0
S.P.I. Posted 17 years ago
Grammar

For/to

Two hours to lift off

Two hours for lift off

I am pretty sure they are both correct and have the same meaning, but I'd like to see how native speakers interpret the two sentences. Do they convey the same message?

Thanks.
  

Top answer

I. I'd like to see how native speakers interpret the two sentences. Hi SPI First of all, neither one is actually a grammatically complete sentence.

— Yankee

  • I.
  • I'd like to see how native speakers interpret the two sentences.
  • Hi SPI First of all, neither one is actually a grammatically complete sentence.
  • Two hours to lift off => As a free-standing expression, I might understand the word "to" to mean basically the same thing as "until".
  • In other words, lift-off will happen two hours from now.
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.

3 Answers
0
S.P.I.I'd like to see how native speakers interpret the two sentences.
Hi SPI

First of all, neither one is actually a grammatically complete sentence.

Two hours to lift off => As a free-standing expression, I might understand the word "to" to mean basically the same thing as "until". In other words, lift-off will happen two h
0
0
The first meaning I took from the first one is "Two hours until lift off" or that lift off was two hours away. As a stand-alone sentence, that's what I would assume it would mean.

It's now two hours to lift off = Two hours from now, we'll have lift off.

On the other hand, if you say "We need to allow two hours to lift off" it means that the lift-off process will take two hours.
0
0
I was trying to say that there were 2 hours lift before lift off of a certain craft.

I thought swapping to with for wouldn't really change the meaning of the sentence, I was obviously wrong.
YankeeIt seems to be trying to say that the lift-off lasted for two hours (and that would be highly unlikely).

That makes sense
0

Related Questions