Starting a question with "for"

[Nightmare85]

Hello,
In German it's common but I don't know how it is in English.
I know that it's better that for stays in the end of this sentence:
What are you waiting for?

The problem is that there are many more sentence where I don't know how to use the for.
For what are you still here? He left hours ago.
Also possible: Why are you still here?
For what reason can't you stand me?
Also possible: Why can't you stand me?
For how long have you been waiting here?
(Also possible without for)
For how many years have I told you this?

Hmm as you can see most of these examples (where I used for) are kind of strange.
I would like to know if they are grammatically correct.
If not, would you please write a question that starts with for?

Thank you!

Cheers!

 

[Allen165]

The first sentence sounds odd to my ears. I would say "What are you still here for" or simply "Why are you still here?"

The second sentence also sounds somewhat odd, although it's correct. I think "Why can't you stand me?" is better.

The last sentence should read: "For how many years have I been telling you this?"

Not a teacher.

 

[Allen165]

I don't think one would say "For what reason can't you stand me" in day-to-day English, but in more formal English one might say it.

That sentence is probably a literal translation from German (Aus welchem Grund kannst du mich nicht ausstehen).

 

[kfredson]

The first sentence sounds odd to my ears. I would say "What are you still here for" or simply "Why are you still here?"

The second sentence also sounds somewhat odd, although it's correct. I think "Why can't you stand me?" is better.

The last sentence should read: "For how many years have I been telling you this?"

Not a teacher.

I fully agree. You state it in an eminently clear fashion. Thank you.

 

[Raymott]

Hello,
In German it's common but I don't know how it is in English.
I know that it's better that for stays in the end of this sentence:
What are you waiting for?

Be aware that some questions use 'for' differently.

- Meaning "because". These are generally follow-on sentences:
For what is a man? What has he got? If not himself ... ("My Way")
For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?

Naturally, sentences starting with 'for' don't have to be questions:
For reasons best known to her, she did not show up for our date.
For what reason she stood me up, I don't know. (= "Why she stood me up ...")
For thine is the kingdom, the power and the glory ...

 

[sarat_106]

Be aware that some questions use 'for' differently.

- Meaning "because". These are generally follow-on sentences:

It has to be noted that a preposition normally precedes its complement to form a prepositional phrase and there is no interrogative preposition in English which can be used at the beginning to form a question. However, as pointed out by Raymott we can use interrogative pronoun/adverb with ‘for’ to ask questions as follow-on sentence as:

Does he stand for anyone? Yes. For whom(does he stand)?
Is Common Cold Contagious?Yes. For how long( is common cold contagious)?