Can anyone help me decompose this structure?

Question

I've come across sentense structure like "all she's waiting for is for me to say 'I'll call you'","the last thing I want is for him to leave", etc

I just don't get it as to what part "for sb" plays in the sentense.

Thanks you guys!

AlpheccaStars · Accepted Answer

EvanWuI've come across sentense structure like "all she's waiting for is for me to say 'I'll call you'","the last thing I want is for him to leave", etc
I just don't get it as to what part "for sb" plays in the sentense.
Thanks you guys!

Hi;

There are two different constructions.

1) Wait for is a phrasal verb.

She waits for John. (Subject, verb, object)

The object is often an event or action, expressed by an infinitive. The infinitive (reduced clause) can be complex.

She waits for (John's arrival).

She waits for (John to arrive).

She waits for (John to ask (her to marry her)).

If there is structure like this one:

All (that ) we're waiting for is John.

All we're waiting for is John's arrival.

If the object is the infinitive phrase, the preposition is repeated after the linking verb.

All that we're waiting for is (for John to arrive).

2) For + infintive phrase is used in these similar constructions - the phrase is a noun phrase (used as object complement, predicate, subject, etc.)

It is a good idea for you to study harder.

It would be best for Mary not to accept Steve's invitation.

For us to bow to a king or salute a dictator would be unthinkable.

In your example, the for-infinitive phrase is used after a linking verb as predicate noun.

What I want is (for) John to go to the store.

Cool Breeze · Answer

If you understand the sentences, don't worry about for.

Prepositions can be used in a variety of ways. This list of meanings is from Random House Unabridged Dictionary:

for, prep.
1. with the object or purpose of: to run for exercise.
2. intended to belong to, or be used in connection with: equipment for the army; a closet for dishes.
3. suiting the purposes or needs of: medicine for the aged.
4. in order to obtain, gain, or acquire: a suit for alimony; to work for wages.
5. (used to express a wish, as of something to be experienced or obtained): O, for a cold drink!
6. sensitive or responsive to: an eye for beauty.
7. desirous of: a longing for something; a taste for fancy clothes.
8. in consideration or payment of; in return for: three for a dollar; to be thanked for one's efforts.
9. appropriate or adapted to: a subject for speculation; clothes for winter.
10. with regard or respect to: pressed for time; too warm for April.
11. during the continuance of: for a long time.
12. in favor of; on the side of: to be for honest government.
13. in place of; instead of: a substitute for butter.
14. in the interest of; on behalf of: to act for a client.
15. in exchange for; as an offset to: blow for blow; money for goods.
16. in punishment of: payment for the crime.
17. in honor of: to give a dinner for a person.
18. with the purpose of reaching: to start for London.
19. contributive to: for the advantage of everybody.
20. in order to save: to flee for one's life.
21. in order to become: to train recruits for soldiers.
22. in assignment or attribution to: an appointment for the afternoon; That's for you to decide.
23. such as to allow of or to require: too many for separate mention.
24. such as results in: his reason for going.
25. as affecting the interests or circumstances of: bad for one's health.
26. in proportion or with reference to: He is tall for his age.
27. in the character of; as being: to know a thing for a fact.
28. by reason of; because of: to shout for joy; a city famed for its beauty.
29. in spite of: He's a decent guy for all that.
30. to the extent or amount of: to walk for a mile.
31. (used to introduce a subject in an infinitive phrase): It's time for me to go.
32. (used to indicate the number of successes out of a specified number of attempts): The batter was 2 for 4 in the game.

Meanings 5 and 31 seem the correct ones in your case. Furthermore, the verb wait is frequently followed by for, and it occurs in one of your sentences.

CB

Anonymous · Answer

If you block off the sentence in brackets, it's easier to see how the structure works: [All she is waiting for] [is] [for me to say I will call you]. When you do this, you can see that the group of words, [for me to say I will call you], is in the predicate in a sentence with the linking verb "is." So here it functions as a noun, and means the same thing as the subject of the sentence, the group of words, [All she is waiting for]. This is the same structure as in the sentence, "He is boss." "Boss" is the same thing as "he."

If you have doubts about this, note that you can use [for me to say I will call you] just like any single-word noun, for example: [For me to say I will call you] is what she is waiting for.

Dimsumexpress · Answer

This is how I would approach your sentence:

"All she's waiting for- is a noun phrase acting as a subject to the verb "is"

"for me to say: 'I'll call you'". - is a preposition phrase acting as an object.

Consider this paralell structure:

All I want is a moment of piece.

n/p sub v obj noon phrase

CalifJim · Answer

EvanWuI just don't get it as to what part "for sb" plays in the sentence.

OK. Here's how it works. You have a FOR ... TO ... non-finite clause. Don't think of the for-phrase as separate; it forms a unit with the infinitive that follows. Within these non-finite clauses, FOR shows where the subject is, and TO shows where the predicate is. These non-finite clauses are related to similar finite clauses, like this:

for me to say "Yes". I say "Yes".

for him to leave. He leaves.

for the children to get dressed. The children get dressed.

for the president to sign the bill. The president signs the bill.

for them to raise their hands. They raise their hands.

for the police to find the lost child. The police find the lost child.

______________

These FOR ... TO ... clauses are used as the subject complement after a linking verb (e.g., is, was). All you need to complete the sentence is a subject and a linking verb (e.g., is, was). These sorts of sentences can have somewhat complicated subjects like the following.

The last thing I want / The last thing I need

What we want / What we need

All you need / All that is needed

All he is waiting for / All they are waiting for / What we are waiting for / ...

Assemble all the components and you get complete sentences.

All you need | is | for them to raise their hands.

The last thing we need | is | for the president to sign the bill.

All I was waiting for | was | for the police to find the lost child.

The only thing that was needed | was | for the children to get dressed.

What we would like | is | for the students to study harder.

What I was hoping for | was | for the trouble makers to leave.

The best strategy | is probably | for Jack to take the lead on this project.

All they're asking for | is | for the governor to pardon the man.

(There may be a 'for' within the subject of the sentence, but that's part of a phrasal verb within the subject (wait for, hope for, ask for), and not the 'for' that begins the FOR ... TO ... clause. You can dismiss the extra occurrence of for as a coincidence.)

CJ

EvanWu · Answer

Thank you all guys. I think the explanation that "Within these non-finite clauses, FOR shows where the subject is, and TO shows where the predicate is. " is what I'm looking for.<img class='emoticon' style='Width:19px;Height:19px;' data-delaysrc='https://uat-englishforward-forums-backend.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/Emoticons/1.gif' src='https://uat-englishforward-forums-backend.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/Emoticons/1.gif' alt='Emotion: smile'/>

Can anyone help me decompose this structure?

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