lead to

lead to — phrasal verb

  • lead tobase form
  • leads to3rd person singular
  • leading to-ing form
  • led topast simple

1. to have something as a later effect or outcome, so that one event makes another

1.片語動詞及物B1
釋義

to have something as a later effect or outcome, so that one event makes another one happen

例句

Skipping breakfast every morning can lead to tiredness by lunchtime.

lead to + noun naming a later outcome

The heavy rain led to serious flooding across several villages near the river.

past tense led to + noun for a clear cause and effect

同義詞
  • result in

    very close in meaning; slightly more formal and common in reports

  • cause

    more direct; takes the result straight as its object without 'to'

  • bring about

    suggests making a change happen, often a deliberate or important one

反義詞
  • prevent

    stops the result from happening rather than causing it

文法句型

lead to + noun

lead to + something happening

用法筆記

Subject is usually a cause, condition, or action; the object names the effect that follows. Frequently used to describe chains of cause and effect, so the object can be a noun or an -ing form.

常見錯誤

❌The fire lead to many problems last year.
✅The fire led to many problems last year.
💡past tense of 'lead' is 'led', spelled without the second 'a'.
❌Eating too much sugar leads to be ill.
✅Eating too much sugar leads to illness.
💡after 'lead to' use a noun or an -ing form, not a bare verb.

2. if a road, path, door, or similar thing leads to a place, it goes there or opens

2.片語動詞及物B1
釋義

if a road, path, door, or similar thing leads to a place, it goes there or opens onto it

例句

The narrow path leads to a quiet beach behind the hills.

path leads to + place

This back door leads to the kitchen and then the garden.

door leads to + room

同義詞
  • go to

    plainer; can describe both routes and people travelling

  • open onto

    used mainly for doors and windows that give access to a space

文法句型

[road/path/door] leads to + place

用法筆記

Distinguish from sense 1: here the subject is a physical route (road, path, door, stairs) and the meaning is about where it goes, not about cause and effect.

常見錯誤

❌The path leads at the lake.
✅The path leads to the lake.
💡use 'to' before the destination, not 'at'.

3. to take a person to a place or thing by going there together and showing the way

3.片語動詞及物B1
釋義

to take a person to a place or thing by going there together and showing the way

例句

The waiter led the couple to a small table by the window.

lead someone to + place, going together

Iris took my hand and led me to the front of the long queue.

lead someone to + position

同義詞
  • guide

    stresses showing the way, often without physical contact

  • show to

    common for taking guests to a seat or room, as in 'show someone to their table'

  • escort

    more formal; suggests going with someone for safety or politeness

反義詞
  • follow

    the opposite role: going behind rather than showing the way

文法句型

lead someone to + place/thing

用法筆記

Object is a person; the place follows 'to'. Differs from sense 2 because a human subject actively goes with the person and shows the way, rather than a route simply running to a place.

常見錯誤

❌She led to me the table.
✅She led me to the table.
💡the person being guided comes right after 'led', before 'to'.