account for 解释，说明；是……的原因；弄清……的下落；占（一定数量或比例）
How can you account for the accident? 你如何解释这个事故？
I want you to account for every cent you spent. 我要你说明你所花的每一分钱的用途。
Recent pressure at work may account for his behavior. 他的行为也许是最近的工作压力导致的。
One small child was still not accounted for. 还有一个小孩下落不明。
Afro-Americans account for 12% of the US population. 非洲裔美国人占美国人口的12%。

act for 代理
Please act for me during my absence. 我不在时请代理我处理事务。
I acted for our captain while he was in hospital. 我们队长住院时由我代理他。

allow for 考虑到，把……考虑进来；体谅
We should allow for every possible delay. 我们应该考虑到任何可能的延误。
We must allow for his youth. 我们必须体谅他的年轻。
answer for 对……负责，对……承担责任；保证；代表
I will answer for it (him). 我愿对它（他）负责。

apologize for 为……而道歉
He apologized for not being able to meet her. 他因为未能去接她而向她道歉。
I must apologize for the delay in replying to your letter. 未能及时给你回信，我得向你道歉。

apply for申请（请求）得到
He applied for a job as an English teacher. 他申请得到一份当英语教师的工作。
They applied to the government for financial help. 他们向政府申请经济援助。

blame … for 埋怨，责怪
Movies have been blamed for the crime wave. 电影已被指责要对犯罪率上升负责。
The conductor is blamed for the accident. 售票员因那次事故而受到指责。

call for 大声呼叫；去接（某人）
The baby is calling for his mother. 婴孩叫着要母亲。
I'll call for you at six o'clock. 6点时我将去接你。

care for 关心；想要
He always cares for my health. 他一直关心我的健康。
Would you care for some tea? 想喝点茶吗？

change…for 将……更换为
I'd like to change this dress for another. 我想换另一件相同款式的衣服。
The boy changed soiled clothes for clean ones. 这个男孩脱下脏衣服换上干净衣服。

exchange…for 以……交换，兑换
I've just bought this tie, but can I exchange it for that one? 我刚买了这条领带，可不可以换那条呢？
Can I exchange pounds for dollars here? 我可以在这里把英镑兑换成美元吗？

excuse … for 因为……而原谅（宽恕）
She excused him for being late. 她原谅他迟到。
Excuse me for bothering you. 请原谅我打扰你。

hope for 希望（有），期待（得到），希望（发生）
She is hoping for her son's early marriage. 她希望她的儿子能早日结婚。
There is every reason to hope for success. 有充分的理由期待成功的到来。

leave (…) for 离开（……）去，动身去
He left for New York yesterday. 他昨天去了纽约。
We are leaving London for Paris on Friday. 星期五我们将离开伦敦前往巴黎。

listen for 留神听，倾听
She listened for his step. 她在注意听有没有他的脚步声。
The children listened for the clock to announce the New Year. 孩子们等着听新年的钟声。

long for 渴望，极想
The children are longing for the holidays. 孩子们盼望着放假。
She longed for him to ask her to dance. 她巴不得他邀请自己跳舞。

look for 寻找；期待
They were looking for the missing child. 他们正在寻找那失踪的小孩。
We are looking for George to arrive any day now. 我们在期待着乔治，他说不定哪天就到。

make for 走向；袭击；有助于，有益于
It's late. We'd better make for home. 时间不早了，我们最好赶快回家吧。
The dog is making for the thief. 狗正向窃贼扑过去。
Early rising makes for good health. 早起有益于健康。

mistake … for 误认为……是
She is often mistaken for a famous singer. 她常常被误认为是个名歌手。
I'm sorry. I mistook you for a friend of mine. 对不起，我把你误当作我的一位朋友。

pay for 为……付钱；为……付出代价
Did you pay for the book? 那本书的书款你付过了吗？
You'll have to pay for your selfishness some day. 有一天你一定会为你的自私付出代价。

prepare (…) for 为……作准备；使……在心理上对……有准备
The students are preparing for the final examination. 学生们在为期末考试作准备。
He had prepared himself for bad news. 他对坏消息已有心理准备。

provide (…) for 为……提供；抚养；对……有准备
He died without providing for his widow. 他死了，没有为他的遗孀留下任何东西维持生活。
The children are well provided for. 孩子们受到妥善照顾。

send for 派人去请
Have you sent for the doctor? 你派人去请医生了吗？
We must send for him to repair the machine. 我们必须派人去请他来修理机器。

stand for 代表；容忍
What does this letter stand for? 这个字母代表什么？
I won't stand for being treated like a child. 我不能容忍把我当小孩看待。

take … for 把……当作是，误认为……是
He took her smile for agreement. 他把她的微笑视为同意。
I took him for Mr Smith. 我错把他当作是史密斯先生。

thank … for 因……感谢
Thank you for your help. 谢谢你的帮助。
He thanked her for her advice. 他感谢她给他提建议。

wait for 等候，等待
We waited for the bus for half an hour but it didn't come. 我们等公共汽车等了半小时，但是车一直没有来。

wish for 希望得到，祈求
He wishes for a computer. 他希望有台电脑。
She closed her eyes and wished for her mother to get better. 她闭上眼睛，祈求母亲健康好转。