why use these prepositions

Question

Why would a person use these prepositions?1. I got this sentence from a post here.Some teachers don't like to admit (to??) this.2. He pleaded with them.    He pleaded to them.

Marius Hancu · Accepted Answer

1. I got this sentence from a post here. OK.

Some teachers don't like to admit (to??) this. to is OK.

2. He pleaded with them. OK.

He pleaded to them. OK, too:

Bouvier's Dictionary of Law

The defendant may plead to the person of the plaintiff that there never was any

Clive · Answer

Hi guys,

Here are a couple more comments and examples.

Some teachers don't like to admit (to??) this.

I admit you are right - I confess/agree that you are right. I have no real responsibility for the fact that you are right, although I probably have initially denied it in some way.

I admit to the crime - I confess that I committed the crime. The 'to' adds the idea of my personal responsibility for the crime.

He pleaded with them. This sounds like he and they had a dialogue. This is the form that would be commonly used in everyday English. She left him, although he pleaded with her not to go.

He pleaded to them. This sounds like a one-way action. This form would be used much less frequently. It sounds like perhaps a lawyer submitted a plea to a higher court.

Best wishes, Clive

why use these prepositions

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