Usage Question to verb "buy"?

Question

Could anyone help me, especially English native speakers, "Is there any possible usage to use "buy" something "to" someone?
If yes, and what is the difference between two sentences below?Thank you!!

Would you buy a book for me?
Would you buy a book to me?

Thanks for everyone's answer. By the way, how could we be of disambiguity if FOR means "because of" and "on behalf of?"

That is,
Would you buy a book for me?
may be identified as:

(1) Would you buy a book because of me?
(2) Would you buy a book on behalf of me?

in different contexts? Thank you!!

Answer 1

Well, I can't think of any usage when you would say "buy to".

When you ask someone to buy a book "on your behalf" you are asking them to buy a book to give to you or else you will give them the money for it and they are just doing the buying in your place.

"To" is a directional preposition. I can give a book to you.
The book is moving from my possession into yours is the idea here.

If you think of 'for' as - on behalf of

and 'to' as - directional


it might help you from becoming confused about usage.

This aspect of English, while it seems easy, is very nuanced, and one of the most difficult things to get a feel for in everyday usage.

I'm glad you are working so hard at understanding our language. Your question is a very good and important one.

Answer 2

You cannot buy a book to someone.
The first sentence is correct.

You can go somewhere to buy something, though.
For example: I am going to the store to buy coffee.

Answer 3

'Sell' is the opposite to 'buy, so Yes, 'I would buy book for you'. However, 'I would not sell a book to you'. If having got you the book and you asked me I would say 'Yes, I bought you the book'. If you saw me when I was actually getting you the book and asked, I would say 'I am buying the book for you'.

I hope this makes sense to you.................

Answer 4

I can't think of any situation that would call for "buy . . . to". You can buy a book for someone, buy a book about someone, buy a book from someone, buy a book by someone.

You could buy a book to give to someone, but that involves an extra verb phrase.

Answer 5

You can buy a book to help someone.

Answer 6

Would you buy a book for me?
Would you give a book to me?
These are correct usages of the prepositions "for" and "to".

Answer 7

You could buy a book for me. But you couldn't buy a book to me. To is directional. For instance, I am going to School. It cannot be for instance, I am going for school. Like, "I would forget my past for my love" implies that the past is forgotton because of his love.
However to say that "I would forget my past to my love" would mean that the past is forgotton at his love or maybe not. It seems to be almost the same meaning. But I am studying spanish so I can't say.

Answer 8

No, dont say that..... If you wanna sound like a native, say "I frequently go to school...." In your case "This is a special job-training facility which is FREQUENTLY" visited by disabled people. Although, what you said does make sense, it is NEVER USED.

Answer 9

Would you buy a book for me? is a proper question.

to me? is wrong.

But you can say: "would you send this book to me"?

FOR means someone else doing something that I would do myself

TO means someone doing something at me or toward me.

They are too entirely separate things.
I hope I answered your question.

Answer 10

first sentence is correct and how about "to buy a book i would have to go far"