To me/for me

[Rachel Adams]

In BrE what would be the normal choice "to me" or "for me"? If both are used, is there any difference in meaning between them?

"Bugs are sold as souvenirs in some countries. But if I go to a store and see a bug for sale that wouldn't be normal for me/to me."

 

[Charlie Bernstein]

In BrE, what would be the normal choice: "to me" or "for me"?

In both British and American English, it depends on the context.

If both are used, is there any difference in meaning between them?

Yes.

"Bugs are sold as souvenirs in some countries. But if I went to a store here and saw a bug for sale, that wouldn't seem normal to me."

Notice:

- the comma after "In BrE."

- the colon after "choice."

- the comma after "sale."

- "went" after "But if I." (You could also say, "But if I were to go . . . .")

- "here and saw" after "store."

- "seem" after "wouldn't."

- "to" after "normal."

Regardless of the word "me," you know the difference between the words "to" and "for," right? So what confuses you?

(British and American English use the words the same way.)

 

[emsr2d2]

I'll repeat the advice I gave in a recent thread - learners should avoid starting sentences with "And" and "But". They can be used at the start of a sentence but 99% of the time, learners get it wrong. Post #1 is one of those times.

 

[Rachel Adams]

Notice:

- the comma after "In BrE."

- the colon after "choice."

- the comma after "sale."

- "went" after "But if I." (You could also say, "But if I were to go . . . .")

- "here and saw" after "store."

- "seem" after "wouldn't."

- "to" after "normal."

Regardless of the word "me," you know the difference between the words "to" and "for," right? So what confuses you?

(British and American English use the words the same way.)

With "seem" I would use "to" of course, but with "Be" I don't know which preposition to choose. Why is it wrong to say "That wouldn't be normal for/to me"?

 

[Charlie Bernstein]

With "seem" I would use "to" of course, but with "Be" I don't know which preposition to choose. Why is it wrong to say "That wouldn't be normal for/to me"?

"Be" is not natural. That's why I changed it.

I don't know why. I can give more advice on standard usage than on grammar or linguistics.

 

[Yankee]

In BrE what would be the normal choice "to me" or "for me"? If both are used, is there any difference in meaning between them?

"Bugs are sold as souvenirs in some countries. But if I go to a store and see a bug for sale that wouldn't be normal for me/to me."

AmE.

I would understand either to be understood in that context. But in terms of impressive behavior, I would be inclined to use "to me" about an external action or behavior that I observe or experience; whereas. using "for me" would refer to a characteristic or behavior of my own. In your example and if I had to choose, I would use "to me". But if you saw me wearing a "bug", that wouldn't be normal for me.