Use of 'to' &'for'

Question

Hi! I would like some examples comparing the uses of 'to' with 'for'.Thank you,RWJ

Mister Micawber · Accepted Answer

Both words have many, many uses; your question is impossibly broad:

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 http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/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 http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/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 http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/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 http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/flowers opened to the http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/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 http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/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 http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/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 ( 3 ⁴ = 81 ).

FOR:

–preposition

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

2.
intended to belong to, or be used in connection with: equipment for the http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/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 http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/express a wish, as of something to be experienced or obtained): O, for a cold drink!

6.
sensitive or responsive to: an eye for http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/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 http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/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 http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/act for a client.

15.
in exchange for; as an offset to: blow for blow; http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/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 http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/attribution to: an appointment for the afternoon; That's for http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/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 .

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; http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/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 http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/game

Use of 'to' &'for'

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