Brush vs Clean vs Paint vs Smooth vs Sweep

Cuándo usar cada una en inglés, con significado, registro y ejemplos.

Brush

Top 2000 (común) A2 verb

Clean

Top 1000 (muy común) A1 adjective

Paint

Top 1000 (muy común) A1 noun

Smooth

Top 1000 (muy común) B1 adjective

Sweep

Top 1000 (muy común) B2 verb

	Brush	Clean	Paint	Smooth	Sweep
Pronunciación	🇬🇧 /["/brʌʃ/","/ˈbrʌʃɪz/","/brʌʃt/","/ˈbrʌʃɪŋ/"]/ 🇺🇸 /["/brʌʃ/","/ˈbrʌʃɪz/","/brʌʃt/","/ˈbrʌʃɪŋ/"]/	🇬🇧 /["/kliːn/"]/ 🇺🇸 /["/kliːn/"]/	🇬🇧 /["/peɪnt/"]/ 🇺🇸 /["/peɪnt/"]/	🇬🇧 /["/smuːð/"]/ 🇺🇸 /["/smuːð/"]/	🇬🇧 /["/swiːp/","/swiːps/","/swept/","/ˈswiːpɪŋ/"]/ 🇺🇸 /["/swiːp/","/swiːps/","/swept/","/ˈswiːpɪŋ/"]/
Significado	Limpiar o hacer algo suave usando una herramienta con muchos pelos o cerdas rígidas. To clean or make something smooth using a tool with many stiff hair or bristles.	Hacer que algo esté libre de suciedad o desorden. To make something free from dirt or mess.	Un líquido de color usado para crear arte o cubrir superficies. A color liquid used to create art or cover surfaces.	Tener una superficie que es uniforme y plana, no áspera. Having a surface that is even and flat, not rough.	Limpiar el suelo con una escoba. To clean a floor using a broom.
Ejemplo	I need to brush my teeth before going to bed.	I like to keep my room clean so that it feels fresh and organized.	I need to buy some paint to finish my art project.	The road was smooth, making the drive very enjoyable.	I need to sweep the floor before our guests arrive.
Registro	Neutral	Neutral	Neutral	Neutral	Neutral
Qué tan común	Top 2000 (común)	Top 1000 (muy común)	Top 1000 (muy común)	Top 1000 (muy común)	Top 1000 (muy común)
Nivel CEFR	A2	A1	A1	B1	B2
Categoría gramatical	verb	adjective	noun	adjective	verb
Colocaciones	carefully, quickly, slowly, at, brush something clean, carefully, quickly, slowly, at, brush something clean, gently, lightly, softly, against, by, past	be, look, seem, extremely, fairly, very, clean and tidy, neat and clean, lovely and clean, be, look, seem, extremely, fairly, very, clean and tidy, neat and clean, lovely and clean, be, look, seem, extremely, fairly, very, clean and tidy, neat and clean, lovely and clean	thick, thin, fresh, blob, speck, splash, apply, put on, spray, dry, chip, flake, colour/​color, finish, brush, thick, thin, fresh, blob, speck, splash, apply, put on, spray, dry, chip, flake, colour/​color, finish, brush	be, feel, look, extremely, fairly, very, be, look, seem, extremely, fairly, very	sweep the floor, sweep away, sweep up, sweep under the rug
Antónimos	ignore, neglect, mess up	dirty, messy, unclean	erase, remove	rough, bumpy, uneven	dirty, scatter
Errores comunes	Using 'brush' as a noun instead of a verb, or vice versa., Confused with 'bush' in pronunciation., Incorrectly using 'brush' without an object (e.g., 'I will brush' instead of 'I will brush my hair').	Confusing 'clean' with 'clear' when referring to visibility., Using 'cleans' as a noun instead of the verb form., Mixing up 'cleaning' as a noun and a verb.	Confused with 'painter' referring to a person instead of the substance., Using 'paint' as a noun without context, e.g., 'I like to paint.' is vague., Overusing the term in non-artistic contexts, like saying 'I will paint my homework.'	Confused with 'smoothing'; remember 'smooth' describes the quality, while 'smoothing' refers to the action., Overusing in contexts that require more specific adjectives, like 'sleek' for design., Using as a verb incorrectly; 'smooth' is primarily an adjective.	Using 'sweep' when referring to vacuuming; instead, say 'vacuum'., Confusing the noun 'sweep' with the verb; remember, 'sweep' is an action.
Notas de uso	Usa 'cepillo' en situaciones cotidianas, como limpiar los dientes o pintar. En contextos formales, especifica el tipo de cepillo utilizado. Evita usarlo para implicar algo no literal a menos que sea en un contexto creativo. Use 'brush' in everyday situations, like cleaning teeth or painting. In formal contexts, specify the type of brush used. Avoid using it to imply anything non-literal unless in a creative context.	Se usa en conversaciones cotidianas, 'limpio' puede referirse a la limpieza física así como a contextos metafóricos (por ejemplo, un historial limpio). Evita usarlo en escritos muy formales. Used in everyday conversations, 'clean' can refer to physical cleanliness as well as metaphorical contexts (e.g., a clean record). Avoid using in very formal writing.	Usa 'pintura' cuando te refieras a aplicar color a superficies o crear obras de arte. Evita usarlo en contextos demasiado técnicos o al hablar de tipos específicos de pintura, a menos que se especifique. Use 'paint' when referring to applying color to surfaces or creating artwork. Avoid using in overly technical contexts or when discussing specific types of paint, unless specified.	Usa 'suave' para describir texturas, movimientos o transiciones. Es aceptable tanto en inglés hablado como escrito, pero puede no ser apropiado en contextos más técnicos. Por ejemplo, dirías 'piel suave' o 'operación suave', pero podrías evitarlo en discusiones científicas que requieren un lenguaje preciso. Use 'smooth' to describe textures, movements, or transitions. It's acceptable in both spoken and written English, but may not be appropriate in more technical settings. For example, you would say 'smooth skin' or 'smooth operation,' but might avoid it in scientific discussions that require precise language.	Se usa en contextos tanto casuales como formales. Es apropiado para discusiones sobre limpieza o para expresar una acción rápida. Evita usarlo en escritos muy formales sobre temas no relacionados con la limpieza. Used in both casual and formal contexts. Appropriate for cleaning discussions or expressing a quick action. Avoid using in highly formal writing about topics unrelated to cleaning.

