ENGLISH
REFERENCE

be entitled to sth

fixed phr..
C1 Advanced Oxford

fixed phr.. to have the legal or official right to have or do something.

fixed phr.. to possess a legitimate claim or right to a benefit, service, or action, often based on legal, contractual, or moral grounds.


SIMPLE

You are entitled to a full refund if the product is broken.

CONTEXTUAL

After working for the company for five years, employees are entitled to an extra week of paid holiday.

COMPLEX

Under the new legislation, every citizen is entitled to access their personal data held by government agencies without paying a fee.

Usage

usually used in the passive voice ('be entitled') followed by the preposition 'to' and a noun or an infinitive verb.

Teaching tip

contrast with 'deserve' (which is about merit) versus 'be entitled to' (which is about a formal right); also note the negative adjective 'entitled' used for people who think they are special.

Pitfall

He is entitled for a pension.He is entitled to a pension.the verb 'entitle' always collocates with the preposition 'to', never 'for'.

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