Frank Hasenmueller from Germany asks: I would like to know if there is a difference in using approve with or without the preposition of in your sentence structure. Or is it just the same?

	Roger replies:

			The meaning of approve changes when you add the preposition of to make approve of. Approve'by itself means 'sanction' or 'endorse' as in these two examples. In the first, an accountant is speaking and in the second, a university admissions tutor. 'I cannot approve the reimbursement because you haven't given me the receipts for your expenditure.' 'I cannot approve your application to study law because you do not have the relevant qualifications.'

			If you approve of something, then you consider it to be good or you agree with it. Consider: 'I don't approve of smoking in restaurants because it is so upsetting usually for non-smokers.' 'Why don't you approve of my friends? They are all good upright people.'