Engelsk

explain

gb/ɪksplˈeɪn/ us/ɪksplˈeɪn/
A2 Engelsk
~ 600
Betydninger
0 betydninger
Udsagnsord A2 action
1

Make something understandable

To help someone understand something by giving details or reasons.

Brugsmønster: to explain [something] to [someone]
Typisk fejl:
Learners often forget to include 'to' before the person receiving the explanation (e.g., 'explain me' instead of 'explain to me').
Synonymer
clarify (Often used when removing confusion or making something easier to understand.) | describe (Focuses more on telling about the appearance, features, or process rather than on making it understood.)
Antonymer
confuse (Means to make something harder to understand.)
Ordforbindelser
explain clearly |explain briefly |explain fully |explain why |explain in detail
Temaer
communication |education |daily life
Eksempler
  • She explained the rules of the game to us.
  • Can you explain why you were late?
  • The teacher explained how to solve the problem.
  • He explained the situation in simple terms.
Læringseksempler
  • Please explain the word to me.
  • My father explained the story to me.
  • The guide explained the map.
  • I will explain my idea to you.
Udsagnsord B1 action
2

Justify or account for actions

To say why something happened or why you did something.

Brugsmønster: to explain [why/how] [something happened]
Typisk fejl:
Learners may confuse this with apologizing; explaining does not always mean saying sorry.
Synonymer
justify (Implies defending an action against criticism.) | account for (More formal; focuses on giving an explanation for presence, absence, or occurrence.)
Antonymer
conceal (Means to hide the reason or truth about something.)
Ordforbindelser
explain yourself |explain the reason |explain why
Temaer
communication |reasoning |core_vocabulary
Eksempler
  • He tried to explain his absence from work.
  • You need to explain why you missed the meeting.
  • She explained how the mistake occurred.
Læringseksempler
  • I will explain why I am late.
  • He explained how he lost his bag.
  • She explained why she was sad.
Grammatik
Opslagsform
explain
IPA
GB/ɪksplˈeɪn/
US/ɪksplˈeɪn/
Stavelser og tryk
ex - plain (2 stavelser)
Stress on 2nd syllable (plain)
Ordformer
Verb
  • Base: explain
  • 3rd Person Singular: explains
  • Present Participle: explaining
  • Past: explained
Ordfamilie
Forms
explains verb explaining verb explained verb
Core family
explanation noun A2
Related words
explainable adjective explanatory adjective B2 explainer noun
Negative and opposite forms
unexplainable adjective inexplicable adjective C1
Udtryk

care to explain?

1
/kˈɛɹ tə ɪksplˈeɪn ‖/
fixed phrase informal

Ask someone to justify something

Used to ask someone why they did something, often when you are surprised or annoyed.

Eksempler
  • You’re late again—care to explain?
  • Care to explain why my phone bill is so high?

explain away

1
/ɪksplˈeɪn əwˈeɪ/
phrasal verb

Make a problem seem less serious

To try to make something seem less bad by giving a reason for it.

Eksempler
  • He tried to explain away his mistake by blaming the computer.
  • They explained away the delay as a result of bad weather.

explain oneself

1
/ɪksplˈeɪn wˌʌnsˈɛlf/
fixed phrase

Clarify your own actions or words

To say more so that people understand what you mean or why you did something.

Eksempler
  • I don’t have to explain myself to you.
  • She felt she should explain herself after the meeting.

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