It is easy when you say something becomes or unbecomes someone. In this case, no preposition is needed. It is another story when the verb turns into the adjective “(un)becoming”. I would like to understand which pick is correct:
a conduct (un)becoming a man
a conduct (un)becoming to a man
a conduct (un)becoming of a man
It is that inner feeling that tells me that the first sentence sounds awkward and misused. The variant with ‘to’ will be better in the verbal phrase “to conduct (un)becoming to a man”. Clearly, the choice becomes number three, or does it?
Answer
Evidently all three are grammatical:
unbecoming:
- Not in accord with the standards implied by one's character or position:
conduct unbecoming an officer
(AHD)
unbecoming:
- behaviour that is unbecoming is shocking or unsuitable
conduct unbecoming to a teacher
They maintain that Irving's conduct was unbecoming of a reputable
historian.
(http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/unbecoming)
No comments:
Post a Comment