Engage

[Xinfu]

In an exercise:

-How did literature of this form engage __ (a preposition here should be used) ideology?

The model answer says 'with'. To a non-native like me, even after consulting dictionaries, with after engage makes no sense to me. What does it mean?

[Rusty]

More context than is given in the exercise would be required to give the correct answer.

With no preposition, it means something different than with the proposed preposition. With 'with', it means 'establish a meaningful connection with'.

'Engage with someone' means 'interact with someone'. You can engage somebody in a conversation just as well as you can engage with somebody in a conversation. But that isn't the meaning when 'ideology' follows 'with'.

'Engage in' means 'participate or become involved in', so that would also not work in the exercise.

[Xinfu]

Originally Posted by Rusty

With no preposition, it means something different than with the proposed preposition. With 'with', it means 'establish a meaningful connection with'.

Thanks.

In that case, formerly I used language here, and my friend said it is wrong:

-They ought to engage with the __ of the story.

My non-native friend said it made no sense. Do you think I'm correct or the friend?

[Rusty]

Rewrite it to 'They ought to establish a meaningful connection with the language of the story'. Since that mostly makes sense, so does your proposal.

[Xinfu]

Excellent answer. Thank you.