Cool MateGoods vs What things
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Goods
Top 5,000 (fairly common)B1noun
What things
Top 2,000 (common)
Most common: What things
| Goods | What things | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/ɡʊdz/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ɡʊdz/"]/ | 🇬🇧 //wɒt θɪŋz//🇺🇸 //wɑt θɪŋz// |
| Meaning | Items that are sold or traded. | Items or objects that you are talking about. |
| Example | The store sells a variety of goods from clothing to electronics. | What things do you like to do on weekends? |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 5,000 (fairly common) | Top 2,000 (common) |
| CEFR level | B1 | - |
| Part of speech | noun | |
| Collocations | consumer, electrical, electronic, make, manufacture, produce, lorry, train, vehicle, goods and services, consumer, electrical, electronic, make, manufacture, produce, lorry, train, vehicle, goods and services, consumer, electrical, electronic, make, manufacture, produce, lorry, train, vehicle, goods and services | what things to bring, what things to consider, what things are available |
| Antonyms | bad, evil | - |
| Common mistakes | Confused with 'services', which refers to actions performed for others., Using 'goods' in singular form; 'goods' is always plural., Mixing up with 'products', which can imply manufactured items. | Using 'what thing' when referring to multiple items instead of 'what things'., Inappropriately combining with verbs, e.g., 'What things can you do?' instead of 'What things do you do?', Confusing with 'which things', which is more specific. |
| Usage notes | Used in various contexts like business and commerce. Avoid using in informal situations where more casual terms like 'stuff' might be more appropriate. | Use 'what things' to inquire about items in various contexts, suitable in both casual and formal conversations. |
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Frequently asked questions: Goods vs What things
What's the difference between Goods and What things?
Goods: Items that are sold or traded. What things: Items or objects that you are talking about.
Which is more common: Goods and What things?
What things is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
Goods: The store sells a variety of goods from clothing to electronics. What things: What things do you like to do on weekends?
Can I use Goods and What things interchangeably?
Not always. Goods and What things 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.