Do I say Schools are for learning or Schools are to learn ? I would like to know the grammar of to + infinitive and for + -ing form when I'm talking about purpose . I greatly appreciate your explanation. Thanks. Roger Woodham replies: for or to + infinitive: individual purpose For is commonly used with nouns to express individual purpose : I popped into the supermarket for some apples on the way home. (Not: I popped into the supermarket for buying some apples?) I stopped by at his office for a chat about our marketing strategy. (Not: I stopped by at his office for having a chat about marketing.) I decided I would save up for a new computer . (NOT: I decided I would save up for buying a new computer.) If we want to express individual purpose with a verb pattern , we are obliged to use to + infinitive: I stopped by at the supermarket to buy some apples on the way home. I popped into his office to have a chat about our marketing policy. I decided to save up to buy a new computer . For + verb-ing: the purpose of an object However, if we are talking about the purpose of an object or an action, we normally use the for + verb-ing pattern. Note that this pattern commonly answers the question: What are they (used) for ? Compare the following: Schools are for educating children not for entertaining them . Schools are