Use of for ,of and to

Question

i am always got confused when to use "FOR"  "TO" AND "OF"Can you people give me some nice guidelines Thanks in advance!

Mister Micawber · Accepted Answer

All 3 prepositions are extremely common and have many, many meanings and uses. There is no space for guidelines here.

FOR:
–preposition

1.	with the object or purpose of: to run for exercise.

2.	intended to belong to, or be used in connection with: equipment for the army; a closet for dishes.

3.	suiting the purposes or needs of: medicine for the aged.

4.	in order to obtain, gain, or acquire: a suit for alimony; to work for wages.

5.	(used to express a wish, as of something to be experienced or obtained): O, for a cold drink!

6.	sensitive or responsive to: an eye for beauty.

7.	desirous of: a longing for something; a taste for fancy clothes.

8.	in consideration or payment of; in return for: three for a dollar; to be thanked for one's efforts.

9.	appropriate or adapted to: a subject for speculation; clothes for winter.

10.	with regard or respect to: pressed for time; too warm for April.

11.	during the continuance of: for a long time.

12.	in favor of; on the side of: to be for honest government.

13.	in place of; instead of: a substitute for butter.

14.	in the interest of; on behalf of: to act for a client.

15.	in exchange for; as an offset to: blow for blow; money for goods.

16.	in punishment of: payment for the crime.

17.	in honor of: to give a dinner for a person.

18.	with the purpose of reaching: to start for London.

19.	contributive to: for the advantage of everybody.

20.	in order to save: to flee for one's life.

21.	in order to become: to train recruits for soldiers.

22.	in assignment or attribution to: an appointment for the afternoon; That's for you to decide.

23.	such as to allow of or to require: too many for separate mention.

24.	such as results in: his reason for going.

25.	as affecting the interests or circumstances of: bad for one's health.

26.	in proportion or with reference to: He is tall for his age.

27.	in the character of; as being: to know a thing for a fact.

28.	by reason of; because of: to shout for joy; a city famed for its beauty.

29.	in spite of: He's a decent guy for all that.

30.	to the extent or amount of: to walk for a mile.

31.	(used to introduce a subject in an infinitive phrase): It's time for me to go.

32.	(used to indicate the number of successes out of a specified number of attempts): The batter was 2 for 4 in the game.

TO:
–preposition

1.	(used for expressing motion or direction toward a point, person, place, or thing approached and reached, as opposed to from): They came to the house.

2.	(used for expressing direction or motion or direction toward something) in the direction of; toward: from north to south.

3.	(used for expressing limit of movement or extension): He grew to six feet.

4.	(used for expressing contact or contiguity) on; against; beside; upon: a right uppercut to the jaw; Apply varnish to the surface.

5.	(used for expressing a point of limit in time) before; until: to this day; It is ten minutes to six. We work from nine to five.

6.	(used for expressing aim, purpose, or intention): going to the rescue.

7.	(used for expressing destination or appointed end): sentenced to jail.

8.	(used for expressing agency, result, or consequence): to my dismay; The flowers opened to the sun.

9.	(used for expressing a resulting state or condition): He tore it to pieces.

10.	(used for expressing the object of inclination or desire): They drank to her health.

11.	(used for expressing the object of a right or claim): claimants to an estate.

12.	(used for expressing limit in degree, condition, or amount): wet to the skin; goods amounting to $1000; Tomorrow's high will be 75 to 80°.

13.	(used for expressing addition or accompaniment) with: He added insult to injury. They danced to the music. Where is the top to this box?

14.	(used for expressing attachment or adherence): She held to her opinion.

15.	(used for expressing comparison or opposition): inferior to last year's crop; The score is eight to seven.

16.	(used for expressing agreement or accordance) according to; by: a position to one's liking; to the best of my knowledge.

17.	(used for expressing reference, reaction, or relation): What will he say to this?

18.	(used for expressing a relative position): parallel to the roof.

19.	(used for expressing a proportion of number or quantity) in; making up: 12 to the dozen; 20 miles to the gallon.

20.	(used for indicating the indirect object of a verb, for connecting a verb with its complement, or for indicating or limiting the application of an adjective, noun, or pronoun): Give it to me. I refer to your work.

21.	(used as the ordinary sign or accompaniment of the infinitive, as in expressing motion, direction, or purpose, in ordinary uses with a substantive object.)

22.	Mathematics. raised to the power indicated: Three to the fourth is 81 (3⁴ = 81).

OF:
–preposition

1.	(used to indicate distance or direction from, separation, deprivation, etc.): within a mile of the church; south of Omaha; to be robbed of one's money.

2.	(used to indicate derivation, origin, or source): a man of good family; the plays of Shakespeare; a piece of cake.

3.	(used to indicate cause, motive, occasion, or reason): to die of hunger.

4.	(used to indicate material, component parts, substance, or contents): a dress of silk; an apartment of three rooms; a book of poems; a package of cheese.

5.	(used to indicate apposition or identity): Is that idiot of a salesman calling again?

6.	(used to indicate specific identity or a particular item within a category): the city of Chicago; thoughts of love.

7.	(used to indicate possession, connection, or association): the king of France; the property of the church.

8.	(used to indicate inclusion in a number, class, or whole): one of us.

9.	(used to indicate the objective relation, the object of the action noted by the preceding noun or the application of a verb or adjective): the ringing of bells; He writes her of home; I'm tired of working.

10.	(used to indicate reference or respect): There is talk of peace.

11.	(used to indicate qualities or attributes): an ambassador of remarkable tact.

12.	(used to indicate a specified time): They arrived of an evening.

13.	Chiefly Northern U.S. before the hour of; until: twenty minutes of five.

14.	on the part of: It was very mean of you to laugh at me.

15.	in respect to: fleet of foot.

16.	set aside for or devoted to: a minute of prayer.

17.	Archaic. by: consumed of worms.

Use of for ,of and to

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