wotcha Senior Member Joined Jun 29, 2010 Member Type English Teacher Native Language Korean Home Country South Korea Current Location South Korea Apr 20, 2011 #1 Can we say 'It was difficult to bake a cake for me' instead of 'It was difficult for me to bake a cake'?
Can we say 'It was difficult to bake a cake for me' instead of 'It was difficult for me to bake a cake'?
charliedeut VIP Member Joined Oct 19, 2009 Member Type Interested in Language Native Language Spanish Home Country Spain Current Location Spain Apr 20, 2011 #2 wotcha said: Can we say 'It was difficult to bake a cake for me' instead of 'It was difficult for me to bake a cake'? Click to expand... Yes we can :lol: But the meaning will be different. 'It was difficult to bake a cake for me' --> Someone had trouble baking a cake which was for you to eat. 'It was difficult for me to bake a cake' --> You had trouble baking a cake (and we don't know who was to eat it, but since you took the trouble...;-)) Greetings Charliedeut
wotcha said: Can we say 'It was difficult to bake a cake for me' instead of 'It was difficult for me to bake a cake'? Click to expand... Yes we can :lol: But the meaning will be different. 'It was difficult to bake a cake for me' --> Someone had trouble baking a cake which was for you to eat. 'It was difficult for me to bake a cake' --> You had trouble baking a cake (and we don't know who was to eat it, but since you took the trouble...;-)) Greetings Charliedeut
freezeframe Key Member Joined Mar 28, 2011 Member Type Academic Native Language English Home Country Canada Current Location Canada Apr 20, 2011 #3 wotcha said: Can we say 'It was difficult to bake a cake for me' instead of 'It was difficult for me to bake a cake'? Click to expand... The first sentence is ambiguous. It could mean that you found it difficult to bake a cake or that it was difficult for someone else to bake a cake that they gave you. So, #2 is much better.
wotcha said: Can we say 'It was difficult to bake a cake for me' instead of 'It was difficult for me to bake a cake'? Click to expand... The first sentence is ambiguous. It could mean that you found it difficult to bake a cake or that it was difficult for someone else to bake a cake that they gave you. So, #2 is much better.