The study of prepositions in English is a subject that always raises doubts. With the use of I'm and for is no different.
In many cases we try to use meaning to understand when to use certain words. In case of using I'm and for, the difficulty occurs precisely because both words have the same translation in Portuguese: for.
The truth is that there is no fixed rule that establishes the difference in usage between the two prepositions, so only language practice will help to distinguish which preposition to use in each situation.
when to use I'm
See below some examples where the preposition I'm must be used:
| TO |
|---|
|
Purpose/Objective; before infinitive verb He traveled I'm see his girlfriend. (He traveled to see his girlfriend.) |
|
Go to a place; displacement I will go I'm Italy next month. (I'm going to Italy next month.) |
|
deliver something to someone She gave the first slice of cake I'm him. (She gave him the first piece of cake.) |
|
wish someone something happy birthday I'm you. (Happy Birthday.) |
|
indicate direction We’re still far from the beach. it's I'm the South. (We are still far from the beach. She is to the south) |
|
Start - end of period I study French from 9 am I'm 11 am (I studied French from 9 am to 11 am) |
|
Comparison/Preference he prefers dancing I'm singing. (He prefers dancing to singing). |
|
Distance between two points It’s about 2 blocks from the university I'm her house. (It's about two blocks from the university to her house) |
when to use for
| FOR |
|---|
|
before verbs in Present Continuous Tense (-ing) she thank me for helping her with the homework. (She thanked me for helping her with her homework.) |
|
Help I cleaned the house for you. (I cleaned the house for you.) |
|
Benefit Eating vegetables is very good for you. (Eating vegetables is very good for you.) |
|
Duration of something I studied French for three years. (I studied French for three years.) |
|
Purpose/Objective; before noun this area is for employees only. (This area is for employees only.) |
|
appointment booking The conference is set for next week. (The conference is scheduled for next week.) |
A tip to try to assimilate the correct usage is to try to establish a connection between the meaning of the sentence and the sequence of words used before and after the preposition.
In some cases, to express a certain sense, the construction of the sentence follows a fixed sequence of words. This is what happens, for example, with the phrasal verbs, where a certain verb will only have a certain meaning if accompanied by the correct preposition.
Note some cases:
PHRASAL VERBS WITH TO |
PHRASAL VERBS WITH FOR |
|---|---|
attend to somebody(answer someone) |
ask for (ask) |
attend to something (Deal with something; take care of something) |
Care for (Take care of; care about) |
cling to something (Clinging to something - figuratively) |
cry out for (call for) |
look forward to (Wait, yearn) |
Fall for somebody (Falling in love with someone) |
look up to (To admire) |
long for (Wish, want; miss) |
stand up to (Resist) |
Look for (To search for) |
Used to (customize) |
Pay for (pay for) |
Exercises
Check out some exercises below and practice what you just learned:
1. We went ____ the beach ____ get a tan.
a) to - for
b) to - to
c) for - to
d) for - for
Alternative b) to - to
2. He washed the dishes ____ his mom.
a) to
b) for
Alternative b) for
3. Thank you ____ helping with the kids.
a) to
b) for
Alternative b) for
4. They worked at that company ____ eight years.
a) to
b) for
Alternative b) for
5. Bob and I used ____ play tennis on Mondays.
a) to
b) for
Alternative a) to
