Cool MateHard vs It was very tough
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Hard
Top 1,000 (very common)A1adjective
It was very tough
Top 2,000 (common)
Most common: Hard
| Hard | It was very tough | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/hɑːd/"]/🇺🇸 /["/hɑːrd/"]/ | 🇬🇧 //ɪt wəz ˈvɛri tʌf//🇺🇸 //ɪt wəz ˈvɛri tʌf// |
| Meaning | Not easy; needing a lot of effort. | It was very hard or difficult. |
| Example | The exam was very hard, and I struggled to answer all the questions. | The exam was very tough, and many students struggled. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 1,000 (very common) | Top 2,000 (common) |
| CEFR level | A1 | - |
| Part of speech | adjective | |
| Collocations | be, look, seem, extremely, fairly, very, be, look, seem, extremely, fairly, very, be, feel, look, extremely, fairly, very, rock hard | very tough decision, tough competition, tough situation, tough times, tough exam |
| Antonyms | easy, soft, gentle | - |
| Common mistakes | 'Hard' often confused with 'hardly', which means 'barely'., Using 'hard' where 'hardy' (meaning strong) is intended., Misplacing 'hard' in phrasal verbs, e.g., saying 'hard to give up' instead of 'hard to let go'. | Saying 'It was toughly' instead of 'It was tough.', Confusing 'tough' with 'though,' as they have different meanings., Using 'tough' to describe something soft or easy. |
| Usage notes | Used to describe tasks or situations that require great effort or are difficult to understand. It can be used in both formal and informal settings, but may sound more informal in phrases like 'hard as nails'. | Used to express the difficulty of a situation. Appropriate in both spoken and written contexts, but may be less common in formal writing. |
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Frequently asked questions: Hard vs It was very tough
What's the difference between Hard and It was very tough?
Hard: Not easy; needing a lot of effort. It was very tough: It was very hard or difficult.
Which is more common: Hard and It was very tough?
Hard is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
Hard: The exam was very hard, and I struggled to answer all the questions. It was very tough: The exam was very tough, and many students struggled.
Can I use Hard and It was very tough interchangeably?
Not always. Hard and It was very tough 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.