{"id":40243,"date":"2021-01-13T08:25:27","date_gmt":"2021-01-13T08:25:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.lingobest.com\/free-online-english-course\/?p=40243"},"modified":"2022-12-16T10:10:21","modified_gmt":"2022-12-16T10:10:21","slug":"difference-between-to-and-for","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.lingobest.com\/free-online-english-course\/difference-between-to-and-for\/","title":{"rendered":"14 Important Differences Between “To” and “For” in English"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Have ever found yourself in doubt about how to use to<\/em> and for<\/em><\/strong> in English? I\u2019m here to tell you that you\u2019re not alone, my friend! Prepositions like these can be difficult to use correctly. In this post, we will tackle one of the most common questions when it comes to prepositions in English: to<\/em> versus for<\/em>. There are also tons of examples and exercises with to<\/em> and for<\/em> so you can check your knowledge about this topic at the end of this post! Let’s finally understand the differences between to and for<\/strong>, shall we?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How to use English prepositions<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

When learning a language, you will often read about nouns<\/strong>, verbs<\/strong>, adjectives<\/strong>, and so on. These are what we call parts of speech<\/strong>. We have eight parts of speech in the English language: noun, verb, adjective, adverb, pronoun, preposition, conjunction, and interjection. Unless you are a grammar nerd, it is okay to be confused about them. Let\u2019s go ahead and explore one of those parts of speech \u2014 the preposition. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Prepositions are usually followed by a noun or a pronoun. They demonstrate the relationship between a noun or a pronoun with another word. There are more than 100 prepositions in the English language. Some of the most common ones are: about, after, at, before, behind, between, for, from, in, of, on, since, to, under, and with<\/em>. Since there are so many of them, we often divide the prepositions into eight categories: time, place, direction or movement, manner, agent or instrument, measure, source, and possession. Don’t worry though, the easiest way to learn them is by looking at the use of prepositions with examples.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Now you are ready to understand when to use to<\/em> and when to use for<\/em> in English. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

To<\/strong>: uses and examples in English<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

#1 – Reasons and purpose (actions)<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Use to<\/em> to talk about reasons and purpose. This answers a “why” question. Why did you go home? I went home to <\/em>see my mother.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here are some more examples of how to use to<\/em> for reasons or purpose:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

  • I did that course to <\/strong>learn more about social media management. <\/li>
  • I hired a tutor to <\/strong>help me learn French. <\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n
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    #2 – Wishing something to someone <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    If you need to share congratulations, greetings or wishes to someone, use the preposition to<\/em>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Here are some more examples of how to use to <\/em>to wish something to someone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    • Happy Thanksgiving to <\/strong>your family! <\/li>
    • Say hello to <\/strong>your brother!<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n
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      #3 – When talking about giving something to someone <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

      Use to<\/em> to identify the person who receives something. We often use to<\/em> this way with the verbs give, hand, send,<\/em> and write<\/em>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

      Here are some examples.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      • Mary gave a present to <\/strong>her mother. <\/li>
      • Tom sent an email to <\/strong>his professor. <\/li>
      • I wrote a letter to <\/strong>my boyfriend. <\/li>
      • She handed the homework to <\/strong>her teacher. <\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n

        #4 – To make the infinitive form of a verb <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

        Some main verbs are followed by an infinitive verb. To make the infinitive form, you have to use to<\/em>. Here are some verbs that are followed by an infinitive verb (to<\/em> + verb).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

        <\/p>
        afford<\/td>agree<\/td>aim<\/td>appear<\/td>arrange<\/td><\/tr>
        bother<\/td>care<\/td>claim<\/td>condescend<\/td>consent<\/td><\/tr>
        decide<\/td>demand<\/td>determine<\/td>endeavour<\/td>fail<\/td><\/tr>
        guarantee<\/td>happen<\/td>hasten<\/td>have (obligation)<\/td>hesitate<\/td><\/tr>
        hope<\/td>learn<\/td>long<\/td>manage<\/td>offer<\/td><\/tr>
        prepare<\/td>pretend<\/td>proceed<\/td>promise<\/td>propose<\/td><\/tr>
        prove<\/td>refuse<\/td>resolve<\/td>seek<\/td>seem<\/td><\/tr>
        swear<\/td>tend<\/td>threaten<\/td>trouble<\/td>volunteer<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table>
        Some verbs that are followed by an infinitive verb (to <\/em>+ verb)<\/strong><\/figcaption>

        <\/p><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

        • He has to <\/strong>make dinner.<\/li>
        • The children learned to <\/strong>listen.<\/li>
        • We happened to <\/strong>see our friends at the market.<\/li>
        • I hope to <\/strong>visit my parents next year.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n

          #5 – When talking about destination or movement toward somewhere <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

          If you are describing your destination, you probably need to use to<\/em> as a preposition to identify the place. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

          Here are some examples:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

          • Let\u2019s go to <\/strong>the movies tonight! <\/li>
          • I am traveling to <\/strong>Asia next year.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n

            Sometimes, you may be describing a destination but should not use to<\/em>. Here are some words that do not use to<\/em>.<\/strong> These are adverbs of place.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

            <\/p>

            abroad<\/td>anywhere<\/td>away<\/td>downstairs<\/td>east<\/td><\/tr>
            everywhere<\/td>here<\/td>home<\/td>indoors<\/td>inside<\/td><\/tr>
            north<\/td>nowhere<\/td>outdoors<\/td>outside<\/td>overseas<\/td><\/tr>
            somewhere<\/td>south<\/td>there<\/td>upstairs<\/td>west<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table>
            Don’t use to<\/em> with these adverbs of place.<\/figcaption><\/figure>

            <\/p>\n\n\n\n

            <\/p>\n\n\n

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            #6 – When talking about time <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

            Sometimes phrases use the word to<\/em>. Here are some examples.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

            • It\u2019s a quarter to <\/strong>ten. <\/li>
            • The school is open from Monday to <\/strong>Friday. <\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n

              #7 – for approximate numbers <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

              If you are not sure about the exact price, time or number of something, you can use to<\/em> between two numbers to make it approximate. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

              • It will probably cost you 50 to <\/strong>60 dollars. <\/li>
              • I will get there in 5 to <\/strong>10 minutes, ok? <\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n

                #8 – After certain verbs and verb phrases <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

                After some verbs, you need to use the word to<\/em>. Some verbs include: be used, get used, listen, look forward, object, reply, <\/em>and respond<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

                Here are some examples<\/p>\n\n\n\n

                • I am used to <\/strong>the hot weather.<\/li>
                • We look forward to<\/strong> seeing you!<\/li>
                • The lawyer objected to<\/strong> the question.<\/li>
                • Did you reply to<\/strong> his email?<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n
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