For or To /help

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For or To /help
Message from jedi56 posted on 20-05-2014 at 16:39:00 (D | E | F)
Hello everybody,
Most of the times I am not sure if I have to use 'for' or 'to' in sentences like this one: 'I have something for / to you'
Could anyone give me some directions?
Thanks in advance.

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Edited by lucile83 on 20-05-2014 19:26

Re: For or To /help from dolfine56, posted on 20-05-2014 at 17:38:38 (D | E)
Hello,
I would say :
I have something for you.
I have something to tell you.
see you.

Re: For or To /help from gerondif, posted on 20-05-2014 at 19:16:06 (D | E)
Hello,
It would have been easier to answer you in French when speaking of the three ways to translate "pour"

1) This present is for you, for my mother: you give, you attribute something to somebody.

2) I am here to work, to help you.
It means: I am here in order to help you, my aim is to help you, my purpose is to help you.
I am here to work, not to play.
The BIG problem is that the question is:
What do you come here for ? I come here to work! Tricky, isn't it ?

I need some money !! What for ?? to buy some sweets !!

3) Thank you for your help, thank you for helping me is a cause, not an aim as in 2)
He was arrested for speeding.
He was arrested for speeding to go to his mother's house to give her a present for her birthday.

Re: For or To /help from here4u, posted on 20-05-2014 at 19:44:39 (D | E)
Hello

'He was arrested for speeding to go to his mother's house to give her a present for her birthday.'
Hummm ... Hey, You 'Master of the gerund' wouldn't you be tempted to say : 'He was arrested for speeding going to his mother's house to give her a present for her birthday ...'?? I would ...

Re: For or To /help from lucile83, posted on 20-05-2014 at 21:34:08 (D | E)
Hello here4u

Sorry, I don't agree with your previous message.
'He was arrested for speeding going to his mother's house..' sounds awkward I am afraid. A gerund can't be followed by another gerund as we don't use two consecutive gerund-participles.
It should be:
'He was arrested for speeding to go to his mother's house...' as gerondif wrote
or
'He was arrested for speeding and going to his mother's house...' which makes no sense.
So the only right structure should be 'for speeding to go'.

Re: For or To /help from gerondif, posted on 20-05-2014 at 21:47:11 (D | E)
Hello,
'He was arrested for speeding,(comma) going to his mother's house to give her a present for her birthday ...'??
'He was arrested for speeding while going to his mother's house to give her a present for her birthday ...'??
'He was arrested for speeding as he was going to his mother's house to give her a present for her birthday ...'??
Yes, but I wanted to use "to go" to indicate aim, and use the three "pour".

Re: For or To /help from here4u, posted on 21-05-2014 at 01:07:56 (D | E)
Hello lucile
Yes ! gerondif pulled our leg(s) ! I was just teasing him ... and have never said that 'going ' was a gerund here ... but I should have put that comma I really think that what he suggested finally is much clearer than his first sentence (though I normally put more infinitives than he does ... )

Re: For or To /help from clint01, posted on 21-05-2014 at 08:42:12 (D | E)
If I say: Would you mind considering working harder?, It would sound strange, wouldn't it?

Re: For or To /help from here4u, posted on 21-05-2014 at 11:33:41 (D | E)
Hello clint !

It would sound OK to me ... (I'm becoming too lenient ! ) but let's wait for our 'Master of Gerund' 's opinion ...

Re: For or To /help from lucile83, posted on 21-05-2014 at 11:44:14 (D | E)
Hello clint,

Yes it is correct because you have to use a gerund after the verb consider; and one after the verb mind; that is simple, isn't it? you have no choice.
Link

That is what we can call an exception

Re: For or To /help from clint01, posted on 22-05-2014 at 08:43:27 (D | E)
Hello Lucile and Here4u,thanks
That was exactly what I wanted to hear.
I usually use that form jokingly

Re: For or To /help from gerondif, posted on 22-05-2014 at 19:13:32 (D | E)
Hello,
it's a pity the only person we don't hear of anymore is Jedi56..... Happy birthday all the same ! I had written here for him, to help him.

Re: For or To /help from lucile83, posted on 22-05-2014 at 19:28:52 (D | E)
Hello gerondif,
Don't worry, jedi was here today around 6.00P.M. He must be very busy on this special day!

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