Preparing (for) disaster

Posted by Pak Guru on February 20th, 2018 | 0 comments | grammar, IELTS, speaking, vocabulary, writing

Is this a good way for students to prepare their new academic environments?

Compare these:

• I’m preparing dinner.
  (You’re mixing ingredients, boiling, baking, frying, etc.)
• I’m preparing for dinner.
  (You’re washing your hands. You’re going to eat very soon.)

A baby prepares for dinner while
his mother prepares dinner!

• I’m preparing an exam.
  (You’re writing the questions that someone will answer when they sit the exam.)
• I’m preparing for an exam.
  (You’re reading and thinking about questions that might be included in an exam that you are about to take.)

These men prepared a disaster.
They made the first atom bomb!

Some people prepare for disaster.

Returning to our opening example, you probably need:

• Is this a good way for students to prepare for their new academic environments?

If students are preparing their academic environments, they’re already there – possibly they’re busy arranging furniture in their accommodation, putting books on shelves, etc. If they’re preparing for their new environments, they’re not there yet because they’re not yet ready – possibly they need to study more first, pass exams, save money, etc.