5.2.1.1.1.1: The Homonyms- For, Four, and Fore

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Don Bissonnette
South Seattle Community College

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The Homonyms: For, Four, and Fore

1. For is a preposition which expresses a reason or a time. For example: I went to the market for some eggs. I was at the library for three hours. He bought a present for his girlfriend. He went on vacation for three weeks.

For is also a coordinating conjunction, also expressing a reason for doing something. When for is used as a conjunction, it is always preceded by a comma. For example: I went to the market, for I needed to buy some eggs. I was in the library, for I needed to study for an exam on Monday. He bought a present for his girlfriend , for it was his girlfriend’s birthday. He didn’t go to work for three weeks, for he was on vacation.

2. Four is a number. For example, I have four hammers. The boy is four years old. I was gone on vacation for four days. He borrowed four dollars from me.

3. Fore means something in front or most important. It is used as a prefix in front of another word. For example: A person’s forehead is above his eyes. The forecast is for rain all day long. She is the foremost cancer researcher in America.

For, Four, and Fore Exercise

Exercise 10: Fill in the blanks with the correct word, please.

1. I spent ------------ months working, ------------ I needed extra money.

2. ------------ ------------ years she worked every weekend ------------ the same company.

3. ------------ many years, Microsoft was in the ------------ front of computer technology.

4. This is sentence number ----------.

5. The housewife went to the bookstore ------------ ------------ books ------------ her son.

6. ------------ a long time, I have worked ------------ this college.

7. ------------ many years America was considered the ------------most country in the world economically.

8. The fortune teller ------------told the man’s future.

9. The woman was very worried, ------------ her mother had to have a serious operation.

10. We waited ------------the line to get shorter before we went ------------ some ice cream.

11. The old woman fell down ------------ the fourth time today.