Use prepostions: of / for

[truebytes]

Hi,

Can anybody help me with the uses of 'of/for'. I often confuse with these prepostions.

Thanks in advance
benny

[Jamie (K)]

You need to tell us what kind of mistakes you've made, or what your confusion is. Your question is too general.

[Mister Micawber]

.
Jamie's right. As your question stands, take your pick:

Quick definitions (of)

(prep.) Denoting identity or equivalence; -- used with a name or appellation, and equivalent to the relation of apposition; as, the continent of America; the city of Rome; the Island of Cuba.
(prep.) Denoting nearness or distance, either in space or time; from; as, within a league of the town; within an hour of the appointed time.
(prep.) Denoting part of an aggregate or whole; belonging to a number or quantity mentioned; out of; from amongst; as, of this little he had some to spare; some of the mines were unproductive; most of the company.
(prep.) Denoting passage from one state to another; from.
(prep.) Denoting possession or ownership, or the relation of subject to attribute; as, the apartment of the consul: the power of the king; a man of courage; the gate of heaven.
(prep.) Denoting reference to a thing; about; concerning; relating to; as, to boast of one's achievements.
(prep.) Denoting relation to place or time; belonging to, or connected with; as, men of Athens; the people of the Middle Ages; in the days of Herod.
(prep.) Denoting that by which a person or thing is actuated or impelled; also, the source of a purpose or action; as, they went of their own will; no body can move of itself; he did it of necessity.
(prep.) Denoting that from which anything proceeds; indicating origin, source, descent, and the like; as, he is of a race of kings; he is of noble blood.
(prep.) Denoting the agent, or person by whom, or thing by which, anything is, or is done; by.
(prep.) Denoting the material of which anything is composed, or that which it contains; as, a throne of gold; a sword of steel; a wreath of mist; a cup of water.
(prep.) During; in the course of.
(prep.) In a general sense, from, or out from; proceeding from; belonging to; relating to; concerning; -- used in a variety of applications; as:

Quick definitions (for)

(prep.) In the most general sense, indicating that in consideration of, in view of, or with reference to, which anything is done or takes place.
(prep.) Indicating that in favor of which, or in promoting which, anything is, or is done; hence, in behalf of; in favor of; on the side of; -- opposed to against.
(prep.) Indicating that in prevention of which, or through fear of which, anything is done.
(prep.) Indicating that in the character of or as being which anything is regarded or treated; to be, or as being.
(prep.) Indicating that instead of which something else controls in the performing of an action, or that in spite of which anything is done, occurs, or is; hence, equivalent to notwithstanding, in spite of; -- generally followed by all, aught, anything, etc.
(prep.) Indicating that on place of or instead of which anything acts or serves, or that to which a substitute, an equivalent, a compensation, or the like, is offered or made; instead of, or place of.
(prep.) Indicating that toward which the action of anything is directed, or the point toward which motion is made; /ntending to go to.
(prep.) Indicating the antecedent cause or occasion of an action; the motive or inducement accompanying and prompting to an act or state; the reason of anything; that on account of which a thing is or is done.
(prep.) Indicating the remoter and indirect object of an act; the end or final cause with reference to which anything is, acts, serves, or is done.
(prep.) Indicating the space or time through which an action or state extends; hence, during; in or through the space or time of.
.
_________________
Canadian-American native speaker
who teaches English for a living at Mister Micawber's
ESL cafe: Interview with Mr. Micawber