Staarkali
Senior Member
上海，Shanghai
France
- May 12, 2009
- #1
I just found in different places that both can mean participate, so any difference?
Thanks!
Last edited:
ewie
Senior Member
Manchester
English English
- May 12, 2009
- #2
Some context and background would be appreciated, Staarkali. Can you at least tell us where your 'different places' were and what was said there?
Staarkali
Senior Member
上海，Shanghai
France
- May 14, 2009
- #3
Oops! let me correct that now; here are two examples:
I enter for the nicest garden competition every year.
I can't enter a talent show.
I wonder whether enter for is a phrasal verb and whether we can replace one with another. Thanks in advance!
U
Ume
Banned
Japanese
- Jul 9, 2010
- #4
http://www.oxfordadvancedlearnersdictionary.com/dictionary/enter
enter something 1000 children entered the competition.
enter (for something) Only four British players have entered for the championship.
Can I say "entered for the competition" instead of entered the competition?
Can I say "entered the championship" instead of entered for the championship?
panjandrum
Senior Member
Belfast, Ireland
English-Ireland (top end)
- Jul 9, 2010
- #5
I think you enter the event and enter for the prize.
So I would enter the competition, not enter for the competition.
Of course sometimes the event and the prize seem to be called the same.
Is the championship the event or the outcome of the event? It could be either.
Similarly, do you enter the World Cup or do you enter for the World Cup? Either, I think.
(I don't believe I would notice whichever was used 
)
owlman5
Senior Member
Colorado
English-US
- Jul 9, 2010
- #6
Ume said:
http://www.oxfordadvancedlearnersdictionary.com/dictionary/enter
enter something 1000 children entered the competition.
enter (for something) Only four British players have entered for the championship.
Can I say "entered for the competition" instead of entered the competition?
Can I say "entered the championship" instead of entered for the championship?
You could say "entered for the competition" instead of "entered the competition", but it would have a slightly different meaning:
I entered the competition. I actually began competing.
I entered for the competition. I signed up for a chance to compete. I haven't actually started competing with anybody.
U
Ume
Banned
Japanese
- Jul 9, 2010
- #7
Thank you, panjandrum and owlman5.
U
Ume
Banned
Japanese
- Jul 9, 2010
- #8
The word "enter" means "to put your name on the list for an exam, a race, a competition, etc; to do this for somebody [definition 4]."
I'm wondering if this "enter" has the same meaning as "sign up for" in "Students can now sign up for classes."
Doesn't "enter a competition or race" mean "to sign up for a competition or race," not "to take part in a competition or race"?
owlman5
Senior Member
Colorado
English-US
- Jul 10, 2010
- #9
(1) It does mean "sign up for" here. I could enter my son for the raffle. That means I wrote his name on the list they'll use to pick the winners. I could enter a football pool with the same meaning.
(2) With "enter a competition" we have a phrase that usually means "sign up for and take part in a competition." "I entered the marathon last week and came in last." It could also mean just "sign up for". When it does hold that meaning, it's common to use this structure: "I entered my name in the football pool.". But it's also possible to use it intransitively: "I entered last week and expect to win." Generally, if you tell me you entered the competition, I'll understand that you competed unless you tell me otherwise.
U
Ume
Banned
Japanese
- Jul 10, 2010
- #10
Thank you, owlman5.
- enter a competition [Meaning: to sign up for and take part in a competition]
- enter for a competition [Meaning: to sign up for a competition (The person would take part in it.)]
Correct?
owlman5
Senior Member
Colorado
English-US
- Jul 10, 2010
- #11
Ume said:
Thank you, owlman5.
- enter a competition [Meaning: to sign up for and take part in a competition]
- enter for a competition [Meaning: to sign up for a competition (The person would take part in it.)]Correct?
Yes. I say "I entered a race last week". My listener then asks something like "Did you win?" He has assumed that I have already raced. His reaction makes sense.
I entered my son's name in a competition.
I entered myself in a chili competition.
I entered their names for the prize. When you use "enter for", the verb can be either transitive or intransitive: "I enter my daughter for a chance to win a prize." Transitive use.
"I entered for a chance to win a prize." Intransitive use.
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