Worry vs You should care more about them
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Worry
Top 1,000 (very common)A2verb
You should care more about them
Top 2,000 (common)
Most common: Worry
| Worry | You should care more about them | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/ˈwʌri/","/ˈwʌriz/","/ˈwʌrid/","/ˈwʌriɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈwɜːri/","/ˈwɜːriz/","/ˈwɜːrid/","/ˈwɜːriɪŋ/"]/ | 🇬🇧 //juː ʃəd kɛə mɔːr əˈbaʊt ðɛm//🇺🇸 //ju ʃəd kɛr mɔr əˈbaʊt ðɛm// |
| Meaning | To feel uneasy or anxious about something. | It means to pay more attention to or be more concerned about someone. |
| Example | I tend to worry about my exams every time. | You should care more about them; they really need your support right now. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 1,000 (very common) | Top 2,000 (common) |
| CEFR level | A2 | - |
| Part of speech | verb | |
| Collocations | a lot, particularly, really, not let something, not need to, begin to, about, for, with, can’t help worrying, enough to worry about, nothing to worry about, a lot, particularly, really, not let something, not need to, begin to, about, for, with, can’t help worrying, enough to worry about, nothing to worry about, a lot, particularly, really, not let something, not need to, begin to, about, for, with, can’t help worrying, enough to worry about, nothing to worry about | care about someone, should care more, care for their well-being, care deeply, care less |
| Antonyms | calm, relax, dismiss | - |
| Common mistakes | Confused with 'worry' vs 'care' — 'worry' implies anxiety., Incorrectly use 'worrying' as a noun instead of a verb., Using 'worry' without an object, e.g., 'I worry' should be followed by 'about something.' | Omitting 'should' makes it sound like a command., Using 'care for' instead of 'care about' changes the meaning., Confusing 'them' with 'they', which is incorrect in this context. |
| Usage notes | Use 'worry' for general concerns. It's neutral but can sound weak in more serious contexts. Avoid in professional settings unless discussing stress. | This phrase is used to encourage someone to be more considerate. It's appropriate in informal and formal contexts but can be perceived as slightly critical depending on tone. |
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Frequently asked questions: Worry vs You should care more about them
What's the difference between Worry and You should care more about them?
Worry: To feel uneasy or anxious about something. You should care more about them: It means to pay more attention to or be more concerned about someone.
Which is more common: Worry and You should care more about them?
Worry is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
Worry: I tend to worry about my exams every time. You should care more about them: You should care more about them; they really need your support right now.
Can I use Worry and You should care more about them interchangeably?
Not always. Worry and You should care more about them 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.