These prepositions have been cursed by students over the years.
There's no need to be afraid though. They can be understood and properly placed in a sentence as long as students remember some simple hints:
TO: it's used every time an action needs two participants, or, in other words, an action affects the complement somehow. Check out the examples:
- I gave flowers to my wife on our wedding anniversary.
- John sent a letter to his uncle in Italy.
- I had to explain the same subject to my students twice.
TO: (2) It's used when there is a direct involvement between two parts.
Check out the examples:
- His girlfriend was dancing to him at the nightclub.
- My mother used to read stories to me when I was a kid.
- The doors were open to the president.
FOR: indicates something is a benefit from an action performed.
- I bought flowers for my wife on our wedding anniversary.
- My grandmother cooked pasta for me.
- Helen turned on the air conditioning for us.
FOR: (2) it's used when there is a substitution in the part that shuld perform the action.
- My father is not here, but he left me a message and I will read it for him.
- Can you open the door for me?
- Those women are going to dance for me because I hired them.
Check the sentence and the action before you use TO or FOR again.
If you need any extra explanation, click on the word comments below.
Best wishes,
André
