Provide to vs with

Question

The Neighbourhood Team provides a yellow sharps bin to the patient.
The above is from my email that I wrote to one of the practice managers as part of my Insulin Equipment project.
Does the preposition "to" fit here (provide to)?
I know that "provide with" is more common but please explain why "provide to" is wrong in the given context and please also explain when to use provide with vs provide to.

Anonymous · Accepted Answer

JigneshbharatiDoes the preposition "to" fit here (provide to)?

Not so much, though you do hear it. "For" is right, but see below.

JigneshbharatiI know that "provide with" is more common

Maybe, but commonness is not the test in any event. It is meaning that is important.

Jigneshbharatibut please explain why "provide to" is wrong in the given context

It's "provide" that is the problem, not "to" vs. "with". To provide something is to make it available. The Team is not doing that, they are giving it to him outright. Your way, they have one, and the patient can use it. But see below.

Jigneshbharatiand please also explain when to use provide with vs provide to.

It's "provided something for someone", not "to". It's just idiom. It means they made one available. If you want to use "to", it is probably best to use the plain word: "The Neighbourhood Team gives a yellow sharps bin to the patient."

You would need the passive form for "with": "The patient is provided with a yellow sharps bin by the Neighbourhood Team." This would mean that they gave it to him (because of "with"). When you provide someone with something, you give it to him because he needs it.

Provide to vs with

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