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Using one preposition for two verbs

 
 
Reply Mon 13 Jun, 2005 06:33 pm
When a sentence has two verbs that apply to the same object, writers will often write the object once, rather than repeat it, to save words. For example:

"You can open the door or close the door."
"You can open or close the door."

In the second sentence, the object "door" is used once.

When prepositions are involved, the single-object construction can get tricky. Although the verbs may apply to the same object, each verb may require a different preposition. For example:

"You can subscribe to a magazine or unsubscribe from a magazine."

In that case, it seems incorrect to apply one preposition to both verbs to write something like this:
"You can subcribe or unsubscribe from a magazine."

People subscribe to magazines, not from them. So, the perposition "from" doesn't apply.

But, it seems unreasonable to have to repeat objects to accommodate preposition. Most readers would not be confused if they read "You can subscribe or unsubscribe from a magazine."

Are there any rules that allow that type of construction?
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Valpower
 
  1  
Reply Mon 13 Jun, 2005 07:13 pm
Rules on prepositions in parallel form require that no preposition be omitted if they differ, but there is no rule that says the prepositional object needs to be repeated. The second sentence could correctly read:

You can subscribe to or unsubscribe from a magazine.

This sentence differs from your last by only one preposition, so this could easily be considered reasonable.
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syntinen
 
  1  
Reply Tue 14 Jun, 2005 10:48 am
or if for any reason you weren't happy with that, you might change the order and chuck in a pronoun -

You can subscribe to a magazine or unsubscribe from it.

- if you thought that sounded better or conveyed your meaning better.
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McEditor
 
  1  
Reply Tue 14 Jun, 2005 02:44 pm
re: Using one preposition for two verbs
Thanks for your help.
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