Using "for & to"

[Guest]

How do I teach a Portuguese student when to use "for" or "to"? In Portuguese they use "para" for both. For example, "we went to Spain for New Year". I've found an exercise on the "auto - English" website but the "to" is only used when the following word is a verb in its infinitive form.

[Guest]

How do I teach a Portuguese student when to use "for" or "to"? In Portuguese they use "para" for both. For example, "we went to Spain for New Year". I've found an exercise on the "auto - English" website but the "to" is only used when the following word is a verb in its infinitive form.

[nikita]

Hello,

This is a tough question. Did you mean the difference between “to” and “for” when giving the reason of doing something?

Than the rule is pretty simple.

We use “for” before nouns.
I went upstairs for some rest.

We use “for” + gerund to explain a general purpose of an object.
Scissors are used for cutting paper.

We use an infinitive to explain why a person does certain things.
I went upstairs to see Jim.

Is this what you meant?

Nikita Kovalyov
www.eclecticenglish.com