Meaning
to have enough money or resources (financially) to do something; indicates that doing it is limited by current means
Primary Function
expresses financial capability or limitation
Communicative Purpose
signals that a speaker lacks sufficient funds/resources to undertake an action, often implying caution or necessity
Pattern
afford to
Core Structure
afford to
Função primária
expresses financial capability or limitation
Propósito comunicativo
signals that a speaker lacks sufficient funds/resources to undertake an action, often implying caution or necessity
Situações de gatilho
when discussing purchases, expenses, budgets, cost‑benefit analysis, emergencies, or any scenario where monetary constraints matter
Contextos
everyday conversation, business/professional settings, finance discussions, budget planning, negotiations
Padrão
afford to
Estrutura central
afford to
Slots de substituição
[buy, travel, wait, spend, purchase]; can be replaced by other verbs or nouns indicating cost/expense
Colocados típicos
- barely
- hardly
- cannot ill afford
- enough to afford
- manage (financially)
Substituições comuns
- have the means to
- able to pay for
- have sufficient funds to
Erros comuns
using *'afford doing' instead of *'to do'; using *'afford of' which is ungrammatical; forgetting the infinitive marker – e.g., saying “We can’t afford mistake” rather than “We can’t afford to make a mistake.”
Similar / contraste
be able to, have the means to, manage (financially); these alternatives are more neutral and less emphatic about limitation
Interferências
Spanish learners often mistakenly use reflexive forms like ‘permitirse comprar’, whereas English uses plain ‘can’t afford to buy’. Also note that some L1 languages may treat ‘have enough money for X’ as a fixed phrase without ‘to’.
Família do chunk
- be able to
- have the means to
- have the luxury of
Nuance
'afford to' conveys not only capability but also implication of constraint – it suggests doing something is currently beyond current resources, often prompting caution or planning.
Efeito pragmático
Creates a realistic tone; signals hesitation or seriousness regarding expenditure decisions in negotiations, budgeting discussions, or personal finance advice.
Dica de memória
“We can’t afford to make a mistake.”
Nota
This chunk is often used in contexts where financial planning or decision-making is involved, and it emphasizes the limitations of one's current financial situation. It's essential to remember that 'afford to' is followed by the base form of the verb (infinitive without 'to'), not a gerund or other verb form.
Upgrade path
use ‘have the resources to’, ‘be in a position to’ formally
Log in to save chunks.