For Meaning in English Grammar

"For" is a common preposition which plays a number of roles in a sentence's meaning. "For" is used to express a variety of meanings such as showing the purpose, reason, duration, time, responsibility, support, help, intention, distance, comparison, etc.

This article talks about different usages, meanings and examples of "for" with clear explanation so as to help you master the preposition "for".

This article covers:

• Basic definition of "for"
• Uses of "for"
• Example sentences with "for"
• FAQs: For meaning in English grammar

What is the Meaning of "For" in English Grammar?

The basic definition of "for" is that it is a common preposition which demonstrates the purpose, reason, duration, etc., for an action. As a preposition, "for" carries out its function to connect two ideas by means of showing relationship between them.

Uses of "For" in English

There are a number of contexts in which "for" is used in English such as showing intention, purpose, reason, duration, support, exchange, etc. Let's explore the different contexts in which we use "for" to express different meanings. Here are the uses, meanings and example sentences of "for":

1. Intention: Someone has the intention to give you something or something is "intended to be given to" you. Here are some of the examples of "for" in this sense:

Examples:

• a. I have a good news for you.
• b. John has a message for me.
• c. We want to buy a doll for our newborn baby.

2. Purpose: Something has the purpose of, someone does, did or will do something for the purpose of. Here are some of the example sentences with "for" in this meaning:

• a. There's an advertisement for hiring a writer on Facebook.
• b. This toilet is for the use of our VIP guests.
• c. We work here for women's safety. 

3. Reason: "For" expresses the reason why some action takes place. The meaning "because of" or "on account of" is expressed by this preposition. Here are some of the examples of "for" expressing this sense:

• a. John can't see now for the tears in his eyes.
• b. There are some things I like to do for love.
• c. The Burj Khalifa is famous for being the world's tallest building.

4. Time: "For" is used to express the amount of time that is taken by someone or something. Here are some of the example sentences with "for": 

• a. Veronica is out of station for a few days.
• b. He's been sleeping for an hour or so.
• c. We've lived here for years. 

5. Distance: "For" is sometimes used to express the sense of distance that someone or something travels. Here are some examples of "for":

• a. We had to walk for miles to meet the mysterious man.
• b. You have to walk for a long way before you sleep.
• c. The train runs for a distance of 20k kilometers.

6. Duration: "For" is also used for something that starts and finishes at some point of time. Here are some examples of "for" in this sense:

• a. What are you buying for Eid?
• b. What have you bought your son for Christmas?
• c. What measurements did the government take for COVID 19?

7. Responsibility: "For" is sometimes used to convey who has the responsibility to do something. Here are the examples of "for" with this sense:

• a. You're answerable for what you do.
• b. John's responsible for what happened to him.
• c. I am not responsible for the bad happened to John.

8. Comparison: "For" is also used to compare one person or thing with others in the same quality. Here are some examples in this sense:

• a. John is very mature for his age.
• b. The job is very difficult, especially for children.
• c. The summer has been very hot for the northern states of India.

9. Support: "For" is used to express the fact that someone supports someone else or agrees with them. Here are some examples of "for" in this sense:

• a. People voted for the Nationalists at this election.
• b. Who is for cricket?
• c. They applauded for the talented singers.

10. Assistance: "For" is also used to convey the fact that you want to offer help or assistance to somebody. Here are some examples of "for" in this sense: 

• a. I'll carry bags for you.
• b. What can I do for you?
• c. John will take care of children for you.

5 Pro Tips to Master the Uses of "For"

1. Learn the Different Functions of "For"

The preposition "for" has a number of essential roles to play. Understand these functions of "for". Try to recognize them correctly as it will help you use it without making any contextual mistake.

2. Learn it from the Native Speakers

For making your spoken English natural, you need to hear the native speakers speak English in movies, podcasts and news channels. This way, you will be able to use the preposition "for" naturally.

3. Try Using it in Different Contexts

As you've seen in the article that there are a number of situations we can use "for". Master these common usages and try to use it in different contexts. This habit will make aware of the correct usage of "for".

4. Use it with Frequent Expressions

One of the interesting ways to master the uses of "for" is that you start using the common expressions with the preposition "for". For instance, you have "thank you for your help," "John is lookin for a job," "for this, you have to go faster."

5. Take up Exercises Using "For"

Only learning and recognizing the uses of "for" is not sufficient for mastering the preposition "for". You need to do the exercises that use the preposition "for". Doing the right exercises can help you become able to use it naturally.

Summary: For Meaning in English Grammar

To summarize what has been stated in this article, the preposition "for" is a common part of speech frequently in everyday, occasional, formal and informal English. In this post, we've covered 10 meanings and uses of "for" with example sentences. The uses of "for" include but are not limited to intention, purpose, reason, assistance, support, comparison, responsibility, duration, distance, time. You must read this post and note down the uses of "for" mentioned if you want to master the preposition "for". Additionally, you need to put into practice what you've learned from this post which will ensure your mastery in the preposition.

FAQs: For meaning in English Grammar

What is the English meaning of "for"?

The English meaning of "for" is that it is a common preposition that expresses the meanings such as purpose, reason, support, assistance, responsibility, time, distance, duration, intention, etc. 

What is the use of the word "for"?

The word "for" is a common preposition which is used in different contexts such as showing intention, purpose, time, duration, distance, support, assistance, reason, responsibility, etc.