Try for sth Meaning, Examples & How to Use in English

What Does “Try for sth” Mean?

“Try for sth” means to make an effort to achieve or obtain something. It refers to attempting to get a specific goal or result.

Introduction

The phrase “try for sth” is commonly used in English to express the idea of making an effort to achieve something. The “sth” stands for “something,” which can be any goal, prize, or outcome you want to reach. For example, you might try for a promotion at work or try for a spot on a sports team. Understanding the try for sth meaning helps learners use this phrase correctly in different situations. It’s a useful expression to talk about goals, ambitions, and attempts. This guide will explain how to use “try for sth,” provide examples, and highlight common mistakes to avoid.

Quick Info Box

• Phrasal verb: try for something
• Type: transitive
• Level: B1 (Intermediate)
• Short meaning: to attempt to achieve or get something

Structure (Grammar Rules)

“Try for sth” is a transitive phrasal verb followed by a noun or pronoun. It is inseparable, which means you cannot place the object between “try” and “for.”

Correct pattern: try for + something

Incorrect: try + something + for

Examples:

• She is trying for a scholarship.
• We will try for the championship this year.

How to Use “Try for sth”?

Use “try for sth” when you want to express that someone is making an effort or attempting to get something specific. It often relates to goals, awards, jobs, or achievements. The phrase is useful when discussing ambitions or plans and emphasizes the action of attempting rather than the result.

Examples

Here are some natural sentences using “try for sth in a sentence”:

• He decided to try for a place on the university team.
• They will try for the best sales record this quarter.
• Are you going to try for the job opening next month?
• She tried for the gold medal at the national competition.
• We should try for a better deal before signing the contract.

Common Mistakes

People sometimes confuse “try for sth” with similar phrases or make errors in word order. Here are some common mistakes:

• Incorrect: I will try the exam for.
• Correct: I will try for the exam.
• Incorrect: She tried for to get the job.
• Correct: She tried for the job.

Remember, “try for” must be followed directly by the object without extra words in between.

Differences / Synonyms

Similar phrases include “try to do sth” and “go for sth,” but they have different meanings:

• Try to do sth: Focuses on attempting an action (e.g., try to study).
• Try for sth: Focuses on attempting to get a specific thing or result (e.g., try for a prize).
• Go for sth: Means to attempt or choose to pursue something boldly (e.g., go for the promotion).

Use “try for” when the focus is on making an effort to achieve a concrete goal or object.

Common Collocations

Here are some common objects used with “try for” along with their meanings:

• Try for a job: Attempt to get employment.
• Try for a prize: Attempt to win an award or reward.
• Try for a goal: Attempt to score or achieve a target.
• Try for a scholarship: Attempt to obtain financial support for studies.
• Try for a position: Attempt to earn a role or rank.

Related Phrasal Verbs

Here are related phrasal verbs of try for sth:

• Try Sth On
• Try Sb Out
• Try Sth Out

Real-life Dialogue

Here is a short conversation using “try for sth”:

Anna: Are you going to try for the new manager position?

Ben: Yes, I think I will try for it. It’s a great opportunity.

Anna: Good luck! I know you can get it if you try hard.

Practice

Fill in the blank with the correct form of “try for sth”:

• She decided to _______ a scholarship to study abroad.
• We will _______ the championship this year.
• Are you going to _______ the promotion at work?

(Answers: try for, try for, try for)

FAQs

• What does “try for sth” mean?
  It means to make an effort to achieve or obtain something.
• Can I say “try to sth”?
  No, the correct phrase is “try for sth” when talking about attempting to get something.
• Is “try for” separable?
  No, “try for” is inseparable; the object comes after the phrase.
• What kinds of things can I try for?
  You can try for jobs, prizes, scholarships, goals, and more.
• How is “try for” different from “try to”?
  “Try for” means trying to get something; “try to” means attempting an action.