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C2 verb #1,500 le plus courant 5 min de lecture

apart

At the A1 level, 'apart' is used to describe simple physical distance. It helps you say that two things are not touching. For example, 'The two chairs are apart.' It is a basic way to talk about space. You might use it when talking about people standing in a line or objects on a table. It is the opposite of 'together'.
At the A2 level, you start using 'apart' in common phrasal verbs like 'take apart'. You might talk about taking a toy apart or taking a pen apart. You also use it to describe people who are not in the same place, like 'My parents are apart right now.' It begins to move from just objects to people and simple actions.
At the B1 level, you use 'apart' to talk about time and more complex situations. You can say 'The two meetings are three hours apart.' You also use 'apart from' to mean 'except for'. For example, 'Apart from the rain, the holiday was great.' This shows you can use the word to organize information and express exceptions.
At the B2 level, you use 'apart' to describe differences and relationships. You use 'tell apart' to show you can see the difference between two things. 'It's hard to tell the two cars apart.' You also use 'fall apart' to describe things like a plan or a cheap bag that breaks easily. You are starting to use the word for abstract ideas.
At the C1 level, 'apart' is used for nuanced descriptions of separation. You might use 'set apart' to describe someone's unique skills. 'Her talent sets her apart from other artists.' You use it in formal writing to describe social or political divisions. You understand the emotional weight of being 'apart' from someone and can use it in sophisticated metaphors.
At the C2 level, 'apart' describes the fundamental nature of existence and complex systems. You use it to discuss the disintegration of philosophical arguments or the structural 'falling apart' of civilizations. You use it with precision in academic contexts to distinguish between highly similar variables. It becomes a tool for deep analysis and eloquent expression of distance and difference.
Entraîne-toi Exemples Notes et astuces

apart en 30 secondes

  • Indicates physical distance or a gap between two or more objects or people.
  • Describes the process of breaking down or disassembling something, literally or metaphorically.
  • Highlights unique qualities that make something distinct or superior to others.
  • Used to express exceptions or to exclude specific items from a general statement.

At its core, the word apart functions as a descriptor of distance, distinction, and disintegration. While traditionally categorized as an adverb or adjective, in a C2 linguistic context, we treat the concept of 'apart' as a dynamic state of separation. It suggests a movement away from a unified whole, whether that separation is physical, chronological, or conceptual. When we speak of things being apart, we are often highlighting the space—be it a vacuum or a filled interval—that exists between two entities. This distance is not merely a measurement; it is a defining characteristic of their relationship.

Physical Disjunction
The state of being at a distance from another person or thing. For example, standing two meters apart ensures social distancing protocols are met.
Conceptual Differentiation
The quality that makes one thing distinct from another. This is often seen in the phrase 'set apart', which denotes excellence or uniqueness.
Structural Disintegration
The process of a complex system breaking into its constituent parts, often used metaphorically for relationships or societies.

"The sheer brilliance of her analytical mind sets her apart from her contemporaries in the field of theoretical physics."

— Example of conceptual distinction

In C2 usage, 'apart' often carries a weight of finality or profound difference. It is not just about 'not being together'; it is about the inherent qualities that prevent unification. When a society falls apart, it isn't just a minor disagreement; it is the total collapse of the social contract. When we take a complex argument apart, we are performing a rigorous deconstruction to find the flaws in its logic. This 'verb-like' action of separation is what defines the advanced application of the term.

"The two theories are poles apart, despite sharing a common origin in classical mechanics."

"They had been apart for so long that their reunion felt like a meeting of strangers."

"The architect decided to pull the two wings of the building apart to create a central courtyard."

"His ability to tell subtle nuances apart is what makes him a master sommelier."

Temporal Gap
Refers to the time between events, such as 'The two eruptions occurred only decades apart'.
Emotional Distance
The feeling of being disconnected from others, even when physically close.

Using 'apart' effectively requires an understanding of its phrasal partnerships. At the C2 level, you should focus on how 'apart' interacts with verbs to create nuanced meanings. The most common structures involve movement (pulling, taking, falling) or evaluation (setting, telling).

