Apply TO or Apply FOR? (30 real examples, Video, QUIZ)

Some English is easy to confuse, even for native speakers. I have heard the question: “Should I use apply to or apply for?” more than once. Here is the answer I give my students.

When to use apply to and apply for.
We Apply TO a location, a school, an event, a contest, etc. Something we want to enter.
I applied TO the University of Toronto.
We Apply FOR a job, a bank loan, a credit card, etc. Something we want to have.
You should apply FOR a job at Starbucks.

This blog will help you use these verbs with confidence. Lots of examples will help you understand and model the way native speakers talk.

Apply TO or Apply FOR? - Learn FAST...
Apply TO or Apply FOR? - Learn FAST 💬

Apply TO or Apply FOR

APPLY TOAPPLY FOR
We Apply TO a location, a school, an event, a contest, etc.  Someplace or some event or contest we want to enter.We Apply FOR a job, a bank loan, a credit card, etc. Something we want to have.
“Veronica applied to the University of Toronto. She is smart so I’m sure she will get in.”“As soon as I turn 18 I want to apply for my own credit card.”

Apply – definition

Apply means to make a formal request, usually in writing, for something such as a job, a loan, permission for something, a place at a university, etc
Oxford Learner’s Dictionaries – apply

What we request will tell us which preposition we need to use. Are we requesting to enter somewhere or get something?

Apply TO

The sentence grammar usually follows this pattern.
Apply to [company name] – Theresa applied to Google, but it’s very competitive.
Apply to [school name] – I applied to the University of Toronto. I hope I get accepted!
Apply to [contest/event name] – Thousands of filmmakers apply to the Sundance International Film Festival every year.
Apply to [work at/in/on] – I applied to work at my company’s new office in Dubai.

Apply to
A popular game show is filming in our town next month. Veronica applied to the show.

Apply TO – 10 examples

Below are 10 example sentences of APPLY TO with different 8 different verb tenses

  • TO APPLY (infinitive) “You need TO APPLY to a few different schools in case you don’t get accepted at your first choice.”

  • APPLY (present simple) “In Canada, you can only APPLY to 3 universities after you graduate high school.”

  • APPLIES (present simple third-person singular) “The average student in America APPLIES to 7 colleges after they graduate high school.”

  • APPLIED (past simple) “We APPLIED to law school last year, but we weren’t accepted.”
    “I APPLIED to work in Dubai this autumn, my company is opening a new office there.”
    “I got accepted to Harvard! I APPLIED to 4 schools but Harvard is my first choice.”

  • WILL APPLY (future – just decided) “I think I WILL APPLY to McGill University in Quebec.”
    (I just decided to apply to McGill University.)
  • GOING TO APPLY (future – planned activity) “I’m GOING TO APPLY to schools closer to my house.”
    (I have already decided to apply to schools closer to my house.)

  • APPLYING (continuous) “Mike and Dennis are always APPLYING to law school. I hope they get accepted soon.”

    *APPLY is a regular verb. This means the past tense and the past participle both end with _ed.
  • APPLIED (past participle) “Dennis has APPLIED to law school every year for the past 4 years.” [Has APPLIED is perfect tense grammar]
Don’t give up Dennis. Keep studying and keep applying. One day you’ll be a great lawyer.

Apply FOR

The sentence grammar usually follows this pattern.
Apply for [a NOUN] – I’m going to apply for a credit card today.
I applied for a job at the local grocery store.
If you want to live in The United States, you must apply for a visa.

Apply for
I will apply for a credit card as soon as I can. I will be responsible and have a great credit score when I’m a little older.

Apply FOR – 8 examples

Below are 8 example sentences of APPLY FOR with different 8 different verb tenses

  • TO APPLY (infinitive) “When I first came to Japan I had TO APPLY for a visa so I could stay in the country for more than 3 months.”

  • APPLY (present simple) “I APPLY for a few different jobs every summer. I like to have a choice between a few possibilities.”

  • APPLIES (present simple third-person singular) “My sister APPLIES for different summer jobs too. It’s good to have choices”

  • APPLIED (past simple) “I APPLIED for a manager job at my company’s new office in Dubai.”

  • WILL APPLY (future – just decided) “I think I WILL APPLY for the new sales job when Albert retires next month.”

  • GOING TO APPLY (future – planned activity) “I heard many people are GOING TO APPLY for that job. Good luck.”
    Future tense GRAMMAR guide.

  • APPLYING (continuous) “I’m APPLYING for my first credit card. It’s very exciting!”


    APPLY is a regular verb. This means the past tense and the past participle both end with _ed.
  • APPLIED (past participle) “4 people have already APPLIED for the new sales job. You should apply today if you want a chance.”
    Past Participle GRAMMAR guide.
Don’t wait! Four people have already applied.

Gerund – Applying as a NOUN

The verb apply also has a gerund form – applying.

A gerund is the noun form of the verb that ends with ~ing.

The rules for the noun form are exactly the same as for the verb form. Applying to a place we want to enter and applying for something we want to have. 

  • I recommend applying to three or four different colleges in case you don’t get accepted at your first choice.

*In this sentence applying is a noun (gerund). It follows the verb recommend.

  • Steve: What’s your plan after graduation?
  • Allen: First I will travel, then when I get back home I will start applying for jobs.

*In this sentence applying is a noun (gerund). It follows the verb will start

I want to have some fun before I start a career.

Remember, the continuous form of the verb apply will follow the verb TO BE.
Is, am, are applying
The gerund form of applying will follow verbs like start, stop, suggest, keep, etc. 

  • I recommend applying to three or four different colleges.
  • When I get back home I will start applying for jobs.

Gerunds can also follow prepositions.

  • I plan to travel for 6 months before applying to school.
Traveling first is a good idea. Do it before you become too busy.

Apply to – other uses

apply to (someone) – To have an effect on or be meaningful to a person or a group. 

  • Those taxes only apply to the people who live inside the state.

  • Put on a tie Roger, the dress code applies to everyone.

  • He acts like the rules don’t apply to him.

apply something to something – To rub or place something onto another surface. *We often use this will medical creams and ointments.

  • Apply the cream to the rash every night before you go to sleep.
    *A noun will be used between apply and to in these examples.
You need to clean the surface before you apply the decal or it won’t stick.

Apply TO or Apply FOR Quiz

Test yourself with these 4 quick questions and get instant feedback.

Learn more English prepositions from these other great posts:

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