Bob uses the van for picking up groceries.

[99bottles]

I found these two sentences on the Longman website (exemplifying use):

Bob uses the van for picking up groceries.

Most people now use their cars to go shopping.

Can someone please tell me whether there is a difference between use something for doing something and use something to do something and what that difference is?

 

[Tarheel]

There's no difference that I can see. Use what you prefer. (It is interesting how the one sentence is more specific than the other.)

 

[emsr2d2]

Effectively, there's no difference in meaning between "Bob uses his van for shopping for groceries" and "Bob uses his van for grocery shopping". However, I'd use the second. The same goes for "Most people use their cars to go shopping" and "Most people use their cars for shopping". However, in that example, I'd use the first, although in real life I'd say "Most people take their car when they go shopping".

 

[99bottles]

Effectively, there's no difference in meaning between "Bob uses his van for shopping for groceries" and "Bob uses his van for grocery shopping".

What about Bob uses his van to shop for groceries?

 

[Tarheel]

It's OK.