muskie  +  21348 Wed, 04 Feb 04 06:13 PM Is the preposition "for" necessary in the following sentence? In reports coming across my desk, I am seeing it written both ways (that is, with and without the preposition). He worked for a total of 14 years. Thanks! muskie Joined on Fri, Nov 14 2003 New Member 02 Prepositions

	whl626  +  21388 Thu, 05 Feb 04 01:52 AM ' for ' is indeed necessary since it refers to the range of time involved. ' for a total of 14 years. ' is an adverbial phrase modiying the verb ' worked ' whl626 Joined on Sun, Aug 24 2003 Regular Member 882 Learn English every day Verbs

	buggah  +  21391 Thu, 05 Feb 04 02:05 AM I think 'He worked a total of 14 years' is pretty much acceptable. I may be wrong. Any other opinion on that? buggah Joined on Sat, Jan 24 2004 Brazil Full Member 106 "Do not try to bend the spoon. That's impossible. Instead, only try to realize the truth."

	buggah  +  21392 Thu, 05 Feb 04 02:09 AM What about the sentences: - 'I worked ten years as a waiter.' - 'She worked three years in Brazil.' - 'I worked three hours today.' - 'He worked five years for Microsoft.' buggah

	whl626  +  21399 Thu, 05 Feb 04 02:27 AM On second thought, I think I've made a mistake :p. As I said, ' for ' is a range of time up to now. That's why it is always used in present perfect tense as what I've suggested. " He's worked for .... " Generally speaking, It won't be applied on past tense.. whl626 Tenses, Present Perfect, Past Tenses