an English question
By dufresne
@dufresne (137)
China
May 8, 2009 10:20am CST
In the sentence "Science fiction writers are not in the business of predicting the future. They do something much more important. They try to show the many possible futures that lie open to us.
For there is not simply a future, a time to come that's inevitable. Our future is built, bit by bit, minute by minute, by the actions of human beings."
I'd like to know what role does "for"--between "us" and "there"--play? I've looked it up in many dictionaries but never found a satisfying answer. Thank you!
3 responses
@Q_Savvy (131)
• India
8 May 09
It is a way of speech, previously used in old English. You could also use "because" but since in English no sentence is supposed to start with "Because", most people tend to use "for". This is if they want to link this sentence to the previous one. It can occasionally be used to replace 'because' as well in some cases e.g.
consider just a normal sentence:
"I would not go outside right now, because it is raining"
Now, this can also be written as:
"I would not go outside right now, for it is raining"
I hope that helps!
@LuvBr0wn13s (765)
• United States
8 May 09
Think of 'For' as a substitute for the word 'Because'. It doesn't play any specific role other than a nice flowery segue.
What you typed there sounds like the introduction to one of those Science Fiction: Writers of The Future anthologies. I really love those books, and the statement is true. Those writers simply lay out lots of posibilities for what the future can hold.
Happy myLotting!
@scarlet_woman (23465)
• United States
10 May 09
it's kind of hard to explain-it's almost in an emphasizing role,to draw attention to what follows.almost as if you were saying "now",or even "given".
