ENGLISH
REFERENCE

aimed at doing sth

fixed phr..
B2 Upper Intermediate Oxford

fixed phr.. to have a specific goal or purpose for an action you are taking.

fixed phr.. a participial phrase used to indicate the intention, objective, or target audience of a specific policy, action, or project.


SIMPLE

The new law is aimed at reducing plastic waste.

CONTEXTUAL

The government launched a campaign aimed at encouraging young people to vote in the upcoming election.

COMPLEX

These fiscal measures are specifically aimed at stabilizing the currency while simultaneously curbing the rapid inflation seen in the housing market.

Usage

usually follows a form of the verb 'to be' and requires the '-ing' form of the following verb.

Teaching tip

remind students that 'aimed at' is followed by a gerund, not an infinitive; contrast this with 'aim to do', which uses the infinitive.

Pitfall

The program is aimed at reduce poverty.The program is aimed at reducing poverty.the preposition 'at' must be followed by a gerund (-ing form) rather than the base form of the verb.

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