For ( preposition or conjunction(
For is preposition with two main uses : length of time and purpose
< In written> For is also a conjunction meaning because
1. For ( preposition ) meaning length of time
E.g. for a second for three hours for weeks for ever
• I’ve been studying English for five years, but I’ve lived in England only for a short time .
• Could you wait here for a minute, please?
• Darling, I will love you for ever.
Note : we omit for in front of all.
• All my life all day all night all the time
• Hurry up! I am not going to wait here all night note: not for all night
For is used with the perfect ( or perfect progressive ) when referring to a period of time
which began in the past and continues up to to the moment of speaking ( or the
moment we are thinking of )
E.g.
• This farm has belonged to my family for centuries.
( = We bought it in 1540 and we still own it now)
• The new political party has been developing its policy for only a year.
(= it began developing it last year and still developing it )
• The police has been trying to find the stolen diamonds for six months. ( it`s now July 2011)
2. For can also be used with the past simple in talking about a completed period of time
E.g.
• The course lasted for a month. It finished yesterday.
3. For can also be used with past perfect , on talking about a period in the past which
lasted up to a specific point in the past.
E.g.
• Tom has been divorced for five months when he met his second wife.
For can also be used with any other verb forms, e.g. to describe a period of time in the future.
• Sam is likely to stay in the hospital for two weeks.
4 For ( preposition) meaning ‘ purpose’
Examples.
• These pills are for headaches.
• What did you do that for? ( i.e.: Why did you do that?)
• I`m working for the United Nations.
• We waited for the bus
( for can be used to express purpose , but it is preposition and followed by a noun object.)
Incorrect : He came to study. ( So to express purpose use (in order to ) not for with a verb)
Note : there are other meanings of For . for example, for means the opposite of against.
E.g.
• Did you vote for the president or against him?
Also for sometimes has the meaning of motion: to go to
• The children left home for school at 8:30 a.m.
For also has the meaning of “ intended receiver” .
• I gave her a present for the children.
Note: For also introduce a subject in infinitive clause .
E.g.
• The best plan is for Janet to lend you her typewriter.
5. For (conjunction) meaning “because”
In Written English for is sometimes a conjunction meaning the same as Because. You can use for instead of because only when for is:
a. In the middle of the sentence ( not at the beginning ), and (b) before a clause.
• The village was full of crowds of people dressed in brightly- colored shirts and summer dresses, for it was the middle of the tourist season
(written only)
• The child hid under his mother’s skirt, for he was afraid of the dog.
(written only)
References:
An A-Z of English Grammar & usage . Geoffrey Leech.
Understanding And Usage English grammar. Betty Schrampfer Azer.
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