'Propose or Propose to' is one topic that many people get confused about. Many people know that propose is a verb and it means the following.
1. Coming up with a new plan or suggestion for approval or consideration.
2. Letting a male or female know one's willingness to marry that person.
While many know the above two meanings of the verb 'propose', very few actually are able to make a proposal correctly to their loved ones (I meant just in terms of grammar). I won't blame Shakespeare or anyone else who invented English in this case. While English is confusing, the undeniable fact is, love is more confusing that anything that is confusing. And, when love is expressed with words in English, it is natural for mistakes to happen with non-native speakers of English, especially Indians. While I am no genius to help you with love, I definitely am genius enough to help you with the difference between propose or propose to.
Propose or propose to - know the exact difference:
The difference is very simple. Just forget about all the love or marriage proposals that you are about to make in your future for a great future. Just understand that 'propose' means, you have come up with an idea for something to happen. With this understanding alone, read the following two sentences.
1. James Proposed a brilliant plan to my superior for the rapid growth of the company.
2. James proposed Janani.
Example 1 means that, James has come up with an idea that will help the company grow rapidly. Example 2 is utterly wrong because it means that James has actually come up with an idea or plan named Janani, which I am sure James did not mean. He actually means that he has come up with an idea to express his love for Janani. The correct sentence is,
3. James proposed to Janani
To make you understand this better, example 3 can be also said as,
4. James proposed his love to Janani.
Use of propose in example sentences:
1. The plan that Williams proposed to the company was rejected, much to his utter disappointment and disbelief.
2. Sarah slapped Ash when he suddenly tried kissing her while proposing to her. Too bad that Ash did not realize that he could have kissed her all day after the proposal was made.
3. While many youngsters proposed to Virat Kohli and Anushka Sharma, it has to be fate that made a 'c' for cricketer join hands with a 'c' for celebrity forever. How many of you know that they were suffering from a break up once, soon after their journey of love initially started?
4. While many boys say that proposing to a girl is not a crime, I wish those boys understood that rejecting a proposal is also not a crime.
5. When the boss of my company rejected the idea that I proposed to him for the improvement of work-life balance, I imagined a picture of me working in a new company next to my boss's graveyard.
6. In a world where guys propose to girls holding a diamond ring in their hands, James was an exception as he proposed to Jessica holding a knife in one hand and a Gustav Gun in the other hand. Jessica happily accepted his proposal. Does anyone want to join hands with me in wishing James and Jessica 'a happy married life'?
7. History tells us that Shah Jahan proposed to Mumtaz Mahal and the Taj Mahal is the tomb of his beautiful wife. Do you know that Ustad Ahmad Lahouri and Ustad Isa are believed to be the chief architects of the Taj Mahal, one of the wonders of our world?
8. It was too late when Max proposed to Mini as she was already married and was the mother of 7 children. Coincidentally, Max was in love with Mini for 7 long years.
9. James was so afraid of proposing to Jessica that he swallowed a diamond ring and went to Jessica's hospital to undergo an abdominal surgery. Much to his shock, the operation was a failure as the swallowed diamond ring has gone missing.
10. The company was in tremendous jubilation as the quotation that John proposed to the government was accepted. The C.E.O. of the company instantly promoted John to the post of General Manager after hearing this news.
4. While many boys say that proposing to a girl is not a crime, I wish those boys understood that rejecting a proposal is also not a crime.
5. When the boss of my company rejected the idea that I proposed to him for the improvement of work-life balance, I imagined a picture of me working in a new company next to my boss's graveyard.
6. In a world where guys propose to girls holding a diamond ring in their hands, James was an exception as he proposed to Jessica holding a knife in one hand and a Gustav Gun in the other hand. Jessica happily accepted his proposal. Does anyone want to join hands with me in wishing James and Jessica 'a happy married life'?
7. History tells us that Shah Jahan proposed to Mumtaz Mahal and the Taj Mahal is the tomb of his beautiful wife. Do you know that Ustad Ahmad Lahouri and Ustad Isa are believed to be the chief architects of the Taj Mahal, one of the wonders of our world?
8. It was too late when Max proposed to Mini as she was already married and was the mother of 7 children. Coincidentally, Max was in love with Mini for 7 long years.
9. James was so afraid of proposing to Jessica that he swallowed a diamond ring and went to Jessica's hospital to undergo an abdominal surgery. Much to his shock, the operation was a failure as the swallowed diamond ring has gone missing.
10. The company was in tremendous jubilation as the quotation that John proposed to the government was accepted. The C.E.O. of the company instantly promoted John to the post of General Manager after hearing this news.
