is it cater to our needs
or
cater for our needs?
or
cater for our needs?
Please look at these examples:They are one in the same. You can't just say that they are diffetent because of their specificity. That is like saying "Let me read to you," instead of saying "Let me read for you." In both instances, the speaker means to read to the person. The only difference being that in the ladder of the two, the person he/she is speaking to can't physically do it. But ultimately, it's the same purpose.
They're not practically the same. No one disputes that the phrases come from the same origin and can occasionally overlap in meaning ("do you cater to/for large parties?" can be ambiguous). But as in the examples I cited, there is generally a clear distinction in meaning.Again, I see your point, but your making it a lot more complicated than it needs to be. Cater to/for are practically the same; the idea is that whoever or whatever is catering is going to provide some kind of service to another(e.i. a wedding) usually through the prospect of food for some sort of payment. Which, would please the one being catered. So it's implied that who/whatever is pleased by the action of the caterer.
There seems to be a difference between BE and AE as well as your AE disagreement.They're not practically the same.
COED 11th Edition said:cater
verb
1 British provide food and drink at a social event. >North American provide food and drink for (an event).
2 (cater for/to) provide with what is needed or required. >(cater for) take into account or make allowances for. >(cater to) satisfy (a need or demand).
Yes, BE speakers seem to be more comfortable with both "to cater to someone's needs" and "to cater for someone's needs." My COED, which is an older edition, doesn't mention the BE/AE distinction but distinguishes between:There seems to be a difference between BE and AE as well as your AE disagreement.
But a large fraction of people who read these discussions are not native speakers and are trying to learn. It does not come naturally to them - hence the desire for those discussing to achieve some sort of clarity, even if that means getting down to the specifics.Assuming that we are all native speakers,
You seem to have missed the point of the forum - it is to help anybody to improve their understanding of English. Had you read the first post properly, you might well have noticed that the OP speaks Hungarian and wanted advice on the specific point of using "to" or "for" with "cater".Ugh, I don't understand why you'll are being so anal about the specifics
Hello Chris K,They're not practically the same. No one disputes that the phrases come from the same origin and can occasionally overlap in meaning ("do you cater to/for large parties?" can be ambiguous). But as in the examples I cited, there is generally a clear distinction in meaning.
Someone who "caters to" does not necessarily "cater" at all, because "cater," without "to," is now only used in the strict sense of providing food for payment at weddings etc. There's a difference between providing "some kind of service" (or showing deference of some kind) and what we mean by "catering."
Yes, you are. In your text, the meaning of 'cater to' is similar to that of 'suck up to'.Am I understanding it correctly?
It's not necessarily as negative as that. It can simply mean 'spoil' , 'coddle' or 'indulge'.Yes, you are. In your text, the meaning of 'cater to' is similar to that of 'suck up to'.
Thank you, london calling, for furthering my understanding of 'cater to'.It's not necessarily as negative as that.
Yeah! I like the to spoil equivalent! And maybe even to pamper fits well into "to cater to" image, in some way.It's not necessarily as negative as that. It can simply mean 'spoil' , 'coddle' or 'indulge'.![]()
No, we would not normally use 'cater to' here in BE. Think of 'cater for' as providing something that is 'consumed'. For example,For example, "Our music shop caters to a variety of taste" is correct and "Our music shop caters for a variety of taste" is wrong.
A strange observation. When did providing meals stop being providing a type of service or product?The issue of catering meals, i.e. preparing and serving them, is an entire red herring. (With all due respect, Andy!)
The meanings of 'cater' that are central to the thread have to do with indulging, pleasing, or providing a type of service or product.
That would be "cater for" in BE. I'd also expect "... so large a number ..."We can't cater to so large number of individual requirements.
Am I correct in choosing "to" if requirements in question are technical ones for building houses rather than demand for supplying food or other things?
This last point of yours, as I read it, does NOT sound good in AE: We can't cater FOR so large a number of individual requirements.A strange observation. When did providing meals stop being providing a type of service or product?
{ Kolridg said: We can't cater to so large number of individual requirements.
Am I correct in choosing "to" if requirements in question are technical ones for building houses rather than demand for supplying food or other things? }
{Andy said} That would be "cater for" in BE. I'd also expect "... so large a number ..."