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Eslnewbie Posted 15 years ago
Grammar
"exciting to me" or "exciting for me"?
An ESL student today wrote the sentence "It is exciting to me." I circled the "to" because it sounded odd at the time and wrote "for". He later questioned me about this and when specifically to use "to" and "for". I admitted I didn't know the rule and the more I thought about it, the more confused I got.
Is there a correct way to say the above sentence? And are there rules governing the use of "to" and "for", specfically in regards to adjectives but also in regards to use after verbs as in "I bought a present for him."?
Is there a correct way to say the above sentence? And are there rules governing the use of "to" and "for", specfically in regards to adjectives but also in regards to use after verbs as in "I bought a present for him."?
Top answer
There is no rule, unfortunately. Each verb or adjective collocates with one, both or neither, just as with other prepositions. I bought a present for him.
- There is no rule, unfortunately.
- Each verb or adjective collocates with one, both or neither, just as with other prepositions.
- I bought a present for him.
- I brought a present to/for him.
- I gave a present to him.
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1 Answers
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There is no rule, unfortunately. Each verb or adjective collocates with one, both or neither, just as with other prepositions.
I bought a present for him.
I brought a present to/for him.
I gave a present to him.
It is exciting for me.
It is embarrassing for/to me.
etc.
If you want a list of all the meanings for 'for' and 'to', just try your dictionary.
I bought a present for him.
I brought a present to/for him.
I gave a present to him.
It is exciting for me.
It is embarrassing for/to me.
etc.
If you want a list of all the meanings for 'for' and 'to', just try your dictionary.
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