ref – https://www.grammarly.com/blog/to-vs-for/

• to and for are prepositions
• to is used with verbs
• for is used with nouns

Direction

• We’re going to the zoo this weekend
• Look to the left and right when crossing the street
• I’m going to school

Showing who or what receives an action or item

• I passed the ball to my brother at the last second
• We want to invite Karen because she has always been nice to us

Showing an abstract link between two people

• I am married to my best friend.
• This is Dwight, assistant to the regional manager.

Showing a physical attachment between two things

• The piece of paper was accidentally glued to my hand.
• I chained my bike to a bench, but the bench was stolen.

Comparison

• High school is easy compared to college.
• They preferred water to soda.

Reason (with verb)

Describing why something happened, when the explanation uses a verb

• He shouldn’t have joined the army to impress people.
• I study so much to get good grades.

Synonym of “until” – To is often used colloquially as a replacement for “until.”

• We’re open from dawn to dusk
• I’m with you to the end of the line, Bucky

Infinitive Verbs

to can indicate the infinitive form of verbs.

• I want to be (verb) an astronaut.
• To succeed (verb) in anything requires motivation.

When to use for

Support

Indicating agreement, allegiance, or favor toward something

• I’m for peace and justice!
• If you’re not for the Democrats, you’re against it.

Representation

Showing an action on behalf of or representing something else

• I speak for everyone when I say that we’re happy you’re here.
• I may work for Walmart, but I don’t shop there.
• I work for an educational institute in Futian

Exchange

Introducing the second part of a purchase, deal, or trade

• I’ll trade you my pizza for your hamburger
• He bought the entire Mario Kart collection for only one hundred RMB!

Length

Indicating length of time or distance

• She worked there for four years and the boss never learned her name.
• Go straight for a few miles and then turn left.

Gratitude

Showing thanks or gratitude

• Thank you for your email.
• It isn’t much, but I’m grateful for what I have.

Reason (with noun)

Describing why something happened, when the explanation uses a noun

• She became a doctor for the money, not the long hours.
• We have to practice extra for the tournament.

For as a Conjunction as a synonym of ‘because’

Conjunction—For is a coordinating conjunction that acts as a synonym of “because,”.

• Don’t go out past midnight, for it’s not safe.
• The crops aren’t growing, for the weather is lousy.

Comparisons with what’s normal—You can use for to emphasize how something is different from the norm or general standard.

• She’s tall for her age.
• “You’re not bad for an elf,” said the dwarf.”

Word pairings that use to:

access to
addiction/addicted to
attraction/attracted to
change to
contribute to
dedicate/dedication to
new to
react/reaction to
refer/reference to
respond/response to
threat to
transition to
to some extent
to [someone’s] surprise
to [someone’s] face
to this day

Common phrasal verbs with to:

get around to
get down to
get to
look up to
see to
Word pairings that use for
advertise/advertisement for
approval for
argue/argument for
care for
cure for
hunger/hungry for
pay for
recipe for
room for
search for
study for
talent for
thirst/thirsty for
for a living
for a while
for free
for good
for now
for sale
for starters
for sure
for the best
for the record
for the time being
Common phrasal verbs with for:

go for
look for
look / watch out for

ref – https://www.thoughtco.com/past-participle-1691592

In English grammar, the past participle refers to an action that was started and completed entirely in the past.

It is the third principal part of a verb, created by adding -ed, -d, or -t to the base form of a regular verb.

The past participle is generally used with an auxiliary (or helping) verb:

• has
• have
• had

to express the “perfect” aspect. This aspect is a verb construction that describes events occurring in the past that are linked to a later time, usually the present.

To understand past participles, you first need to know how to make a verb past tense. To do so, add ed, d, or t, as in these examples that show the verb on the left and the simple past tense on the right:

Jump > jumped
Sleep > slept
Touch > touched

Turning these verbs into past participles is also simple.
Make the verb past tense and precede it with an auxiliary verb, as in these examples that list the simple past on the left and the past participle on the right:

Jump > have jumped
Sleep > have slept
Touch > have touched

In addition to the perfect aspect (or perfect tense), the past participle can be used in a passive voice or as an adjective.

