2

The goal for these negotiations is to reach a mutually-agreed long-term comprehensive solution that would ensure Iranˈs nuclear program will be exclusively peaceful.

while we have a noun phrase "the goal" connected to another noun phrase "these negotiations", why isn't of used instead of for?

2
  • 1
    Short answer: in my American dialect, either works. "Goal for" is a commonly used phrase, as in "The goal for 2014 is to get 5 new clients"
    – swbarnes2
    Commented Feb 5, 2014 at 23:20
  • @swbarnes2 I think there is a subtle distinction. In your example "for" works, but it doesn't always. "Of" is a safer choice. I addressed the distinction (poorly, I'm afraid) in my answer below. Commented Mar 8, 2014 at 6:04

2 Answers 2

2

The use of "for" vs "of" in that example is hard to explain, and I think it's more of a question of style than correctness. It doesn't feel right say that any one thing is the goal, or even a goal "for" a person. That somehow says that the person is less important than the goal, whatever that goal may be. However, in your example you quote the goal "for" an activity. That works; the goal is the entire purpose of the activity. "Of" would work there too.

I'd like to point out something else about the phrase. To refer something as the goal of something or someone, that goal needs to be the primary purpose.

For instance, it is the goal of a teacher for the students to learn the material. However, it is a goal of Mrs. Brown (the teacher) for her students to learn. In other words, Mrs. Brown has other priorities too, she's not just a teacher. Perhaps she's a wife, mother and Scrabble player too. So the big difference here isn't the use of "for" vs "of", the important distinction is between "a" or "the".

0

IMHO, goal for suggests a third party stating (or predicting?) the goal. If goal of is used instead, it might would have suggest the authentic/declared goal.

For examples -

The goal for you is to pass with high grades in this examination - Maybe, the parents have predicted (or set) goal for their kid. On the other hand...
The goal of him is to pass with high grades in this examination - It's pretty confirmed from a pupil's side!

2
  • I don't like "goal of him" that doesn't sound right. Commented Mar 8, 2014 at 5:06
  • Agree with Jolenealaska. I think "goal of his" is grammatically right but of course "his goal" is much more natural.
    – Stan
    Commented Mar 8, 2014 at 5:52

You must log in to answer this question.

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