To y for
Puede resultar algo difícil y parecer demasiado complicado distinguir entre to y for, pero hay reglas que determinan cuál debemos usar en cada caso. Abajo, examinaremos las reglas que determinan qué preposición, to y for, es la correcta.
For: el propósito de alguien
Se usa ‘for’ para hablar sobre el propósito de alguien, pero únicamente cuando la cosa es un nombre. No puede ser otra cosa.
- This space is for meetings.
- I had to see my colleague for a coffee.
- My laptop is for Skype sessions.
- I’m going to see my teacher for extra classes.
- Want to meet me out at the bar for a drink?
For: se emplea antes de un gerundio (verbo + –ing) para expresar el propósito de una cosa, o más específicamente, su uso
- Computers can be used for surfing the internet.
- Books are for improving your knowledge and personal enjoyment.
- The room is for meeting and celebrating.
- Calculators are for adding numbers up.
To: se usa para expresar el propósito de una entidad (persona, animal, empresa etc.)
Por ejemplo, la entidad es el sujeto (NO una cosa), debemos usar ‘to + infinitivo’, y NO ‘for’.
- I need to go to the school to finish my work.
- Daniel used his smartphone to take pictures of us while we were on holiday.
- We have to go on holiday to get some rest.
- I’m going to a restaurant to meet a colleague.
- We met at the cafeteria to catch up.
- Please, use the gloves to do the dishes, and not to play with.
*¿Ves que el sujeto en azul es una persona, no una cosa? Por eso, usamos ‘to + infinitivo’ y NO ‘for’.
For: causa e efecto
Se usa ‘for + gerundio’ (verbo + –ing) después de una descripción de una reacción positiva o negativa para explicar el comportamiento que la causó. Aunque el sujeto pueda ser una entidad (persona, animal, empresa etc.,) utilizamos ‘for’ y NO ‘to’.
- She was surprised by her friend for arriving so early.
- The child was punished for being a brat.
- I’m angry at you for hurting my feelings.
- We’re very grateful to you for being a great person.
- Ana was annoyed at me for eating her lunch.
- Michael was told to leave the classroom for swearing.
Por lo tanto, es incorrecto decir lo siguiente
- She was surprised by her friend to arriving so early.
- The child was punished to being a brat.
- I’m angry at you to hurting my feelings.
- We’re very grateful to you to being a great person.
- Ana was annoyed at me to eating her lunch.
- Michael was told to leave the classroom to swearing.
Ver también
- Already vs. all ready
- Among vs. amongst
- Although vs. though
- Some vs. any
- Between vs. among
- Bring up vs. educate
- Still, yet, y already
- Rather, quite, fairly, y little
- Énfasis en inglés
- Bath vs. bathe
- Into vs. in to
- On vs. upon
- Born vs. borne
- Bring vs. take
- So vs. such
- There is vs. there are
- Do vs. make