I`m teaching English in Japan and I was asked to explain when someone would use "for me" instead of "to me". For example the sentence could be `It is difficult for me.` In this example you wouldn`t use "to me". But in the sentence `It is interesting to me` you can also say `It is interesting for me`. Is this correct? Is there a rule when to use either one or is another one of those `no rules, just remember it` grammar?
Thanks for any help.
G sensei
Do you teach to the adults ?
How old have your students ?
Sorry !
How "old" are you students ?
The prepositions "to" and "for" have such wide and varied uses it would be difficult to give a concise answer.
Consider this "She too her hat off to me." verses "She too her hat off for me."
Consider these "You can make it up to me in cash.", "It's all the same to me." or "That's news to me."
Consider these "Were you asking for me?", "Would you sit in for me?" or "It was curtains for me."
Tell the kids that they need a good dictionary and that they sould get some good books to read.
"To" has more a sense of direction
"for"is has just a sense of purpose
What ATS said is generally true, but it is possible to use "for" to give a sense of direction.
For example:
"That car is headed for the edge of the cliff."
Conversly, "I slamed on the brakes to stop the car."
G Sensei, you don't go around refering to yourself as "sensei" in Japan, do you? Just wondering.
Conversly, "I slamed on the brakes to stop the car."
G Sensei, you don't go around refering to yourself as "sensei" in Japan, do you? Just wondering.