Exhibition vs I'll give you a demonstration

When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.

Exhibition

Top 3,000 (common)B1noun

I'll give you a demonstration

Top 2,000 (common)
Most common: I'll give you a demonstration
 ExhibitionI'll give you a demonstration
Pronunciation🇬🇧 /["/ˌeksɪˈbɪʃn/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˌeksɪˈbɪʃn/"]/🇬🇧 //aɪl ɡɪv juː ə ˌdɛmənˈstreɪʃən//🇺🇸 //aɪl ɡɪv ju ə ˌdɛmənˈstreɪʃən//
MeaningA public show where things like art or products are displayed.I will show you how to do something.
ExampleThe art exhibition showcased several contemporary artists.Let me give you a demonstration of how this machine works.
RegisterNeutralNeutral
How commonTop 3,000 (common)Top 2,000 (common)
CEFR levelB1-
Part of speechnoun
Collocationsbig, large, small, have, hold, host, open, close, end, area, centre/​center, floor, on exhibition, exhibition of, exhibition ongive a demonstration, provide a demonstration, offer a demonstration
Antonymsconcealment, secretI'll give you a concealment, I'll give you a suppression, I'll give you a hide, I'll give you a cover-up
Common mistakesConfusing 'exhibition' with 'exhibit' when they have different grammatical uses., Using 'exhibition' in non-public contexts where 'show' or 'display' might be more suitable., Omitting necessary articles (e.g., 'the exhibition') before 'exhibition'.Confuse with 'demonstrate' as a verb., Omit 'a' before 'demonstration'., Use incorrect tenses (e.g., say 'I will gave you').
Usage notesUse 'exhibition' in contexts related to art, trade shows, or public displays. It's appropriate in both casual and formal discussions, but avoid in everyday conversation when simpler words can suffice.Use this phrase when offering to show someone an example. Avoid in highly formal situations.

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I'll give you a demonstration

Frequently asked questions: Exhibition vs I'll give you a demonstration

What's the difference between Exhibition and I'll give you a demonstration?

Exhibition: A public show where things like art or products are displayed. I'll give you a demonstration: I will show you how to do something.

Which is more common: Exhibition and I'll give you a demonstration?

I'll give you a demonstration is the most common in everyday English.

Can you show an example of each?

Exhibition: The art exhibition showcased several contemporary artists. I'll give you a demonstration: Let me give you a demonstration of how this machine works.

Can I use Exhibition and I'll give you a demonstration interchangeably?

Not always. Exhibition and I'll give you a demonstration 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.

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