For or To

[crazyaboutenglish]

Can anyone please tell me if these sentences are both correct or not?

I went to the town centre to buy shoes.
I went to the town centre for buying shoes.

Thanks

[Verona_82]

Not a teacher.
Only the first one is natural.

[crazyaboutenglish]

Can you tell me how I know when to use "for" and when to use "to"

[TheParser]

Can you tell me how I know when to use "for" and when to use "to"

***** A NON-TEACHER's COMMENT *****


(1) I found the answer in the 1995 edition of Mr. Michael Swan's

Practical English Usage (Item #213, not page 213):

Mr. Swan says:

For can be used to talk about somebody's purpose, but

ONLY when it is followed by a NOUN.

(a) So I guess that your sentence could be:

I went downtown for some shoes. ("shoes" = noun)

Then the esteemed scholar tells us:

For is NOT used before a verb in this sense. Only the INFINITIVE

expresses a person's purpose.

(b) So I guess your sentence could be:

I went downtown to buy some shoes. ("to buy" = infinitive)

(2) Mr. Swan then gives us two wonderful examples to study:

We stopped at the pub [bar] to have a drink. [NOT: for having a drink.]

I went to the college to see Professor Taylor. [NOT: for seeing ....]

(3) These are only my examples:

We stopped at the pub for a drink. ("a drink" = noun)

I went to the college for a meeting with Professor Taylor. ("meeting"

= noun)


Respectfully yours,


James

[crazyaboutenglish]

Thanks a lot these help me