during，for

介詞for引導時間狀語時，很易和during混淆不清。它們的區別如下：

(一)during用在已知的時期、節日或表示時間觀念的名詞之前，其后通常接the、this、that、these、those、my、your、his……等詞。例：

during the last four days(the spring of 1995)

during the winter(war，economic crisis of 1929)

during that time(the course of the play)

during my holidays(summer vacation)

during her absence(interview)

during our stay in Japan(their visit here)

而for則用以表示“有限的”或“無限的”時間概念，通常其后接冠詞、數詞，復數名詞或副詞ever.例如：

for the first time(a time，a while)

for a couple of weeks(days)

for two months(weeks)

for many years(generations)

for years(months)

for ever(ages)

(二)during的涵義是“當……之際”，它既可指某個動作在某個時期里連續不斷地進行，也可以指某個動作在這段時期里的某個時間發生。如：

He was sick for a week and during that week he was placed in an infirmary.

他病了一個星期，在這個星期里，他住在護養院。

It snowed all day but stopped snowing during that night.

下了一整天雪，到晚上才停了。

而for的涵義是指某個動作在某個時期里處于連續不斷的狀態。如：

They worked for the whole day.

他們干了一整天。

在某些場合下，for含有“預先安排”或“為了某一目的”之涵義。表示此意味時，大都和come、go、stay、lend、rent、hire等詞連用。例：

I went to Europe for the holidays.

我到歐洲度假去了。

They will stay with us for the New Year.

他們將和我們在一起，共度新年。

We’re off for our honeymoon.

我們要去度蜜月。

May I borrow your camera for Christmas?

我可否借你的照相機在圣誕節時使用?