Cool MateBelieve vs Consider vs If you think vs Regard
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Believe
Top 1,000 (very common)A1verb
Consider
Top 1,000 (very common)A2verb
If you think
Common idiom
Regard
Top 2,000 (common)B2verb
| Believe | Consider | If you think | Regard | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/bɪˈliːv/","/bɪˈliːvz/","/bɪˈliːvd/","/bɪˈliːvɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/bɪˈliːv/","/bɪˈliːvz/","/bɪˈliːvd/","/bɪˈliːvɪŋ/"]/ | 🇬🇧 //kənˈsɪdə//🇺🇸 //kənˈsɪdər// | 🇬🇧 //ɪf jə θɪŋk//🇺🇸 //ɪf jə θɪŋk// | 🇬🇧 /["/rɪˈɡɑːd/","/rɪˈɡɑːdz/","/rɪˈɡɑːdɪd/","/rɪˈɡɑːdɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/rɪˈɡɑːrd/","/rɪˈɡɑːrdz/","/rɪˈɡɑːrdɪd/","/rɪˈɡɑːrdɪŋ/"]/ |
| Meaning | to think that something is true | To think about something carefully. | A phrase used to introduce a belief or opinion. | To think about someone or something in a certain way. |
| Example | I believe in fairytales. | I will consider your suggestion. | If you think you can win, you are halfway there. | Many people regard freedom as a fundamental human right. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 1,000 (very common) | Top 1,000 (very common) | Common idiom | Top 2,000 (common) |
| CEFR level | A1 | A2 | - | B2 |
| Part of speech | verb | verb | verb | |
| Collocations | deeply, fervently, firmly, cannot, be hard to, give somebody to, can hardly believe something, can scarcely believe something, not believe a word of something, deeply, fervently, firmly, cannot, be hard to, give somebody to, can hardly believe something, can scarcely believe something, not believe a word of something, deeply, fervently, firmly, cannot, be hard to, give somebody to, can hardly believe something, can scarcely believe something, not believe a word of something | consider carefully, consider an option, consider a possibility | if you think positively, if you think deeply, if you think otherwise | highly, well, generally, appear to, seem to, tend to, as, with, steadily, intently, curiously, continue to, with |
| Antonyms | deny, doubt | ignore, dismiss, overlook | - | disregard, neglect, disdain |
| Common mistakes | Confused with 'believe in' (which means to trust in the existence or value of something)., Using 'believe' without an object (e.g., 'I believe.' should specify what)., Mixing 'believe' with 'think' when conveying certainty (they have slight differences). | Confuse with 'considering' which is a different form., Omit the object, e.g., saying 'Consider' without specifying what., Mix with 'contemplate', which has a deeper meaning. | Misused when the opinion is not clearly personal., Omitted the subject leading to awkward sentences. | Confused with 'regards' when closing emails., Using 'regard' without an object (it's typically used with one)., Confusing it with 'regard as' and misplacing the subject. |
| Usage notes | Most often used in statements of faith or trust. Avoid in formal writing when expressing doubt; instead, use 'consider' or 'regard'. | Use 'consider' when you are thinking about options or possibilities. It’s appropriate in both spoken and written contexts, but may sound too formal in casual conversations. | Used in everyday conversation and writing to express thoughts; appropriate in most contexts but can be more assertive. | Used to express opinion or feeling towards someone or something. Often used in both written and spoken English. May not be suitable in very casual conversations. |
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Frequently asked questions: Believe vs Consider vs If you think vs Regard
What's the difference between Believe, Consider, If you think, and Regard?
Believe: to think that something is true Consider: To think about something carefully. If you think: A phrase used to introduce a belief or opinion. Regard: To think about someone or something in a certain way.
Which is more advanced: Believe, Consider, If you think, and Regard?
Regard is the highest level, at B2, on the CEFR scale.
Can you show an example of each?
Believe: I believe in fairytales. Consider: I will consider your suggestion. If you think: If you think you can win, you are halfway there. Regard: Many people regard freedom as a fundamental human right.
Can I use Believe, Consider, If you think, and Regard interchangeably?
Not always. Believe, Consider, If you think, and Regard 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.