Share vs You can spare some then

When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.

Share

Top 1,000 (very common)A1verb

You can spare some then

InformalTop 5,000 (fairly common)
Most formal: ShareMost common: Share
 ShareYou can spare some then
Pronunciation🇬🇧 /["/ʃeə(r)/","/ʃeəz/","/ʃeəd/","/ˈʃeərɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ʃer/","/ʃerz/","/ʃerd/","/ˈʃerɪŋ/"]/🇬🇧 //juː kən spɛə sʌm ðɛn//🇺🇸 //ju kən spɛr sʌm ðɛn//
MeaningTo let someone use or have part of something that you have.You can give or use a little more time or resources.
ExampleI will share my toys with my friends.If you can spare some then, I would love to borrow that book.
RegisterNeutralInformal
How commonTop 1,000 (very common)Top 5,000 (fairly common)
CEFR levelA1-
Part of speechverb
Collocationsfully, equally, broadly, want to, would like to, be prepared to, among, between, in, widely shared, fully, equally, broadly, want to, would like to, be prepared to, among, between, in, widely shared, fully, equally, broadly, want to, would like to, be prepared to, among, between, in, widely sharedspare time, spare change, spare resources, spare parts, spare effort
Antonymshoard, keep, withhold-
Common mistakesUsing 'share' without an object (e.g., saying 'I will share' instead of 'I will share my lunch'), Confusing 'share' with 'sharpen', Incorrectly using 'share' as a noun rather than a verb (e.g., saying 'the share of the book' instead of 'the sharing of the book')Confusing with 'spare' as in 'spare room' meaning extra space., Using 'then' when 'than' is appropriate, especially in comparisons., Overusing in formal writing where more specific language is needed.
Usage notesUse 'share' when talking about dividing resources or experiences. It's appropriate in both spoken and written English. Avoid in very formal contexts where more specific terms may be required.This phrase is often used in casual conversations. It implies generosity or availability of something small. It may not be suitable in formal contexts.

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You can spare some then

Frequently asked questions: Share vs You can spare some then

What's the difference between Share and You can spare some then?

Share: To let someone use or have part of something that you have. You can spare some then: You can give or use a little more time or resources.

Which is more formal: Share and You can spare some then?

Share is the most formal of these.

Which is more common: Share and You can spare some then?

Share is the most common in everyday English.

Can you show an example of each?

Share: I will share my toys with my friends. You can spare some then: If you can spare some then, I would love to borrow that book.

Can I use Share and You can spare some then interchangeably?

Not always. Share and You can spare some then 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.

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