To vs For

To and for are two of the most commonly confused prepositions in English. Both can express purpose, but they follow different structures. Both connect actions to people, but to marks a recipient while for marks a beneficiary. And dozens of verb and adjective collocations are fixed — you simply have to know whether the word takes to or for. These to vs for exercises with answers help you master all three rules through online multiple choice questions from A2 to B1.

The framework for this topic: 3 Rules, 2 Prepositions:

If you can remember these three rules, you'll handle 90% of to/for decisions correctly. The rest comes down to learning the most common collocations.

To vs For: Expressing Purpose

The most important rule is also the simplest: use to before a verb and for before a noun or gerund (-ing form).

To + Infinitive (Purpose of an Action)

Use to + verb to explain why someone does something. It means the same as "in order to":

• I went to the supermarket to buy some vegetables. (= in order to buy)
• She called me to invite me to the party.
• He left early to catch the first train.
• They went to the library to study for their exam.

The pattern: someone does X → to + verb → explains WHY.

For + Noun / For + Gerund (Purpose of a Thing)

Use for + noun or for + -ing to describe what something is designed for, intended for, or used for:

• This cream is for dry skin. (noun — what the cream treats)
• We need a bigger bag for all these books. (noun — what the bag holds)
• I use this app for learning new vocabulary. (gerund — what the app does)
• Is there a special tool for opening jars? (gerund — what the tool does)
• She bought a new dress for the wedding. (noun — the occasion)

The Key Difference

⚠️ Common Trap: "For" + Infinitive

Never use for + bare infinitive to express purpose:

"For" needs a noun or -ing after it. If you want to use a verb, switch to "to":

• for + noun: for milk, for the party
• for + -ing: for learning, for opening
• to + verb: to buy, to invite

👉 Practice Purpose Expressions →

Recipients, Beneficiaries and Collocations

Beyond purpose, to and for also connect actions to people — but in different ways. And many verb and adjective combinations have fixed prepositions that must be memorised.

To = The Recipient (Who Receives)

Use to with verbs of transferring, sending, or communicating to show who receives something directly:

Communication verbs also use "to" for the listener:

For = The Beneficiary (Who Benefits)

Use for when someone does something on behalf of another person or to benefit them — the person doesn't directly receive an object:

Recipient vs Beneficiary: The Core Distinction

This is the trickiest part of to vs for. Compare:

Quick test: Can the person literally receive the object in their hands? → to. Is someone doing the action to help or benefit them? → for.

Common Verb Collocations

These are fixed — memorise them:

Common Adjective Collocations

For a comprehensive list of verb + preposition combinations, see Verb + Preposition Collocations when available.

👉 Practice Recipients, Beneficiaries & Collocations →

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Quick Summary

The 3 Rules at a Glance

5-Step Decision Process

1. Is there a verb right after? → Use to + infinitive (to buy, to study)
2. Is there a noun or -ing right after? → Use for + noun/gerund (for the exam, for learning)
3. Is the person directly receiving something? → Use to (give to, send to, hand to)
4. Is the person benefiting or is it done on their behalf? → Use for (make for, buy for, carry for)
5. Is it a fixed collocation? → Check the collocation tables above

Collocations Quick Reference

Practice Tips

1. Remember the verb/noun split: If a verb follows → "to". If a noun or -ing follows → "for". This single rule handles all purpose expressions correctly.

2. Think "hands" for recipient vs beneficiary: If someone literally receives something in their hands → "to" (give to, pass to, hand to). If someone benefits without direct transfer → "for" (make for, buy for).

3. Watch out for "explain": Unlike "tell" (tell someone something), "explain" always needs "to" before the person. The same applies to "describe," "suggest," and "introduce."

4. Learn collocations in pairs: Study "wait FOR / listen TO" together. Grouping opposites helps you remember which preposition each verb takes.

5. Use the "for + -ing" test for tools: When describing what a tool or app does, use "for + -ing": a knife for cutting, an app for learning. Don't use "to + verb" for describing a thing's function.

Practice All Exercises

Ready to practise everything you've learned? These to vs for exercises are available as online multiple choice questions with answers and printable PDF worksheets from A2 to B1:

👉 Start with Set 3: Mixed Review for a comprehensive test of all to vs for rules!