To Me vs. For Me

2022-07-02

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1
  • Hello! This week on Ask a Teacher, we will answer a question from Maria, a teacher from Brazil, about the difference between "to me" and "for me."
  • 2
  • Hello,
  • 3
  • If I am asking a student to read in class, should I say "to me" or "for me?" I would to know which one is correct.
  • 4
  • Could you read it to me? or
  • 5
  • Could you read it for me?
  • 6
  • Thanks a lot,
  • 7
  • Maria
  • 8
  • Dear Maria,
  • 9
  • Thank you for writing to us. Both of these questions can be correct.
  • 10
  • The choice of "to me" or "for me" depends on the meaning you would like to express.
  • 11
  • In the examples you sent us, "to" and "for" are both used as prepositions.
  • 12
  • Prepositions are a word or group of words that is used with a noun, pronoun, or noun phrase to show physical direction, location, time, or to introduce an object.
  • 13
  • "To" and "for" in the examples you sent are used to introduce an object, but the meanings are different.
  • 14
  • We will take a closer look at these differences.
  • 15
  • "To" is used to show the physical direction of an action.
  • 16
  • But in your example, the use slightly changes.
  • 17
  • Could you read it to me?
  • 18
  • In your example, "to" is used to show who the action of reading is directed towards.
  • 19
  • The object of the preposition is "me", receiving the action of reading.
  • 20
  • It is like asking:
  • 21
  • Could you direct your reading towards me?
  • 22
  • You could have also said:
  • 23
  • Could you read it to us?
  • 24
  • In this example "us" would be the whole class.
  • 25
  • The preposition of "for" can have many meanings.
  • 26
  • Could you read it for me?
  • 27
  • The preposition of "for" in this example means "in place of," "to help," or "on behalf of."
  • 28
  • "Me" is again the object of the preposition.
  • 29
  • So, instead of you reading a story, you are asking the student to read a story in place of you or to help you by reading it.
  • 30
  • If something is directed towards you and you are receiving the action, use "to me."
  • 31
  • Another example is:
  • 32
  • Could you bring my science book to me?
  • 33
  • Here you are asking someone to bring your book to you. You will receive it and take it with you.
  • 34
  • But if you ask,
  • 35
  • Could you bring my science book for me?
  • 36
  • you are requesting that someone brings your book in place of you bringing it.
  • 37
  • They will take it with them to class, instead of you taking it.
  • 38
  • "For me" is used if you are asking someone to do something on behalf of you, in place of you doing it, or to help you.
  • 39
  • Please let us know if these example s and explanations have helped you, Maria!
  • 40
  • What question do you have about American English? Send us an email at learningenglish@voanews.com
  • 41
  • And that's Ask a Teacher.
  • 42
  • I'm Faith Pirlo.
  • 1
  • Hello! This week on Ask a Teacher, we will answer a question from Maria, a teacher from Brazil, about the difference between "to me" and "for me."
  • 2
  • Question:
  • 3
  • Hello,
  • 4
  • If I am asking a student to read in class, should I say "to me" or "for me?" I would to know which one is correct.
  • 5
  • Could you read it to me? or
  • 6
  • Could you read it for me?
  • 7
  • Thanks a lot,
  • 8
  • Maria
  • 9
  • Answer:
  • 10
  • Dear Maria,
  • 11
  • Thank you for writing to us. Both of these questions can be correct. The choice of "to me" or "for me" depends on the meaning you would like to express.
  • 12
  • In the examples you sent us, "to" and "for" are both used as prepositions. Prepositions are a word or group of words that is used with a noun, pronoun, or noun phrase to show physical direction, location, time, or to introduce an object.
  • 13
  • "To" and "for" in the examples you sent are used to introduce an object, but the meanings are different.
  • 14
  • We will take a closer look at these differences.
  • 15
  • To me
  • 16
  • "To" is used to show the physical direction of an action. But in your example, the use slightly changes.
  • 17
  • Could you read it to me?
  • 18
  • In your example, "to" is used to show who the action of reading is directed towards.
  • 19
  • The object of the preposition is "me", receiving the action of reading.
  • 20
  • It is like asking:
  • 21
  • Could you direct your reading towards me?
  • 22
  • You could have also said:
  • 23
  • Could you read it to us?
  • 24
  • In this example "us" would be the whole class.
  • 25
  • For me
  • 26
  • The preposition of "for" can have many meanings.
  • 27
  • Could you read it for me?
  • 28
  • The preposition of "for" in this example means "in place of," "to help," or "on behalf of."
  • 29
  • "Me" is again the object of the preposition.
  • 30
  • So, instead of you reading a story, you are asking the student to read a story in place of you or to help you by reading it.
  • 31
  • Summary
  • 32
  • If something is directed towards you and you are receiving the action, use "to me."
  • 33
  • Another example is:
  • 34
  • Could you bring my science book to me?
  • 35
  • Here you are asking someone to bring your book to you. You will receive it and take it with you.
  • 36
  • But if you ask,
  • 37
  • Could you bring my science book for me?
  • 38
  • you are requesting that someone brings your book in place of you bringing it. They will take it with them to class, instead of you taking it.
  • 39
  • "For me" is used if you are asking someone to do something on behalf of you, in place of you doing it, or to help you.
  • 40
  • Please let us know if these example s and explanations have helped you, Maria!
  • 41
  • What question do you have about American English? Send us an email at learningenglish@voanews.com
  • 42
  • And that's Ask a Teacher.
  • 43
  • I'm Faith Pirlo.
  • 44
  • Faith Pirlo wrote this lesson for VOA Learning English.
  • 45
  • Do you have a question for the teacher? We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section.