Ending a sentence with for is possible, just like beginning a sentence with for is. We can use prepositions like “for” in all kinds of cases, and it will help you to understand how they work. This article will explore the answers for you.
Can You End A Sentence With “For”?
You can end a sentence with “for” when asking who the recipient of something is (i.e., “who is this for?”) or when showing who received something (i.e., “that’s the lady I made this for”). It’s also possible to end a sentence with a “for” clause like “for example.”
Generally, we end a sentence with “for” clauses the same way that we start sentences with them. The language involved is mostly interchangeable, allowing us to do the following:
- For example, you tried too hard to help.
- You tried too hard to help, for example.
Both of the above examples are correct, and most native speakers will use them interchangeably. There are no rules which say one form is better than the other, and it mostly comes down to personal preference.
While these sentences don’t strictly end with “for,” we include the “for” clause (“for example”) as part of the sentence.
What Does “For” Mean At The End Of A Sentence?
“For” has very specific meanings at the end of a sentence, especially when you don’t use it as part of a clause.
For the most part, “for” means “relating to” or “because of” when writing it at the end of a sentence. If it’s part of a clause like “for me,” we might use a different meaning.
However, without the clause, “for” is always relating to someone or something.
- What did you do that for?
- That’s the house I paid good money for!
As you can see, “for” in both of the cases above relates to the object that we’ve already spoken about. It’s a good way of drawing attention back to the object.
Examples Of How To Use “For” At The End Of A Sentence
Let’s go through some examples of how you can use “for” at the end of a sentence. That way, you’ll have an easier time using it yourself.
- I couldn’t figure out what this was for.
- I’d like to be part of something worth fighting for.
- What are you buying this for?
- Who are you doing this for?
- I’ll give you what for!
- That’s the person I built the shop for.
- He’s the man I fell for.
“For” at the end of a sentence works as a preposition to relate back to the previous object. We can use it when we want to show why we might have done something or who we might have done something for.
Can You End A Sentence With “For Me”?
There are a few phrases and clauses that work well with “for” in them. We can also use these clauses at the ends of sentences, making them a really good choice for you to include.
“For me” works when we want to relate the contents of the sentence to ourselves (“me”). We use it at the end to draw attention to ourselves and to allow the other person to understand that we’d like to be involved.
- What would you do for me?
- Would you be happy to work on this for me?
- He built this house for me.
- She used all this money for me.
As you can see, “for me” can work in questions and sentences, depending on what we want to say.
Can You End A Sentence With “For Example”?
“For example” is another great way to include a “for” clause at the end of a sentence. We can use it in exactly the same way as we would if it was at the start of a sentence, which makes it so versatile.
- You shouldn’t have done that for many reasons. You’ll have to answer to our new boss, for example.
- You mustn’t pry in other people’s business for good reason. They’ll hate you for it, for example.
- I could do all of these things for you, like helping you pay rent, for example.
“For example” at the end of a sentence relates to the previous information that we’ve provided. You don’t always need another sentence to relate back to, and you can make an example from the current one because “for example” doesn’t come until the end.
“For example” at the end of a sentence is more versatile than “for example” at the start. “For example” at the start always needs a sentence prior to make sense. “For example,” at the end doesn’t always need a sentence before it, and sometimes a clause will suffice.
Where Should I Place The Comma When Using “For” At The End Of A Sentence?
Placing the comma when using “for” depends on the style in which you’re using it. There are two key things we must look at.
“For” As A Preposition
First, we’ll look at using “for” as a preposition. To explain this, we mean the following usage:
- What are you doing this for?
- He’s the one I made this for.
“For” as a preposition doesn’t need a comma at any point. It’s all part of the same clause, and a comma would needlessly break up the flow of the sentence, which is what we need to avoid.
“For” As A Clause
We may see “for” as part of a clause, which works differently from the preposition form.
- There are many things I can do, for example.
- Would you do this for me?
“For example” is the only time where a comma is needed, and we place it before “for” to make sure the clauses are split up sufficiently. Using “for me” doesn’t require any commas, just like using “for” as a preposition because it doesn’t need to be broken up.
Alternatives To Ending A Sentence With “For”
There aren’t many alternatives to ending a sentence with “for,” but you’ll see that the following have similar meanings:
- Toward
- Because of
- Concerning
- In the name of
You might also like: Can You Start A Sentence With “For”? Learn It Here! (With Examples)
Martin holds a Master’s degree in Finance and International Business. He has six years of experience in professional communication with clients, executives, and colleagues. Furthermore, he has teaching experience from Aarhus University. Martin has been featured as an expert in communication and teaching on Forbes and Shopify. Read more about Martin here.
