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Prepositions before nouns

Using prepositions with task

Task appears in several fixed combinations such as task of and task for. To task is usually a verb phrase, not a noun construction.

Quick answer

Common patterns with task

Task of someone means a duty or responsibility. To task is mainly part of the verb phrase set someone to task, meaning criticize them.

It is the task of the committee to review the plan.
The manager set him to task for missing the deadline.

Choose the pattern by meaning

These forms are not interchangeable. Choose the construction by meaning, not by which preposition appears most often.

1
task of + person

Showing responsibility

Use task of to describe whose duty something is.

The task of training new staff fell to Maria.
It is the task of the editor to check accuracy.
2
task for + person

Describing suitable work

Task for introduces the person suited to a job.

This is a difficult task for beginners.
The repair was a simple task for an experienced engineer.
3
set someone to task

Criticising someone

Set someone to task is an idiom meaning to criticize or reprimand.

The coach set the players to task after the loss.
She was set to task for ignoring the warning.

See the difference in context

The same subject can take different constructions because each sentence answers a different question.

Construction
Example
Meaning
task of
The task of managing the event took weeks.
a duty or responsibility
to task
The phrase appears in set someone to task.
part of an idiomatic verbal expression
task for
It is a tough task for new employees.
work suitable or assigned to someone
task with
They tasked her with leading the project.
verb pattern using task as a verb

Common mistakes

Some combinations appear in real text but do not mean what learners often assume.

Using to task as a normal noun phrase

To task is not usually used as a simple preposition plus noun combination.

✕ The report was sent to task. ✓ The report was assigned as a task.

Confusing task of and task for

Task of focuses on responsibility, while task for focuses on suitability.

✕ It was the task for the director to approve it. ✓ It was the task of the director to approve it.

Using task as a verb without with

The verb task normally takes with before the duty.

✕ They tasked him finishing the audit. ✓ They tasked him with finishing the audit.

Quick practice

Choose the expression that matches the intended meaning.

1. It is the ___ the finance team to prepare the report.
2. The editor set the writer ___ for missing the deadline.
3. This is a challenging ___ junior staff.

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Frequently asked questions

Is to task common in everyday English?

Mostly in the idiom set someone to task. Outside that expression, it is uncommon.

Can task be a verb?

Yes. You can task someone with doing something.

What is the difference between task of and duty of?

Both refer to responsibility, but task often suggests a specific job or assignment.

of, about, against, to or for racism? of, about, for, in or on friendship? of, about, for, on or to thing? of, about, for, to or with sex? of, about, on, to or for moon? "of access" or "with access"? "of accommodation" or "for accommodation"? "of accuracy" or "for accuracy"? "of action" or "in action"? "of actor", "with actor" or "by actor"? "of address" or "to address"? "of administration" or "in administration"?

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