[Grammar] Lack / Lack for

[Mr.Lucky_One]

2 sentences:

1. "Thanks that you've offered your help but I don't lack anything."
2. "Thanks that you've offered your help but I don't lack for anything."

Which one is right?

 

[Chicken Sandwich]

Do you understand the difference between correct and true?

 

[5jj]

1. "Thanks that you've offered your help but I don't lack anything."
2. "Thanks that you've offered your help but I don't lack for anything."

Both are possible; we are more likely to say, "Thanks for offering to help, ...".

 

[Barb_D]

As for the main point of your question, as an American, I'd say
Thanks for your offer to help, but I don't need anything.

 

[Raymott]

I'll bite the bullet and say that "I don't lack anything" is far more common in AusE.

 

[5jj]

As for the main point of your question, as an American, I'd say
Thanks for your offer to help, but I don't need anything.

I'll bite the bullet and say that "I don't lack anything" is far more common in AusE.

As a speaker of BrE, I'll go with Barb.

 

[probus]

I agree that don't need has largely replaced lack at least on this side of the pond.

But to come back to the original question, lack and lack for are I think equally intelligible in spite of the redundancy of for.

 

[Barb_D]

If I had to use the word lack, I would not say "I don't lack anything" but rather "I lack nothing."

I agree the "for" optional and woukd not confuse the meaning whether it was included or omitted.

 

[emsr2d2]

I would go with "Thanks for your offer of help" (rather than "to help") but would also end it differently.

Thanks for your offer of help but I don't need any.

 

[BobK]

:up: People may say it, but I'm inclined to think that when they say 'lack for' they mean 'want for'( which means 'not to have...'). The expression 'want for' sounds a bit archaic, and often collocates (in idioms where it still survives) with a negative: 'Marry me and you'll want for nothing.'

b

 

[BobK]

:up: People may say it, but I'm inclined to think that when they say 'lack for' they mean 'want for'( which means 'not to have/suffer because of not having ...'). The expression 'want for' sounds a bit archaic, and often collocates (in idioms where it still survives) with a negative: 'Marry me and you'll want for nothing.'

b