A1 verb Neutre #172 le plus courant

explain

/ɪkˈspleɪn/

To make something clear or easy to understand by describing it in more detail or giving reasons for it. It is often used to tell someone how something works or why a situation happened.

Exemples

3 sur 5
1

Can you explain the rules of the game to me?

Can you explain the rules of the game to me?

2

The witness was asked to explain her actions on that night.

The witness was asked to explain her actions on that night.

3

I don't get it, can you explain it again?

I don't get it, can you explain it again?

Famille de mots

Nom
explanation
Verb
explain
Adverbe
explanatorily
Adjectif
explanatory
Apparenté
explainer
💡

Astuce mémo

Think of making something 'plain' (flat and clear). When you explain, you make the meaning plain and easy to see.

Quiz rapide

Please ____ the homework to me; I don't understand it.

Correct !

La bonne réponse est : explain

Exemples

1

Can you explain the rules of the game to me?

everyday

Can you explain the rules of the game to me?

2

The witness was asked to explain her actions on that night.

formal

The witness was asked to explain her actions on that night.

3

I don't get it, can you explain it again?

informal

I don't get it, can you explain it again?

4

The textbook seeks to explain the laws of thermodynamics.

academic

The textbook seeks to explain the laws of thermodynamics.

5

We need to explain the new budget to the board of directors.

business

We need to explain the new budget to the board of directors.

Famille de mots

Nom
explanation
Verb
explain
Adverbe
explanatorily
Adjectif
explanatory
Apparenté
explainer

Collocations courantes

explain clearly explain clearly
explain why explain why
explain how explain how
explain the situation explain the situation
explain in detail explain in detail

Phrases Courantes

explain yourself

explain yourself

let me explain

let me explain

hard to explain

hard to explain

Souvent confondu avec

explain vs describe

Describe focuses on what something looks like, whereas explain focuses on how or why something is the way it is.

📝

Notes d'usage

When using 'explain' with a person, you must use the preposition 'to' (e.g., 'explain to me'). It is often followed by 'that', 'how', or 'why'.

⚠️

Erreurs courantes

Many learners say 'explain me the problem' instead of the correct 'explain the problem to me'.

💡

Astuce mémo

Think of making something 'plain' (flat and clear). When you explain, you make the meaning plain and easy to see.

📖

Origine du mot

From the Latin 'explanare', which means 'to make level' or 'to flatten out', figuratively making something clear.

Modèles grammaticaux

explain something to someone explain that [clause] explain why/how [clause]
🌍

Contexte culturel

In many English-speaking educational settings, students are encouraged to 'explain their reasoning' to show they understand the process, not just the answer.

Quiz rapide

Please ____ the homework to me; I don't understand it.

Correct !

La bonne réponse est : explain

Mots lis

to

A1

Used to indicate the place, person, or thing that someone or something moves toward. It can also mark the recipient of an action or the limit of a range.

and

A1

A primary conjunction used to connect words, phrases, or clauses that are grammatically equal. It indicates addition, a sequence of events, or a relationship between two things.

a

A1

A word used before a singular noun that is not specific or is being mentioned for the first time. It is used only before words that begin with a consonant sound to indicate one of something.

that

A1

This word is a demonstrative pronoun used to indicate a specific person, object, or idea that is further away in space or time from the speaker. It is also used to refer back to something that has already been mentioned or to introduce a clause that identifies something.

I

A1

The pronoun 'I' is used by a speaker or writer to refer to themselves as the subject of a verb. It is the first-person singular subject pronoun in English and is always capitalized regardless of its position in a sentence.

for

A1

Used to show who is intended to have or use something, or to explain the purpose or reason for an action. It is also frequently used to indicate a specific duration of time.

not

A1

A function word used to express negation or denial. It is primarily used to make a sentence or phrase negative, often following an auxiliary verb or the verb 'to be'.

with

A1

A preposition used to indicate that people or things are together, in the same place, or performing an action together. It can also describe the instrument used to perform an action or a characteristic that someone or something has.

he

A1

A pronoun used to refer to a male person or animal that has already been mentioned or is easily identified. It functions as the subject of a sentence.

you

A1

Used to refer to the person or people that the speaker is addressing. It is the second-person pronoun used for both singular and plural subjects and objects.

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