Learn English – “…a pen to write with” or “a pen to write”

prepositions

So, I have come across a sentence:

1.He brought a camera to take photographs.

Then I wondered, Can I use this format and say :

  1. He brought a pen to write.

However, it doesn't sound right to me when I used "a pen to write". It sounds more right to say

  1. "I brought a pen to write with."

    What is the grammar rule behind this? May I also say

4."I brought a camera to take pictures with." ?

Best Answer

As FumbleFingers said in a note, there is nothing wrong with any of your sentences.

However, I'd ask the following:

What other reasons are there to buy a pen, other than to write? Why else would one buy a camera, if not to take pictures?

In other words, on the basis that it's nearly always better to be more concise, why not say:

He brought a pen.

He brought a camera.

So imagine this sentence:

James was a journalist. He arrived around 8pm with a pen and camera and proceeded to interview us about the events of the day.

Unless James intends to do something unexpected with the pen and camera, there's no need to mention why he has them.

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