In this weekly microblog, we bring to English language learners more useful content from the Macmillan Dictionary. These tips are based on areas of English (e.g. spelling, grammar, collocation, synonyms, etc) which learners often find difficult.
This week’s language tip helps with the verbs learn, study and teach.
Use learn with a direct object when you are talking about gaining knowledge or experience of a particular skill, especially when someone is teaching you or training you. The most frequent objects are skill, technique, craft, language, and the names of languages (such as English or Chinese):
The course provides an opportunity to learn new skills.
Ireland is a popular destination for those interested in learning English.
Use learn about when you are talking about gaining more knowledge of a broad area or subject:
✗ You can just sit in front of your television andlearn the cultureof other countries.
✓ You can just sit in front of your television and learn about the culture of other countries.
Don’t confuse learn, study, and teach. When the process of learning implies attending classes or doing research in order to gain an understanding of an academic subject, the verb to use is study (not learn):
✗ Getting a degree in architecture involveslearninghigher mathematics.
✓ Getting a degree in architecture involves studying higher mathematics.
Learn is never used to mean the same as teach:
✗ Universitylearns youhow to think and judge with your own mind.
✓ University teaches you how to think and judge with your own mind.
More language tips
Browse the list under the ‘language tips‘ tag here on the blog for more useful language tips.
Would you like to improve your vocabulary? Follow our daily tweets @MacLearnEnglish or visit our Learn English Facebook Page.
Email this Post
Hi Kati, thanks for this. It’s useful for English learners not to confuse these words, in particular “study” and “learn” are sometimes used the wrong way round. In fact even native speakers sometimes confuse them! Nice resource for learners.