“have been adopted to” vs “have been adopted for”

prepositions

I am not sure whether I should use "to" or "for" here:

Machine learning methods have been widely adopted to classify images?

Or

Machine learning methods have been widely adopted for classifying images?

Which sentence sounds better?

Best Answer

According to the examples found in the following ngram, both are in use; the frequency of the use of "for" was greater in the past and the overall number of occurrences of it is greater.

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Weighing in the balance in the aim of showing that "for" is much preferred by native speakers (of some sort, English, American, …), is the fact that the use of "to" appears to be associated importantly enough with writers from Asia or from Asian origin, and possibly other foreign users of the language.

This can be checked on the pages of examples: "adopted to classify", "adopted for classifying".

This tends to show that "for" is found to express purpose with a greater definiteness. To reinforce this contention there is the fact that in the OALD, "for" is found to be defined specifically as showing purpose, whereas "to" is not; this is however not the case for all references since purpose is mentioned in the Cambridge dictionary and in lexico.

(OALD) for used to show purpose or function
♦ a machine for slicing bread
♦ Let's go for a walk.
♦ Are you learning English for pleasure or for your work?
♦ What did you do that for (= Why did you do that)?

(OALD) to

Also, the infinitive clause (use of "to") shows a complex pattern of usage.

(Practical English Usage, 2nd edition 1996) We often use an infinitive to talk about a person's purpose —why he or she does something.
♦ I sat down to rest
♦ He went abroad to forget.
♦ To switch on, press red button.
In order to and so as to are normal before 'stative' verbs like be, know, and have.
♦ I watched him in order to know more abour t him. (More natural than than I watched him to know more about him.)
We normally use in order / so as before a negative infinitive.
♦ I'm going to leave now so as not to be late.
(NOT I'm going to leave now not to be late.

All of that tends to show that denoting purpose by means of "to" is a relatively uneasy process of unsure result and that the use of "for" is preferred because it seems straightforward enough.

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