Eligible for means you meet the conditions to get or do something: eligible for a student discount, a grant, the final round. Before a verb, use eligible to: eligible to vote, eligible to apply. And an eligible bachelor is a single man that many people would happily marry.
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be eligible for + noun; be eligible to + verb; become eligible
- Students on this course are eligible for a travel grant.
- You must be a club member to be eligible to enter the competition.
- The new rules make part-time staff eligible for the training programme.
What changed
First versionI am eligible to a student discount.
RevisionI am eligible for a student discount.
The mistake comes from two similar patterns: entitled to a discount and eligible to apply. But with a noun, eligible takes for: eligible for a discount. To stays for verbs: eligible to get a discount.
Entitled to means you have a right by law or contract, and with a noun it really does take to: you're entitled to a refund. Eligible for means you fit the rules of a scheme: eligible for a refund means you can claim one.
Your turn
All registered members are eligible ___ a free library card.
Show the answer
for — After eligible comes the noun a free library card, so you need for. To would work before a verb: eligible to get a free library card.
Write who can get a discount, a scholarship or a free ticket, and on what condition. Use eligible for.
Students who live more than ten kilometres from campus are eligible for a travel discount.
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