Saturday, January 18, 2020

word choice - What is the difference between "pleasant for" and "pleasant to"?


A report of some of the sentences I found on Google with "pleasant for" and "pleasant to" follows:


Pleasant for





  • What is pleasant for them is what matches their states

  • Hence too, arguing in court and competitive debating are pleasant for people who have experience and ability



Pleasant to




  • It is not pleasant to those who do not like it

  • It is immediately pleasant to everyone possessing it





Answer



The nuance lies in adjective + to and adjective + for. I'll try to address that. I had answered this here, but this time, I'll be clearer.


Of course, it all depends on the context. Many times, using to or for with those adjectives may go unnoticed because, broadly, to many, it may mean the same and convey the message without any ambiguity.


In such sentences, 'for' connotes the fulfillment of some requirement/need; 'to' is just an indication of direction toward.


Important to, pleasant to, good to.... etc talks about how things 'appear' to you. And using 'for' talks how actually they are.


Compare:



Some people are good to you, but they might not be good for you!




Furthermore,



A fever-pill may not good to you (it tastes yuk!) but then, if you have pyrexia, it's good for you!



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