Keyword: provide
Grammatical Overview
Provide is a high-frequency transitive verb primarily used to express supplying, granting, or making something available to someone. It relies on strict prepositional frames (provide someone with something vs. provide something for/to someone).
🗺️ Pattern Map (Colligation & Grammar)
Pattern 1: provide + recipient + with + thing
- Structure:
Subject + provide + [Person/Group] + with + [Noun Phrase] - Meaning: Furnish or equip a person/entity with essential resources or facilities.
- Examples:
- The university will provide all incoming students with medical insurance.
- Our goal is to provide the committee with updated financial reports.
Pattern 2: provide + thing + for / to + recipient
- Structure:
Subject + provide + [Thing] + for/to + [Person/Group] - Meaning: Make resources available for a specific beneficiary.
- Examples:
- The shelter provides food and safety for those in need.
- The government provided funding to local schools.
🧩 Key Lexical Chunks (Collocations & Idioms)
Spoken & Written Formulaic Units
- provide for (someone): To support someone financially (e.g., provide for one's family).
- provided that...: Conjunction meaning "only if" or "on the condition that".
🎴 Interactive Web Practice (10 Questions)
Practice 1: The school provides students ______ free textbooks.
Answer:
with
Practice 2: They provided hot meals ______ the flood victims.
Answer:
for (or to)
Practice 3: You may take the exam online, provided ______ you keep your camera on.
Answer:
that
Practice 4: It is difficult for a single income to provide ______ a family of five.
Answer:
for
Practice 5: The company's main priority is to provide high-quality services ______ its clients.
Answer:
to (or for)
🔗 Related Patterns & Chunks
- 🗺️ Pattern: verb-with — Transitive prepositional complements (provide X with Y)
- 🗺️ Pattern: verb-for — Benefactive prepositional complements (provide X for Y)
- 🧩 Chunk: phrasal-verb-provide-for — Financial support formulaic unit