What Does “Aim at doing sth” Mean?
“Aim at doing sth” means to intend or plan to achieve something by doing a specific action. It shows a clear goal or purpose.
Introduction
The phrase “aim at doing sth” is commonly used in English to express intention or purpose. When someone aims at doing something, they focus on achieving that goal through specific actions. This phrase is useful for both spoken and written English, especially when explaining plans or objectives. Understanding the aim at doing sth meaning helps learners use it correctly in various contexts, making their communication clearer and more natural. It often appears in formal and informal situations, from business to everyday conversations.
Quick Info Box
- Phrasal verb: Aim at doing something
- Type: Transitive
- Level: B1 (Intermediate)
- Short meaning: To intend or plan to do something
Structure (Grammar Rules)
“Aim at doing sth” is an inseparable phrasal verb. You cannot separate “aim” and “at” with other words.
Pattern:
- Subject + aim + at + verb-ing
- Example: They aim at improving customer service.
Note: The verb after “at” is always in the “-ing” form (gerund).
How to Use Aim at doing sth?
Use “aim at doing sth” when you want to express a clear intention or goal. It emphasizes the purpose behind an action. This phrase is often used in formal writing, plans, or when discussing objectives.
Examples include discussing business goals, personal plans, or educational targets. It works well with positive and negative intentions.
Examples
- Our company aims at reducing waste by 50% this year.
- She aims at learning French before her trip to Paris.
- The new policy aims at improving road safety.
- They aim at creating more job opportunities in the region.
- He aims at finishing the project by next month.
Here is aim at doing sth in a sentence: The team aims at launching the app by December.
Common Mistakes
- Incorrect: They aim to reduce waste by 50%. (While common, “aim to” is less formal; “aim at doing” is preferred in formal contexts.)
- Correct: They aim at reducing waste by 50%.
- Incorrect: She aims at learn French.
- Correct: She aims at learning French.
- Incorrect: We aim at to improve the system.
- Correct: We aim at improving the system.
Differences / Synonyms
Aim at doing sth vs Plan to do sth: “Aim at” focuses on intention or goal, while “plan to” refers more to detailed arrangements.
Aim at doing sth vs Try to do sth: “Aim at” is about the goal; “try to” emphasizes effort.
Aim at doing sth vs Focus on doing sth: Both show attention, but “aim at” is about purpose, “focus on” is about concentration.
Common Collocations
- Aim at improving
- Aim at increasing
- Aim at reducing
- Aim at achieving
- Aim at creating
- Aim at developing
Related Phrasal Verbs
Here are related phrasal verbs of aim at doing sth:
Real-life Dialogue
Anna: What does the new project aim at doing?
Ben: It aims at improving our online customer experience.
Anna: That sounds great! How will you do that?
Ben: We aim at adding more interactive features and faster support.
Practice
Fill in the blanks with the correct form of the verb after “aim at”:
- They aim at _______ (expand) their business internationally.
- Our school aims at _______ (help) students learn better.
- She aims at _______ (improve) her English speaking skills.
FAQs
- Q: Can I use “aim at” with verbs in base form?
A: No, “aim at” must be followed by a verb ending in “-ing.”
- Q: Is “aim at doing sth” formal or informal?
A: It is more formal and often used in written English.
- Q: What is the difference between “aim at doing” and “plan to do”?
“Aim at doing” shows intention or goal, while “plan to do” refers to specific arrangements.
- Q: Can I say “aim to do sth” instead?
Yes, but “aim at doing sth” is preferred in formal contexts.
- Q: Is “aim at” separable?
No, “aim at” is inseparable and must stay together.
