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What is Provide? How to use Provide in English and practice exercises with answers

What is Provide? How to use Provide in English? Refer to the article below to clearly understand the structure and usage of Provide in English!

The usage of Provide in English
The usage of Provide in English

I. What is Provide in English?

Provide /prəˈvaɪd/ is an English transitive verb. The Provide meaning in English is:

  • To give someone something that they need. Example: This booklet provides useful information about local services. 

  • To give someone something that they need. Example: The new statute provides for life imprisonment without parole. 

What is Provide in English?
What is Provide in English?

Provide synonyms in English:

Provide synonyms in English

Meaning

Example

Supply

/səˈplaɪ/

to provide something that is wanted or needed, often in large quantities and over a long period of time

This company supplies paper to offices in the area. 

Furnish

/ˈfɜːrnɪʃ/

to supply or provide something needed

They have furnished the new apartment with all the necessary furniture.

Offer

/ˈɔːfər/

to provide or supply something

She offered her help when I was in trouble. 

Distribute

/dɪˈstrɪbjuːt/

to give something out to several people, or to spread or supply something

The charity distributes food to the homeless.

Allocate

/ˈæləkeɪt/

to give something to someone as their share of a total amount, to use in a particular way

The government has allocated funds for development projects. 

Grant

/ɡrænt/

to give or allow someone something, usually in an official way

They granted him a scholarship to attend university. 

Equip

/ɪˈkwɪp/

to provide a person or a place with objects that are necessary for a particular purpose

We will equip you with everything you need for the trip. 

Support

/səˈpɔːrt/

to give a person the money they need in order to buy food and clothes and pay for somewhere to live

He has a wife and four children to support.

Cater

/ˈkeɪtər/

to provide, and sometimes serve, food

This restaurant caters for events and parties. 

II. How to use Provide in English

Let's explore how to use Provide in English below!

1. Provide + with

It means: to give something to a person, company, or organization, or to make it available for them to use. Structure:

S + provide + someone + with something

Example:

  • The teachers in this room were provided with the handouts. 

  • The little girls in this kindergarten will cause no trouble if the teacher provides them with their favourite toys. 

2. Provide + for

It means: to give someone the things they need, such as money, food, or clothes. Structure:

 S + provide (something) for + someone

Example:

  • Although Lina is not our biological mother of children, she works hard to provide for them.

  • The budget of my firm provides a salary increase for each employee after half a year. 

3. Provide against something

It means: to make plans in order to prevent or deal with a bad situation. Structure:

Provide against something

Example:

  • Mountain operators don’t have a legal obligation to provide against a astraying or injury. 

  • During the 6-month period in question, the consultancy company either wrote off or provided against bad debts of £300,000.

4. Be provided by somebody/something

Structure:

S + be provided by somebody/something

Example:

  • The training materials were provided by the company.

  • Lunch will be provided by the school. 

5. Provided/Providing that

It means: if; only if. Structure:

S + V, provided/providing that S + V

Example:

  • Jim will make sure to tell Joannamy a message, provided that he meets her soon. 

  • Lina can drive a motorbike provided that she has a valid licence. 

Note: In the structure contains Provided that, if we omit the "that", the meaning of this structure remains the same. Example:

  • Lina can drive a motorbike provided she has a valid licence. 

How to use Provide in English
How to use Provide in English

III. Phrasal verbs/words/sentences with Provide in English

In addition to the Provide structures above, here are some words/sentences with Provide in English, let’s note them down in your English vocabulary notebook:

Phrasal verbs/words/sentences 

Meaning

Example

provide (something) under (something else)

To supply, make available, or prepare something as required or agreed upon in some thing, such as a contract or ruling.

They agree to provide their services pro bono for 3 months under the terms of the court order.

take the goods the gods provide

Good fortune or advantageous circumstances should be utilized and enjoyed.

I don't know why you're so hung up on the fact that you had access to better education as a kid - take the goods the gods provide! 

Phrasal verbs/words/sentences with Provide in English
Phrasal verbs/words/sentences with Provide in English

IV. Exercise on Provide in English with detailed answers

Let’s do a few exercises below to solidify your understanding of Provide in English:

1. Exercise

Exercise 1: Fill in the blank with the appropriate word

  1. We provided the mountain landslide victims _________ money and food. 

  2. The firm my husband used to work for provides life insurance benefits _________ all of its employees.

  3. Team members in this club are provided _________ uniforms and equipment.

  4. I will accept this task, provided _________ this CEO helps me.

  5. Jessica is unable to provide ________ her family.

Exercise 2: Rewrite the sentences below using the provided word hints

  1. If the weather in this town is favorable, the crops of farmers this year will surely flourish.

➡ Provided that ____________________________________.

  1. If Charlotte drinks black tea, she will be able to stay up all night to work.

➡ Providing that ____________________________________.

  1. I will answer this question only if Harry calls me first.

➡ Providing that ____________________________________.

  1. If William studies really hard before the test, he will ace the final test without a doubt.

➡ Provided that ____________________________________.

  1. If Henry comes to English class tomorrow, I will give him this DVD.

➡  I will________________, provided that __________________.

2. Answer

Exercise 1

Exercise 2

  1. With

  2. For

  3. With

  4. That

  5. For

  1. Provided that the weather in this town is favorable, the crops of farmers this year will surely flourish.

  2. Providing that Charlotte drinks black tea, she will be able to stay up all night to work.

  3. Providing that Harry calls me first, I will answer this question.

  4. Provided that William studies really hard before the test, he will ace this final test without a doubt.

  5. I will give Henry this DVD tomorrow, provided that he comes to English class. 

The information above summarizes Provide in English that are frequently used by native speakers and also appear extensively in practical English exams. Keep following PREP to regularly update more quality English knowledge!

Master Tu Pham
Master Tu Pham
Founder/CEO at Prep
Founder of Prep Smart Test Preparation Platform. With over 10 years of experience in teaching and test preparation, Mr. Tú has helped thousands of students achieve high scores in the IELTS exam. In addition, Mr. Tú Phạm is also a consulting expert in British Council programs and a speaker at many leading educational events, programs, and conferences.
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