Be Eligible To Do vs. Eligible For Something
Be Eligible To Do vs. Eligible For Something distinguishes Oxford’s directly documented eligible to + verb and eligible for + noun phrase patterns. The choice depends on whether eligibility is framed as an action or as eligibility for a benefit, status, role, or other noun phrase.
Use eligible to + verb for an action a person has the right or qualifications to perform; use eligible for + noun phrase for a benefit, status, role, or other thing they may receive or enter.
Key details
Choose the right form
| Meaning / situation | Construction | Decision |
|---|---|---|
| right or qualification to perform an action | eligible to + verb | state the action the person may perform |
| qualification for a benefit, role, status, or thing | eligible for + noun phrase | name the benefit/status/thing |
Quick tests
Action-or-benefit test
Is eligibility being framed as permission/qualification to act, or eligibility for a named thing/status?
If yes: Use “eligible to + verb” for the action.
If no: Use “eligible for + noun phrase” for the benefit, role, status, or thing.
Caveat: Eligibility criteria themselves are domain-specific; this guide addresses only the English complement choice.
Examples
Employees who meet the criteria are eligible to apply.
The infinitive names the permitted action.
The applicant is eligible for the grant.
“For” introduces the benefit.
She is eligible for membership.
The noun names the status or opportunity for which she qualifies.
Further guidance
Core difference
Oxford directly gives eligible for something and eligible to do something. Choose the complement according to whether the eligibility concerns an action or a noun-phrase object.
Style Boundary
This is a complement-choice guide, not a claim that eligibility itself guarantees the action or benefit.
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.
- eligible — Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary (opens in a new tab)Oxford University Press · Direct dictionary evidence for eligible + to-infinitive and eligible for + complement