for … to …

Infinitive with its own subject

The structure for + noun/pronoun + infinitive is very common in English.

It is used when an infinitive needs its own subject. Compare:

• Anna will be happy to help you. (Anna will help.)
  Anna will be happy for the children to help you. (The children will help.)
• My idea was to learn Russian.
  My idea was for her to learn Russian.
• To ask Joe would be a big mistake.
  For you to ask Joe would be a big mistake. (not You to ask Joe would be …)

Note that the subject of the infinitive is the object of the preposition for. Object forms of pronouns are used.

• Anna will be happy for them to help you. (not … for they to help you.)

Use

The structure is often used when we are referring to possibility, necessity or frequency, when we are expressing wishes, suggestions or plans for the future, and when we are giving personal reactions to situations. Like other infinitive structures, it is used especially after adjectives, nouns and verbs; it can also act as the subject of a clause. It often has the same meaning as a that-clause, but is generally less formal and often more natural. Compare:

• It’s important for the meeting to start on time.
• It’s important that the meeting should start on time.

After adjectives: anxious for us to see …

The structure for + object + infinitive can be used after certain adjectives which express wishes and other personal feelings about the importance or value of future events (e.g. anxious, eager, delighted, willing, reluctant).

Grammar

adjective + for + object + infinitive

• She’s anxious for us to see her work.
• I’m eager for the party to be a success.
• Robert says he’d be delighted for Emily to come and stay.

It’s impossible for … to …

For-structures with preparatory it (see here) are common with many adjectives expressing possibility, necessity, importance, urgency, frequency and value judgements.

Grammar

it + verb + adjective + for + object + infinitive

Grammar

verb + it + adjective + for + object + infinitive

• It’s impossible for the job to be finished in time.
• Would it be easy for you to phone me tomorrow?
• It’s important for the meeting to start at eight.
• It seems unnecessary for him to start work this week.
• I consider it essential for the school to be well heated.
• Is it usual for foxes to come so close to the town?
• I thought it strange for her to be out so late.
• It’s not good for the oil tank to be so close to the house.

Other common adjectives that are used in this way include vital, necessary, pointless, unimportant, common, normal, unusual, rare, right, wrong. Note that likely and probable are not used like this.

• She’s likely to arrive this evening. (not It’s likely for her to arrive this evening.)
• It’s probable that she’ll be in a bad temper. or She’ll probably be … (not It’s probable for her to be …)

After nouns: It’s a good idea for us to …

The structure can also be used after nouns in expressions with meanings similar to the adjectives listed above. Examples are: time, a good/bad idea, plan, aim, need, request, mistake, shame.

• It’s time for everybody to go to bed.
• It’s a good idea for us to travel in separate cars.
• There’s a plan for Jack to spend a year in Japan.
• Our aim is for students to learn as quickly as possible.
• It was a big mistake for them not to keep John as manager.
• It was a real shame for them not to win after all their work.

something for me to do

Something, anything, nothing and similar words are often followed by for + object + infinitive.

• Have you got something for me to do?
• There’s nothing for the cats to eat.
• Is there anybody for Louise to play with in the village?
• I must find somewhere for him to practise the piano.

After verbs: ask for … to …

For-structures are not normally used as objects after verbs.

• I need you to help me. (not I need for you to help me.)

However, verbs which are normally followed by for (e.g. ask, hope, wait, look, pay, arrange) can often be used with for + object + infinitive.

• Anna asked for the designs to be ready by Friday.
• I can’t wait for them to finish talking.
• Can you arrange for the gold to be delivered on Monday? (not … for the gold being delivered.)

A few other verbs can be used like this, e.g. suit and take (time).

• When will it suit you for us to call?
• It took twenty minutes for the smoke to clear.

In informal American English, like, hate, mean, intend and some other verbs with similar meanings can be used with a for-structure. This is not usually possible in British English.

• I would like for you to stay as long as you want.
• She hates for people to feel sad.
• Did you mean for Jack to take the car?

After too and enough

A for-structure is often used after too and enough.

• This is much too heavy for you to lift.
• There are too many people here for me to talk to all of them.
• Do you think it’s warm enough for the snow to melt?
• I explained enough for her to understand what was happening.

As subject

The for-structure can be the subject of a clause.

• For us to fail now would be a disaster.
• For her to lose the election would make me very happy.

However, it is more common for a structure with preparatory it to be used (see here) above).

• It would make me very happy for her to lose the election.

for there to be

The infinitive of there is (there to be) can be used after for.

• I’m anxious for there to be plenty of time for discussion.
• It’s important for there to be a fire escape at the back of the building.

that-clauses

Instead of for + object + infinitive, a that-clause with should or a subjunctive (see here) is often possible, especially when we want to express wishes, recommendations, suggestions and plans for the future. A that-clause is usually more formal than a for-structure.

• It is important that there should be a fire escape.
• I’m anxious that the party should be a success.
• His idea is that we should travel in separate cars.
• It is essential that the meeting start at eight.

note

For sentences like He made it difficult for us to refuse, (see here).