For or to?

Question

Hello,I have trouble knowing when to write for or to? There is any rule?Many thanksMaria Gonzalez

Mister Micawber · Accepted Answer

Hello, Maria. Could you be more specific or give us a sentence that concerns you? Those two prepositions have many meanings and uses:

FOR:

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 workfor wages.

5.
(used to express a wish, as of something to be experiencedor 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 adollar; to be thanked for one's efforts.

9.
appropriate or adapted to: a subject for speculation; clothesfor winter.

10.
with regard or respect to: pressed for time; too warm forApril.

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 forgoods.

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 theafternoon; That's for you to decide.

23.
such as to allow of or to require: too many for separatemention.

24.
such as results in: his reason for going.

25.
as affecting the interests or circumstances of: bad for one'shealth.

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 itsbeauty.

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 timefor me to go.

32.
(used to indicate the number of successes out of a specifiednumber of attempts): The batter was 2 for 4 in the game

TO:

1.

(used for expressing motion or direction toward a point,person, place, or thing approached and reached, as opposedto from): They came to the house.

2.
(used for expressing direction or motion or direction towardsomething) in the direction of; toward: from north to south.

3.
(used for expressing limit of movement or extension): Hegrew to six feet.

4.
(used for expressing contact or contiguity) on; against;beside; upon: a right uppercut to the jaw; Apply varnish to thesurface.

5.
(used for expressing a point of limit in time) before; until: tothis day; It is ten minutes to six. We work from nine to five.

6.
(used for expressing aim, purpose, or intention): going to therescue.

7.
(used for expressing destination or appointed end):sentenced to jail.

8.
(used for expressing agency, result, or consequence): to mydismay; The flowers opened to the sun.

9.
(used for expressing a resulting state or condition): He tore itto pieces.

10.
(used for expressing the object of inclination or desire):They drank to her health.

11.
(used for expressing the object of a right or claim):claimants to an estate.

12.
(used for expressing limit in degree, condition, or amount):wet to the skin; goods amounting to $1000; Tomorrow's high will be 75 to 80°.

13.
(used for expressing addition or accompaniment) with: Headded insult to injury. They danced to the music. Where is the top to this box?

14.

(used for expressing attachment or adherence): She held toher opinion.

15.
(used for expressing comparison or opposition): inferior tolast year's crop; The score is eight to seven.

16.
(used for expressing agreement or accordance) accordingto; by: a position to one's liking; to the best of my knowledge.

17.
(used for expressing reference, reaction, or relation): Whatwill he say to this?

18.
(used for expressing a relative position): parallel to the roof.

19.
(used for expressing a proportion of number or quantity) in;making up: 12 to the dozen; 20 miles to the gallon.

20.
(used for indicating the indirect object of a verb, forconnecting a verb with its complement, or for indicating orlimiting the application of an adjective, noun, or pronoun):Give it to me. I refer to your work.

21.
(used as the ordinary sign or accompaniment of theinfinitive, as in expressing motion, direction, or purpose, inordinary uses with a substantive object.)

22.
Mathematics. raised to the power indicated: Three to thefourth is 81 (3⁴ = 81).

For or to?

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