Page 104 - Basic English Usage
P. 104

131  -  132                     404


              131   for:  purpose
                    We  use  for  before  a  noun  to  talk  about  a  purpose,  or  reason  for  doing
                    something.
                      We  went  to  the  pub  foradrink.  —  |  went  to  London  for  an  interview.
                    We  do  not  use  for  before  a  verb  to  talk  about  purpose.
                      !  went  to  the  pub  to  have  a  drink.  (NOT  ...  ferfte}have-adrint-)
                      !  went  to  London  to  see  about  a  job.

                    We  can  use  for  ...  -ing  to  talk  about  the  purpose  of  a  thing  —  the
                     reason  why  we  use  it.
                      We  use  an  altimeter  for  measuring  height.
                      ‘What's  that  stuff  for?’  ‘Cleaning  leather.’


              132   for  +  object  +  infinitive
                    We  use  this  structure  after  certain  adjectives.  Some  common  examples
                    are:  usual,  unusual,  common,  normal,  rare,  important,  essential,
                    necessary,  unnecessary,  anxious,  delighted.

                                   +
                     | adjective  +  for  object  +  fo-infinitive

                      Is  it  usual  for  John  to  be  so  late?
                      [t's  unusual  for  the  weather  to  be  bad  in  July.
                      It's  important  for  the  meeting  to  start  at  eight.
                      it’s  unnecessary  for  all  of  us  to  go  —  one  will  be  enough.
                      I'm  anxious  for  Peter  to  go  to  a  good  school.  (=!  wanthimtogo  ...)
                      I'd  be  delighted  for  you  to  come  and  stay  with  us.
                    We  could  often  use  a  that-clause  instead  (for  example:  /t’s  important  that
                     the  meeting  should  start  at  eight).  A  that-clause  is  usually  more  formal.

                    We  use  a  for-structure  after  too  (see  348.1)  and  enough  (see  113.3).
                      It's  too  heavy  for  you  to  lift.
                      It's  warm  enough  for  the  snow  to  melt.

                    We  can  use  the  same  structure  after  some  nouns.  Examples:  idea,  time.
                      His  idea  is  for  us  to  travel  in  separate  cars
                      It's  time  for  everybody  to  go  fo  bed
                    Common  verbs  that  are  followed  by  for  +  object  +  infinitive:  ask,  hope,
                    arrange,  pay,  wait,  take  (time).
                      She  asked  for  the  car  to  be  ready  by  five  o  clock.
                      !  was  hoping  for  somebody  to  come  and  help  me.
                      Can  you  arrange  for  the  car  to  be  ready  this  evening?
                      He  paid  for  her  to  see  the  best  doctors.
                      !'m  waiting  for  it  to  get  dark.
                      It  takes  five  days  for  a  letter  to  go  from  London  to  New  York.
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