Do these sentences have the same meaning? If they haven't, please explain why. He fell over himself to be as helpful as possible. He fell over himself for being as helpful as possible.

He fell over himself to be as helpful as possible. = He fell over himself in order to be as helpful as possible. He fell over himself for being as helpful as possible. = He fell over himself because he had been as helpful as possible. The second one does not make a lot of sense.

He fell over himself to be/for being

English Language & Usage Asked on January 5, 2022

Do these sentences have the same meaning? If they haven’t, please explain why.

He fell over himself to be as helpful as possible.
He fell over himself for being as helpful as possible.

grammar

One Answer

He fell over himself to be as helpful as possible. = He fell over himself in order to be as helpful as possible.
He fell over himself for being as helpful as possible. = He fell over himself because he had been as helpful as possible.

The second one does not make a lot of sense.

Answered by Greybeard on January 5, 2022

He fell over himself to be/for being

One Answer

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