what for?

[Offroad]

Dear teachers...

Could you please teach me on how to differentiate between 'what for' and 'for what'?

I bought a watch that reports the temperature of other planets for 1200 euros on clearance!
What for?
For what?

Thanks

[5jj]

While 'what for' can suggest both 'why?' and 'for what purpose', it is more likely in your example to mean 'why' (what was your reason)?, I think. 'For what' here is more likely to mean 'for what purpose'?

[TheParser]

[QUOTE=Offroad;812159]

NOT A TEACHER


(1) You have again asked a question that reminds me of how little I know of English

semantics.

(2) And once again, you and I have received an excellent answer from a teacher.

(3) While usingenglish still lets us non-teachers comment, may I take the opportunity

to share something with you that I found on the Web? (Forgive me if you have

already read the same websites.)

(a) A person who identifies herself as the head of a language institute says:

For what = emphasizes the reason; what for = emphasizes the purpose. BUT she

also feels that they are basically synonyms.

(b) I found an answer (from a non-teacher) that really helped me to better understand

the slight difference. I have slightly altered his dialogues (the ideas are entirely his):

Teacher: I am going to punish you very severely!

The Parser: For what? I haven't done anything. I'm an angel.

***

Mother: I want you to go visit Aunt Mona.

Mike: What [in the world] for? You know that I hate her.

Mother: Don't talk that way about my sister, young man!

(4) Although I now understand the differences a little better, I still do not have the

confidence to choose the "correct" one for your sentence.