Distinguishing Between To & For in English Grammar

What Does To Mean?

The preposition “to” is utilized in the dative case and indicates the movement of a person or thing from one place or person to another. For example, “He gave a book to his classmate” or “Francis traveled to London from Paris.” “To” can also be used as a function word to indicate various meanings, such as direction (e.g. “two miles to the west”) or purpose, intention, tendency, and result (e.g. “drink to someone’s health, came to her aid”).

What Does For Mean?

The preposition “for” is also used in the dative case but with a slight difference, as it indicates the importance of a person or thing for whom an action has been done. For example, “I purchased a book for my father” or “He did everything for his elder brother.” “For” can also be used to express having the purpose of (e.g. “Parking is for customers only”) or intended for/to be given to (e.g. “There was a phone message for you”).

Key Takeaways

• The preposition “to” is used to indicate movement from one place or person to another.
• The preposition “for” is used to indicate the importance of a person or thing for whom an action has been done.
• Both “to” and “for” are used in the dative case, but they have different meanings and usages.