The past participle are used in 3 situations:

• Perfect aspect
• Passive voice
• Adjective

Though they may seem similar, there is a difference between the regular past tense and past participle.

The regular past tense has only one part
Past participle always has two or more parts and generally requires an auxiliary verb.

An example of a sentence with a regular verb would be: I helped my friend.
You helped your friend at some time in the past, and completed it in the past.

The same sentence with a past participle verb would be: I have helped my friend.
You helped your friend at some time in the past and have completed it in the present. You may even help her in the future!

ref – https://www.thesaurus.com/e/grammar/is-vs-are/

The words is and are are forms of the irregular verb be.

Is is the third person singular present tense form.

examples:

Someone is (hungry/tired/energetic…etc)!

Subject is Someone and it is a singular third person, so we use ‘is’.

Someone is taking care of her.

Subject is Someone. It is a singular 3rd person, so we use ‘is’.

Are is used with the second person singular

Are you (2nd person singular) ok?
Are you (2nd person singular) dizzy?
Are you (2nd person singular) drunk?

Are is used with the (first/second/third) person plural present tense form

Are we (1st person plural) delusional?
Are you (2nd person plural) drunk?
Are they (3rd person plural) crazy?

Anyone

“anyone” functions as a subject and takes the 3rd person singular form of the verb.

For example:

Anyone (3rd person singular) + (verb + s)

• If anyone believe(s) in God, then they are religious.
• Anyone think(s) that money will make them happy is wrong!
• If anyone say(s) anything, beat them!
• If anyone do(es) anything suspicious, kill them!

Subject Verb in Question Form

When you are asking a question, you need to make the verb agree with the subject that comes after it.

For example,

• Does anyone want a drink? After “does,” we say “want,” not “wants.”
• Does anyone think we’ll win?
• Does anyone know if we’ll lose?
• Does anyone want water?

More example, the verb ‘live’:

“Does she live in that house?” (verb ‘does’ + subject ‘she’ + verb live)

“Yes, she lives there.” (statement, so verb+s)

Does Jan play basketball? [verb ‘does’ + subject ‘Jan’ + verb play]

Do they agree with your decision? [verb ‘do’ + subject ‘they’ + verb agree]

ref – https://www.grammarly.com/blog/is-vs-are/

The cat is eating all of his food.

The word ‘Cat’ is singular, so we use is

The cats are eating all of their food.

The word ‘Cats’ is plural, so we should use are.

The cat and the dog are eating as fast as they can.

We have more than one noun (the cat and the dog), we use ‘are’.

Collective Nouns

A collective noun refers to a group of people or things that is treated as a single entity in speech.

Committee is a collective noun – A committee is made up of multiple people, but the word itself is singular in form.

In American English, collective nouns take is.

example:

• The committee is considering the budget right now.
• The audience is getting antsy.
• The couple is moving to California.

Mass Nouns (Noncountable nouns)

Mass nouns (also called noncount nouns) are similar to collective nouns. They refer to things that can’t really be counted.

Sand and water are mass nouns. Mass nouns take is in both American and British English.
example:

• The sand is too hot to walk on!
• Water is our most precious resource.
• Pudding is very easy to make.

A number of (aka several) – use ‘are’

example:

A number of people are concerned about the lack of progress.

Group of (single entity) – use ‘is’

example:

That group of protesters is sure to be distracting.
This series of books is phenomenal.

There is vs There are

When choosing between there is and there are, you have to look at what comes after the phrase:.

There (is/are) a [cat] on the porch.

In the sentence above, cat is the subject, and since it is singular, it requires there is.

There (is/are) many [opportunities] to learn at this company.

