Which of these is grammatically correct, and why?
- I will rob you of it
- I will rob it of you
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2Rob and steal differ in what their prototype direct object is. One robs a place or a person of objects, but steals objects from places or people. The modern phrasal verb rip off works either way -- you can rip off the book from Bill, or you can rip Bill off; generally if the victim is the DO, the stolen object isn't mentioned.– John LawlerCommented Nov 10, 2013 at 18:38
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2 Answers
Generally, in modern usage, if you have it, and I take it, then I am robbing you of it and stealing it from you. Why? Because that's the way these verbs work.
It used to be the case that one could say that I was robbing it from you, although this usage is apparently rare now. Note the following usage note from Merrian-Webster:
Sense vt 1c, in which the direct object is the thing stolen, is sometimes considered to be wrong, or perhaps archaic. The sense has been in use since the 13th century and is found in earlier literature . It is still in use though not as common as other senses .
answered Nov 10, 2013 at 17:49
Let's have a look at both.
I will rob you of it.
Of is a preposition. It is a pronoun.
I will rob it off you.
Not "of you".
#1 is more metaphoric. "I will rob you of your honor." "I'll rob you of it." #2 means "I will rob/steal it from you".
Both constructions are correct, though the usage is different.
