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Mr.Maru: Are you ready for dinner?
Sparky: Yes, I am. What are we eating tonight?
Mr.Maru: I'm making your favorite. I big bowl of bacon.
Sparky: I love bacon! When will it be ready?
Mr.Maru: In about 20 minutes.
Sparky: Well, hurry. I'm almost dying for hunger.
Mr.Maru: Your what?
Sparky: Dying for hunger. I'm really hungry.
Mr.Maru: You mean dying OF hunger. I think. Nobody wants to die for hunger.
Sparky: I see. Why not?
Mr.Maru: Because it doesn't make any sense. Nobody wants to die for the purpose of hunger.
How do you use of and for? These prepositions sometimes have similar meanings and can sometimes both be used in the same sentence. There are some big differences between the two though. Let's talk about some examples.
 How to the preposition 'for'
The preposition 'for' can be used for many things – time, distance, and purpose. Today we are talking about using the preposition 'for' for a purpose because this meaning is sometimes similar to 'of'. We can see the use of 'for' being used for purpose in the following sentences:
I went to the bar for a drink. (I went to the bar for the purpose of a drink. I wanted to buy the drink.)
I wear a suit for work. (I wear a suit for the purpose of work. I intended to wear a suit because work wants me to.)
The word after 'for' is always a noun. The following sentence is incorrect:
I went to the bar for to drink beer. OR I went to the bar for drink beer.
You can also use the preposition 'for' to explain the purpose of objects. For example,
This is the fork for eating salad and this is the fork for eating dessert.
An oven is used for baking the cookies.
 How to use the preposition 'of'
The preposition 'of' can be used for more things – direction or distance, origin, cause, material, identity, connection, inclusion, and relation. Today we are talking about using it for cause and connection. We can see the use of 'of' being used for cause in the follow sentences:
He died of hunger. (The reason or cause of why he died was because of hunger.)
He shivered of fear. (The reason or cause of why he shivered was because of fear.)
We can also use 'of' for connection:
This desk is the property of the school. (This desk is property that is connected to the shool.)
Barack Obama is the president of the United States. (Barack Obama is a president that is connected to the United States.)
of vs for
These prepositions can sometimes both be used in the same sentence, but they have different meanings. For example,
This is the procedure for starting the super computer. (This procedure was created with the purpose of starting the super computer.)
This is the procedure of starting the super computer. (This procedure is connected to starting the super computer.)
The difference is very small, but there is a small difference. The preposition 'of' is more general than the preposition 'for'. Here is another one:
He died for his country. (He died for the purpose of his country. He intended to die to protect his country.)
He died of heart failure. (The reason he died was his heart stopped. In other words it failed.)
You can not say either of the following:
He died of his country OR He died for heart failure.
Do you think you understand? Let's take short 'of' vs 'for' quiz!
1) He helped pass out food ___ the poor on Christmas Eve.
A) for
B) of
2) Britney danced ____ the audience.
A) for
B) of
3) My uncle died ____ overeating.
A) for
B) of
Answers
1) A) – The food is for the purpose of feeding the poor.
2) A) – Britney danced for the purpose of entertaining the audience.
3) B) – My uncle ate too much so he died. It was the cause of his death.
Thanks for stopping by. Can you make sentences with 'of' or 'for'? Try to make some sentences in the comments below. If you have a stumper, please email us at
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