Grammar - for vs so?

Question

I would like to stop at the store for we can pick up some needed items.
I would like to stop at the store so we can pick up some needed items.
My friend keeps saying "for" instead of so! Otherwise, he has great grammar. I cannot understand why or how this keeps happening. It drives him crazy also! Suggestions are welcome?

Answer 1

I think it depends where you friend learned to speak. People in different areas of the US use different words that others find inappropriate. Personally, I can never understand why people say "I am waiting ON him" unless the speaker is a waiter or waitress. The correct statement is "I am waiting FOR him." If you want to break him of that habit, tease him about it every time he does it. He'll drop the habit soon enough.

Answer 2

Is your friend from the South by any chance? To me that sounds like something he probably picked up from an older relative, as in that's the way he's always heard it said. Kind of like people saying "You have retched so and so" instead of "You have reached so and so".

Basically, what I'm saying is that it seems to be more of a bad habit than bad grammar.

Answer 3

I think it is just wrong grammar that has become a habit. maybe he used it as a child and never learned to change it. also, he probably doesn't care to change it.

some people pronounce the t in often, some say for why instead of what for, and don't forget the I ain't got no. one my sister said religiously.

ps. my American born Italian girlfriend always said for instead of so, I brought it to her attention once and she just laughed. she said she didn't know why she said it that she never thought it was wrong.

so unless you think it is detrimental that he change his speaking habits, why not just leave it alone as one of his many interesting characteristics.

Answer 4

is he philippino or latin? i notice this with a friend of mine, i think it's a grammar re-arrangement picked up from speaking 2 languages and they muddle sometimes.
like the french say the pen of my aunt.rather than my aunts pen.
i have a girlfriend who always says "pacifically" for specifically
after 20 years i just accept she is,nt going to change. i wince every time, but i no longer correct her.

Answer 5

I really don't know, but the way you speak will determine the way people look at you and also you intelligence level.Even if it doesn't have anything to do with it.

If that is a concern to you.
Personally I think it is very important,(even though I still make mistakes, I try my best)

Answer 6

Here's one rule of thumb: every time you want to use the word it's or its, ask yourself, can you substitute "IT IS" or "IT HAS" for the word? If so, use the apostrophe, which means that something was left out. Let the IT'S with apostrophe be your DEFAULT form. If you can't substitute "IT IS" or "IT HAS", then the apostrophe doesn't belong there. Examples: "IT'S a beautiful day." Can you say "IT IS" or "IT HAS" a beautiful day? Yes. IT IS a beautiful day. Then the apostrophe stays. "IT'S been a great party." Can you say "IT IS" or "IT HAS" been a great party? Yes. IT HAS been a great party. Then the apostrophe stays. "The dog pulled on IT'S leash." Can you say the dog pulled on "IT IS" leash or the dog pulled on "IT HAS" leash? NO! Then take that apostrophe out! THE DOG PULLED ON ITS LEASH. "Grammar has IT'S good points." Can you say grammar has "IT IS" good points or grammar has "IT HAS" good points? NO! Then take that apostrophe out! GRAMMAR HAS ITS GOOD POINTS. Another rule of thumb: ITS (possessive) belongs to the pronoun family of HIS and HER and YOUR and OUR. None of those words have any apostrophes, and ITS is the same way. Examples: It has ITS own charm. He has HIS own charm. She has HER own charm. etc.

Answer 7

If he wants to change it he needs to pay close attention to what he says and if he does say it he needs to acknowledge it out loud, say excuse me I meant 'so' not 'for'.. it will become habit after a bit.

I had to force myself to stop the 'ya know' habit a few years ago.

Answer 8

I would just scream silently whenever he said it. That would drive me crazy also.

Answer 9

Fight fire with fire...use it religiously yourself....

examples:
For, are you hungry?
That' just not for.
There are for many ways to make a living.


Maybe it will work and maybe not...depends on how stubborn your friend is...LOL

Answer 10

for some items
so we can pick up some items