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What role does FOR play?
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Like previously said, "for" is a preposition. How I personally would explain it is that "for" can be thought of, in this statement, as roughly "because of".
EX:
If it weren't FOR you, I would be late.
(This is like saying: If it weren't because of you, I would be late.)
"Because of" isn't really grammatically correct, so we use "for". Your sentence means that "because of" someone helping you, you were on-time - instead of being late. If so, a better way of putting it would be: If it weren't for you, I would have been late. **If you meant that you would NOT have been late, then I'd agree with Jura: If it weren't for you, I would NOT be late.**
You're second sentence: If it weren't you, I would be late.
This is correct as well, but means something completely different.
This sentence means that 'because' it's "you" (ie, someone you know, a friend), the person would be lenient of tardiness. Therefore, although "I" was late, it would be considered that "I" was on-time. Had it been someone else entirely, "I" would have been classed as late.
Thus "for" is used to differentiate the two meanings. :)
Hope this helps!!! Good luck! :)
EX:
If it weren't FOR you, I would be late.
(This is like saying: If it weren't because of you, I would be late.)
"Because of" isn't really grammatically correct, so we use "for". Your sentence means that "because of" someone helping you, you were on-time - instead of being late. If so, a better way of putting it would be: If it weren't for you, I would have been late. **If you meant that you would NOT have been late, then I'd agree with Jura: If it weren't for you, I would NOT be late.**
You're second sentence: If it weren't you, I would be late.
This is correct as well, but means something completely different.
This sentence means that 'because' it's "you" (ie, someone you know, a friend), the person would be lenient of tardiness. Therefore, although "I" was late, it would be considered that "I" was on-time. Had it been someone else entirely, "I" would have been classed as late.
Thus "for" is used to differentiate the two meanings. :)
Hope this helps!!! Good luck! :)
"for" can commonly be translated as giving a reason. In the example above, you state that "you" is the cause of being late so it is the reason.
It means many other things, but can be summarized as a reason.
It means many other things, but can be summarized as a reason.
FOR is a preposition and used in support of/against or in favor of (a person or policy).
Are you sure it's not : "If it weren't FOR you, I would NOT be late". [ meaning, it's your fault that I am late]
More examples:
I bought a present FOR my wife.
I stopped FOR a coffee
Here, I was saving it FOR you.
What did you say that FOR?
Are you sure it's not : "If it weren't FOR you, I would NOT be late". [ meaning, it's your fault that I am late]
More examples:
I bought a present FOR my wife.
I stopped FOR a coffee
Here, I was saving it FOR you.
What did you say that FOR?
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