The words “what” and “for” in English grammar are incredibly versatile and serve distinct purposes, depending on their context.
“What” in English Grammar
The word “what” is often used as:
- An Interrogative Pronoun
“What” is used to ask questions about things, objects, or specific information.
Examples:
- What is your name?
- What are you doing?
- What time does the meeting start?
- An Exclamatory Word
“What” can express strong emotions or reactions, such as surprise, admiration, or disbelief.
Examples:
- What a beautiful day!
- What an amazing opportunity!
- What a mess you’ve made!
- A Relative Pronoun
“What” can connect clauses and often means “the thing(s) that.”
Examples:
- You should do what makes you happy.
- I gave her what she asked for.
- What happened next was truly incredible.
- An Indefinite Pronoun
“What” sometimes refers to something unknown or unspecified.
Examples:
- Tell me what you need.
- I don’t know what to choose.
- Used in Idiomatic Phrases
“What” often appears in informal expressions or phrases.
Examples:
- So, what’s the deal?
- What’s up? (informal greeting)
- What on earth are you talking about?
“For” in English Grammar
The word “for” is primarily a preposition and can indicate various relationships such as purpose, reason, or benefit.
- Indicating Purpose or Reason
“For” shows the purpose of an action or the reason behind it.
Examples:
- I’m buying flowers for my mother.
- This cake is for the party.
- Thank you for your help.
- Indicating Duration of Time
When used with time, “for” indicates how long something happens or is true.
Examples:
- They’ve been waiting for two hours.
- We stayed in Italy for a week.
- Indicating Benefit or Advantage
“For” is used to show who benefits or gains from something.
Examples:
- This gift is for you.
- It’s important for your health to exercise regularly.
- Indicating Support
“For” shows agreement, support, or favor toward something or someone.
Examples:
- I’m all for this idea!
- Are you for or against the proposal?
- Indicating Exchange
It can show what is being given in exchange for something else.
Examples:
- I’ll trade you my sandwich for your cookies.
- She paid $50 for that jacket.
- Used in Expressions
“For” is part of many idiomatic expressions.
Examples:
- For good measure (to add a little extra).
- For the sake of (for the benefit of).
- For the record (to clarify or emphasize).
“What” and “For” Together
When used together, “what for” can mean:
- Asking for a Reason
Examples:
- What are you doing this for? (Why are you doing this?)
- What is all the noise for?
- Expressing Surprise in Informal English
Examples:
- He gave you a ticket? What for?
- She started crying. What for?
Tips for Usage
- “What” is mostly about asking or expressing specifics, while “for” provides context, especially relating to purpose or reason.
- Pair them thoughtfully: “What is this for?” can combine their powers to ask about the purpose of something!
By understanding the unique roles of these words, you’ll gain confidence in weaving them naturally into your English sentences.
