Cool MatePause vs You can rest now
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Pause
Top 1,000 (very common)B2verb
You can rest now
Top 2,000 (common)
Most common: Pause
| Pause | You can rest now | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/pɔːz/","/ˈpɔːzɪz/","/pɔːzd/","/ˈpɔːzɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/pɔːz/","/ˈpɔːzɪz/","/pɔːzd/","/ˈpɔːzɪŋ/"]/ | 🇬🇧 //jʊ kən rɛst naʊ//🇺🇸 //ju kən rɛst naʊ// |
| Meaning | To stop for a short time. | It's time to relax or stop working. |
| Example | Anita paused for a moment, then said: ‘All right’. | After a long meeting, you can rest now. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 1,000 (very common) | Top 2,000 (common) |
| CEFR level | B2 | - |
| Part of speech | verb | |
| Collocations | briefly, (for) a moment, momentarily, pause for breath, pause for thought, pause only long enough to do something | take a break, sit down, close your eyes |
| Antonyms | continue, proceed | - |
| Common mistakes | Confusing 'pause' with 'cause' in pronunciation., Using 'paws' (like animal feet) instead of 'pause'., Incorrectly using 'pausing' as a noun instead of a verb. | Using 'rest' incorrectly as a noun (e.g., 'a rest now')., Confusing 'rest' with 'resting' as a continuous action., Misplacing the phrase in a sentence structure. |
| Usage notes | Used in both spoken and written language; appropriate in casual and formal settings. Avoid in very formal speeches where a more structured term may be needed. | Use this phrase to inform someone they can take a break. It is appropriate in both casual and formal settings. |
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Frequently asked questions: Pause vs You can rest now
What's the difference between Pause and You can rest now?
Pause: To stop for a short time. You can rest now: It's time to relax or stop working.
Which is more common: Pause and You can rest now?
Pause is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
Pause: Anita paused for a moment, then said: ‘All right’. You can rest now: After a long meeting, you can rest now.
Can I use Pause and You can rest now interchangeably?
Not always. Pause and You can rest now 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.