For with the to+infinitive

A Introduction

Sarah: I'll just ring the office. The boss is waiting for me to ring her back.

Mark: I don't think it was a good idea for you to bring that mobile phone on holiday with you, Sarah.

We can use for + object + to+infinitive. Here are some more examples.

FOR OBJECT TO-INFINITIVE

My mother has arranged for someone to look after her dog next week.

It's difficult for unskilled people to find work these days.

The crowd were impatient for the match to begin.

It's a nuisance for you to have to wait.

B For expressing purpose

We can use this structure to say why something is done (to express purpose).

Mark photocopied the figures for the Sales Manager to have a look at. (He photocopied the figures so that the Sales Manager could have a look at them.)

The shop provides baskets for the customers to put their purchases in.

I'd like to put forward a few suggestions for you to think about.

C Too and enough

We can use too and enough with this structure.

The road is too busy for the children to cross safely.

Unfortunately the table was too small for all of us to sit round.

Fortunately the table was big enough for all of us to sit round.

The guide didn't speak loudly enough for everyone to hear clearly.

D For and of

FOR We often use for + object + to+infinitive after an adjective.

Harriet was anxious for the party to be a success.

Would it be possible for you to move your car, please?

Some of the adjectives we can use with for: anxious, awful, cheap, convenient, dangerous, difficult, eager, easy, exciting, expensive, friendly, good, happy, horrible, impatient, important, interesting, marvellous, necessary, nice, normal, polite, possible, ready, safe, sensible, silly, stupid, terrible, useful, willing, wonderful, wrong.

OF After an adjective saying how someone behaves, we use of + object + to+infinitive.

It's kind of Melanie to put you up for the night. (Melanie is kind.)

It was clever of you to work out the answer. (You were clever.)

Some of the adjectives we can use with of: brave, careless, clever, foolish, generous, good, helpful, honest, intelligent, kind, mean, nice, polite, sensible, silly, stupid, wrong.

Compare these two sentences.

It was good for you to come jogging. (It was good for your health.)

It was good of you to come jogging with me. (It was a kind action by you.)