medications to calm me down

English grammar questions, answered by Alan

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navitasan
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medications to calm me down

Post by navitasan »

Which are correct:

1) They gave me medications to calm down.

2) They gave me medications to calm me down.
3) They gave me medications for calming me down.

4) I brought a knife to jimmy the lock.
5) I brought a knife for jimmying the lock.

Gratefully,
Navi
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Alan
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Re: medications to calm me down

Post by Alan »

Only #1 is unacceptable/absurd, but note that similar-looking pairs in such cases as these do not necessary mean the same. For example, 'to jimmy...' in #4 adverbially specifies the reason for/purpose of your bringing the knife, while in #5 'for jimmying...' is simply an adjectival postmodifier specifying the INTENDED USE of the knife (i.e. essentially specifying a kind of knife).
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