For or To?!

It’s quite difficult to know when to use FOR or TO. Thus, I decided writing this post. There we go.

First of all, don’t worry: there’s no official difference or rule that will guide the use of these prepositions 100%.  Even if you ask native speakers, they may say the same. What’s a fact is that the sentences themselves are fixed and they’ll “dictate” whether the structure is right or wrong. In other words, the usage/ practice will define which is the most appropriate to be used in certain cases: FOR or TO.

As I use to say and it’s also suggested by Lima (2007), it’s important that as learners, we strive to understand the context and the content as a whole, and not as isolated words. Taking this into consideration, we’ll see that there are fixed expressions with FOR and TO that become natural as time passes and we apply them in our day-by-day.  Students often seem very eager to understand the “whys” for everything, when it’s impossible indeed. Yes, some language aspects must be taken for granted.

Below you’ll see some common expressions that may help you and guide you while using FOR and TO.

TO VERBS

I gave a present to him. = I gave him a present.
I’ll show the figures to you. = I’ll 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.

The teacher said "Good morning" to the students.
He’s 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.

GO  TO 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.

	FOR VERBS 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. 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 FOR EXPRESSION go for a walk  go for a ride  go for a drive  go for a beer  go for it Sources: List Denilso de Lima