Cool MateConsider vs What if __ told someone
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Consider
Top 1,000 (very common)A2verb
What if __ told someone
Top 5,000 (fairly common)
Most common: Consider
| Consider | What if __ told someone | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 //kənˈsɪdə//🇺🇸 //kənˈsɪdər// | 🇬🇧 //wɒt ɪf//🇺🇸 //wɑt ɪf// |
| Meaning | To think about something carefully. | What happens if someone informs another person? |
| Example | I will consider your suggestion. | What if someone told you the secret to happiness? |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 1,000 (very common) | Top 5,000 (fairly common) |
| CEFR level | A2 | - |
| Part of speech | verb | |
| Collocations | consider carefully, consider an option, consider a possibility | what if scenario, what if question, what if situation, what if idea |
| Antonyms | ignore, dismiss, overlook | - |
| Common mistakes | Confuse with 'considering' which is a different form., Omit the object, e.g., saying 'Consider' without specifying what., Mix with 'contemplate', which has a deeper meaning. | Using 'who' instead of 'someone' in hypothetical phrases., Forgetting to use the past tense for actions not yet taken., Confusing 'what if' with 'if' phrases. |
| Usage notes | Use 'consider' when you are thinking about options or possibilities. It’s appropriate in both spoken and written contexts, but may sound too formal in casual conversations. | Commonly used to introduce hypothetical situations or scenarios. Appropriate in both spoken and written English, but avoid in very formal contexts. |
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Frequently asked questions: Consider vs What if __ told someone
What's the difference between Consider and What if __ told someone?
Consider: To think about something carefully. What if __ told someone: What happens if someone informs another person?
Which is more common: Consider and What if __ told someone?
Consider is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
Consider: I will consider your suggestion. What if __ told someone: What if someone told you the secret to happiness?
Can I use Consider and What if __ told someone interchangeably?
Not always. Consider and What if __ told someone 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.