In the Russian language there are many consonant words, and sometimes a person is not entirely clear where to use which one. Often the question arises - how to write "for what" or "why". This is difficult to understand, since both options exist and are used in speech. But when and in what cases they are used, let's find out.
Why do people get confused
The thing is that, like many other words, "why" and "why" are pronounced exactly the same, while they are spelled differently, but even in meaning they are sometimes very similar. For example, you might ask, "Why did you go to grandma's?" and “Why did you go to your grandmother?”, most likely, no one will notice the difference until you purposely separate the words in the second option with your voice. Both of them are used when asking questions, and when writing, a person often has to think about how to write "for what" or "why"?
Why
The word "why"differs from its "twin" in that it is a completely different part of speech - an adverb. If it is replaced by the word "why" - then this is unambiguous, the adverb "why". Here are some examples:
"Why did you drop out of university, because you could have a bright future?", can be replaced with "Why did you drop out of university, because you could have a bright future?"
For what
Now let's figure out how to spell "for what" and when to use it?
But this option will be written separately, since these are two different words - the preposition "for" and the pronoun "what". The sentences used with these words are the answer to the instrumental question (by whom? by what?).
Examples:
- Alexandra, why did you go to Moscow in September - clothes or shoes?
- Dear guys, why are we going to the forest today - for berries or mushrooms?
Do you feel the difference?
Once again about the difference
To sum up such a difficult topic and once and for all answer the question "for what or why", let's collide these two options head-to-head, use them in the same sentences and see how their meaning changes.
- "Veronica, why did you go to the supermarket?" - in this sentence, the purpose of the visit to the store is clarified, "why" can be replaced with the word "why" and answer something like this: "I went to the supermarket to buy groceries".
- "Veronica, why did you go to the supermarket?" - here it is specifically asked what products or things Veronica went to the store for. We answer like this: "I went for tangerines and grapes."
The sentences sound exactly the same, but the purposes for which the questions are asked are different.
Now, when you are in doubt about how to write "why" or "why", remember these simple examples, and the fog of ignorance will surely dissipate.
