See - Get - Follow - Grasp - Comprehend
These words all mean to know or realize sth, for example why sth happens, how sth works or what sth means.
Understand to know or realize the meaning of words, a language, what sb says, etc.; to know or realize how or why sth happens, how it works or why it is important: I don't understand the instructions. | Doctors still don’t understand much about the disease.
See to understand what is happening, what sb is saying, how sth works or how important sth is: ‘It opens like this.’ ‘Oh, I see.’ | Oh yes, I see what you mean.
Get (informal) to understand a joke, what sb is trying to tell you, or a situation that they are trying to describe: She didn’t get the joke. | I don’t get you.
Follow to understand an explanation, a story or the meaning of sth: Sorry—I don’t quite follow. | The plot is almost impossible to follow.
Grasp to come to understand a fact, an idea or how to do sth: They failed to grasp the importance of his words.
Comprehend (often used in negative statements) (formal) to understand a fact, idea or reason: The concept of infinity is almost impossible for the human mind to comprehend.
UNDERSTAND OR GRASP?
You can use understand or grasp for the action of realizing the meaning or importance of sth for the first time: It’s a difficult concept for children to understand/ grasp. Only understand can be used to talk about languages, words or writing: I don’t grasp French/the instructions.
PATTERNS
*to understand/see/get/follow/grasp/comprehend what/why/how...
*to understand/see/grasp/comprehend that...
*to understand/see/get/grasp the point/idea (of sth)
*a to be easy/difficult/hard to understand/see/follow/ grasp/comprehend
*to fully understand/see/grasp/comprehend sth
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Top Tips Abz Ingles - Notes on usage - Synonyms
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