TAKE SOMETHING FOR GRANTED
Dear Dr English,
Would you please explain the meaning of "take it for granted"?
Siripong Thitamadee
This phrase was explained here in the May 31 issue last year, but don't worry, I am not about to suggest you go looking for an issue of the The Nation that far back.
There are two structures involving the use of "take for granted". The first is when you naturally assume that something is true. Here it means you believe that something is true without thinking much about it or looking for proof, in other words, the question is not really an issue.
Mary takes it for granted that her husband has always been faithful to her even though he sometimes comes home late.
The other structure is to take someone or something for granted. In this situation a person benefits from someone or something without showing that he/she is grateful.
Those children with rich parents live a carefree life and take it for granted that all their needs will be met.
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CONJUNCTION MATTER
Dear Dr English,
When do we use the conjunctions "to" and "for"?
Hazlelyn Balinttag
As a conjunction "to" is a short form of "in order to", showing purpose. Depending on which grammar book you look at, it is either called a conjunction or an infinitive of purpose. This shows clearly that it has to be followed by the infinitive of a verb.
I gave him some money to buy some food.
"For" can be either a preposition or a conjunction but we can find it in the role of a preposition more often than as a conjunction. As a subordinating conjunction, the conjunction that introduces a subordinate clause, it introduces a clause which gives the reason why one made the statement in the main clause. "For" in this usage bears the same meaning as "because", "since" and "as". This is a rather formal use.
We spent the whole weekend indoors for the weather was extremely severe.
When "for" is used as a co-ordinating conjunction, it joins individual words, phrases and independent clauses. Note that "for" can also be used as a preposition.
The book provides vivid details of the lives of the first generation of Chinese immigrants in the US, for it was written by one of the descendents.
In this example, "for" is used to link two independent clauses.
I hope the above explanations clear up your question, if not please let me know.
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