Cool MateKnow what to do vs Recognize
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Know what to do
Top 2,000 (common)
Recognize
Top 1,000 (very common)A2verb
Most common: Recognize
| Know what to do | Recognize | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 //nəʊ wɒt tə duː//🇺🇸 //noʊ wɑt tə du// | 🇬🇧 /["/ˈrekəɡnaɪz/","/ˈrekəɡnaɪzɪz/","/ˈrekəɡnaɪzd/","/ˈrekəɡnaɪzɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈrekəɡnaɪz/","/ˈrekəɡnaɪzɪz/","/ˈrekəɡnaɪzd/","/ˈrekəɡnaɪzɪŋ/"]/ |
| Meaning | Understand the correct actions to take in a situation. | to see or know someone or something again |
| Example | When faced with a big decision, it's important to know what to do. | I can recognize her voice even when she is not in the room. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 2,000 (common) | Top 1,000 (very common) |
| CEFR level | - | A2 |
| Part of speech | verb | |
| Collocations | know what to do next, know exactly what to do, know what to do in case of emergency | immediately, instantly, correctly, learn to, be easy to, as, by, from, clearly, fully, belatedly, must, need to, begin to, as, be commonly recognized, be generally recognized, be universally recognized, clearly, federally, formally, agree to, refuse to, as, be legally recognized, a refusal to recognize something |
| Antonyms | - | ignore, overlook, miss |
| Common mistakes | Confusing with 'knowing what to do' as a noun phrase., Using it in a past tense incorrectly, such as 'knew what to do.', Forgetting to pair it with an action verb. | Confusing 'recognize' with 'realize', Using 'recognize' without an object (e.g., 'I recognize' instead of 'I recognize her'), Mixing up tenses, like saying 'recognized' instead of 'recognize' in present situations |
| Usage notes | Use in both spoken and written language when advising or reassuring someone. Avoid in overly formal contexts. | Use 'recognize' when acknowledging something you already know. It's appropriate for everyday conversations but avoid in situations requiring formal language, like legal documents. |
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Frequently asked questions: Know what to do vs Recognize
What's the difference between Know what to do and Recognize?
Know what to do: Understand the correct actions to take in a situation. Recognize: to see or know someone or something again
Which is more common: Know what to do and Recognize?
Recognize is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
Know what to do: When faced with a big decision, it's important to know what to do. Recognize: I can recognize her voice even when she is not in the room.
Can I use Know what to do and Recognize interchangeably?
Not always. Know what to do and Recognize 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.