In the sentence above, opportunities is the subject, and since it is plural, it requires there are. (Don’t let the word many throw you off—concentrate on the noun.)

ref –

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ZTikQEt0Z8
• https://www.grammarly.com/blog/infinitives
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NK4CT8eovf0
• https://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/grammar/english-grammar-reference/infinitives
• https://www.grammarly.com/blog/to-vs-for/
• https://englishsentences.com/infinitive/

What is an infinitive, and what is its function?

Purpose of Infinitive

The purpose of infinitives is to discuss an action in general instead of a specific instance of the action being done.

For example, take a look at these two sentences:

note:
I need (verb) food (noun)

I need (verb) [to win](noun)
I need [something] √ (used as a noun)

The first sentence uses the infinitive form of the verb win as a noun
the main verb of the sentence is actually “need.”

An infinitive consists of the word to plus a verb. In other words, any verb that is preceded by the word ‘to’ is an infinitive. Here are some examples:

• to love
• to eat
• to run
• to believe
• to follow
• to laugh
• to stare
• to wonder

ex: She loves to wear really colourful dresses.
I need to leave early today.

An infinitive is a basic form of a verb that acts as a:

• Object

  Subj + stative feelings/thought verb + [to verb]

  stative feeling verb – hate, like, love, want, hope, prefer, wish, hope, desire, need…
  stative thought verb – agree, remember, forget

  Example:

  I want (verb) [to jump].

  We cannot say ‘I want jump’ because that is ‘subj verb verb’.

  We put a to in front of jump to make it into a noun.
  “to jump” is the infinitive as it receives the action of the verb ‘want’.

  Therefore,

  I (subj) want (verb) [to jump (verb) ] noun

  Example:

  I like to study.

  Here “like” is the verb.

  “To study” is the infinitive as it receives the action of the verb (to be liked).

  “To study” acts as a direct object of the sentence.

  I need to eat.

  In this sentence, the verb is “need.”

  Who or what do I need? The infinitive “to eat.”

  “To eat” is the direct object of “need” because it receives the action.

  This is an example of an infinitive being used as a noun.

  I love to sleep.

  In this sentence, the verb is “love.”

  Who or what receives the action of being loved? The infinitive “to sleep.”

  This makes “to sleep” the direct object of the sentence.

  In this case, the infinitive functions as a noun that expresses an opinion. It could be replaced with a person, place, or thing, as in, “I love pizza.”

• as Adjective

  – Infinitives that acts as an adjective comes after a noun.

  Subj + [is/are/has/have] + object + [infinitive as adjective]

  We perform the function of an adjective by modifying or describing the name of person, animal, object, or place (nouns or noun phrases).

  Remember that an adjective is a word that describes or modifies a noun or pronoun.

  Example:

  That is the (question) [to answer].

  What are we trying ‘to answer’? The question!
  Thus, [to answer] act as an adjective for the noun question.

  I have a job (noun) [to do] (adj).

  ‘to do’ is the infinitive that acts as an adjective. What are we trying to do?
  The job! Thus [to do] acts as an adjective the noun job.

  He has the (most) [to gain].

  ‘to gain’ is an adjective that describes the noun ‘most’. Most to what? Most to lose? Most to gain? Most to sacrifice? We don’t know. We need a to-verb to describe ‘He has the most’ to what, so that readers can understand.

  I have (somewhere) [to be].

  ‘to be’ is an adjective that describes the noun ‘somewhere’.

  The (book) [to read] is a mystery.

  What are we trying to read? The book!

  Thus, [to read] acts as an adjective for the subject noun book.

  They are (creatures) [to fear].
  What are we to fear? The creatures!
  Thus, [to fear] acts as an adjective for the subject creatures.

  He is to blame.
  Who is to blame? He!
  So we use [to blame] as an adjective for subject pronoun ‘He’.

• as Adverb

  – Adverbs describe verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs. Adverb infinitives tell the reader why the action is necessary. They act as adverbs to describe the main verb.

