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Gain or take advantage?

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Bonovox  #463475  Sat, 12 Jan 08 10:08 PM
Hello everyone,

I would be thankful if a native speaker could give his or her opinion about the verbs gain and take below.

Companies are springing up to gain advantage of our sleeplessness.

Companies are springing up to take advantage of our sleeplessness.

Bye,

Bonovox


  
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Annvan  #463483  Sat, 12 Jan 08 10:42 PM
We use the phrase "to take advantage of something" to mean to use something profitably. I wouldn't use "gain" here.
  
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Grammar Geek  #463491  Sat, 12 Jan 08 11:05 PM

And if you need an American speaker to say it's the same here, I second that.

You can gain "an" advantage, but you "take advantage of" something.

  
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Barbara, who answers in American English.
Bonovox  #463496  Sat, 12 Jan 08 11:54 PM
Thanks for your quick replies!

/Bonovox
  
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