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Anonymous Posted 16 years ago
Grammar

"To avoid" or "For avoiding"

"To avoid catching a cold, people should wash their hands."

This sentence makes a perfect sense to me.

But I cannot explain why I feel uncomfortable in another sentence,

"For avoiding catching a cold, people should........."

If "For" is here being used as a preposition indicating some kind of purpose, like "for" in "I want an opportunity for working abroad", then

the sentence "For avoiding catching a cold, people should........." should

make a sence, souldn't it?

Is this not an acceptable sentence to native speakers?

If so, why so?

I would appreciate it if you could give me a tip.

Kn
  

Top answer

Hi, I wouldn't say the 'for' sentence is wrong. I'd say it's just not idiomatic. ie We say it the other way because we like to say it the other way.

— Clive

  • Hi, I wouldn't say the 'for' sentence is wrong.
  • I'd say it's just not idiomatic.
  • ie We say it the other way because we like to say it the other way.
  • Clive
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6 Answers
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Hi,

I wouldn't say the 'for' sentence is wrong. I'd say it's just not idiomatic.

ie We say it the other way because we like to say it the other way.
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AnonymousIs this not an acceptable sentence to native speakers?
If so, why so?
We tend not to put too many -ings together, as avoiding catching.

CJ
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Thanks, Clive!

"For avoiding" sentense is not wrong, but it is not so common as " To avoid"sentense, so

if I would say "For avoiding"sentense , listeners might feel somewhat uncomforatable, but

I would still get them to clearly understand what I want to try to say.

Do I get your advice right?
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Hi,

"For avoiding" sentense is not wrong, but it is not so common as " To avoid"sentense,

Much, much less common

so if I would say "For avoiding"sentense , listeners might feel somewhat uncomforatable,

I wouldn't feel uncomfortable, I'd just think it sounded a bit odd

but

I would still get them to clearly understand what I want to try to say
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Thanks for the post.
Hi guys, Im a newbie. Nice to join this forum.

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Thanks, CJ

I will remember that it is not proper to use many "-ing" together.

Thanks a lot!
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