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A. He gives a present to me.
B. He gives a present for me.

I know 'A' is correct. but I wonder 'B' is wrong? particularly in grammar.
In our country(non native english) everybody says 'B' is wrong. so, do you(native speaker) think 'B' is really strange?

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Your second sentence does not sound totally natural, and it does not mean the same thing as the first sentence.

As a native speaker, I understand your second sentence to mean either:

He gives a present [intended] for me [to someone else]

He gives a present [on my behalf] [to someone else]

The phrase "for me" either modifies:

  • "present," to describe the final intended recipient of the present.

  • "gives," to indicate that he gives the present because I cannot (he does this for me)

Consider similar uses of for:

I have two presents: one is for Bob and the other is for Alice. Because you will see Alice on her birthday, I will give the present for Alice to you.

I cannot come to her birthday party. Can you give the present to her for me?

Although I can parse the sentence, your second sentence still seems strange because it doesn't say whom you give the present to, which is a necessary part of the act of giving.

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  • I read it as 'he gives a present (to unspecified) on my behalf.. though I agree it's not a comfortable sentence.
    – DoneWithThis.
    Commented Feb 25, 2015 at 19:21
  • @Tetsujin That's a slightly better way to read it; I've added it.
    – apsillers
    Commented Feb 25, 2015 at 19:30
  • I intended 'for' as 'for my benefit or for my good' if so 'He gives a present to me for my benefit' is this sentence possible?
    – Dasik
    Commented Feb 25, 2015 at 19:42
  • @redkey88 That reading seems less likely than the two I've included in my answer, but might be possible. (Consider: "I didn't do it for you. I did it for me.") However, it still doesn't say who received the present. It only says that he gives a present [to someone], and that act of giving was done for my benefit. ("His job forced him to be far away from me, so, for me, he gave his boss his resignation." -- i.e., he quit his job for my benefit)
    – apsillers
    Commented Feb 25, 2015 at 19:57

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