to envy somebody for something or to envy somebody of something

Status
Not open for further replies.

JACEK1

Key Member
Joined
Feb 10, 2013
Member Type
Interested in Language
Native Language
Polish
Home Country
Poland
Current Location
Poland
Hello all users!

I envy you for your lovely car. We all envy you for your beautiful children.

Could the above sentences be as well written in the following manner?:

I envy you of your lovely car. We all envy you of your beautiful children.

I am used to seeing "envy" used with "of" rather than "for".

Maybe there are two ways of expressing the same thought.

Thank you.

envy for - Idioms - by the Free Dictionary, Thesaurus and Encyclopedia.
 

billmcd

Key Member
Joined
Mar 27, 2009
Member Type
English Teacher
Native Language
English
Home Country
United States
Current Location
United States
"For" would be more common/natural in AmE.
 

JACEK1

Key Member
Joined
Feb 10, 2013
Member Type
Interested in Language
Native Language
Polish
Home Country
Poland
Current Location
Poland
It doesn't mean that 'of' is out of the question, does it?

What does BE version have to say?
 

bhaisahab

Moderator
Staff member
Joined
Apr 12, 2008
Member Type
Retired English Teacher
Native Language
British English
Home Country
England
Current Location
Ireland
It doesn't mean that 'of' is out of the question, does it?

What does BE version have to say?

Something could be "the envy of" somebody.
 

emsr2d2

Moderator
Staff member
Joined
Jul 28, 2009
Member Type
English Teacher
Native Language
British English
Home Country
UK
Current Location
UK
Her long legs are the envy of the modelling world.
His genius with mathematics is the envy of his classmates.
 

JACEK1

Key Member
Joined
Feb 10, 2013
Member Type
Interested in Language
Native Language
Polish
Home Country
Poland
Current Location
Poland
Is it also possible to say "I envy you your lovely car" and how does it compare to "I envy you for your lovely car"?
 

JACEK1

Key Member
Joined
Feb 10, 2013
Member Type
Interested in Language
Native Language
Polish
Home Country
Poland
Current Location
Poland
Could somebody express their opinion?

Please.
 
Last edited:

emsr2d2

Moderator
Staff member
Joined
Jul 28, 2009
Member Type
English Teacher
Native Language
British English
Home Country
UK
Current Location
UK
Is it also possible to say "I envy you your lovely car" and how does it compare to "I envy you for your lovely car"?

I have no problem with that construction.

I envy you your beautiful hair.
She envied him his ability to stay cool under pressure.
 

charliedeut

VIP Member
Joined
Oct 19, 2009
Member Type
Interested in Language
Native Language
Spanish
Home Country
Spain
Current Location
Spain
Also keep in mind that you can be envious of something, if you insist on using "of".
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Top