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31 de março de 2011

"TO & FOR" COMPARADOS A "PARA"

Preposições são palavras de significado pouco claro e muito variável. São mais partículas funcionais do que palavras de conteúdo semântico definido. A maioria das ocorrências de preposições, não segue um padrão lógico ou regular. Além disso, entre o português e o inglês, as preposições não apresentam uma correlação muito estreita. Cobrem normalmente diferentes áreas de significado, sendo umas de uso mais amplo que outras.
É particularmente notória a dificuldade para nós, brasileiros, quando temos que decidir qual preposição usar em inglês, to ou for, quando em português a idéia seria expressa através da preposição para. Em geral, pode-se dizer que to está ligado à idéia de direção, movimento, correspondendo muitas vezes também à preposição a do português; enquanto que for está relacionado com a idéia de benefício, substituição, intenção ou predestinação, correspondendo, às vezes, ao português por. Esta diferença de significado, entretanto, não é sempre clara. Mesmo assim, for e to raramente podem ser usados como sinônimos.
Freqüentemente to e for introduzem o objeto indireto e é neste caso que as duas preposições normalmente correspondem ao português para. Objeto indireto em inglês é sempre um nome ou pronome que precede ou sucede o objeto direto nos verbos bitransitivos. Quando posicionado antes do objeto direto, não vem acompanhado de preposição. Quando posicionado após o objeto direto, virá invariavelmente acompanhado da preposição to ou for. Neste caso, a preposição certa dependerá do verbo, não havendo regra para isso. Observe os seguintes exemplos:

TO VERBS

FOR VERBS

I gave a present to him. = I gave him a present.
I’ll show the figures
to you. = I’ll show you the figures.
He sold a car
to me. = He sold me a car.
He sent a letter
to Mary. = He sent Mary a letter.
Can you lend this book
to me? = Can you lend me this book?
The boss told a joke
to us. = The boss told us a joke.
Who teaches English
to them? = Who teaches them English?
I paid $10
to the repairman. = I paid the repairman $10.
Will you pass the sugar
to me? = Will you pass me the sugar?
Read a story
to the children. = Read the children a story.
I wrote a letter
to my friend. = I wrote my friend a letter.
Hand that book
to me, please. = Hand me that book, please.
He offered a job
to Mary. = He offered Mary a job.
He'll bring something
to me. = He'll bring me something.
She sang a lullaby
to the baby. = She sang the baby a lullaby.
I'll throw the ball
to you. = I'll throw you the ball.

Let me buy a present for you. = Let me buy you a present.
I got some food
for you. = I got you some food.
She made a sandwich
for me. = She made me a sandwich.
Did she cook dinner
for you? = Did she cook you dinner?
Can you do a favor
for me? = Can you do me a favor?
He can find a job
for you. = He can find you a job.
He left a message
for you. = He left you a message.
Shall I pour more tea
for you? = Shall I pour you more tea?
Reserve hotel rooms
for us. = Reserve us hotel rooms.
Save the stamps
for him. = Save him the stamps.
Existem também verbos que só aceitam o objeto indireto quando acompanhado de preposição. Exemplos:

TO VERBS

FOR VERBS

The teacher said "Good morning" to the students.
He’s going to introduce Mary
to his family.
I already explained the project
to the staff.
Mr. Cole described the new house
to his wife.
I sometimes speak English
to (with) my wife.
Bob reported the accident
to the police.
I repeated your ideas
to my parents.
He admitted his mistake
to the boss.
I'll mention your plan
to the director.
Dr. Bishop recommends this medicine
to some patients.
Richard has announced his engagement
to his friends.
It sounds good
to me.
The salesgirl suggested a gift
to Philip.

Can you carry the suitcases for me?
Could you open the door
for me?
He asked the bank teller to cash a check
for him.
Doctors like to prescribe medicine
for the patients.
She is going to prepare the meal
for the guests.
I asked her to sign the letter
for me.
Can you hold this
for me, please?
I changed the traveler's checks
for you.
I asked the secretary to make an appointment
for me.
He translated an article
for me.
I recorded a tape
for you.
I'll take the car to the mechanic
for you.
The salesgirl suggested Philip a gift
for his girlfriend.
Can you play the piano
for me?
Verdade, quase qualquer verbo aceita o adjunto preposicional for. São portanto ilimitadas as possibilidades de FOR VERBS neste segundo grupo. Observe-se que mesmo os TO VERBS, além de aceitarem o objeto indireto precedido pela preposição to, também aceitam o adjunto preposicional for, porém com outro sentido. Ex:
I sent a letter to Mary.
I sent a letter for Mary.
No primeiro exemplo, Mary mora noutro lugar e eu lhe escrevi mandando notícias. No segundo exemplo, Mary escreveu uma carta para alguém, estava talvez muito ocupada para ir ao correio, e eu fui em lugar dela.
O verbo to go também freqüentemente ocorre associado às preposições to e for. Observe-se os dois grupos abaixo:

GO TO EXPRESSIONS

GO FOR EXPRESSIONS

go to work
go to school
go to bed
go to church
go to town
go to court
go to pieces
go to hell
go to Porto Alegre
go to the bank, go to the office, etc.

go for a walk
go for a ride
go for a drive
go for a beer
go for it
Uma das ocorrências mais elementares da preposição to é no uso do infinitivo em inglês. Isto normalmente ocorre na estrutura VERB + to + VERB. Exemplos:
I have to go.
I like
to drink beer.
I'm not able
to work.
He decided
to leave.
You promised
to help us.
He's planning
to study abroad.
I want
to tell you something.
I hope
to become fluent in English.
We expect
to win the game.
Mesmo quando não introduzem objetos indiretos, a ocorrência das preposições to e for continua dependendo do verbo que acompanham ou da expressão idiomática em que ocorrem. Em muitos casos for corresponde a por do português. Exemplos:

TO EXPRESSIONS

FOR EXPRESSIONS

Nice to meet you.
Up
to dateTo my surprise, ...To the best of my knowledge, ...
According
to ...
Apply
to a university.
He reacted well
to my comments.
I object
to staying up late.
I'm accustomed
to working hard.
I'm not used
to working on Sundays.
It's very sensitive
to cold weather.To (for) me, it sounds good.
It's interesting
to me.
She was invited
to a party.
I'm looking forward
to hearing from you.
It's a hundred miles from here
to Porto Alegre.
They raised his salary
to $1,000.
Don't jump
to conclusions.

For sure!For God's sake!For example, ...For this reason ...For the first time ...For (to) me, it sounds good.
Apply
for a job.
Any letters
for me?
I feel sorry
for them.
He left
for home.
I have a question
for you.
He works
for a tobacco company.
I sold my house
for 40 thousand dollars.
He charged 50 dollars
for the translation.
I lived abroad
for 7 years.
He's very strong
for an old man.
I'm looking
for a job.
He received a grant
for studying medicine.
I want eggs
for breakfast.
I wrote a check
for $100.

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