Cool MateMatter vs Thing
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Matter
Top 1,000 (very common)A2noun
Thing
High-frequency chunkA1noun
| Matter | Thing | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/ˈmætə(r)/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈmætər/"]/ | 🇬🇧 /["/θɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/θɪŋ/"]/ |
| Meaning | A subject or issue that needs to be discussed or considered. | an object, idea, or event |
| Example | Does it really matter what others think of you? | The thing I love most about summer is the long days. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 1,000 (very common) | High-frequency chunk |
| CEFR level | A2 | A1 |
| Part of speech | noun | noun |
| Collocations | important, pressing, serious, bring up, broach, raise, be related to, pertain to, relate to, in a/the matter, on a/the matter, matter for, the crux of the matter, the heart of the matter, let the matter drop, complicate, confuse, make worse, solid, organic, vegetable, solid, organic, vegetable | basic, essential, make, basic, essential, make, breakfast, lunch, etc., get together, pack, put on, good, great, positive, loads, lots, plenty, do, make up, say, go on, happen, occur, thing about, among other things, have better things to do, kind/sort of thing, think over/through, look at, see, stand, be going, change, all things being equal, other things being equal, all things considered, proper, right, wrong, do, say, just the thing, not quite the thing, hear, know, notice, little, pretty, sweet |
| Antonyms | trifle, insignificance | nothing, nobody |
| Common mistakes | Confusing 'matter' with 'material' — they have different meanings., Using 'mattered' instead of 'matter' in present tense situations., Overusing 'matter' in every situation — it’s better for specific contexts. | Using 'thing' instead of a more specific noun., Confused with 'things' as a verb form., Overusing 'thing' in formal contexts. |
| Usage notes | Used when something is important or relevant to someone. More common in informal contexts when discussing personal feelings or opinions. Avoid using it in very formal writing. | Use 'thing' when referring to objects or concepts when you don't want to be specific. Avoid in formal writing where precision is needed. |
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Frequently asked questions: Matter vs Thing
What's the difference between Matter and Thing?
Matter: A subject or issue that needs to be discussed or considered. Thing: an object, idea, or event
Which is more advanced: Matter and Thing?
Matter is the highest level, at A2, on the CEFR scale.
Are Matter and Thing the same CEFR level?
Matter: A2, Thing: A1 on the CEFR scale.
What part of speech are Matter and Thing?
Matter: noun, Thing: noun.
Can you show an example of each?
Matter: Does it really matter what others think of you? Thing: The thing I love most about summer is the long days.
Can I use Matter and Thing interchangeably?
Not always. Matter and Thing 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.