Get your prepositions right!

TO ⇥ or FOR?

I. Complete the sentences using a phrase given in the boxes below
to go to Ireland to contact me to agree
for repairing torn paper to ask about the job to think that school is
for a long time to get some rest useless
to change money to empty his pocket to make copies
for miles for listening
Ex. I always take a plane to go to Ireland.
1. Sticky tape is used ……………………………………………………………..
2. As far as I know, we have no choice but ………………………………………..
3. It is probably a mistake ……………………………………………………………..
4. I’ve known Jo ……………………………………………………………………..
5. You look pretty tired. Try ……………………………………………………....!
6. Do you have permission ……………………………………..………………….here?
7. The police ordered the thief ……………….………………………….……………
8. Here is the phone number …………………………………………………………
9. I’m writing ………………………………….……………………………………..
10. ……………………………………………………………, you should go to a bank.
11. We walked …………………….………………… but couldn’t find the station.
12. Thank you …………………………………..…………………………………
II. Learn the rules!
Looking back at the above sentences, now choose the correct option and
complete the examples:
a. When FOR is followed by a verb, always use the –ing / Infinitive form of the verb.
b. To express purpose, use TO / FOR + Infinitive as in sentence no.10. or no.……, or
TO / FOR + V-ing as in sentences no. 1. or no.………
c. However, do not use FOR with an ‘ing’ form when you are saying why someone
does something. You say: “he went to the city to find work / for finding work.”
d. You use FOR –in front of a noun group or ‘-ing’ from when you are mentioning the
use to which an object is put as in sentence no. ……
e. After certain verbs like reporting verb, use ………………+ ………………, as in
sentence no. 7. or no.…..
f. With abstract nouns that express ability, obligation, etc., use TO/FOR + Infinitive
as in sentence no. 6. or no.……
g. Use TO / FOR to indicate a period of time (answers the question “how long”?) or a
distance (answers the questions “how far”?) as in sentences no. 4 and no. ………
III. Let’s practise!

1. Look back at sentence no. 1. in exercise I. and make similar examples

using the following:
Chop wood – bang nails in – remove stains – slice bread – keep herbs in
Ex. What’s a hammer used for?
A hammer is used for banging nails in
1. What’s salt good for? ……………………………………………………………….
2. What’s an axe used for? ………………………………………………………
3. What’s ice good for? ……………………………………………………………….
4. What’s a bread knife used for? …………………………………………………

2. Use words and phrases from lists A, B, and C to give advice.

Ex. To change money, you should go to a bank
A B C
book money the post office
borrow a magazine a gym
buy a parcel a travel agency
change fit a library
send a book a bank
have a holiday a hardware store

3. Choose the correct option:

1. You need a key FOR / TO open the door.
2. I am learning English FOR / TO get a better job.
3. Why do hens cross the road? FOR / TO go to the other side.
4. FOR / TO answer this question, we must look more closely at the facts.
5. I scolded him FOR / TO using such language.
6. The mug had been used FOR / TO mixing flour and butter.
7. They locked the door to STOPPING / STOP us from getting in.
8. You need to ask permission FOR GOING / TO GO to the toilets.
9. She apologised FOR LOSING / TO LOSE the book.
10. People have a duty FOR VOTING / TO VOTE.
11. The bus stopped FOR / TO LET some passengers off.
12. Forgive me FOR NOT PAYING attention / NOT TO PAY attention.
13. It would have been easier FOR FINDING our way / TO FIND our way if we had
brought a map.
14. Did you join the army FOR SERVING / TO SERVE your country or to
COMPLAINING / COMPLAIN about the food?
15. Their aim is FOR helping / TO help people buy new houses.

4. Answer these questions using the prompt:

1. How long has she been missing her English classes?
She …. (3 months)
2. How far did you have to walk?
We ….. (miles)
3. How long did the film last?
It …… (too long)
4. How far did Christopher Colombus travel?
He …..(about 20,000 miles)