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Is the following sentence grammatically correct?

  • "Do not wish for something more than you work for."

I'm pretty sure that the following separate sentences are correct, but it somehow sounds somewhat weird when put together:

  • Do not wish for something.
  • Owning a house is something to work for.

I think that I'm confused because you can stress "Do not wish for something more" while you should stress "Do not wish for something" and "more than you work for".

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    – Stephie
    Feb 6, 2015 at 18:44
  • It would be helpful if you explain a little more about what seems strange to you. I don't think "Something to work for" is a complete sentence. The only verb in it is part of the phrase describing "something". "Owning a house is something to work for." would be an example of a complete sentence.
    – ColleenV
    Feb 6, 2015 at 19:04

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You're missing a word:

"Do not wish for something more than you work for it."

The issue here is that "wish for something" and "work for (it)" are essentially independent clauses, and the "for" after "work" has to refer to something in the same clause.

(Some people will tell you you can't finish a sentence with a preposition, but this is not true. However, the preposition does have to point to a noun or phrase somewhere.)

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  • I'm not certain you need the "it". "Don't wish for something more" could mean "Don't wish for more than that which you have earned through work." as opposed to "Don't spend more time wishing for something than working for it." The sentence is somewhat ambiguous.
    – ColleenV
    Feb 6, 2015 at 19:46
  • Ah, interesting. Maybe it should be: "Don't wish for something more than you work for it." or "Don't wish for something more, more than you work for." Anyway. Thanks! Going to use the sentence with the "it".
    – Youniteus
    Feb 7, 2015 at 11:51
  • "Do not wish for something (which is) more than that for which you work." That's the strict version.
    – Epanoui
    May 26, 2017 at 16:42

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