SC problem -idioms usage

[pp]

Hi,

The following sentence is from Manhattan SC (4th edition), page156 ('in order to' idiom explanation) and is marked as 'wrong':

She drank coffee for staying awake

Can you please explain why this is wrong?

Thanks

[jlucero]

Most idioms are wrong because they are wrong. Learning how to correctly say a sentence is probably easier than learning the rules.

Wrong: She drank coffee for staying awake
Right: She drank coffee in order to stay awake

[edited out an explanation here; here's a better explanation of the difference b/w the two idioms: http://www.englishclub.com/esl-forums/v ... 99&t=64255]

[mike.s.mccann10]

Hi Joe,

So an object will always follow a preposition?

Object being a word or group of words function as a noun or pronoun.

Thanks,

Mike

[jlucero]

Hi Joe,

So an object will always follow a preposition?

Object being a word or group of words function as a noun or pronoun.

Thanks,

Mike

Mike- I edited my explanation, since it's more of an idiomatic issue than a grammatical one. However, the answer to your question is yes. Prepositional phrases can not include verbs in them, although you can have gerunds, nouns that look like verbs: (prepositional phrases in parentheses)

Wrong: I am running (to the store is red).
Ok: The book (on running) is red.