why do people use the preposition "of" when the words get change in a similiar types of contexts. For example: "Tony Twist the infamous mafia don of New York City".

See Clive's answer.

CJ

Joe2012 · Answer

Clive"Tony Twist the infamous mafia don from New York City". Broadly speaking, suggests that he doesn't live there anymore, or at least that he's not there right now.

Then why did the preposition "from" suggests the same for the Robinhood goon example? Doesn't the preposition "from" suggest he was just ANOTHER goon from Yorkshire instead of suggesting he was a goon of that place?! Getting confusing and murkier for me. English has bizzare rules. Help, please help.

Regards

Joe2012 · Answer

I'm not being able to edit my above post as the edit icon is not appearing. For more clarification I wanted to add this line after the word "...Robinhood example? That he doesn't live there anymore, or at least that he's not there right now.

Thanks

CalifJim · Answer

If he was a goon from Yorkshire, then he came from Yorkshire. He was "just another goon" that came from Yorkshire. He was not living in Yorkshire. Maybe he was born in Yorkshire. Maybe he lived for a long time in Yorkshire. But now he is somewhere else where people refer to him as someone (who came) from Yorkshire.

That's the only sense I can make of the original sentence.
__________________

"Tony Twist the infamous mafia don of New York City"

Here I don't get the sense that Tony traveled from New York or that he used to live in New York. Rather I get the sense that he is associated with New York. There are actually two meanings here.

don of New York = don who resides in New York
don of New York = don who controls/governs New York (c.f. Queen of England, King of France)

Neither of these says that his origin is in New York, that he came from New York. You can even have "the mafia don of Chicago from Ohio", who has control over Chicago (governs mafia business in Chicago) and came from Ohio. And you can have "the noted celebrity from Japan, currently of Los Angeles", who came from Japan and is now living in Los Angeles.

CJ

Clive · Answer

Hi,

This is why I said 'broadly speaking'.

Clive

Joe2012 · Answer

Thanks CalifJim and Clive. I didn't reply promptly as I was doing Google researchon this and wondering in other forums.. Doesn't look good to pose question after question you know; and because of this I have develop some hesitancy

!- but guess it's a normal human tendency.

Anyway, I have come here again because one article has confused me. I want you to go through that article (compressed link), it won't take much of your time as the thing in question is highlighted, http://to.ly/6UvC . The article in the link has been written by some Hydro-engg - Engineers who are supposed to have good English.

Now apropos of questions. I have two: one based on the link and one learned from a place. None of my questions have any wrong intention, just a desire to learn things clearly.

wou

So my first question is: Was the author, whose article can be read in the link, wrong in using the line "..was a goon of that area."? Asking this because the line cannot be said like that if I've understood you correctly!

My second question is: You told me it is wrong to say "a goon of Yorkshire", but can we say "the goon of Yorkshire"? Does the change of article make it right? If yes then why so? Why a change in article is making such a different.

These are my doubts which I would like you to make clear. If you get time then please do revert.

Regards

Clive · Answer

Hi,

So my first question is: Was the author, whose article can be read in the link, wrong in using the line "..was a goon of that area."? Asking this because the line cannot be said like that if I've understood you correctly! Yes, he was wrong. You realize that the author is not a native speaker, I hope. The article contains plenty of mistakes.

I'll leave your second question for CJ to answer, if he wishes to.

Clive

Regarding a use of preposition

Top answer

Get the Weekly English Kit 📬

Related Questions