Mar 3, 2006 15:09
18 yrs ago
English term
"for"
Non-PRO
English
Art/Literary
Linguistics
She has wanted to see the Great Wall of China for as long as she can remember.
What does "for" in the sentence stand for? Is there any other way of paraphrasing the sentence?
Thanks for your comments.
What does "for" in the sentence stand for? Is there any other way of paraphrasing the sentence?
Thanks for your comments.
Responses
| 4 +11 | for a long |
Kevin Kelly
|
Responses
+11
1 min
Kevin Kelly
Native in English
&
English
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Native in: English
Works in: Russian to English, English to Russian, English
Related KudoZ points
:
4
English term (edited):
for as long as she can remember
Selected
for a long
For is just a part of the set phrase, e.g. for a long time, for 3 years, etc.
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Note added at 2 mins (2006-03-03 15:12:13 GMT)
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A paraphrase would be: 'ever since she can remember."
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Note added at 4 mins (2006-03-03 15:14:11 GMT)
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Another way to paraphrase: "She cannot remember a time when she did not want to see the Great Wall..."
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Note added at 13 mins (2006-03-03 15:23:47 GMT)
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My initial entry was cut off. The preposition "for" used with an expression of time indicates duration, e.g. "for five minutes," "for a short time," "for as long as you wish," etc.
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Note added at 2 mins (2006-03-03 15:12:13 GMT)
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A paraphrase would be: 'ever since she can remember."
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Note added at 4 mins (2006-03-03 15:14:11 GMT)
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Another way to paraphrase: "She cannot remember a time when she did not want to see the Great Wall..."
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Note added at 13 mins (2006-03-03 15:23:47 GMT)
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My initial entry was cut off. The preposition "for" used with an expression of time indicates duration, e.g. "for five minutes," "for a short time," "for as long as you wish," etc.
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
RHELLER
: yes "ever since"
1 min
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Thank you, Rita.
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| agree |
Andrey Belousov (X)
13 mins
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Thank you.
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| agree |
jccantrell
: but there is nothing wrong with the sentence as it stands, as least in the USA.
15 mins
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Thank you.
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| agree |
Ken Cox
: good explanation and paraphrase, and yes, 'for' does not 'stand for' something here -- it's just part of an idiomatic expression
16 mins
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Thank you.
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| agree |
silvia b (X)
29 mins
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Thank you.
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| agree |
Jonathan Spector
: It's used as a function word here.
34 mins
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Thank you.
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| agree |
Giulia Barontini
: Yes, it is part of a set phrase used to indicate duration, in fact it is called "Duration Form": it indicates an action that starts in the past and continues into the present. Cheers!
37 mins
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Thank you.
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| agree |
Nik-On/Off
38 mins
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Thank you.
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| agree |
Walter Landesman
42 mins
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Thank you.
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| agree |
Can Altinbay
: I wouldn't change the sentence.
53 mins
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Thank you.
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| agree |
humbird
: Yes, "for" means "duration of time".
3 hrs
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Thank you.
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4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
Comment: "Thanks Kevin"
Discussion