Which sentence uses 'come across' correctly?

I came across an old photo while cleaning the attic

I came across the street to meet you

I came across an old photo while cleaning the attic

The bridge came across the river

Which sentence uses 'come across' correctly?

She comes across as very confident in interviews

He came across the finish line first

Which sentence uses 'come by' correctly?

Good jobs are hard to come by these days

The bus will come by this route

Good jobs are hard to come by these days

I come by the office every morning at 8

Which sentence uses 'come by' correctly?

Can you come by my house later for coffee?

The train came by the station too fast

She comes by the grocery store home

Which sentence uses 'come out' correctly?

The new iPhone will come out next month

I need to come out from the house now

The new iPhone will come out next month

Which sentence uses 'come out' correctly?

The truth finally came out after the investigation

The students came out to the classroom

Understanding 'Devote To': Examples & Tips

"To truly understand, one must devote to both learning and unlearning, finding balance in the dance between knowledge and ignorance."

📖 Definition

The phrasal verb 'devote to' means to commit or dedicate oneself or one's resources entirely to a particular purpose, task, or person.

Examples in context

Many hours each day are devoted to training young athletes.
She has devoted her entire career to medical research.
The artist devoted his talents to creating public murals.

📖 Definition

The phrasal verb 'devote to' means to commit or dedicate oneself or one's resources entirely to a particular purpose, task, or person.

📝 Grammar Info

Separable

The object cannot interrupt the phrasal verb 'devote to'.

Neutral

Appropriate for a wide range of contexts, from formal to informal.

Transitive

Yes

Requires an object to complete its meaning.

📊 Conjugation Table

Tense	Form	Example
Present Simple	devote to	I devote my weekends to volunteering at the shelter.
Past Simple	devoted to	She devoted her time to studying for finals last week.
Present Continuous	devoting to	He is devoting his energy to mastering the violin.
Present Perfect	have devoted to	They have devoted their careers to improving urban education.

💡 When to Use

Expressing dedication to a cause

Use 'devote to' when indicating a strong commitment to a cause or task.

Example: "He devoted to fighting climate change."

Describing personal commitments

This phrase is ideal for describing personal commitments and passions.

Example: "She is devoted to her art."

Professional dedication

Suitable for contexts where someone applies themselves fully to their professional duties.

Example: "They devoted to developing new technologies."

⚠️ Common Mistakes

Using wrong tense

❌ Wrong: They devoting to charity work.

✅ Correct: They are devoting to charity work.

💡 Tip: Remember to use the correct continuous form.

Incorrect preposition

❌ Wrong: Devote for charity causes.

✅ Correct: Devote to charity causes.

💡 Tip: 'To' is the correct preposition.

Omitting necessary context

❌ Wrong: He is devoted.

✅ Correct: He is devoted to his family.

💡 Tip: Always include what one is devoted to.

Practice

DEVOTE TO - IN PRACTICE

Study Method Proposal

Listen and repeat the audio as many times as needed to improve your pronunciation
Use the audio as a dictation exercise, trying to write what you hear and understand
Create a new sentence following the structure of the example sentences

Examples in Context

1
Listen to example

Many hours each day are devoted to training young athletes.
Urban Compact Living
2
Listen to example

She has devoted her entire career to medical research.
Urban Compact Living
3
Listen to example

The artist devoted his talents to creating public murals.
Urban Compact Living

Synonyms & Antonyms

Synonyms

dedicate to commit to

Antonyms

neglect

Quick Check

Complete the sentence with the correct phrasal verb:

"She plans to ___ her summer to learning new languages."

dedicates on

devote to

devoted from

devotes for

In Context

Mother Teresa, born Anjezë Gonxhe Bojaxhiu, devoted her life to helping the poorest of the poor. Born in 1910 in Macedonia, she felt a strong calling to address poverty from a young age. In 1928, she joined the Loreto Sisters in Ireland to learn English, a language essential for missionaries. Her devotion to her calling led her to India, where she spent years teaching at St. Mary's School in Calcutta. However, it was during a train ride to Darjeeling in 1946 that she felt a 'call within a call' to help the destitute of Calcutta's slums. She devoted herself to this mission, always ensuring that the dying and the destitute had at least one person to care for them. Despite facing criticism and challenges, she remained steadfast in her commitment. Establishing the Missionaries of Charity in 1950, she devoted efforts to expanding the order globally, providing care, education, and support. Her work captured worldwide attention, earning her the Nobel Peace Prize in 1979. Until her death in 1997, Mother Teresa remained a symbol of devotion to those forgotten by society. Her legacy endures, teaching others to devote themselves to altruism and compassion.

❓ Frequently Asked Questions about Devote To

What is the origin of 'devote to'?

The term originates from the Latin word 'devotus', meaning 'to vow'. Over time, it evolved in English to signify dedicating oneself earnestly to a task.

Can 'devote to' be used in formal and informal contexts?

'Devote to' is versatile and suited for both formal and informal contexts. It's often used to emphasize commitment, regardless of setting.

What is the difference between 'devote to' and 'dedicate to'?

'Devote to' often implies an emotional or personal commitment, while 'dedicate to' can feel more formal and less emotionally laden.

Browse All Tiny House Phrasal Verbs

About the Author

Alessandra Nóbrega

History teacher who fell in love with English! This passion led me to specialize in languages and work on bilingual education projects. With 37 years in education, I believe learning should be meaningful – not just memorization.

Learn more about my journey

📖 Definition

📖 Definition

📝 Grammar Info

📊 Conjugation Table

💡 When to Use

⚠️ Common Mistakes

DEVOTE TO - IN PRACTICE

Study Method Proposal

Examples in Context

Synonyms & Antonyms

Quick Check

In Context

❓ Frequently Asked Questions about Devote To

Related Phrasal Verbs

Alessandra Nóbrega