English usage and grammar

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"To me / For me" regarding personal opinions (self.english)

submitted 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) by Crul to c/[email protected]

11 comments fedilink hide all child comments

Prepositions are hard, and these are the ones that confuse me the most:

It seems (...) [to / for] me
It looks like (...) [to / for] me
It feels (...) [to / for] me
It sounds like (...) [to / for] me
(...) makes more sense [to / for] me

Questions:

Are both valid?
- If both are valid; is there any nuance as to which to use?
- If they aren't: is there a general rule or is it a case-by-case (as it usually is with prepositions)?

Thanks!

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[–] Hawke 5 points 1 year ago (1 children)

I would never use “for me” in any of those phrases.

[–] Crul 2 points 1 year ago (1 children)

And "to me" sounds natural in all of them?

Thanks!

[–] Hawke 3 points 1 year ago (2 children)

Yes. The only case I can think of where I might say “for me” in one of those is talking about an inevitable future event where I have no real choice.

e.g. if I only have beans in my cupboard, I might reasonably say “it looks like beans for me [for supper tonight]”. Or if I am sure I will die soon, “it seems like the end for me.”

[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 year ago

As a native English speaker it always blows my mind when people explain the unwritten rules. I know there's a reason some things sound more "proper" than others but just think "that's the way it is" without understanding the core reasoning. I feel like I had an epiphany after reading this lol

[–] Crul 3 points 1 year ago (1 children)

That makes sense!
So "for me" implies something is forced upon you, and it has nothing to do with what your opinion is about that thing... right?

Thanks!

[–] Hawke 3 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

Yes, exactly!

Although I could express an opinion if I put “for me” first. Like “for me, beans are the worst meal ever”.