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Angliholic Posted 18 years ago
Grammar

Though they'll be gone for the winter

As fall comes to a close, bears head into caves to hibernate, and birds fly south to escape the cold. Though they'll be gone for the winter, we know they'll be back in the spring.

I wonder why there is an inconsistent use between "for the winter" and "in the spring." Do "for" and "in" convey a similar idea in the above? Thanks.
  

Top answer

Hi Angliholic For the winter refers to the whole period of time (the whole winter), and in the spring refers to a point in time (at one point in time during spring).

— Yankee

  • Hi Angliholic For the winter refers to the whole period of time (the whole winter), and in the spring refers to a point in time (at one point in time during spring).
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5 Answers
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Hi Angliholic

For the winter refers to the whole period of time (the whole winter), and in the spring refers to a point in time (at one point in time during spring).
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"For the winter" expresses the duration of the seaon.

"In the spring" marks the point in time that they will return.
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Hi Angliholic

The two prepositions are usually used to convey different meanings in expressions of time. For usually means "for the duration or length of":

He went to Spain for two weeks.
I'll be gone for an hour.

In is used to indicate when something happens/happened:

Birds build nests in [the] spring.
He returned in June
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Thanks, Amy, GG, and CB.

Got it!
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It's always a good thing when three responses given at the same time are in agreement!
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