FOR or TO

BlackAngel   Monday, February 02, 2004, 21:51 GMT
Hi,
I have studied much the diference between FOR and TO; i have found that both can be used for saying or express purpose, but i have a doubt ---
Which word may i use in this sentence?
This knife is only for cutting bread OR This knife is only to cut bread.
Would you please help me with this topic?
Jim   Monday, February 02, 2004, 23:41 GMT
Either seem okay but somehow I'd go for the first.
quicksilver   Tuesday, February 03, 2004, 02:59 GMT
The first sentence instinctivly seems better to me. To make the second sentence sound better, you might want to change it to "This knife is only to BE USED TO cut bread"
mjd   Tuesday, February 03, 2004, 03:23 GMT
Yeah, I'd definitely say the first flows better.
Wu   Tuesday, February 03, 2004, 03:41 GMT
I can't agree more with what quicksilver says!
M   Tuesday, February 03, 2004, 08:45 GMT
What about the following sentences? Which one is better?

- This knife is used for cutting bread.
- This knife is used to cut bread.
Alice   Tuesday, February 03, 2004, 16:09 GMT
Both of these seem fine to me.
raisingfink   Wednesday, February 04, 2004, 01:11 GMT
I agree with quicksilver. And the two sentences M submitted sounds good to me too. "This knife is only to cut bread" sounds like the knife has been given a specific task/punishment. I'm imagining it sitting in a corner forlornly cutting bread. Or maybe that's "This knife is to only cut bread". I could be wrong with my interpretation.
raisingfink   Wednesday, February 04, 2004, 01:33 GMT
oops..two sentences...sound