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I have to confess that before I came across the construct approve of him I didn't know it even existed. The only version I knew was approve him.

Studying the approve's definitions in the dictionaries cited in The Free Dictionary I concluded that approve someone or something has to do with the transitive use of the mentioned verb whereas approve of someone or something is related to its intransitive use.

The usage note of approve of, according to Collins COBUILD English Usage states:

Be Careful!

Don't say that you approve to someone or something.

My question is why? Would you please let me know this?

In rest I think I understand why it's OK to say:

Stefan approved of the whole affair.

whereas

The directors quickly approved of the new deal.

Is not OK. That's because using of in this sentence, the sentence will get the first meaning which is not appropriate in this context.

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  • To approve of = to give one's approbation. To approve: to give one's OK, "give it the green light", to authorize. Approve *to" is simply the wrong preposition; I wouldn't know what was meant. The sentence about the directors is, IMO, not the clearest example of how not to use the word. Here's one: "*The municipality approved of the construction permit."
    – Tᴚoɯɐuo
    Jul 11, 2015 at 11:18
  • "Approve of" and "Approve" have different semantics not just transitivity or not. I could approve an application without approving of it.
    – Francis Davey
    Aug 6, 2020 at 22:47

1 Answer 1

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Yes, you understand correctly.

  • Steven approved of the whole affair. Intransitive, takes indirect object, so "of" is correct.

  • The directors quickly approved the new deal. Transitive, takes direct object, adding "of" would change it to intransitive, which is not what you meant.

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