YET: ESL WHEN TO USE
Photo by Chronis Yan on Unsplash

WHICH WORD?to or for

  • "to" is direct  

  • "for" is indirect"
    ​
  • "to" and "for" are used with pronouns (him, her, them, you, us) or names  (Maira, John, Bill)
UPDATED:  AUGUST 2020
NOTE:    "to" and "for" are used in many ways, but we only look at one element here.
Direct

EXAMPLES: 
(both structures are correct)
​
verb + noun + to + pronoun
​
  1. He gave the book to me.

  2. I sent an email to him yesterday. 

  3. The money was given to me by my Father.

ELIMINATING "TO"

verb + pronoun + noun
​
  1. He gave me the book.

  2. I sent him an email yesterday.

  3. My Father gave me the money.
Indirect

EXAMPLES:
  1. Bill gave the book to Mary for me because I was in the hospital.​

  2. I sent an email to him for you because you were so busy.
    ​
  3. Would you please give this package to John for me?  I have to catch a plane and I don't have time to give it to him.

DIRECT and INDIRECT

I owed Mary money.
I gave the money to Bob who gave it to Mary for me.