ENGLISH
REFERENCE

important for sb/sth

prep. phr..
A1 Beginner Oxford

prep. phr.. You use 'important for' to say who or what is affected by something. It explains why something matters.

prep. phr.. A prepositional phrase headed by 'for' that functions as a complement to the adjective 'important', specifying the entity or domain to which the importance applies.


SIMPLE

Exercise is important for your health.

CONTEXTUAL

Getting this contract is important for the future of our small company.

COMPLEX

Establishing a clear legal precedent was important for ensuring future generations would not face the same constitutional ambiguities.

Usage

The preposition 'for' links 'important' to the person, group, or thing that is affected or benefits.

Teaching tip

Contrast with 'important to', which often implies subjective value ('he is important to me'), whereas 'important for' implies an objective benefit ('sleep is important for health').

Pitfall

Vitamins are important of our bodies.Vitamins are important for our bodies.Use the preposition 'for' after 'important' to show the person or thing that benefits.

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