MUSCOVITE Posted 14 years ago
Grammar
a preposition question
Hi,
Consider,
(1) smth is unavailable TO other people/students/citizens, etc.
(2) smth is unavailable FOR other tasks/uses/purposes
I guess (1) and (2) are fine (judging by the examples I saw in COCA), but...
Can I also say,
(3) Their service is unavailable FOR me.
(4) These possibilties are unavailable TO other tasks?
Thank you!
mus-te
Consider,
(1) smth is unavailable TO other people/students/citizens, etc.
(2) smth is unavailable FOR other tasks/uses/purposes
I guess (1) and (2) are fine (judging by the examples I saw in COCA), but...
Can I also say,
(3) Their service is unavailable FOR me.
(4) These possibilties are unavailable TO other tasks?
Thank you!
mus-te
Top answer
3 and 4 do not sound good to me.
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The alternates are possible if the "something" is a person, for example:
He says he's helpful, but when I need him he's always unavailable for me.
I'm sorry but Mr. Jones is unavailable to meet with you today.
He says he's helpful, but when I need him he's always unavailable for me.
I'm sorry but Mr. Jones is unavailable to meet with you today.
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