ESL Basic English Grammar Questions and Help

Re: Difference Between "To" and "For"

Mister Micawber — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 11:31:02 GMT

.
Yes. Please read the thread and then ask more specifically.
.

Re: Difference Between "To" and "For"

Anonymous — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 11:25:35 GMT

is there any difference between to and for?

Re: Difference Between "To" and "For"

CalifJim — Mon, 12 May 2008 19:30:27 GMT

To walk you must use your legs. To go you might not need them. You can go by car or by train or by plane, etc.

Re: Difference Between "To" and "For"

Anonymous — Mon, 12 May 2008 14:16:22 GMT

what is teh differences between go and walk

Re: Difference Between "To" and "For"

Anonymous — Fri, 09 May 2008 00:47:45 GMT

to me is straight to yourself, involving nobody else. (here ya are the recepient, e.g: Happy birthday to ya)

for me is more like a third inclusion, e.g. : Could ya do that for me? (you are not the direct recepient)

Actually, in real life, we mix both and Americans do that all the time.

Hope it helps ya.

Take care

Elaine Gandelini

Re: Difference Between "To" and "For"

Clive — Thu, 03 Apr 2008 19:58:37 GMT

Hi,

the difference between in this matter and on this matter.

Sometimes there is very little difference.

Context can make a lot of difference. Very generally speaking, 'on this matter' suggests one or more of the people in the context is not directly involved in the matter, whereas 'in this matter' suggest more direct involvement.

eg Can you give me your advice on this matter, please?

eg Can you help me in this matter, please?

Please note the use of the word 'please'.

Best wishes, Clive

Re: Difference Between "To" and "For"

Anonymous — Thu, 03 Apr 2008 19:49:28 GMT

the difference between in this matter and on this matter.

Re: Difference Between "To" and "For"

Anonymous — Tue, 11 Mar 2008 00:57:54 GMT

1. A thing is important to you. (Noun or Gerund)

Example: Your studies are important to you. (Studying is important to you.)

2. Doing something is important for you. (to + Verb)

It is important for you to study.

Re: Difference Between "To" and "For"

Anonymous — Tue, 24 Oct 2006 19:39:48 GMT

I always think of "for" in the sense of "on the behalf", whereas "to" gives me the idea of movement, towards.

Re: Difference Between "To" and "For"

Grammar Geek — Tue, 10 Jan 2006 19:43:19 GMT

When you say that something is important TO you, you mean that it has meaning for yourself. For example, "I know that losing ten pounds doesn't seem important to you, but it's important to me."

To a native English speaker, it's incomplete to say something is important FOR you. It says that there is something you must do that is important (to someone). "For the sake of my health, it's important for me to lose weight."

Re: Difference Between "To" and "For"

Matress — Mon, 09 Jan 2006 22:27:26 GMT

It's a very difficult subject - to use 'to'or 'for'

My family is very important to me. That is the right sentence.

a) I sent a letter to Mary. In that sentence I wrote a letter to Mary and sent it to her in another city, country... b) I sent a letter for Mary. In that one Mary wrote a letter for someone and couldn't mail it then other person maybe a friend maild it because she was very busy.

TO VERBS

FOR VERBS

I gave a present to him. = I gave him a present.
Iâll show the figures to you. = Iâll show you the figures.
He sold a car to me. = He sold me a car.
He sent a letter to Mary. = He sent Mary a letter.
Can you lend this book to me? = Can you lend me this book?
The boss told a joke to us. = The boss told us a joke.
Who teaches English to them? = Who teaches them English?
I paid $10 to the repairman. = I paid the repairman $10.
Will you pass the sugar to me? = Will you pass me the sugar?
Read a story to the children. = Read the children a story.
I wrote a letter to my friend. = I wrote my friend a letter.
Hand that book to me, please. = Hand me that book, please.
He offered a job to Mary. = He offered Mary a job.
He'll bring something to me. = He'll bring me something.
She sang a lullaby to the baby. = She sang the baby a lullaby.
I'll throw the ball to you. = I'll throw you the ball.

Let me buy a present for you. = Let me buy you a present.
I got some food for you. = I got you some food.
She made a sandwich for me. = She made me a sandwich.
Did she cook dinner for you? = Did she cook you dinner?
Can you do a favor for me? = Can you do me a favor?
He can find a job for you. = He can find you a job.
He left a message for you. = He left you a message.
Shall I pour more tea for you? = Shall I pour you more tea?
Reserve hotel rooms for us. = Reserve us hotel rooms.
Save the stamps for him. = Save him the stamps.

TO VERBS

FOR VERBS

The teacher said "Good morning" to the students.
Heâs going to introduce Mary to his family.
I already explained the project to the staff.
Mr. Cole described the new house to his wife.
I sometimes speak English to (with) my wife.
Bob reported the accident to the police.
I repeated your ideas to my parents.
He admitted his mistake to the boss.
I'll mention your plan to the director.
Dr. Bishop recommends this medicine to some patients.
Richard has announced his engagement to his friends.
It sounds good to me.
The salesgirl suggested a gift to Philip.

Can you carry the suitcases for me?
Could you open the door for me?
He asked the bank teller to cash a check for him.
Doctors like to prescribe medicine for the patients.
She is going to prepare the meal for the guests.
I asked her to sign the letter for me.
Can you hold this for me, please?
I changed the traveler's checks for you.
I asked the secretary to make an appointment for me.
He translated an article for me.
I recorded a tape for you.
I'll take the car to the mechanic for you.
The salesgirl suggested Philip a gift for his girlfriend.
Can you play the piano for me?

*GO TO* EXPRESSIONS	*GO FOR* EXPRESSIONS
go to work go to school go to bed go to church go to town go to court go to pieces go to hell go to Porto Alegre go to the bank, go to the office, etc.	go for a walk go for a ride go for a drive go for a beer go for it

WWW.SK.COM.BR

Re: Difference Between "To" and "For"

Chief Cook — Mon, 09 Jan 2006 15:31:10 GMT

Hiya June4ever

In my opinion I would say that there is no significant difference.

All I can say is that I would use "It's important for me...", when I want to:

1. make a stronger statement, i.e. I must/have to do it.

"It's important for me to learn English."

2. make a comparitive statement, i.e. have this rather than something else.

"My neighbour is an American and therefore it's important for me to learn English (rather than any other language)."

3. convey a feeling of immediacy

"It's important for me to learn English now, if I am to speak with my American neighbour."

4. give a list of criteria, i.e. I must have this, that and the other.

"It's important for me to have a phone that can take photographs and connect to the web."

If I replace the above 4 statements with the words "It's important to me...", it does not sound right. Maybe it is something to do with the repetitiveness of 'to' that I don't like, anyway, if I replace "It's important for me to..." with "It's important to me that I...." then it sounds better.

I hope this helps you. Perhaps there is someone out there can explain this better in terms of grammar.

Difference Between "To" and "For"

June4ever — Mon, 09 Jan 2006 06:23:28 GMT

Hi, I've got a question.

"It's important to me" vs "It's important for me"

What's the difference between to and for in this case..

I guess there is nothing wrong with both of those sentences but do you feel any difference from each?

It's almost impossible to get the difference of it.