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Lucas21c Posted 11 years ago
Grammar

Omission of 'for'

Is the following sentence okay as it is? Or, should I put 'for' between 'position' and 'three'?

1. Hold the position three [seconds/minutes/hours].

How about the following sentences? Do I have to add 'for' to the underlined blank in each of them also?

2. Keep it in your refrigerator [ten seconds/minutes/hours].
3. He didn't eay anything [three days].
4. Cockroaches can live [six months] without food.
3. I have studied English [two years].
  

Top answer

In the UK, as far as I know, "for" would be required for all of them, but is sometimes dropped in informal speech sometimes. " sounds a bit strange without "for" but I can't explain why the others feel OK but not this one. My observation is that "for" is even more optional in the US.

— Michael Chambers Teaching English

  • In the UK, as far as I know, "for" would be required for all of them, but is sometimes dropped in informal speech sometimes.
  • " sounds a bit strange without "for" but I can't explain why the others feel OK but not this one.
  • My observation is that "for" is even more optional in the US.
  • However, it would certainly always be correct to put "for" in UK English (and also in US English, as far as I know).
  • Kind regards, Michael
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3 Answers
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In the UK, as far as I know, "for" would be required for all of them, but is sometimes dropped in informal speech sometimes. "He didn't say anything ..." sounds a bit strange without "for" but I can't explain why the others feel OK but not this one.

My observation is that "for" is even more optional in the US.

However, it would certainly always be correct to put "for" in UK En
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Then, you means all of the above sentence 1~5 are okay in UK also if they are used in informal speech?
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