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Cat fold 525 Posted 8 years ago
Grammar

For+a period of time

He’ll be away for two months. (with for)
I haven't had a good meal for three days in a row. (with for)
She's been voted Best Actress three years in a row. (without for)
She had her birthday party at the bowling alley three years in a row. (without for)

Hi, there. I am a bit confused about this structure "for+a period of time". Sometimes it's "for+a period of time" while other times there's no "for" in the sentences. I wonder when I shouldn't use the "for".

Thank you for your time and help.

  

Top answer

cat fold 525 He’ll be away for two months. (with for) Being away is not an action or event. cat fold 525 I haven't had a good meal for three days in a row.

— CalifJim

  • cat fold 525 He’ll be away for two months.
  • (with for) Being away is not an action or event.
  • cat fold 525 I haven't had a good meal for three days in a row.
  • (with for) Not having a good meal (or not doing anything, really) is not an action or an event.
  • cat fold 525 She's been voted Best Actress three years in a row.
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4 Answers
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cat fold 525He’ll be away for two months. (with for)

Being away is not an action or event.

cat fold 525I haven't had a good meal for three days in a row. (with for)

Not having a good meal (or not doing anything, really) is not an action or an event.

cat fold 525She's been voted Be
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The four given sentences are correct. Note that the first two are also correct without "for." And the third is also correct with "for." But the fourth cannot have "for."


Why the first three can have "for" or no "for," while the fourth can have only no "for," is difficult to explain. I'm a native English speaker in the US, and the only explanation I can give is: "That's just th

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This is an interesting question, something native speakers never think about because they know it instinctively. I've thought about this some more, and if there is a "rule" about this, it is something like the following:


Usually this type of period-of-time sentence is correct with for or without it. For example, the following are correct:


He's been staying with me (for)

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cat fold 525"for+a period of time"

It now appears that 'for' is optional most of the time.

It also appears that not all of the necessary research has been done yet to formulate a definitive answer.

CJ

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