for 通常与 leave, start, set out, set off, head, steer, depart, be bound, be destined 等动词连用,而 to 则通常与 come, drive, fly, get, go, lead, march, move, return, ride, run, travel, walk 等动词连用。如:
We departed for London at 10 am. 我们上午10点动身去伦敦。
Then we drove to the station. 然后我们就开车去了车站。
有时,同一个动词(如 sail)两者均可连用,但含义稍有差别:用 for 通常只表示向着某目的地那个方向,并不强调到达的意思;而 to 含有到达某目的地的意思。如:
They sailed for Shanghai. 他们开船驶往广州。
They sailed to Shanghai. 他们开船驶至广州。
若与名词连用,也有类似区别。如:
There will be a train for Wuhan. 有开往武汉的火车。(仅表示向武汉方向,但在武汉未必是停靠站)
There will be a train to Wuhan. 有开往武汉的火车。(开往武汉方向,且在武汉停靠)(R56)
顺便说一句,也有的辞书持几乎相反的观点,认为 for 与 to 表示目的地时,for 表示的是预定目的地,而to 表示的是假设将会到达的目的地。
用法8:(表时间、距离、数量等)达,计。如:
I'm going away for a few days. 我要走开几天。
I've been here for ten years. 我来这儿有10年了。
He walked for ten miles. 他走了10英里路。
The shop sent me a bill for $50. 商店给我送来了一张50美元的账单。
【用法说明】for 用于表示时间或距离的长度(尤其是紧跟在动词之后)时,有时可省略。如:
The meeting lasted (for) three days. 会议持续了3天。
They walked (for) fifty miles. 他们走了50英里。
但是当 for 短语位于句首或在否定句中时, for 通常不宜省去。如:
For ten years he lived here. 他在这里住过10年。
We have not heard from him for a long time. 我们很久没收到他的来信了。
用法9:对,对于。如:
Eggs are good for you. 鸡蛋对你有好处。
Reading in bed is bad for your eyes. 躺在床上看书对你的眼睛不好。
Fortunately for me, the train was also late. 我很走运,火车也晚点了。
【用法说明】关于 for 与 to 表示“对……来说”时的区别,参见 to。
用法10:(表适合)适于,适合。如:
Do you have any books for children? 你有适合小孩子看的书吗?
He is the very person for the work. 他是最适合做这工作的人。
It's a good place for a camp. 那是个露营的好地方。
She bought some clothes for winter. 她买了些冬天穿的衣服。
用法11:(表交换)换,以……作交换。如:
He gave her some magazines for her dictionary. 他用几本杂志换她的字典。
She bought the skirt for $50. 她花了50美元买这条裙子。
I bought a pound of apples for 70 cents. 我花了七角钱买了一磅苹果。
Don't translate word for word. 不要逐字硬译。
用法12:作为,当作。如:
Don't take him for a fool. 别把他当傻瓜。
He mistook a rope for a snake. 他把一条绳子误认为是蛇。
He knew that for a fact. 他知道那是事实。
The missing persons were given up for dead. 大家都认为那些失踪的人已死了。
【用法说明】用于此义时,有时相当于 as, to be, as being,但要注意不同句型的搭配习惯。如:
I took him for an honest man. / I took him to be honest. 我看他为人老实。
It was built for [as] a pleasure boat. 这船建作游艇之用。
比较:
He took her smile for agreement. 他把她的微笑视为同意。
Will you take me as your partner? 你把我看作你的合伙人好吗?