What Does “Furnish sth with sth” Mean?
“Furnish sth with sth” means to provide or supply something with necessary items, especially furniture or equipment.
Introduction
The phrase “furnish sth with sth” is commonly used when talking about equipping a place or object with items it needs. For example, you might furnish a room with chairs and tables or furnish an office with computers and desks. Understanding the “furnish sth with sth” meaning helps you describe how something is supplied or decorated. This phrasal verb is useful in both everyday conversation and formal writing when discussing preparation or provision of objects.
Quick Info Box
- Phrasal verb: furnish something with something
- Type: Transitive
- Level: B2
- Short meaning: To supply or equip something with necessary items
Structure (Grammar Rules)
“Furnish sth with sth” is a separable phrasal verb. The object (something) comes immediately after “furnish,” followed by “with” and the items supplied.
- Pattern: furnish + something + with + something
- Example: They furnished the apartment with new furniture.
You cannot separate “with” from “furnish” because “with” is a preposition here.
How to Use “Furnish sth with sth”?
Use “furnish sth with sth” when you want to say that a place or object is supplied with necessary or decorative items. It is often used with places like rooms, houses, offices, or vehicles. You can mention the item being supplied after “with.”
Example: The hotel room was furnished with modern appliances.
Examples
When you talk about preparing a space, “furnish sth with sth” is very helpful.
- The living room was furnished with comfortable sofas and a large coffee table.
- They furnished the office with the latest computers and printers.
- The new classroom was furnished with desks, chairs, and whiteboards.
- She furnished her kitchen with state-of-the-art appliances.
- The car was furnished with leather seats and a premium sound system.
These examples show how you can use “furnish sth with sth in a sentence” to describe supplying or equipping something.
Common Mistakes
Sometimes, learners confuse the word order or omit parts of the phrase.
- Incorrect: They furnished with new furniture the room.
- Correct: They furnished the room with new furniture.
- Incorrect: She furnished the room new curtains.
- Correct: She furnished the room with new curtains.
Remember, “with” must always be included after the object being furnished.
Differences / Synonyms
Similar phrases include “equip sth with sth” and “provide sth with sth.” However, “furnish sth with sth” often refers specifically to furniture or decorative items, while “equip” usually relates to tools or equipment.
- Equip sth with sth: Focuses on tools or devices needed for a purpose.
- Provide sth with sth: More general, means to supply or give something.
Example: The lab was equipped with new microscopes. (Tools) The house was furnished with antique furniture. (Furniture)
Common Collocations
Certain objects commonly appear with “furnish sth with sth” to describe what is provided:
- Furniture: chairs, tables, sofas, beds
- Appliances: ovens, refrigerators, microwaves
- Equipment: computers, printers, projectors
- Decorations: curtains, carpets, paintings
These collocations help create natural sentences using the phrasal verb.
Related Phrasal Verbs
Here are related phrasal verbs of furnish sth with sth:
Real-life Dialogue
Here is a short conversation showing how “furnish sth with sth” is used naturally:
Anna: Have you furnished your new apartment yet?
Ben: Yes, I furnished it with a sofa, a dining table, and some lamps.
Anna: That sounds cozy! Did you also furnish the bedroom?
Ben: I did. I furnished it with a bed and a wardrobe.
Practice
Try completing the sentence below:
The conference room was _______ with a projector and comfortable chairs.
- a) furnished
- b) equipped
- c) provided
Correct answer: a) furnished
FAQs
- Q: Can “furnish sth with sth” be used for non-physical items?
A: Usually, it refers to physical objects like furniture or equipment.
- Q: Is “furnish” separable?
A: No, “furnish sth with sth” is inseparable because “with” is a preposition.
- Q: Can I say “furnish a room” without “with”?
A: You need “with” to specify what you are providing to the room.
- Q: What is a synonym for “furnish sth with sth”?
A: “Equip sth with sth” or “provide sth with sth” can be used depending on context.