  Subj + action verb + ‘in order’ + [to + verb]

  Example:

  She (ran, verb) [to catch] the bus.

  We want to answer why she wanted to run. To catch the bus.

  Mom left (main verb) [to buy] milk. (We want to describe the verb…so we want to answer why did mom leave? To buy milk)

  Example:

  I’m writing (verb) this email [to tell] you something important.
  (Why are you writing? To tell you something important)

  We’re trying to describe the main verb write.

  Example:

  Did you come (verb) to college [to study] or [to party]? (Why did you come? To either study or to party)

However, Adjective infinitive and Adverb infinitives are awfully hard to distinguish. How do we tell it apart?
Use the ‘in order’ to test.

in order test

As the Object of a Sentence

I (subject) want (action/verb) [to be] an astronaut
[to be] answers ‘want’, acts as an adverb

Shane(subject) asked (action/verb) [to have] another hamburger.
[to have] answers ‘asked’, acts as an adverb

The manager(subject) promised (action/verb) [to hold] the job for me.
[to hold] answers ‘promised’

Try(action/verb) [to sleep] a little more before our flight.
[to sleep] answers verb ‘try’

Chuck(subject) hopes (action/verb) [to spend] less than $30 on his haircut.
[to spend] answers ‘hopes’, acts as adverb

He(subject) wanted [to cry].
[to cry] answers ‘wants’.

Infinitives as Subject Complements

When an infinitive comes after a linking verb like is, it functions as a subject complement to explain more about the subject.

My dream is to graduate. [My dream is something] infinitive acts as a noun
The company’s goal is to expand. [The company’s goal is something] infinitive acts as a noun

simplify:

John’s preference is coffee/tea/milk/water (noun).

John’s preference is to leave (noun).
John’s preference is something (infinitive acts as a noun)

Subject: To dream requires incredible courage. [Something requires courage.]
Subject complement: Our aim is [to improve]. [Our aim is something.]

Others

Both managers and staff benefit from the workshops (designed, verb) by a psychological institute [to improve] relationships within the workplace.

Sync Online has delivered copies of contracts to all the parties who have agreed to participate in a new (venture, noun) [to offer] music on the Internet.

1. (to improve) is adverb
2. (to offer) is adjective.

ref – https://dictionary.cambridge.org/grammar/british-grammar/to

A preposition is a word used before a noun, pronoun, or noun phrase to show

• direction
• time
• place
• location
• spatial relationships
• or to introduce an object

We can use to as a preposition to indicate a destination or direction:

We’re going to Liverpool next week. (destination)

Does he want to come to the park with us? (destination)

The dog ran to us as soon as we arrived. (direction)

‘To’ as a preposition: receiver of an action

We use to with verbs such as (give money to), (hand the keys to), (send letters to), (write notes to), to indicate the person or thing that receives or experiences the object of the verb:

She’s always writing letters to the local newspaper. (The local newspaper receives the letters (action – She’s writing letters ))

I gave the keys to Jane. (Jane receives the keys (action – I gave) )

‘To’ as a preposition: time

We use to in telling the time, when we refer to the number of minutes before the hour:

examples:

Her train arrives at quarter to five.

It’s ten to six. We’d better leave now or we’ll be late.

We can use to to express time from … to …:

examples:

It’s just three days to New Year’s Day.

They’re only open from Monday to Friday.

‘To’ as a preposition: approximate numbers

We can use ‘to’ when we refer to an approximate number somewhere between a lower number and a higher number:

There were forty to fifty people at the meeting.

It’ll probably cost you thirty to thirty-five pounds.

ref – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zuVWK3V_zyg

Show possession

of the
Objects/things that are not alive

‘s
Person, group of people, country, animals.

example:

The leg of the chair is broken.
The dog‘s leg is broken.

My father‘s house is really nice.
The house of my father is really nice.

Expressions of quantity

A lot of sugar.
A number of mistakes.
Lots of love.

