Difference between TO and FOR

Question

Friends,Please, give me a little hand, here. This is how I understand the difference between TO and FOR."I bought a gift TO Jane."It's Jane's birthday. I bought a gift 'with my money' and I'm going to give it TO Jane. It's from me to her."I bought a gift FOR Jane."It's Jane's daughter's birthday. She needs to buy a gift to her daughter, but she is unable to leave work earlier. So, she asked me to buy the gift. So, I bought a gift 'with her money', FOR her, that is, in her place. I'm not going to give her the gift. It's not from me to her. It was just a favor I did to her.Also, FOR lets us continue the sentence.Ex.: I bought a gift FOR Jane TO GIVE HER DAUGHTER.TO does not let me continue the sentence.Ex.: I bought a gift TO Jane. (End of statement.)Am I right? If not, please correct me.Thank you very much for your attention.brunces

RayH · Accepted Answer

Brunces"I bought a gift TO Jane."
It's Jane's birthday. I bought a gift 'with my money' and I'm going to give it TO Jane. It's from me to her.

No, this isn't correct. You would say "I bought a gift for Jane." in this situation.

Brunces"I bought a gift FOR Jane."
It's Jane's daughter's birthday. She needs to buy a gift to her daughter, but she is unable to leave work earlier. So, she asked me to buy the gift. So, I bought a gift 'with her money', FOR her, that is, in her place. I'm not going to give her the gift. It's not from me to her. It was just a favor I did to her.

Correct, although you would probably say something to indicate explicitly that you are doing a favor for Jane.

BruncesAlso, FOR lets us continue the sentence.
Ex.: I bought a gift FOR Jane TO GIVE HER DAUGHTER.

Correct.

BruncesTO does not let me continue the sentence.
Ex.: I bought a gift TO Jane. (End of statement.)

No. You can't say "I bought a gift to Jane." only "I bought a gift for Jane."
You can say "I bought a gift to give to Jane."

Avangi · Answer

Brunces"I bought a gift TO FOR Jane." "I brought a gift TO Jane.

It's Jane's birthday. I bought a gift 'with my money' and I'm going to give it TO Jane. It's from me to her. OK

"I bought a gift FOR Jane." OK

It's Jane's daughter's birthday. She needs to buy a gift to her daughter, but she is unable to leave work earlier. So, she asked me to buy the gift. So, I bought a gift 'with her money', FOR her, that is, in her place. I'm not going to give her the gift. It's not from me to her. It was just a favor I did to her. correct.

Also, FOR lets us continue the sentence. This isn't a productive way to look at it.

Ex.: I bought a gift FOR Jane TO GIVE HER DAUGHTER. The sentence is correct.

TO does not let me continue the sentence. wrong.

Ex.: I bought a gift TO Jane. (End of statement.) wrong.

I brought a gift to Jane. correct.
I gave a package to Jane to give to her mother.
I bought a gift for Jane to give to her mother.

Am I right? If not, please correct me. I'm afraid the rule you've constructed will not be very useful. Sometimes it works; sometimes it doesn't.

We all struggle with prepositions. There are a few rules, but in general, we have to learn each situation separately.

Brunces · Answer

Guys, thank you very much for your help. Now I get it.

brunces

Anonymous · Answer

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Anonymous · Answer

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Difference between TO and FOR

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