Be Bent On Doing vs. Bent To Do
Oxford documents the idiomatic adjective pattern bent on (doing) something for determination. The evidence does not license a parallel bent + to-infinitive complement for that same meaning.
For the “determined” meaning, use “bent on doing something.” Oxford documents bent on + noun/-ing; do not replace that on-complement with a bare to-infinitive as though the structures were interchangeable.
Key details
Choose the right form
| Meaning / situation | Construction | Decision |
|---|---|---|
| determined to pursue an action | bent on + -ing | use the idiomatic determined construction |
| determined toward a goal/thing | bent on + noun | use the same “on” complement |
| bare to-infinitive for this meaning | bent to + verb | not the documented equivalent |
Quick tests
Determination test
Does “bent” mean firmly determined on a course of action?
If yes: Use “bent on + noun/-ing.”
If no: If “bent” has a different literal or grammatical meaning, do not apply the idiom rule automatically.
Caveat: This decision is limited to the “determined” sense recorded by the source.
Examples
They were bent on finishing the project that day.
“Bent on + -ing” expresses determination.
She seemed bent on revenge.
A noun can follow “on” in the same determined sense.
They were bent to finish the project.
Better: They were bent on finishing the project.
For the documented determined sense, use “bent on finishing.”
Further guidance
Core difference
Use bent on + -ing/noun for the documented “determined” construction.
Style Boundary
The preposition on belongs to the documented construction; do not infer an unlisted infinitive alternative by symmetry.
Sources and evidence
Sources are shown with the role they play in this guide. Historical or style-sensitive claims are kept within the evidence boundary described above.
- bent adjective — Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary (opens in a new tab)Oxford University Press · Preferred-dictionary evidence for bent on (doing) something