Job Discussion Forums

JPrufrock · Joined: 27 Mar 2007 Posts: 22

I was asked, when one should use "for me," or "to me" at the end of a sentence. The example we were discussing was the statement, "This is too spicy." Or, "This is too spicy, TO me." And, "This is too spicy, FOR me." I suggested that "to me" recognized that it was only in the speaker's opinion. While "for me" would refer to their actual tolerance level/health, and that the statement wasn't open for debate.
But in thinking of other examples, I realized that it depends more on inflection and how the sentence is said that creates a sense of opinion or declaration.
Does anyone have any ideas for the use of "to me" and "for me" at the end of opinionative or declarative sentences? Is there a grammatical rule?

JimDunlop2 · Joined: 31 Jan 2003 Posts: 2286 Location: Japan

I've never heard "This is too spicy to me" before, and if I did, I'd probably tell a student that's incorrect.

Shimmeringstar · Joined: 18 Mar 2007 Posts: 34 Location: Kagoshima, Japan

I'm not sure if there is an actual rule about these things or not. However, I believe both sentences are correct.

"This is too spicy to me," means the same as, "This is too spicy, in my opinion."

"This is too spicy for me," means it is to spicy for ME to eat, but may not be too spicy for you or someone else.

So, the sentences have different meanings, but both can be correctly used.

jademonkey · Joined: 30 Mar 2007 Posts: 180

"Articles are a fun and exciting way to confuse the hell out of yourself when studying English."

Seriously, most native speakers make these kind of mistakes now and again.

JPrufrock · Joined: 27 Mar 2007 Posts: 22

Not sure if this applies to most Western English speakers. I come form the US. Maybe limeys don't have this in their lexicon. But here goes an example:

A: "This dish is really mild."

B: "It tastes spicy to me."

You've never heard this usage? And realated usage? Reallly?
Sounds like a pile of horse manure to me.

madeira · Joined: 13 Jun 2004 Posts: 182 Location: Oppama

There is something strange-sounding there... I've checked Swan, and it didn't help much. It just says " a for-structure is often used after too and enough". So, this could be a matter of common patterns and not grammar rules.

elliot_spencer · Joined: 26 Feb 2007 Posts: 495

I've never used or heard spicy to me - IN British English anyway, but, I would always use for me.

I don't think there is a grammatical rule when using for and to me unless it's a specific sentance like ;

Will you call John for me and/or Will you address the letter to me.

I think it's just one of those things that needs to be learnt as set phrases just like conjuctions!

elliot_spencer · Joined: 26 Feb 2007 Posts: 495

One more thing, after thinking - I suppose that you could say that in your opinion something is too spicy - but then you'd say

To me, this is too spicy as opposed to - This is to spicy to me.
This shows that the speaker has/is trying it and has found it too spicy.

Whereas This is too spicy for me - shows that the speaker has tried it before and is saying that it's far too spicy and therefore won't be having any!

jademonkey · Joined: 30 Mar 2007 Posts: 180

This is too spicy to me. = an assertation that the dish is generally too spicy.

This is too spicy for me. = a more personal assertation that the dish is too spicy for the person tasting it.

But really, that's being quite pedantic.

Gordon · Joined: 28 Jan 2003 Posts: 5309 Location: Japan

This topic is too boring to me. This topic is too boring for me.
Both seem correct.

markle · Joined: 17 Jan 2003 Posts: 1316 Location: Out of Japan

Come on people, we are thinking a bit too hard about this.

"This is too spicy to me" is just plain wrong and no native speaker would say it sober.

"This seems, tastes, looks, etc (too) spicy to me" is correct since you need the verb with 'to'.

An adjective, comparative or superlative needs 'for'

JPrufrock · Joined: 27 Mar 2007 Posts: 22

Ugh.
Yeah. My original example was incorrect. Thanks for the help markle. And thanks for noting my mistakes and overthinking.

[quote] Come on people, we are thinking a bit too hard about this.

"This is too spicy to me" is just plain wrong and no native speaker would say it sober.

"This seems, tastes, looks, etc (too) spicy to me" is correct since you need the verb with 'to'.

An adjective, comparative or superlative needs 'for' [quote]

But if I said, "This sounds very incorrect to me." I wouldn't say, "This sounds very incorrect for me." Or, "This sounds like it wouldn't always be true, to me." ??????????
Anyway, thanks for any eanest attempt at help, sans criticism or the oh so common Dave's snobbery. This forum smells like old people.

Clerk · Joined: 13 Apr 2007 Posts: 17

JPrufrock · Joined: 27 Mar 2007 Posts: 22

Thanks clerk!

markle · Joined: 17 Jan 2003 Posts: 1316 Location: Out of Japan