Wait 意為「等，等候」，可當及物和不及物動詞用，若受詞為時間，其後可接或不接介系詞 for。例如：
- They waited hours to get the tickets for the exhibition. (他們等了好幾個小時才買到展覽會入場券) (正)
They waited for hours to get the tickets for the exhibition. (正) - I waited 30 minutes for the bus. (我等了三十分鐘公車) (正)
I waited for 30 minutes for the bus. (正)
然而，當受詞為人事物時，wait 的後面須有 for。例如：
- We’re waiting for the bus. (我們在等公車) (正)
We’re waiting the bus. (誤) - Wait for me! (等我啊！) (正)
Wait me! (誤) - Wait for us outside the library. We’ll be there at eight o’clock. (在圖書館外面等我們。我們八點會到那裡) (正)
Wait us outside the library. We’ll be there at eight o’clock. (誤) - The airport was full of anxious relatives, waiting nervously for news of the missing plane. (機場擠滿了焦急的家屬，他們緊張不安地等候失蹤飛機的消息) (正)
The airport was full of anxious relatives, waiting news of the missing plane nervously. (誤)
Wait 的後面亦可接不定詞，即 wait to do something，但 wait 後面若要接受詞，其後須有 for，其句型為 wait for someone/something to do something。例如：
- Amy is waiting to tell you a secret. (艾美正等著告訴你一個秘密) (正)
- He’s waiting to use the computer. (他正等著用這台電腦) (正)
- I can’t wait to (= I’m very eager to) tell my wife the good news! (我等不及/急著要告訴我太太這好消息！) (正)
- I’ve been waiting for Allen to change his mind for several months. (我等艾倫改變心意已等了好幾個月) (正)
I’ve been waiting Allen to change his mind for several months. (誤)
然而，若 wait 後面接 chance、opportunity 或 turn 等名詞，則 for 可有可無。 例如：
- Louis was just waiting his chance/opportunity to sneak away. (路易斯正伺機溜走) (正)
Louis was just waiting for his chance/opportunity to sneak away. (正) - You’ll just have to wait your turn like everyone else. (你必須跟別人一樣等候輪到你) (正)
You’ll just have to wait for your turn like everyone else. (正)