This lesson is designed to teach intermediate to advanced English Language Learners to differentiate the uses of to, for, and from.This is the seventh lesson of the SkimaTalk course Misused and Misunderstood Words. Written by Michele W. Snider, SkimaTalk teacher and author of My Virtual English dot com.

1. TO AND FRO
USING TO AND FOR
Know when to use to, for, and from

2. MISUSED AND MISUNDERSTOOD WORDS
Lesson 1: Look, Watch, See
Lesson 2: Talking Naturally About Nature
Lesson 3: We've Got to Stop Meeting Like This!
Lesson 4: Get Married and Throw a Party
Lesson 5: Especially Strange
Lesson 6: Are you Coming or Going?
Lesson 7: To and Fro with To and For Today's Lesson
Lesson 8: A, An, The,or....?

3. The title of this lesson uses the phrase
“to and fro” which means
“back and forth.”
Perhaps you find yourself going to and
fro, trying to decide
when to use to, for, or from?

4. FOR indicates an effect, help, purpose, preference, or an amount
The boy is smiling for the camera. (purpose)
TO only indicates purpose with verbs in their simple form.
He is wearing a hat to keep warm. (purpose)

5. FOR: EFFECT OR EXPERIENCE
Vegetables are good for us.
(effect)
Parenting is good for me.
(experience)

6. FOR: HELP, PURPOSE
I fixed your socks for you.
(help)
This mask is for catching. (purpose)
* With a simple verb: This mask is to catch in.

7. FOR: PREFERENCE, AMOUNT
Are you for or against a tax
hike? (preference, support)
Santa has symbolized
Christmas for years. (amount)
Now, let's compare the uses of to....

8. TO indicates transfer, destination, direction, comparison, and
purpose (with simple verbs)
The woman will demonstrate how to braid bread. (purpose, with simple verb)
The program was broadcasted to a local audience. (transfer)
The woman will braid bread for this demonstration. (purpose)

9. TO: TRANSFER, DESTINATION
We give the world to our
children. (transfer)
I'm going to the gym.
(destination)

10. TO: DIRECTION, COMPARISON
Move the magnifying glass
slightly to the left. (direction)
I prefer English to other
languages. (comparison)

11. STUDY THE USES SIDE BY SIDE
Demonstrate your understanding by creating a sentence for each use.
FOR TO
Effect/Experience Transfer
Help Destination
Purpose Direction
Preference Comparison
Amount Purpose (with simple verbs)
Note: The uses of "for" are more subjective. "To" expresses objectivity and analysis.

12. SCARY TO ME? OR SCARY FOR ME?
•
Now that you know the different
uses for to and for, let's look at
changes in meaning.
Use (seems) to me with opinions or analysis. Use the following adjectives
to make sentences with to me and for me: fun, exciting, confusing
"The teeter-totter is scary for me" uses "for"
as an effect. The experience is scary.
"The teeter-totter seems scary to me."
This expresses your analysis; to your mind,
it appears frightening.

13. Q: CAN I SAY, "SAME TO"?
A. NOT USUALLY.
We use "same to" in the expression:
"If it's all the same to you...(followed by a
suggestion or a preference)." This means
if you don’t have a strong preference, I'd
like___.
For example, "If it's all the same to you,
I'd like to order pizza tonight."

14. LOOK AT THE SENTENCE BELOW
“I had stress for work.”
Is this sentence okay?
For means "on behalf of."
How can we say that work is
the source of our stress?

15. Got it? Check your understanding
with this 10 question quiz
Click the link above

16. This slide presentation was created by Michele W. Snider, teacher for SkimaTalk,
Inc., and author of
My Virtual English blog
That's it FOR now!
We hope you enjoyed
it!