All I need is…

Question

Hi,This sentence is from a book. I am not sure if the underlined ‘for’ is required here. Would the meaning of the sentence change, if I removed it?‘All I need is for some jerk to catch me carrying this thing around and get the wrong idea’Thanks,MG.

Anonymous · Accepted Answer

The "for" is not grammatically necessary, but does (conversationally) slightly change the connotation of the sentence.  Without the "for", the focus of the sentence is the hypothetical "jerk"; including "for" switches the focus more to the hypothetical situation involving "some jerk".  In this context, the "for" should be included to most accurately convey the intended idea.

Musicgold · Answer

Thanks. I am sorry, but your answer is not clear to me.

I think the phrase "All I need is" needs a noun or noun phrase at the end. 'for some jerk to...' doesn't look like a noun phrase.

CalifJim · Answer

Musicgold'for some jerk to...' doesn't look like a noun phrase.

No, but from for to the end of the sentence is, in fact, a noun phrase. It's a for ... to ... clause, and all such clauses are noun-like.

It's important for him to be here on time.
= For him to be here on time [< subject "noun (clause)"] is important.

In your example the for is not absolutely required, but it fits well with the casual style of the remark.
Given a choice, I would leave it in.

CJ

BarbaraPA · Answer

The whole tone is very casual, and the "All I need is for [X to happen] is very idiomatic.

Musicgold · Answer

Thanks folks.

Califjim said:

It's important for him to be here on time.

Pardon my ignorance, but it is still not clear to me. I think in the above sentence the 'for' clause acts as an adverb. Even if you remove it, the remaining sentence has the basic three components: noun/pronoun, verb and object. Whereas in my sentence, if you remove the for clause, the remainder is meaningless.

Again, I don't mean to challenge your authority in English; just trying to learn.

Thanks,

MG.

CalifJim · Answer

Musicgold it is still not clear to me.

OK. Maybe you just need a little review about "dummy it".

In many cases, as with adjectives like important, possible, and necessary, we move the subject from the beginning to the end of the sentence, putting it in its place at the beginning. The it that you see at the beginning is called "dummy it", because it is just a place holder for the subject that has been moved to the end. Remember, a subject has to be a noun or something noun-like, for example, a noun clause. The for ... to ... clause is not adverbial.

[To know the traffic rules] is necessary.
becomes
[It] is necessary [to know the traffic rules].

[For us to give you the hotel room for free] is not possible.
becomes
[It] is not possible [for us to give you the hotel room for free].
___________________________________

The following example is more like your original sentence.

All the doctor wants | is | for the patient to get well.

The for ... to ... clause acts like a noun. You can see this by substituting a noun.

All the doctor wants | is | a new car.

You could not substitute an adverb, so the for ... to ... clause is not adverbial.

*All the doctor wants | is | quickly.

CJ

BarbaraPA · Answer

Great explanation. Is that why your volunteer pay is twice mine?  <img class='emoticon' style='Width:19px;Height:19px;' data-delaysrc='https://uat-englishforward-forums-backend.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/Emoticons/2.gif' src='https://uat-englishforward-forums-backend.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/Emoticons/2.gif' alt='Emotion: big smile'/>

CalifJim · Answer

Hee! Have you read A House for Mr. Biswas? "Aught aughts are aught!"

CJ

Andriy Lapin · Answer

Dear friends,

just a tiny remark.

...for some jerk to catch me carrying this thing around and get the wrong idea is a to-infinitive clause. It is the subject predicative in the given sentence:

All I need [Subject] is [linking verb] for some jerk to catch me carrying this thing around and get the wrong idea [Subject Predicative].

When a to-infinitive clause itself has a subject (some jerk), it requires the presence of a preceding for. The preposition is omitted, however, when the clause is a direct object:

He likes ~~for~~ everyone to relax.

Respectfully, Gleb Chebrikoff

Musicgold · Answer

Grammer Geek, CalifJim, and Gleb Chebrikoff

Thanks a lot.

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