What Does “Devote sth to doing sth” Mean?
The phrase “devote something to doing something” means to give your time, effort, or resources to a specific activity or purpose. It shows commitment and focus on that task.
Introduction
The expression “devote sth to doing sth” is commonly used in English to describe how someone dedicates a particular resource—often time, energy, or money—to a specific activity. Understanding devote sth to doing sth meaning can help learners express commitment and focus clearly in both spoken and written English. For example, you might say, “She devotes her weekends to volunteering,” which means she spends her weekends helping others. This structure is useful in many contexts, from personal goals to professional tasks, making it a versatile phrase for learners at all levels.
Quick Info Box
- Phrasal verb: devote something to doing something
- Type: Transitive (requires an object)
- Level: B2 (Upper-Intermediate)
- Short meaning: To give time, effort, or resources for a specific purpose
Structure (Grammar Rules)
“Devote” is a transitive verb and is always followed by an object (something you devote). After that, it uses the preposition “to” plus a gerund (verb + -ing) to show the activity.
Pattern:
devote + something + to + doing something
Examples:
- She devotes her time to studying.
- They devote money to building schools.
The phrase is inseparable; you cannot separate “devote” from “to doing.”
How to Use “Devote sth to doing sth”?
Use this phrase when you want to express that someone is dedicating a resource (like time, effort, or money) toward a specific activity or goal. It emphasizes commitment and focus. It is often used in formal and informal contexts, such as talking about work, hobbies, or charitable activities.
Remember, the object after “devote” can be a noun or pronoun (e.g., time, effort, money, herself) and must be followed by “to” plus a gerund verb form.
Examples
- He devotes two hours every day to practicing the piano.
- They devote a lot of resources to improving customer service.
- She devotes herself to helping others in the community.
- Our company devotes funds to environmental projects.
- John devotes his weekends to hiking and photography.
Common Mistakes
- Incorrect: She devotes her time for learning English.
Correct: She devotes her time to learning English. - Incorrect: They devote money in building a new school.
Correct: They devote money to building a new school. - Incorrect: I devote myself on improving my skills.
Correct: I devote myself to improving my skills.
Differences / Synonyms
Similar expressions include dedicate sth to doing sth and commit sth to doing sth. While all show focus or effort, there are subtle differences:
- Devote implies giving time, energy, or resources with a sense of loyalty or passion.
- Dedicate is often used with more formal or emotional commitment.
- Commit suggests a firm decision or promise to do something.
Example: She devotes her evenings to painting (focus on effort). She dedicates her life to charity work (emotional commitment). He commits his salary to paying off debts (firm promise).
Common Collocations
- Devote time to doing something
- Devote energy to doing something
- Devote money/funds/resources to doing something
- Devote oneself to doing something
- Devote effort to doing something
Related Phrasal Verbs
Here are related phrasal verbs of devote sth to doing sth:
Real-life Dialogue
Anna: How do you manage to learn so many new skills?
Ben: I devote at least an hour every day to practicing and studying.
Anna: That’s impressive! Do you devote any time to hobbies?
Ben: Yes, I devote my weekends to painting and hiking.
Practice
Fill in the blanks with the correct form of the phrase “devote sth to doing sth”:
- She __________ (devote / her time / learn / French) every day.
- Our team __________ (devote / resources / develop / new software).
- He __________ (devote / himself / improve / his health) seriously.
FAQs
- Q: Can “devote” be used without “to doing something”?
A: No, “devote” is usually followed by an object and then “to” plus a gerund. - Q: Is “devote sth to do sth” correct?
A: No, always use the gerund form: “devote sth to doing sth.” - Q: Can “devote” be used with people?
A: Yes, you can say “devote oneself to doing something.” - Q: What types of things can be devoted?
A: Time, effort, money, energy, and oneself are common objects. - Q: Is “devote” formal or informal?
A: It is neutral and can be used in both formal and informal contexts.
