Usage note : for

When for is used as a preposition, followed by a noun or pronoun, it is translated by pour :

for my sister

= pour ma sœur

for the garden

= pour le jardin

for me

= pour moi

For particular usages see the entry for.

When for is used as a preposition indicating purpose followed by a verb it is translated by pour + infinitive :

for cleaning windows

= pour nettoyer les vitres

When for is used in the construction to be + adjective + for + pronoun + infinitive the translation in French is être + indirect pronoun + adjective + de + infinitive :

it’s impossible for me to stay

= il m’est impossible de rester

it was hard for him to understand that…

= il lui était difficile de comprendre que…

it will be difficult for her to accept the changes

= il lui sera difficile d’accepter les changements

For the construction to be waiting for sb to do see the entry wait.

For particular usages see the entry for.

In time expressions

for is used in English after a verb in the progressive present perfect tense to express the time period of something that started in the past and is still going on. To express this French uses a verb in the present tense + depuis :

I have been waiting for three hours (and I am still waiting)

= j’attends depuis trois heures

we’ve been together for two years (and we’re still together)

= nous sommes ensemble depuis deux ans

When for is used in English after a verb in the past perfect tense, French uses the imperfect + depuis :

I had been waiting for two hours (and was still waiting)

= j’attendais depuis deux heures

for is used in English negative sentences with the present perfect tense to express the time that has elapsed since something has happened. To express this, French uses the same tense as English (the perfect) + depuis :

I haven’t seen him for ten years (and I still haven’t seen him)

= je ne l’ai pas vu depuis dix ans

In spoken French, there is another way of expressing this : ça fait or il y a dix ans que je ne l’ai pas vu.

When for is used in English in negative sentences after a verb in the past perfect tense, French uses the past perfect + depuis :

I hadn’t seen him for ten years

= je ne l’avais pas vu depuis dix ans, or (in spoken French) ça faisait or il y avait dix ans que je ne l’avais pas vu

for is used in English after the preterite to express the time period of something that happened in the past and is no longer going on. Here French uses the present perfect + pendant :

last Sunday I gardened for two hours

= dimanche dernier, j’ai jardiné pendant deux heures

for is used in English after the present progressive tense or the future tense to express an anticipated time period in the future. Here French uses the present or the future tense + pour :

I’m going to Rome for six weeks

= je vais à Rome pour six semaines

I will go to Rome for six weeks

= j’irai à Rome pour six semaines

Note, however, that when the verb to be is used in the future with for to emphasize the period of time, French uses the future + pendant :

I will be in Rome for six weeks

= je serai à Rome pendant six semaines

he will be away for three days

= il sera absent pendant trois jours

For particular usages see A13, 14, 15 and 16 in the entry for.

for is often used in English to form a structure with nouns, adjectives and verbs (weakness for, eager for, apply for, fend for etc.). For translations, consult the appropriate noun, adjective or verb entry (weakness, eager, apply, fend etc.).

Big English-French dictionary. 2003.