Prepositions - For
1. For indicates a recipient or beneficiary.
Pattern 1: noun + for + noun
I have a present for you.
Nouns often used before for:
answer, cure, gift, idea, job, message, letter, plan, present, project, question, suggestion, surprise, secret
Pattern 2: noun + for + 0 noun
We have news for you.
Typical nouns before for:
advice, help, information, news, nothing, something
Pattern 3: verb + noun + for + noun
She sang a song for me.
He only wants the best for you.
Verbs often used before for:
bake, build, buy, care, cook, create, dance, design, do, get, make, perform, play, sing, want, win, work, write
2. For indicates a special purpose.
Pattern 1: noun + for + noun
You need a coat for winter.
He has a bicycle for transportation.
Pattern 2: noun + for + verb in gerund form
They have a special place for washing cars.
The doctor has a machine for measuring blood pressure.
Expression:
room for—enough space for something or somebody
We need room for twenty people for our party.
We don't have room for a grand piano.
3. For can indicate the intended result of an action.
Pattern 1: verb + for + noun
The boys were screaming for help.
What are you looking for?
Verbs often used before for:
apply, ask, audition, beg, call, campaign, compete, cry, fight, go out, go, hope, long, look, petition, plead, pray, register, run, scream, send, shop, shout, stand in line, strive, study, train, try out, wait, whistle, wish, work, yell
Expression:
run for office—be a candidate in an election
After he ran for president and lost, he said he would never run for office again.
Pattern 1: noun + for + noun
I have a present for you.
Nouns often used before for:
answer, cure, gift, idea, job, message, letter, plan, present, project, question, suggestion, surprise, secret
Pattern 2: noun + for + 0 noun
We have news for you.
Typical nouns before for:
advice, help, information, news, nothing, something
Pattern 3: verb + noun + for + noun
She sang a song for me.
He only wants the best for you.
Verbs often used before for:
bake, build, buy, care, cook, create, dance, design, do, get, make, perform, play, sing, want, win, work, write
2. For indicates a special purpose.
Pattern 1: noun + for + noun
You need a coat for winter.
He has a bicycle for transportation.
Pattern 2: noun + for + verb in gerund form
They have a special place for washing cars.
The doctor has a machine for measuring blood pressure.
Expression:
room for—enough space for something or somebody
We need room for twenty people for our party.
We don't have room for a grand piano.
3. For can indicate the intended result of an action.
Pattern 1: verb + for + noun
The boys were screaming for help.
What are you looking for?
Verbs often used before for:
apply, ask, audition, beg, call, campaign, compete, cry, fight, go out, go, hope, long, look, petition, plead, pray, register, run, scream, send, shop, shout, stand in line, strive, study, train, try out, wait, whistle, wish, work, yell
Expression:
run for office—be a candidate in an election
After he ran for president and lost, he said he would never run for office again.
