What does “appoint sb to be” mean?
The phrase “appoint sb to be” (where “sb” stands for “somebody”) is commonly used in English to describe the act of officially choosing or naming someone for a particular role, position, or responsibility.
It is often followed by a noun that indicates the new role or title, such as chairperson, ambassador, or manager.
Structure
The typical grammatical structure is:
appoint + [someone] + to be + [position/title]
Example: The board appointed her to be CEO.
Examples in Context
- The president appointed him to be ambassador to France.
- They appointed Dr. Lee to be head of the research department.
- She was appointed to be team leader after the previous manager resigned.
Notes on Usage
In formal writing, “appoint sb as” is also common and often interchangeable with “appoint sb to be.” However, “to be” emphasizes the future state or role more explicitly.
Both are correct:
- They appointed her to be director.
- They appointed her as director.