[Vocabulary] update you with some info

Can we use 'update sb. with sth.' pattern?

I have heard only 'update sth. for sb.' and that is why I want to know.

Thank you.

No.
You can update somebody on something.

I called the office to update them on the day's development.

fighting spirit said:

No.
You can update somebody on something.

I called the office to update them on the day's development.

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Thank you. Looks like it is fixed as 'update somebody on something'.
I first thought it was wrong to use 'update +person', as I heard on Radio someone said that. Now I know we do say that, only followed by 'on something' rather than 'with something'.

LiuJing said:

Can we use 'update sb. with sth.' pattern?

I have heard only 'update sth. for sb.' and that is why I want to know.

Thank you.

Click to expand...

Yeah, 'with' is fine.

Someone in my Human Resources department might ask:

'Can you update your personal details for me?' - your personal details are out of date and I need your current details

'Can you update me on your personal details?' - can you tell me your latest personal details (address, marital status, etc)? - here, you are doing the updating

'Can you update this form with your current personal details?' - can you provide your personal details to bring this form up to date? - here, it is your details, in being provided, that are doing the updating.

Hope that helps!

bertietheblue said:

Yeah, 'with' is fine.

Someone in my Human Resources department might ask:

'Can you update your personal details for me?' - your personal details are out of date and I need your current details

'Can you update me on your personal details?' - can you tell me your latest personal details (address, marital status, etc)? - here, you are doing the updating

'Can you update this form with your current personal details?' - can you provide your personal details to bring this form up to date? - here, it is your details, in being provided, that are doing the updating.

Hope that helps!

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Alright, it is better to know both 'on' and 'with' are correct.

I would not open another thread for this. If anybody likes, please help me:

I heard someone say: I will review you the papar, which I don't think is right.
My understanding is we can say "I will review the paper for you".

Am I right? Thank you.

bertietheblue said:

Yeah, 'with' is fine.

'Can you update this form with your current personal details?' - can you provide your personal details to bring this form up to date? - here, it is your details, in being provided, that are doing the updating.

Hope that helps!

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Yes, but LiuJing asked if we can update sb with sth. We cannot update sb with sth, but update sth with sth

fighting spirit said:

Yes, but LiuJing asked if we can update sb with sth. We cannot update sb with sth, but update sth with sth

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"Could you update us with any news of what's been happening over there?"

fighting spirit said:

Yes, but LiuJing asked if we can update sb with sth. We cannot update sb with sth, but update sth with sth

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I am very impressed that as a non-native speaker, you have got such a nice insight. The difference you have pointed out is really a good one.

I am interested to learn more details. Thank you all.

I kind of see:

Can you update us with more details on the project?

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Good English?

LiuJing said:

I kind of see:

Can you update us with more details on the project?

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Good English?

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Can you provide us with more details on the project??? Doesn't it sound better?

LiuJing said:

I kind of see:

Can you update us with more details on the project?

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Good English?

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I'd say 'of' but, do you know, I'm not so sure 'on' is wrong - we'd certainly say 'more information on the project'. I'll leave this for someone else to comment on if they like.

I think it would be more details about the project.

***neither a teacher nor a native-speaker***

Also;
to up to speed on ...
to get someone up to speed on ...

fighting spirit said:

I think it would be more details about the project.

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That's fine too and I'd say preferable to 'on' but I'm not so sure 'details on the project' is wrong. PS: you would say 'more detail[singular - slightly different meaning] about the project' but could you also get away with 'more detail on the project'? You know, I reckon it's a case where more than one preposition can be used - I'm sure Corum will have the correct linguistic term but I, in my ignorance, am for now going to name them 'weak prepositions' because the correct preposition is not set by any rule here (it seems/I think).

And of course there are other ways to say all this but I'm wondering about the 'on' sentence alone since it was queried whether this was good English.

I agree with you that more than one preposition can be used. I just wanted to say what I thought at the moment.