Cool MateDifficult vs It was very tough
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Difficult
Top 1,000 (very common)A1adjective
It was very tough
Top 2,000 (common)
Most common: Difficult
| Difficult | It was very tough | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/ˈdɪfɪkəlt/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈdɪfɪkəlt/"]/ | 🇬🇧 //ɪt wəz ˈvɛri tʌf//🇺🇸 //ɪt wəz ˈvɛri tʌf// |
| Meaning | Hard to do or understand. | It was very hard or difficult. |
| Example | This math problem is really difficult. | 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, prove, extremely, fairly, very, be, look, prove, extremely, fairly, very | very tough decision, tough competition, tough situation, tough times, tough exam |
| Antonyms | easy, simple, straightforward | - |
| Common mistakes | 'Difficult' is often confused with 'hard.', Some learners use 'difficult' in place of 'complicated.', Misplacing 'difficult' in a sentence, like saying 'it's difficult to me' instead of 'it's difficult for me.' | 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 | Use 'difficult' when describing tasks, problems, or situations that require a lot of effort. Avoid in very casual conversations; instead, use synonyms like 'hard.' | 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: Difficult vs It was very tough
What's the difference between Difficult and It was very tough?
Difficult: Hard to do or understand. It was very tough: It was very hard or difficult.
Which is more common: Difficult and It was very tough?
Difficult is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
Difficult: This math problem is really difficult. It was very tough: The exam was very tough, and many students struggled.
Can I use Difficult and It was very tough interchangeably?
Not always. Difficult 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.