2

Please tell me, what is the difference between

vote

and

vote on

Improve this question

1 Answer 1

Reset to default
5

"Vote" does not usually take a direct object, except in the comparatively rare case where the object is a word or phrase which your vote may be taken to express; so you can "vote 'Yes'" or "vote 'Reopen nominations'".

Normally it takes a indirect object of either of two types:

  • vote for an option ("I voted for Jones");
  • vote on a question ("I voted on the motion to close");

You can also vote in a poll or election, but I would not count that as an indirect object, but as an adjunct.

There is a more complicated construction which may be analysed in different ways: "They voted him into office". This might regarded as taking "him" as a direct object; but it is impossible without the complement "into office".

Improve this answer
1
  • 2
    +1 nice answer. Of course there's also "vote against" in addition to "for", and "into office" could be replaced with "out (of office)", "down", "the person with the most ridiculous hairstyle in the room" and so on :-)
    – psmears
    Commented May 5, 2011 at 12:12

You must log in to answer this question.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged .