Thread: "На" против "Для"

Well, I don't know if there is a rule of when you should use which word. But, what I do know, that these prepositions have different meanings. Let me explain.

Я строю планы для будущего - This sentence actually conveys that you make plans so that the future can use them and benefit from them, which makes no sense. However, if you say:
Я строю планы для него - it would work okay, because he can be the one who will use the plans and benefit from them.

Я строю планы за будущее - This sentence sounds as if the future was supposed to make those plans, but you make them instead of the future. Let's compose a correct sentence with за:
Я работаю сегодня за Тома - means that you do Tom's work today instead of Tom or, for some reason, Tom couldn't come to work today and you replaced him at his work for today.

Я строю планы на будущее - It looks okay, because, in this case, на implies moving towards something, so that means that your plans are going to go towards the future, when they have reached the future the time to use the plans comes. Another correct example with на for you:

Я иду на пляж - I'm going towards/to the beech.


I hope it helps in any way

на isn't used very often to mean "for" - the only example I can think of is фото на документы and it's just that the logic of the Russian is different, focusing on where the photos go ("on the documents") rather than what their purpose is ("for documents")

за is used for some specific uses of "for" - paying for something (платить за), receiving punishment for something (его посадили за убийство), substituting for someone else (like in iCake's example above), asking "who do you take me for?" (ты меня за кого принимаешь) and so on..

In general I think it makes sense to memorize most of these phrases rather than try to translate words like "for" since this word has so many different uses in English

Ie. "For example" например
"prepare for" готовиться к
"look/search for" искать
"this instrument is used for measuring temperature" - этот инструмент используется для измерения температуры

I also found the following expression: "Когда я с тобой не чувствую себя комфортно на длительное время".
I started to belive that "на" is used when we speak about time periods. In the previous example was: на будущее and now is "на длительное время". Is this true?

Maybe you find the following link useful:
Saying 'for' in Russian

There are also some exercises for the prepositions. But I have to admit some sentences in the exercises do not sound Russian at all, it seems they were composed by a non-native speaker. Although the explanation is good enough.

Originally Posted by Боб Уайтман

Maybe you find the following link useful:
Saying 'for' in Russian

There are also some exercises for the prepositions. But I have to admit some sentences in the exercises do not sound Russian at all, it seems they were composed by a non-native speaker. Although the explanation is good enough.

Well, I think I have to point out what is wrong in the exercises, otherwise the link is not so useful.

Sentence 1 suggests:

Пишите сочинение о мире на пятницу. - No one would ever say "пишите сочинение на пятницу". Everything is odd in this phrase: the imperfective aspect ("напишите" is expected as a task given by a teacher), the imperative mood (if it has to be done in the future, not now, then imperative does not work), and "на пятницу".

A proper sentence would be: "В пятницу вы будете писать сочинение о мире" (You will write it on Friday), but it leaves no place to use "for".

And if you like to keep "for", it can be: "На пятницу нам задали написать сочинение о мире" (We have an assignment for Friday to write a composition).
Or: "Сочинение о мире запланировано на пятницу" ((writing) The composition is planned for Friday).

If a teacher gives an assignment to write a composition, it would sound as
Напишите сочинение о мире к пятнице. ("by Friday", not "for Friday") - so, no place to use "for" again.

Sentence 2.
Won't you work for (instead of) me today?'
The Russian phrase they propose starts with "Ты не работаешь ..."

1. Why "сегодня" is missing in the translated Russian sentence? It is as logical to add it in Russian, as it is in English. Otherwise it is not clear how long one should work for them.

2. The major mistake: it should be "поработаешь" (Future). Even if it is "today", the action has not started yet. It has to be in the Future for the same reason as in the original English phrase (won't = will you not).

BTW, just noticed. "For the same reason" - "по той же причине". The preposition "for" is really overloaded in English!

Sentence 4.
I'll give you my flat for the car.

Nothing is wrong in the Russian translation. Just the original English phrase seems very odd. What is "flat for the car"?

Sentence 5.
A comma is missing before "а".

Sentence 11.
Do you know what the job for tomorrow is?'
The Russian phrase they propose starts with "Ты знаешь, что будет работа ..."

That's not in Russian again.

1. "Ты знаешь, что ..." is used to mean "Do you know that ... (some fact)".
Here, "что" does not work. "What job" - "what" is an attribute of "job". In Russian, it might be "какая работа" (adjective) or "что за работа" (a set expression which is understood as a request to specify a job).

2. If you ask "What job will be tomorrow" there is no place to use "for": Ты знаешь, что за работа (какая работа) будет завтра?
If you want to keep "for", it has to be rephrased somehow: "Do you know what job we have for tomorrow" or "Do you know what job is planned for tomorrow".

My suggestion for this exercise: "Ты знаешь, что за работа у нас ..." or "Ты знаешь, какая работа запланирована ..."

The rest of examples look good.

Originally Posted by Antonio1986

I also found the following expression: "Когда я с тобой, я не чувствую себя комфортно длительное время".

На is not needed here.