with or from?

[neb090]

Dear teachers,

I have two questions about the following sentence:

One big lesson we learned with Android is the earlier we start engaging with manufacturers, the better, because it gives hardware makers more time to iterate and improve their products.

Can I say:....learned from....?

And can i say:....allows hardware makers more time to....?

Thanks.

Source: The Future of TV by Tribune Media Services, 2012, Mansueto Ventures LLC.

 

[bennymix]

'with' changes the meaning but is grammatical. To keep the meaning, you could say, "One big lesson we learned from working with Android is...."

'allows' for 'gives' is about the same in meaning; fine, if you wish.

 

[neb090]

'with' changes the meaning but is grammatical. To keep the meaning, you could say, "One big lesson we learned from working with Android is...."

'allows' for 'gives' is about the same in meaning; fine, if you wish.

Dear bennymix,

So, is from better than with in this sentence?

 

[Enquiring Mind]

No, "from" isn't better (in that precise wording) though it's certainly possible. We learn a lesson from (usually) someone who teaches us that lesson. Android didn't teach us that lesson, we learned it from working with Android, which had no active input in "teaching" us anything.

But people don't always attach precise meanings to prepositions in this kind of context. The writer could also say (in context):
One big lesson we learned about Android ...
One big lesson we learned around Android ...
One big lesson we learned over Android ...
One big lesson we learned on Android ...

Stick with "with". If it ain't broke, don't fix it!

 

[bennymix]

Sorry I wasn't clear: 'with' is best. To use from, you'd need to rewrite as I showed.