Cool MateAnswer the question vs Clarify
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Answer the question
Top 1,000 (very common)
Clarify
Top 1,000 (very common)B2verb
| Answer the question | Clarify | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 //ˈɑːnsə ðə ˈkwɛsʧən//🇺🇸 //ˈænsər ðə ˈkwɛsʧən// | 🇬🇧 /["/ˈklærəfaɪ/","/ˈklærəfaɪz/","/ˈklærəfaɪd/","/ˈklærəfaɪɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈklærəfaɪ/","/ˈklærəfaɪz/","/ˈklærəfaɪd/","/ˈklærəfaɪɪŋ/"]/ |
| Meaning | Respond to what someone asks. | To make something clear or easy to understand. |
| Example | Please answer the question honestly during the interview. | I need you to clarify your instructions so that everyone understands the task. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 1,000 (very common) | Top 1,000 (very common) |
| CEFR level | - | B2 |
| Part of speech | verb | |
| Collocations | correctly answer the question, immediately answer the question, fail to answer the question, answer the question clearly, answer the question properly | fully, exactly, further, attempt to, seek to, try to |
| Antonyms | - | confuse, muddle, obscure |
| Common mistakes | Saying 'respond the question' instead of 'answer the question'., Using 'answers the question' when referring to someone else's response., Confusing 'answer the question' with 'ask the question'. | 'Clear' is sometimes incorrectly used instead of 'clarify.', Confusing 'clarify' with 'intensify' because they sound similar., Using 'clarify' as a noun instead of a verb. |
| Usage notes | Use this phrase when responding to inquiries in both formal and informal settings. It's suitable for everyday conversations and academic contexts. | Use 'clarify' when you want to make something more understandable. It's appropriate in both written and spoken contexts. Avoid using it in very casual conversations where simpler words would suffice. |
See it in real clips
Frequently asked questions: Answer the question vs Clarify
What's the difference between Answer the question and Clarify?
Answer the question: Respond to what someone asks. Clarify: To make something clear or easy to understand.
Can you show an example of each?
Answer the question: Please answer the question honestly during the interview. Clarify: I need you to clarify your instructions so that everyone understands the task.
Can I use Answer the question and Clarify interchangeably?
Not always. Answer the question and Clarify are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.