Grammar: For vs to? [closed]

Solution 1:

First, if you really want to compare and contrast those two, of course you have to start by making your examples parallel.

For instance, both "for" and "to" are used to talk about purpose:

1. I went to the supermarket to buy oranges.

2. I went to the supermarket for oranges.

3. A knife is used for cutting.

Now, you can start looking into how they differ.

Second, be careful not to mix up Infinitives, Prepositions that are part of Phrasal Verbs, and Prepositions that just often go together with the Verbs. Because if you consider all these simultaneously (like what you're doing in your question above), you won't be able to make sense of things.

Just a few examples:

1. We are looking forward to meeting you.

2. He went to them.

3. I bought the gift for my mother.

4. He threw the ball to me.

5. I am looking for the supervisor.

6. I am planning for a trip.

Of course all these are valid examples, but there are different and separate ways of learning them.