Words / A2

und-uh-STAND/ˌʌndəˈstænd/

To understand is to know the meaning. Do you understand? Understand someone / a language / a problem. Know is having a fact; understand is seeing how it fits. Understood is the past. Understanding can be a noun or an adjective (patient).

Meaning

To know the meaning of something, or why it happens.

Examples

• “Do you understand this sentence?”
• “I don’t understand this joke.”
• “She understood the question.”

Good to know

understand + noun/clause. Past: understood. know = have a fact.

Near in meaning

get

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