Cool MateExplain vs He's going to answer to us
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Explain
Top 1,000 (very common)A1verb
He's going to answer to us
Top 2,000 (common)
Most common: Explain
| Explain | He's going to answer to us | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/ɪkˈspleɪn/","/ɪkˈspleɪnz/","/ɪkˈspleɪnd/","/ɪkˈspleɪnɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ɪkˈspleɪn/","/ɪkˈspleɪnz/","/ɪkˈspleɪnd/","/ɪkˈspleɪnɪŋ/"]/ | 🇬🇧 //ˈhiz ˈɡəʊɪŋ tə ˈɑːnsə tə ʌs//🇺🇸 //ˈhiz ˈɡoʊɪŋ tə ˈæn.sər tə ʌs// |
| Meaning | To make something clear or easy to understand. | He will respond to us. |
| Example | Can you explain how this machine works? | He's going to answer to us after the meeting finishes. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 1,000 (very common) | Top 2,000 (common) |
| CEFR level | A1 | - |
| Part of speech | verb | |
| Collocations | in detail, fully, adequately, be able to, be unable to, can, about, to, explain everything, go a long way, some way, etc. towards/toward explaining something, in detail, fully, adequately, be able to, be unable to, can, about, to, explain everything, go a long way, some way, etc. towards/toward explaining something | answer to questions, answer to complaints, answer to feedback, answer to demands |
| Antonyms | confuse, obscure, complicate | - |
| Common mistakes | Using 'explain' without an object, e.g., 'I will explain' instead of 'I will explain the concept.', Confusing 'explain' with 'describe' – 'explain' is about making something clear, while 'describe' is about detailing., Misusing the tense, e.g., saying 'I explained' when referring to a future action. | Confused with 'respond' as a formal alternative., Incorrectly using 'answers' instead of 'answer' with a singular subject., Misunderstanding 'answer to' as just 'answer'. |
| Usage notes | Use 'explain' when you want to clarify or make something easier to understand. It's appropriate in both speaking and writing, but avoid using it in highly formal contexts where more technical terms might be preferred. | Used when someone will provide a reply or explanation. Appropriate in both spoken and written contexts. |
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Frequently asked questions: Explain vs He's going to answer to us
What's the difference between Explain and He's going to answer to us?
Explain: To make something clear or easy to understand. He's going to answer to us: He will respond to us.
Which is more common: Explain and He's going to answer to us?
Explain is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
Explain: Can you explain how this machine works? He's going to answer to us: He's going to answer to us after the meeting finishes.
Can I use Explain and He's going to answer to us interchangeably?
Not always. Explain and He's going to answer to us 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.