Be Grateful To Do vs. Grateful For Something
Cambridge directly records grateful + to-infinitive and grateful for + noun, supporting this narrow complement comparison.
Use “grateful to do/be…” when grateful is followed by an infinitive event. Use “grateful for something” when the complement names the help, support, opportunity, or circumstance for which thanks are felt.
Key details
Choose the right form
| Meaning / situation | Construction | Decision |
|---|---|---|
| gratitude associated with an event or opportunity expressed by an infinitive | grateful to + verb | use the infinitive for the event/action |
| gratitude directed toward help, support, an opportunity, or a circumstance | grateful for + noun phrase | name what prompts the gratitude |
Quick tests
Event-or-reason test
Are you presenting an event you are grateful to experience, or naming the thing for which you are grateful?
If yes: Use “grateful to + verb” for the event/action.
If no: Use “grateful for + noun phrase” for the reason or object of gratitude.
Caveat: Do not confuse “grateful to + verb” with “grateful to + person,” a different structure.
Examples
I am grateful to have had the opportunity to contribute.
The infinitive presents the event or experience.
We are grateful for your help.
“For” introduces what prompts the gratitude.
She was grateful to receive an early reply.
The infinitive presents the event associated with the gratitude.
Further guidance
Core difference
Cambridge documents grateful + to-infinitive and grateful for + noun as standard patterns.
Style Boundary
Do not confuse grateful to + verb with grateful to + person: the infinitive expresses an event/action, while for introduces the thing or help that prompts thanks.
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.
- Grateful (opens in a new tab)Cambridge University Press · Direct learner-dictionary evidence for grateful + to-infinitive and grateful for + noun.