Cool MateContribute vs We can give him that
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Contribute
Top 2,000 (common)B2verb
We can give him that
Top 2,000 (common)
| Contribute | We can give him that | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/kənˈtrɪbjuːt//ˈkɒntrɪbjuːt/","/kənˈtrɪbjuːts//ˈkɒntrɪbjuːts/","/kənˈtrɪbjuːtɪd//ˈkɒntrɪbjuːtɪd/","/kənˈtrɪbjuːtɪŋ//ˈkɒntrɪbjuːtɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/kənˈtrɪbjuːt/","/kənˈtrɪbjuːts/","/kənˈtrɪbjuːtɪd/","/kənˈtrɪbjuːtɪŋ/"]/ | 🇬🇧 //wi kən ɡɪv hɪm ðæt//🇺🇸 //wi kən ɡɪv hɪm ðæt// |
| Meaning | To give something, like money or help, to a cause or project. | We are able to provide that to him. |
| Example | Everyone is encouraged to contribute to the community project. | We can give him that book he wanted. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 2,000 (common) | Top 2,000 (common) |
| CEFR level | B2 | - |
| Part of speech | verb | |
| Collocations | enormously, generously, greatly, be asked to, be encouraged to, to, towards/toward, have little, a lot, etc. to contribute (to something), greatly, importantly, largely, to, regularly, to | give him that chance, give him that opportunity, give him that look, give him that support, give him that advice |
| Antonyms | withdraw, take away, deprive | - |
| Common mistakes | Confused with 'attribute' — they have different meanings., Using 'contribute' without an object, which is incorrect., Mixing up 'contribute to' with 'contribute for' — the correct phrase is 'contribute to'. | Incorrect placement of 'that' within the sentence., Omitting 'can' when expressing ability., Confusing 'give' with 'give to' in different contexts. |
| Usage notes | Use 'contribute' when you are giving something to a group effort. It's appropriate in most contexts, both formal and informal, especially when discussing teamwork or donations. | Use this phrase in everyday conversations when offering help or a gift. It’s appropriate in casual and formal contexts. |
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Frequently asked questions: Contribute vs We can give him that
What's the difference between Contribute and We can give him that?
Contribute: To give something, like money or help, to a cause or project. We can give him that: We are able to provide that to him.
Can you show an example of each?
Contribute: Everyone is encouraged to contribute to the community project. We can give him that: We can give him that book he wanted.
Can I use Contribute and We can give him that interchangeably?
Not always. Contribute and We can give him that 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.