A great deal of money.
The majority of students are poor.
A couple of reasons.

Both of of my arms are broken.

Making it specific

All students hate math. (students in general)

All of my students hate math.
All of the students hate math.
(Specific group)

ref – https://www.learnenglishlanguagewell.com/grammar/verbs-with-s-in-present-simple/

In English, the -s is only added to regular verbs in the present tense when the subject of the verb is a third person singular subject.

Let’s look at some simple examples:

• I run

(first person)

• You run

(second person)

• He/she/it runs

(third singular)

• We run

(first plural)

• You run

(second singular)

• They run

(third plural)

We add “s” to the end of a verb (run –> runs, sit –> sits, see –> sees, play –> plays)

We add “es” to the end of the verb that has a sibilant sound. i.e ss, ch, x, tch, sh, zz

example:

guess > guesses
watch –> watches
mix -> mixes)
smash –> smashes
buzz –> buzzes

Plural pronoun

This -s is different from the plural -s. Do not confuse the two.
i.e The subject “Lisa and Ronald” is a third person plural subject, so the verb DOES NOT get an -s.

drop singular plural
first person → I drop the ball. We drop the ball.
second person → You drop the ball. You (all) drop the ball.
third person → He/She/It drops the ball They drop the ball.

Notice that the verb is always drop in the present tense, unless the subject is third person singular.
Subjects like “Lisa and Ronald” are third person plural subjects. The names can be replaced by the third person plural pronoun “they” in the sentence, as shown below:

Lisa and Ronald drop the ball. = They drop the ball.

Other rules

ref – https://www.natterandramble.co.uk/present-perfect-continuous-timeline-form-uses/

Present perfect continuous
[have/has] + [been] + (present participle)

The present perfect continuous shows an ongoing action in the present that was started in the past. It is often used to emphasize the length of time.

We have [been] (waiting for over an hour)!

The team has [been] (practicing nonstop for the tournament).

ref –

• https://www.grammarly.com/blog/present-continuous/
• https://byjus.com/english/continuous-tense-examples/
• https://www.natterandramble.co.uk/present-continuous-timeline-form-uses/

The present continuous verb tense indicates that an action or condition is happening now, frequently, and may continue into the future.

Use the present continuous to show an action happening right now or in the near future.

The Present Continuous Formula:

to be [am, is, are] + action verb [present participle]

Aunt Christine is warming up the car while Scott is looking for his new leather coat.

They are eating at Scott’s favorite restaurant today, Polly’s Pancake Diner.

I am reading The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy for the fifth time!

We are eating pizza tonight.

She is going out tonight.

It shows the event unfolded…showing the action as it is happening:

They are sitting at Scott’s favorite booth, the one with the sparkling red plastic seats. (For how long? We don’t know, but we do know they are sitting there now.)

The waiter is standing behind the counter right now with a notepad in his hand and pencil behind his ear. (Will he ever make it over to the booth? Probably, but not now.)

“Are you waiting to open your presents after you eat your pancakes?” said Aunt Christine, taking a sip from her root beer. (Here the present continuous is being used in question form.)

Writers use this tense to add suspense or humor in fictional pieces. What kind of pancakes will Scott and his aunt order? The suspense is killing me!

Do not use the present continuous tense with stative verbs

ref – https://chineseruleof8.com/2023/05/26/stative-verbs/

Stative verbs show a state of being, not qualities of change. These verbs can stay in the simple present. For example, let’s take a look at the stative word prefer. We try to use it in continuous form using preferring.

Aunt Christine is prefering the maple walnut pancakes over the banana peanut butter ones that Scott loves.
WRONG!

We can only use it at a stative verb in a simple present form:

Aunt Christine prefers the maple walnut pancakes over the banana peanut butter ones that Scott loves.

Thus, the stative verb to prefer shows opinion, and therefore SHOULD NOT be conjugated with the present continuous.