Be apt to: How and When to Use in English
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Be apt to
Be apt to can express a bad habit:
Bob is apt to lose his concentration if we make too much noise. Bob often loses his temper when we make too much noise.
She's apt to be nervous when she's around people she doesn't know. She usually gets very nervous when she's around people she doesn't know.
Note: Be apt to has a similar meaning to be liable to, which is used more frequently.
Be apt to can also express something which is likely to happen or is at risk of happening:
We are apt to lose the contract if we don't correct this mistake quickly. We risk losing the contract if we don't correct this mistake quickly.
These plants are apt to die if they are not watered regularly. These plants will likely die if they are not watered regularly.
Exercise 1
Bob: I going to the bar after work. Would you like to join me?
Horatio: Well, I become an alcoholic at this rate, but sure, it sounds great!
Horatio: Well, I become an alcoholic at this rate, but sure, it sounds great!
Bob: I feel like 1 going to the bar after work. Would you like to join me?
Horatio: Well, I am apt to 2 become an alcoholic at this rate, but sure, it sounds great!
Horatio: Well, I am apt to 2 become an alcoholic at this rate, but sure, it sounds great!
1 feel like: Because Bob is simply expressing a desire to go to the bar, we use 'feel like' here. 'Feel like' is always followed by a verb in the ING form (a gerund). Example: I feel like DOING something crazy tonight.
1 am going to: We cannot use 'am going to' followed by a verb in the -ING form (going).
1 am apt to: We cannot use 'am apt to' followed by a verb in the -ING form (going).
2 am apt to: We use 'apt to' here to show that there is a strong possibility that Horatio will become an alcoholic. 'To be apt (to do something)' is to be 'likely' or 'probable' to do something. Example: She is apt to change her mind about the wedding; don't count on anything!
2 feel like: We cannot use 'feel like' followed by a verb in the infinitive form (become).
2 am going to be: We cannot use 'am going to be' followed by a verb in the infinitive form (become). However, we could say: 'I am going to be leaving for the bar momentarily'.
Exercise 2
Icarus: Horatio go crazy if he breathes any more of those noxious chemicals.
Philip: And I think I taking my leave of this thrilling conversation. Have a fine day, Ick, my man.
Philip: And I think I taking my leave of this thrilling conversation. Have a fine day, Ick, my man.
Icarus: Horatio is apt to 1 go crazy if he breathes any more of those noxious chemicals.
Philip: And I think I am going to be 2 taking my leave of this thrilling conversation. Have a fine day, Ick, my man.
Philip: And I think I am going to be 2 taking my leave of this thrilling conversation. Have a fine day, Ick, my man.
1 is apt to: We use 'is apt to' here to show that it is possible or likely that Horatio will become insane from breathing the dangerous chemicals.
1 is nearly: We cannot use 'is nearly' here because it cannot precede 'go' in this construction. We could say, however: 'Horatio is nearly crazy from breathing those chemicals'.
1 is going to be: We cannot use 'is going to be' here because it must be used before the -ING (gerund) form of the verb.
2 am going to be: We use 'am going to be' here because of the verb 'taking'. It is the best choice here.
2 am nearly to: 'Am nearly to' is not a valid grammatical construction.
2 am apt to: We cannot use 'am apt to' here because the verb 'taking' is in the -ING (gerund) form.
Exercise 3
Choose the appropriate meaning for each phrase. Be careful! Each answer is used only once:
'Harold is liable to lose his temper' =
'Harold is bound to lose his temper' =
'Harold is apt to lose his temper' =
'Harold is liable to lose his temper' =
'Harold is bound to lose his temper' =
'Harold is apt to lose his temper' =
Choose the appropriate meaning for each phrase. Be careful! Each answer is used only once:
'Harold is liable to lose his temper' = There is a strong chance that Harold will lose his temper 1
'Harold is bound to lose his temper' = It is inevitable that Harold will lose his temper 2
'Harold is apt to lose his temper' = Harold has a tendency to lose his temper 3
'Harold is liable to lose his temper' = There is a strong chance that Harold will lose his temper 1
'Harold is bound to lose his temper' = It is inevitable that Harold will lose his temper 2
'Harold is apt to lose his temper' = Harold has a tendency to lose his temper 3
1 There is a strong chance that Harold will lose his temper: This is correct. The construction 'be liable to...' expresses that there is a risk or strong chance that an action will occur. There is frequently a clause in this type of construction which details the cause or reason for a risk. For example: 'Harold is liable to lose his temper IF the poor sales continue'.
