♪”Prepare dinner” or “prepare for dinner”? – prepare dinner と prepare for dinner の違い

今日は “prepare dinner” と “prepare for dinner” の違いについてお話します。

リスニングレッスン

トランスクリプト

Hi everyone! Thank you for tuning in to Time for English.

Today I’m going to talk about the difference between preparing dinner and preparing for dinner. Are they different? Yes, they are different.

First, to prepare dinner means to cook dinner. You prepare a meal. You prepare breakfast. You prepare lunch. The word “prepare” in these sentences can be replaced by the word “cook” or the word “make”. For example, instead of saying “I’m preparing dinner for the family”, you can say “I’m cooking dinner for my family”.

To prepare for dinner, on the other hand, means to prepare yourself for dinner. When mom tells the kids to prepare for dinner, they’re expected to put their phones down or toys away, wash their hands, and sit at the table. Preparing for dinner could even include changing your clothes or setting the table.

Now. Would you like to try a quiz? You’ll be given three options. Please listen carefully and choose the one that is TRUE. Ready?

To help your mother prepare for dinner;
1. You must be a good cook.
2. You take the cups and plates to the sink.
3. You put the knives and forks on the table.

答えはこちら3

日本語訳

こんにちは。いつもエイゴの時間をご愛顧いただきありがとうございます。

今日は “prepare dinner” と “prepare for dinner” の違いについてお話します。えっ、違うの?と思った方、違います。

まず prepare dinner は cook dinner、つまり「夕ご飯の支度をする、夕ご飯をつくる」という意味です。同様に、朝ご飯をつくる、昼ご飯をつくるはそれぞれ prepare breakfast、prepare lunch です。この prepare は cook もしくは make に言い換えることができます。例えば、「家族のために夕ご飯を作っています」は I’m preparing dinner for the family ですが、cook を使って I’m cooking dinner for the family でも同じです。

一方、prepare for dinner は「夕ご飯に備えて自分の支度をする」という意味です。お母さんが子どもたちに Prepare for dinner! と言ったら、子どもたちは電話を切り、あるいは玩具を片付け、手を洗い、着席しなければなりません。preparing for dinner、夕ご飯の準備にはこのほか、服を着替えたり、テーブルに食器を並べるなども含まれます。