0
Ana Machado Posted 9 years ago
Grammar

FOR you / TO you

Hello everyone,

I'm confused with this simple issue:


CASE 1 -- "a gift made for you" or "a gift made to you" ?

also

CASE 2 -- "a gift for you" or "a gift to you" ? (focus on the noun, not on the verb)

Considering that "gift" is literally an object (as a birthday gift, for instance) and that, in this case, the object was crafted by someone's hands to be given to someone else.


CASE 3 -- "a surprise for you" or "a surprise to you" ?

also

Does it make any difference if the surprise is an occasion (as a surprise party) or an object (as an unusual gift)?


Could you help me with this?

  

Top answer

I would say, generally, that "intention" is the difference between your phrases. CASE 1 -- "a gift made for you" or "a gift made to you" ? The difference is this: "A gift made for you" says that the gift was constructed with the intention to later give it to you.

— Doctor D

  • I would say, generally, that "intention" is the difference between your phrases.
  • CASE 1 -- "a gift made for you" or "a gift made to you" ?
  • The difference is this: "A gift made for you" says that the gift was constructed with the intention to later give it to you.
  • "A gift made to you" says that the gift, wherever it came from and whoever made it, was given to you.
  • ) For example: Hoping that you liked chocolate, he made a cake for you.
Free · every Monday

Get the Weekly English Kit 📬

New words, one handy idiom, and a 2-minute quiz — delivered to your inbox to keep your streak alive.

1 Answers
0

I would say, generally, that "intention" is the difference between your phrases.

CASE 1 -- "a gift made for you" or "a gift made to you" ?

The difference is this: "A gift made for you" says that the gift was constructed with the intention to later give it to you. "A gift made to you" says that the gift, wherever it came from and whoever made it, was given to you. (

0

Related Questions