Offer / provide

[Stefanie]

Hi,

what is the difference (or are the differences) between to provide and to offer? When do you use which word?

Thanks in advance,

Stefanie

[Alan]

Hi Stefanie,

Offer has the idea of persenting something to someone so that they can choose. You can offer someone a drink and they choose whether they want it or not. It can also be used with a following infinitive: You can offer to help someone. Again they can accept or reject the offer.

Provide is in a way more positive because it gives the idea of supplying. You can provide food at a function or party - which means you supply the food. You can provide for your family - which means you supply the money to pay for their needs. The army provides a soldier with a uniform - it equips the soldier with a uniform.

Alan
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English as a Second Language
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[Stefanie]

Thank you very much for your quick response, Alan!