[Idiom] That is for sure.

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yuriya

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What do you think is the function and meaning of for in the following?

That is for sure/certain/definite.
I took it for granted.

Thanks in advance.
 

philadelphia

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For emphasizes the importance of what is following - sure/granted. I would also say for shows you really consider it as sure/granted

Not a teacher at all
 
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yuriya

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Thanks for your insight. It's kind of hard to grasp it though.
 

TheParser

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Thanks for your insight. It's kind of hard to grasp it though.

***** NOT A TEACHER *****

Good morning, Yuriya.

(1) You say that it's kind of hard to grasp.

(2) Here's an example of "to take for granted."

(a) When people are young, most of them take good health for granted.

That is, they expect to have good health. They feel that good health is

something that you have when you are young. They don't spend time

worrying about having it. Good health is just one of those things that go

with being young.

(b) On the other hand, old people like me do not take good health for

granted. I know that a doctor can give me bad news at any second. In

other words, I do not expect that I will have good health. I only hope

that I will have good health.

*****

In other words, to take for granted = to expect something as being

natural and normal and a regular part of life:

(a) Most people take it for granted that they will get married.

(b) In many countries, the people take it for granted that they may

criticize the government. If you ask them, "Can you criticize the

government?" they will look at you with an expression of "Of course!"

They take their freedom for granted. They expect it.

(c) If you are having a problem, you take it for granted that a police

officer will help you. That's his job. You expect it. Nothing unusual.

Have a nice day!
 

hitinvo

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if I say the police will help you for granted. What is this mean?
 

TheParser

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if I say the police will help you for granted. What is this mean?

***** NOT A TEACHER *****

Hello, Hitinvo.

(1) "The police will help you for granted" is, I'm sorry to say, incorrect

English.

(2) It would better to say that "I take it for granted that the police will

help me." / "It's taken for granted that the police will help you."

(a) When you take something for granted, it means that you do not

think about it . You expect it. No question about it.

(i) For example, we all take it for granted that the sun will rise this

morning. Of course, it will rise!!!

(b) So when you call the police in the United States, you EXPECT that

they will help you.

(ii) For example, here in the United States we take it for granted that

the power (electricity) will operate 24 hours 7 days a week. If the lights

go out, we become very angry. We Americans are not accustomed to the

power going out. We take having good electricity service for granted.

We EXPECT it!!!

***** Thank you *****
 

mmasny

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I just thought... What would it sound like to say "mistake something for granted"? Would it be just normal or maybe smart/neological? Or lame perhaps?
 

hitinvo

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Does expect mean hope? (I am sorry to ask the silly thing, but I don't get its meaning really good. thanks
 

TheParser

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Does expect mean hope? (I am sorry to ask the silly thing, but I don't get its meaning really good. thanks

***** NOT A TEACHER *****

Hello, Hitinvo.

(1) "Expect" means that you think it will really happen.

(a) When someone graduates from college, s/he expects to find a job (because s/he has a college degree).


(b) When parents get old, they expect their children to take care of them (because the parents took care of the children, and now it's the children's turn (time) to take care of their dear parents).

(c) When people go to the airport in a big city, they expect to wait in long lines (because there are so many people).

(2) "Expect" is much stronger than "hope."

(a) Mr. Jones hopes that his store makes lot of money this month. Maybe it will, or maybe it won't. He has no idea.

(b) Mr. Jones expects his store to make a lot of money this month because every day many people are shopping there.

If you have further questions, please ask. Many people here are waiting for your questions.

***** Thank you *****
 

hitinvo

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so expect has 2 meaning, isn't it.
One means believe and another mean hope, right?
 
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TheParser

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so expect has 2 meaning, isn't it.
One means believe and another mean hope, right?

***** NOT A TEACHER *****

Hello, Hitinvo.

(1) You asked a great question.

(2) I went to my good dictionary.

(3) TO EXPECT

I believe with CONFIDENCE that something WILL happen.

(My examples -- not the dictionary's)

I expect the sun to set this evening.

I expect the letter carrier to deliver the mail today.

I expect the buses to run today.

I expect drivers to stop their cars at the red light.

(4) TO HOPE

A WISH that something will happen and a feeling that MAYBE it will.

(Only my examples)

I hope that there will be peace in country X this year.

I hope that I can get a ticket to that popular singer's concert.

I hope that if I live to be 90 years ago, I shall still be able to walk.

I hope that the scientists will find a way to cure disease X.

***** THANK YOU *****
 

hitinvo

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***** NOT A TEACHER *****

Hello, Hitinvo.

(1) You asked a great question.

(2) I went to my good dictionary.

(3) TO EXPECT

I believe with CONFIDENCE that something WILL happen.

(My examples -- not the dictionary's)

I expect the sun to set this evening.

I expect the letter carrier to deliver the mail today.

I expect the buses to run today.

I expect drivers to stop their cars at the red light.

(4) TO HOPE

A WISH that something will happen and a feeling that MAYBE it will.

(Only my examples)

I hope that there will be peace in country X this year.

I hope that I can get a ticket to that popular singer's concert.

I hope that if I live to be 90 years ago, I shall still be able to walk.

I hope that the scientists will find a way to cure disease X.

***** THANK YOU *****

Your explanations are so clear, thank you so much!
 

euncu

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(2) I went to my good dictionary.

This is what the posters should do beforehand. But it's OK to ask if they still can't figure it out after looking up.
 
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