'as' and 'for'
Posted: Wed May 25, 2011 2:17 am
"He raised his children alone as his wife died in childbirth."
Can I use the preposition 'for' instead of 'as'?
Thank you.
Can I use the preposition 'for' instead of 'as'?
Thank you.
"He raised his children alone for his wife died in childbirth."
Long answer: although you may indeed use "for" instead of "as" in your example sentence, be aware of the following two points:
1. When "for" has the meaning "because" - as in this case - it is a conjunction, not a preposition.
2. This usage, while perfectly correct, is a little dated, not to say stilted (a study of the former British prime minister John Major's speaking will reveal hundreds of examples).