1 It is inevitable that Harold will lose his temper: This is incorrect. The 'be liable to' construction doesn't express inevitability, but rather risk or strong chance.
1 Harold has a tendency to lose his temper: This is incorrect. The 'be liable to' construction does not express tendency or habitual actions.
2 It is inevitable that Harold will lose his temper: This is the correct choice. The 'be bound to' construction expresses inevitability, or the certainty that an action or event will occur. In this case, we are saying that it is sure that Harold will lose his temper.
2 Harold has a tendency to lose his temper: This is incorrect. The 'be bound to' construction does not express that someone has a tendency to do something, but rather that it is inevitable.
2 There is a strong chance that Harold will lose his temper: This is incorrect. The 'be bound to' construction does not express that someone there is a strong chance or risk of an action occurring, it actually expresses inevitability or certainty.
3 Harold has a tendency to lose his temper: This is the correct choice. The 'be apt to' construction expresses that an action is habitual or that there is a tendency associated with the action. In this case, Harold has a tendency to lose his temper (frequently or habitually).
3 There is a strong chance that Harold will lose his temper: This is incorrect. The 'be apt to' construction does not express chance or risk that an action will occur, but rather that there is a tendency or habit associated with the particular action.
3 It is inevitable that Harold will lose his temper: This is incorrect. The 'be apt to' construction does not express that an action is inevitable, but rather that an action is habitual.
Exercise 4
Determine if the following sentences are correct or incorrect.
Luna is apt a bit silly around the holidays. -->
I am apt to change my mind about the meeting. I'll let you know. -->
Are you apt to going to school today? -->
Luna is apt a bit silly around the holidays. -->
I am apt to change my mind about the meeting. I'll let you know. -->
Are you apt to going to school today? -->
Determine if the following sentences are correct or incorrect.
Luna is apt a bit silly around the holidays. --> Incorrect 1
I am apt to change my mind about the meeting. I'll let you know. --> Correct 2
Are you apt to going to school today? --> Incorrect 3
Luna is apt a bit silly around the holidays. --> Incorrect 1
I am apt to change my mind about the meeting. I'll let you know. --> Correct 2
Are you apt to going to school today? --> Incorrect 3
1 Incorrect: This sentence is incorrect. The construction 'to be apt (to do something)' expresses that something is 'likely' or 'imminent' or 'probable', however it requires the verb 'to be'. The correct sentence should read 'Luna is apt TO BE a bit silly around the holidays'.
1 Correct: This sentence is not correct.
2 Correct: This sentence is correct. 'To be apt (to change one's mind)' means to be likely to change one's opinion about a decision. The construction is formed like this: 'to be' + apt + verb in the full infinitive form. Example: She is apt to fly to Brussels this summer.
2 Incorrect: This sentence is not incorrect.
3 Incorrect: This sentence is incorrect. The construction 'to be apt' must be followed by a verb in the full infinitive form. The correct sentence should read: Are you apt TO GO to school today?
3 Correct: This sentence is not correct.
Exercise 5
“When working on an important document, don’t fail to save your work regularly.”
Which of the following phrases could replace the expression "don’t fail to save your work", and express the SAME meaning? There may be more than one correct answer!
Which of the following phrases could replace the expression "don’t fail to save your work", and express the SAME meaning? There may be more than one correct answer!
“When working on an important document, don’t fail to save your work regularly.”
Which of the following phrases could replace the expression "don’t fail to save your work", and express the SAME meaning? There may be more than one correct answer!
Which of the following phrases could replace the expression "don’t fail to save your work", and express the SAME meaning? There may be more than one correct answer!
"Don't fail to…" and "Make sure to…" have the same meaning. They are both instructions to take an important action in the future. Another example: "Make sure to treat all your colleagues with respect, regardless of race or gender".
If someone is "apt to" do something, then they have a bad habit of doing something. This expression is not appropriate in this context, and it is generally not used in the imperative (to give an instruction). An example: "I am apt to forget to check the oven after I put food in to cook".
If someone is "good at" something, then they are skilled, talented or very capable of doing something. This expression is not appropriate in this context, and it is generally not used in the imperative (to give an instruction). For example: "My daughter is very good at finding worms in the garden. I think she might have been a bird in a past life".
"Don't fail to…" and "Be sure you…" have the same meaning. They are both instructions to take an important action in the future. Another example: "Be sure you learn all your students' names by heart".
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