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TeacherJapan Posted 10 years ago
Grammar

Can I omit "for"?

Hi there. I'd like.to know whether it makes a difference in meaning if I omit "for" in the following sentence. Also, the use of "before" and "when" conveys slightly different messages?

She had been there for ten minutes before/when it started raining.
  

Top answer

You can omit 'for'. Using when or before doesn't change anything in your sentence.

— Ivanhr

  • You can omit 'for'.
  • Using when or before doesn't change anything in your sentence.
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4 Answers
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You can omit 'for'. Using when or before doesn't change anything in your sentence.
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teacherJapanAlso, the use of "before" and "when" conveys slightly different messages?
Generally speaking, I would say that "before" often has a nuance that an expected event was late or overdue, whereas "when" suggests that something happened spontaneously or unpredictably.
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Ah, that's exactly what I wanted to hear :-) I always really appreciate your help, GPY:-)
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