Cool MateFree vs Nothing
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Free
Top 1,000 (very common)A1adjective
Nothing
Top 1,000 (very common)A1pronoun
| Free | Nothing | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/friː/","/ˈfriːə(r)/","/ˈfriːɪst/"]/🇺🇸 /["/friː/","/ˈfriːər/","/ˈfriːɪst/"]/ | 🇬🇧 /["/ˈnʌθɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈnʌθɪŋ/"]/ |
| Meaning | Not costing money or not being controlled by someone. | Not anything; no single thing. |
| Example | The concert tickets are free for everyone. | I have nothing to say about the matter. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 1,000 (very common) | Top 1,000 (very common) |
| CEFR level | A1 | A1 |
| Part of speech | adjective | pronoun |
| Collocations | be, keep something, completely, entirely, totally, be, seem, become, completely, be, come, absolutely, completely, entirely, for free, free of charge, for, be, feel, seem, completely, entirely, quite, from, be, feel, seem, completely, entirely, quite, from, be, roam, run, completely, entirely, totally, be, roam, run, completely, entirely, totally, be, become, remain, completely, entirely, totally, be, roam, run, completely, entirely, totally | nothing to worry about, nothing more, nothing new |
| Antonyms | expensive, costly | something, everything |
| Common mistakes | Confused with 'free of' which implies absence instead of no cost., Using with continuous tenses incorrectly, e.g., 'I am freeing my weekend.' | Confused with 'anything' in negative sentences., Used with a plural verb (e.g., 'nothing are')., Incorrectly used in affirmative sentences (e.g., 'I have nothing to do'). |
| Usage notes | Use 'free' in both formal and informal contexts. Avoid using it in a context where it implies lack of value or worth. | Used commonly in both spoken and written English. Can express absence or lack. Avoid using in formal contexts where more specific words may be required. |
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Frequently asked questions: Free vs Nothing
What's the difference between Free and Nothing?
Free: Not costing money or not being controlled by someone. Nothing: Not anything; no single thing.
Are Free and Nothing the same CEFR level?
Free: A1, Nothing: A1 on the CEFR scale.
Can I use Free and Nothing interchangeably?
Not always. Free and Nothing 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.