for $399.

Question

The CDs are on sale today. Three CDs are only for $399.Can we omit the preposition for?

Philip · Accepted Answer

Teo
The CDs are on sale today. Three CDs are only for $399.

Can we omit the preposition for?

The preposition 'for' would be much better before the word 'only'. Hint: at that price, they are NOT a good deal. [Unless there is a "." missing between the '3' and the first '9'.]

Teo · Answer

I meant NT$399.  1 US dollar is approximately equal to 33 New Taiwan dollars.

CalifJim · Answer

Can we omit the preposition for?
Not only can you, you should!

CJ

Teo · Answer

You would say either, "Three CDs for only $399" or "Three CDs only $399," but not "Three CDs are for only $399."
http://www.eslcafe.com/forums/student/viewtopic.php?p=75324#75324

CalifJim · Answer

Yes. But one of these is clearly in telegraphic style as used in advertising:

Three CD's -- only $399! Buy them today!

(The for is omitted.)

CJ

Teo · Answer

'For' should be omitted here!

http://www.englishclub.com/esl-forums/viewtopic.php?p=289610#289610

CalifJim · Answer

Teo,
That's just what I said several posts ago.
What is your point?
CJ

Teo · Answer

I feel very confused.

The CDs are on sale today. Three CDs are only for $399.

Can we omit the preposition for?

Philip: The preposition 'for' would be much better before the word 'only'.

CalifJim: Not only can you, you should!

Alan: 'For' should be omitted here!

CP: You would say either, "Three CDs for only $399" or "Three CDs only $399," but not "Three CDs are for only $399."

CalifJim: Yes. But one of these is clearly in telegraphic style as used in advertising:

Three CD's -- only $399! Buy them today!

(The for is omitted.)

CalifJim · Answer

I feel very confused.

Join the club!

Philip recommends: Three CD's are for only $399.

CalifJim insists on: Three CD's are only $399.

Alan agrees with CalifJim, saying it should be: Three CD's are only $399.

Then a second question comes in, which is really three questions.

1. Verify that you would say "Three CD's for only $399"
2. Verify that you would say "Three CD's only $399"
3. Verify that you would not say "Three CD's are for only $399"

Calif says he can verify all. Note that the first two are not complete sentences. There is no "are" in those examples.

I would say the first as part of another sentence. "Three CD's for only $399 is a good bargain."
I would say the second only as an advertiser, repunctuating as I showed earlier. "Three CD's -- only $399".
I would not say the third, so I verified that I would not say it. I find it somewhat awkward. But note that Philip said that he would say it. This may be a point of confusion. Not everyone speaks the same way. And it's not necessary for everyone to express their thoughts in the same way.

As a complete sentence, the only one that I recommend is "Three CD's are only $399."

CJ

Maple · Answer

Join the club!

Hi, Toe! I guess the above elaborated explanation would take you out of the clubfor a while.

for $399.

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