La diferencia entre to y for en inglés es algo que nos suele costar bastante, porque para nosotros es confuso saber cuándo “para” es con “to” y cuándo con “for” en inglés.

Este es el error más común que cometemos al usar to y for

 We need to leave now for to arrive on time.
 We need to leave now to arrive on time.

 I’m saving money for to travel around the world.
 I’m saving money to travel around the world.

 These trainers are for to running.
 These trainers are for running.

 This money is for to buying a new car.
 This money is for buying a new car.

Normalmente o bien usamos to o bien usamos for, usar los dos juntos no es correcto. Para saber cuál es diferencia entre to y for en inglés, lo más fácil es pensar por un momento si nos referimos a la finalidad o para qué sirve algo o si queremos indicar el motivo por el que hacemos algo.

For > finalidad – para qué sirve algo

Lo más normal en este caso, es que usemos for + sustantivo o bien for + verbo en gerundio (-ing). Vamos a ver unos ejemplos de uso para cada uno.

for + noun

Doing exercise is good for your health.
I bought a suit for my new job.
This book is for dummies.
That red sofa is for our living room.

for + verb -ing

These trainers are for running.
A ladle is a big spoon used for serving soup.
This money is for buying a new car.
Traveling is great for meeting new people.
Watching tv in English is good for improving your listening skills.

To > motivo, razón – por qué hacemos algo

Es bastante frecuente que la construcción sea to + verbo. De hecho, un buen truco para saber si efectivamente tiene más sentido con to, es probar añadiendo la expresión in order to. Aunque esta expresión se usa también para hablar de finalidad, es una buena forma de probar y ver si funciona. Otra manera es sustituir o añadir because (con algunos ajustes en la frase) que es la palabra que usamos para dar una razón. Observa los siguientes ejemplos

We need to leave now (in order) to arrive on time. (because we want to arrive on time)
I’m saving money (in order) to travel around the world. (because I want to travel)
She came here (in order) to see you. (because she wants to see you)
I go to the gym (in order) to keep fit. (because I want to keep fit)

Básicamente así sabremos cuál es la diferencia entre to y for en inglés, tendremos que distinguir si nos referimos a la finalidad (para qué) o al motivo (por qué). Hay otros usos de to y for pero quizá no sean tan confusos.

Otros usos de to & for

For

I made a cake for her.
This phone call is for you.
I bought this toy for my dog.
Can you open the door for me please?
I was waiting for her at the restaurant.

We’ve lived here for 5 years. (period of time)
I have worked with them for 2 years. (period of time)
Are you for or against renewable energy? (agree with)
I was in London for a conference. (reason)
Let’s go out for a drink. (reason)

To

They went to Paris last year. (destination)
She’s going to Cambridge with her class. (destination)
What is the next train to the city centre? (destination)
I prefer series to films. (comparing)
We prefer running to swimming. (comparing)
It’s ten to seven. (telling the time)
From here to the office I must walk 20 minutes. (distance)
There’s a parking lot next to our building. (place)

Pues ya tienes el truco para saber cuál es la diferencia entre to y for en inglés. A partir de ahora antes de decir for to + verbo piensa si es mejor usar uno o otro en la frase que estás construyendo.

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Continuamos con la serie de posts sobre phrasal verbs para que cada vez te resulte más fácil conocerlos y empezar a utilizarlos. Esta vez prestaremos atención a varios phrasal verbs con come de uso habitual. Como siempre, os los presentamos con definiciones y ejemplos para que quede más claro.

Come on, let’s go! Comenzamos! ✏️

Come about – to happen or occur – suceder, ocurrir.

E.g.
How did this situation come about?
How did the fire come about?

Come across – to find by chance / accident – encontrar por casualidad.

E.g.
I came across some old photographs when I cleaned up the attic.
She came across Rob when she was at the bank.

Come along – to develop, to make progress – desarrollar, progresar (o hacer progresos).

E.g.
How is the project coming along?
I think we are coming along, we expect to finish soon.

Come along – to appear or to arrive – llegar, aparecer.

E.g.
A bus should come along any minute now.
An opportunity came along and I took the job.

Come along – to go somewhere with someone – acompañar.

E.g.
We are going to have a coffee. Would you like to come along?

Come back – to return – volver.

E.g.
He’s not here at the moment. Could you come back later?

Come by – to be able to get something difficult – conseguir.

E.g.
Cheap organic food it’s not easy to come by.
How did you come by that wonderful apartment?

Come down with – to become ill – caer enfermo.

E.g.
I’m not feeling well, I think I’m coming down with a cold.

Come forward – to offer to do something, to volunteer – ofrecerse, presentarse voluntario.

E.g.
Only one person of the team came forward to help.

Come over – to visit someone in their house – visitar, pasarse a ver.

E.g.
Will you come over on Friday evening?
His parents are coming over for the weekend.

Come out – to become known- conocerse, salir a la luz.

E.g.
The truth will come out sooner or later.
When is the new edition coming out?

Come (a)round – to change your opinion – cambiar de opinión (dejarse convencer).

E.g.
In the end, we came round and accepted their expert advice.
I think they will come round to our way of seeing things.

Come (a)round – to visit someone – pasarse a ver.

E.g.
Sure, come (a)round! I can show my new collection.

Come round – to recover consciousness – recobrar la consciencia.

E.g.
She was coming round, but she was a bit confused after the surgery.

Come up – appear, happen, occur (unexpectedly) – ocurrir, surgir.

E.g.
I’m sorry I miss the meeting, something came up in the last minute.

Come up with – to think of an idea/ a plan – pensar, dar con una idea o un plan.

E.g.
They came up with a fantastic plan to make processes more efficient.

Los phrasal verbs son un tema recurrente a la hora de aprender inglés y una forma de ampliar vocabulario y comunicarnos como lo haría un hablante nativo, échale un vistazo a otros posts de esta serie sobre phrasal verbs aquí ????