Míralo en clips reales

I make sure he combs his hair and brushes his teeth every day.

Brush

He's clean.

So pretty please, with sugar on top, clean the fuckin' car.

We've been happy to let Batman clean up our streets for us until now.

He's clean.

So pretty please, with sugar on top, clean the fuckin' car.

Clean

Better Call Saul › S1 E1

As soon as it was cold enough, he'd find a nice, smooth patch of ice.

Smooth

Preguntas frecuentes: Brush vs Clean vs Paint vs Smooth vs Sweep

¿Cuál es la diferencia entre Brush, Clean, Paint, Smooth y Sweep?

Brush: To clean or make something smooth using a tool with many stiff hair or bristles. Clean: To make something free from dirt or mess. Paint: A color liquid used to create art or cover surfaces. Smooth: Having a surface that is even and flat, not rough. Sweep: To clean a floor using a broom.

¿Cuál es más avanzada: Brush, Clean, Paint, Smooth y Sweep?

Sweep es la de nivel más alto, en B2, en la escala CEFR.

¿Brush, Clean, Paint, Smooth y Sweep tienen el mismo nivel CEFR?

Brush: A2, Clean: A1, Paint: A1, Smooth: B1, Sweep: B2 en la escala CEFR.

¿Qué categoría gramatical son Brush, Clean, Paint, Smooth y Sweep?

Brush: verb, Clean: adjective, Paint: noun, Smooth: adjective, Sweep: verb.

¿Puedes mostrar un ejemplo de cada una?

Brush: I need to brush my teeth before going to bed. Clean: I like to keep my room clean so that it feels fresh and organized. Paint: I need to buy some paint to finish my art project. Smooth: The road was smooth, making the drive very enjoyable. Sweep: I need to sweep the floor before our guests arrive.

¿Puedo usar Brush, Clean, Paint, Smooth y Sweep indistintamente?

No siempre. Brush, Clean, Paint, Smooth y Sweep están relacionadas y a veces se solapan, pero difieren en registro, frecuencia y uso, así que cambiar una por otra puede alterar el significado o el tono. Revisa las diferencias de arriba antes de sustituir.