What Does “Cater to sb” Mean?
“Cater to sb” means to provide what someone wants or needs, often to please them or meet their specific demands.
Introduction
The phrase “cater to sb” is a common English phrasal verb used when someone or something provides services, products, or attention to satisfy another person’s preferences or needs. The “sb” stands for “somebody,” meaning the person who is being served or pleased. Understanding the “cater to sb” meaning helps learners express situations where one party adjusts or customizes their offerings to suit others. This phrase is widely used in everyday English, business, and customer service contexts. Knowing how to use “cater to sb” correctly can improve your communication skills by helping you describe actions related to meeting someone’s desires or requirements clearly and naturally.
Quick Info Box
- Phrasal verb: cater to somebody
- Type: transitive
- Level: B2 (Upper-Intermediate)
- Short meaning: to provide what someone wants or needs
Structure (Grammar Rules)
“Cater to sb” is a transitive phrasal verb and is inseparable. This means you cannot put an object between “cater” and “to.”
Correct pattern: cater to + somebody
Incorrect: cater somebody to
Example: They cater to tourists. (Correct)
How to Use “Cater to sb”?
Use “cater to sb” when you want to say that someone provides products, services, or attention to meet another person’s specific needs or desires. It often implies making special efforts to please or satisfy.
It is commonly used in contexts like businesses serving customers, hosts accommodating guests, or even in social situations where someone adjusts their behavior to suit another.
Examples
- The restaurant caters to vegan customers by offering a wide variety of plant-based dishes.
- Our company caters to clients who want personalized software solutions.
- She always caters to her guests’ dietary restrictions when they visit.
- Many online stores cater to teenagers with trendy clothing.
- The hotel caters to business travelers by providing free Wi-Fi and meeting rooms.
Cater to sb in a sentence: The bakery caters to people with gluten allergies.
Common Mistakes
- Incorrect: The shop caters customers with special needs.
Correct: The shop caters to customers with special needs. - Incorrect: She caters her friends to their wishes.
Correct: She caters to her friends’ wishes.
Differences / Synonyms
Similar phrases include “serve,” “provide for,” and “accommodate.”
- Cater to sb focuses on meeting specific needs or desires, often with a sense of customization or special attention.
- Serve sb is more general and means to provide food, service, or help.
- Provide for sb usually refers to supplying basic needs like food, shelter, or money.
- Accommodate sb means to make adjustments or give what someone needs, often in terms of space or time.
Example: A hotel may cater to families by offering kids’ activities, while it serves all guests food and drinks.
Common Collocations
- cater to customers
- cater to clients
- cater to guests
- cater to tourists
- cater to needs
- cater to demands
Related Phrasal Verbs
Here are related phrasal verbs of cater to sb:
Real-life Dialogue
Anna: Does this cafe cater to lactose-intolerant customers?
Ben: Yes, they cater to people with dietary restrictions. They have many dairy-free options.
Anna: That’s great! I’ll definitely try it.
Practice
Fill in the blank with the correct phrase:
The hotel __________ business travelers by offering free shuttle services to the airport.
- a) caters to
- b) caters for
- c) caters with
- d) caters
Answer: a) caters to
FAQs
- What does “cater to sb” mean?
It means to provide what someone wants or needs, often to please them. - Is “cater to” separable?
No, “cater to” is inseparable; you cannot put the object between “cater” and “to.” - Can “cater to sb” be used in formal writing?
Yes, it is suitable for both formal and informal contexts. - What is a common mistake with “cater to sb”?
People often forget to include “to” and say “cater sb,” which is incorrect. - What are some synonyms for “cater to sb”?
Synonyms include “serve,” “accommodate,” and “provide for,” but “cater to” implies special attention.
