Describe vs Explain vs Tell me what you know about

Quand utiliser chacun en anglais, avec le sens, le registre et des exemples.

Describe

Top 1000 (très courant)A1verb

Explain

Top 1000 (très courant)A1verb

Tell me what you know about

Top 2000 (courant)
 DescribeExplainTell me what you know about
Prononciation🇬🇧 /["/dɪˈskraɪb/","/dɪˈskraɪbz/","/dɪˈskraɪbd/","/dɪˈskraɪbɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/dɪˈskraɪb/","/dɪˈskraɪbz/","/dɪˈskraɪbd/","/dɪˈskraɪbɪŋ/"]/🇬🇧 /["/ɪkˈspleɪn/","/ɪkˈspleɪnz/","/ɪkˈspleɪnd/","/ɪkˈspleɪnɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ɪkˈspleɪn/","/ɪkˈspleɪnz/","/ɪkˈspleɪnd/","/ɪkˈspleɪnɪŋ/"]/🇬🇧 //tɛl miː wɒt jʊ nəʊ əˈbaʊt//🇺🇸 //tɛl mi wɑt ju noʊ əˈbaʊt//
SensDire à quoi ressemble quelque chose en détail.To say what something is like in detail.Rendre quelque chose clair ou facile à comprendre.To make something clear or easy to understand.Say what you understand about something.
ExempleCan you describe the beautiful landscape you saw yesterday?Can you explain how this machine works?Tell me what you know about the history of the city.
RegistreNeutreNeutreNeutre
FréquenceTop 1000 (très courant)Top 1000 (très courant)Top 2000 (courant)
Niveau CEFRA1A1-
Nature grammaticaleverbverb
Collocationsaccurately, exactly, in detail, cannot, be difficult to, be hard toin detail, fully, adequately, be able to, be unable to, can, about, to, explain everything, go a long way, some way, etc. towards/​toward explaining something, in detail, fully, adequately, be able to, be unable to, can, about, to, explain everything, go a long way, some way, etc. towards/​toward explaining somethingtell me about, tell me your thoughts, tell me more, tell me the details
Antonymessuppress, hide, obscureconfuse, obscure, complicate-
Erreurs fréquentesConfused with 'prescribe' which means to authorize the use of something., Using 'describe' without an object, like saying 'I describe.', Using incorrect tense or forms, e.g., 'described' instead of 'describe' for present actions.Using 'explain' without an object, e.g., 'I will explain' instead of 'I will explain the concept.', Confusing 'explain' with 'describe' – 'explain' is about making something clear, while 'describe' is about detailing., Misusing the tense, e.g., saying 'I explained' when referring to a future action.Omitting 'what you know' in questions., Incorrectly using 'tell' instead of 'say'., Not including the subject when asking.
Notes d'usageUtilisez 'décrire' lorsque vous voulez expliquer les caractéristiques de quelque chose. C'est adapté aux contextes formels ou informels, mais évitez de l'utiliser dans des situations très décontractées où des mots plus simples suffiraient.Use 'describe' when you want to explain features or characteristics of something. It's suitable for formal or informal contexts but avoid using it in very casual settings where simpler words may suffice.Utilisez 'expliquer' lorsque vous voulez clarifier ou rendre quelque chose plus facile à comprendre. C'est approprié à l'oral comme à l'écrit, mais évitez de l'utiliser dans des contextes très formels où des termes plus techniques pourraient être préférés.Use 'explain' when you want to clarify or make something easier to understand. It's appropriate in both speaking and writing, but avoid using it in highly formal contexts where more technical terms might be preferred.Use in formal discussions or when asking someone to share information. Avoid in casual settings.

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Describe
Explain
Tell me what you know about

Questions fréquentes : Describe vs Explain vs Tell me what you know about

Quelle est la différence entre Describe, Explain et Tell me what you know about ?

Describe: To say what something is like in detail. Explain: To make something clear or easy to understand. Tell me what you know about: Say what you understand about something.

Peux-tu montrer un exemple de chacun ?

Describe: Can you describe the beautiful landscape you saw yesterday? Explain: Can you explain how this machine works? Tell me what you know about: Tell me what you know about the history of the city.

Puis-je utiliser Describe, Explain et Tell me what you know about de façon interchangeable ?

Pas toujours. Describe, Explain et Tell me what you know about sont proches et se recoupent parfois, mais elles diffèrent par le registre, la fréquence et l'usage, donc remplacer l'une par l'autre peut changer le sens ou le ton. Regarde les différences ci-dessus avant de substituer.

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