  • Set Apart: This is used to indicate superiority or a distinguishing feature. 'His dedication sets him apart.'
  • Fall Apart: Used for systems, objects, or emotional states that are failing. 'The deal fell apart at the last minute.'
  • Take Apart: This can be literal (disassembling a machine) or metaphorical (critiquing an idea). 'The lawyer took the witness's testimony apart.'
  • Tell Apart: Used when distinguishing between two similar things. 'The twins are so similar it is impossible to tell them apart.'

In formal contexts, 'apart' can be used to exclude items from a general statement using the phrase 'apart from'. This is synonymous with 'except for' or 'besides'. For example, 'Apart from a few minor errors, the report was flawless.' This usage is vital for precise academic and professional communication.

You will encounter 'apart' in a variety of high-level contexts. In literature, it is often used to describe the tragic separation of lovers or the internal fragmentation of a protagonist's mind. In scientific discourse, it describes the distance between celestial bodies or the separation of chemical compounds. In political commentary, it is frequently used to describe 'polarized' societies where groups are 'poles apart'.

Journalistically, 'apart' appears in headlines regarding the breakdown of negotiations or the 'falling apart' of international treaties. In the workplace, a manager might 'set apart' a specific budget for innovation, or a team might 'take apart' a project's failure to learn from it. The word is ubiquitous because separation is a fundamental human experience.

The most frequent error is the confusion between apart and a part. While they sound identical, their meanings are opposite. 'Apart' means separated, while 'a part' means a piece of a whole. Saying 'I want to be apart of this team' actually means you want to be separated from them, which is the opposite of the intended 'I want to be a part of this team'.

Another mistake is the redundant use of 'from' in phrases like 'separate apart'. You should use either 'separate' or 'apart', but combining them is often tautological. Additionally, learners sometimes struggle with the placement of 'apart' in phrasal verbs. For instance, 'take apart it' is incorrect; it must be 'take it apart' when using a pronoun.

While 'apart' is versatile, several synonyms offer more specific nuances. Asunder is a literary and archaic term for being torn into pieces. Sunder (the verb) implies a forceful separation. Detached suggests a lack of emotional connection or a physical separation that is clean and intentional. Isolated implies being apart from everything else, often suggesting loneliness or lack of support.

In technical contexts, discrete is used to describe things that are separate and distinct, especially in mathematics and data. Divergent is used when two things are moving apart in different directions, often used for opinions or evolutionary paths. Choosing the right word depends on whether the separation is physical, emotional, or logical.

How Formal Is It?

Formel

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Informel

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Argot

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Guide de prononciation

UK əˈpɑːt
US əˈpɑːrt

Niveau de difficulté

Grammaire à connaître

Exemples par niveau

1

The two toys are apart.

Los dos juguetes están separados.

Used as an adjective.

2

Keep your feet apart.

Mantén los pies separados.

Used as an adverb of manner.

3

They live apart.

Ellos viven separados.

Describes a state of living.

4

The books are apart.

Los libros están separados.

Simple predicate adjective.

5

Stand apart from the wall.

Aléjate de la pared.

Used with 'from'.

6

The chairs are 1 meter apart.

Las sillas están a 1 metro de distancia.

Used with a measurement.

7

Put the pieces apart.

Pon las piezas separadas.

Imperative use.

8

Are they apart?

¿Están separados?

Interrogative form.

1

I can take the pen apart.

Puedo desarmar el bolígrafo.

Phrasal verb: take apart.

2

The box fell apart.

La caja se deshizo.

Phrasal verb: fall apart.

3

We were apart for a week.

Estuvimos separados por una semana.

Temporal separation.

4

Keep the dogs apart.

Mantén a los perros separados.

Object complement.

5

The two towns are far apart.

Los dos pueblos están muy lejos.

Adverbial phrase.

6

She took the clock apart.

Ella desarmó el reloj.

Transitive phrasal verb.

7

Apart from him, everyone came.

Aparte de él, todos vinieron.

Prepositional phrase 'apart from'.

8

They moved apart.

Se alejaron.

Verb of motion + apart.

1

Apart from the price, I like the car.

Aparte del precio, me gusta el coche.

Expressing an exception.

2

The events were years apart.

Los eventos ocurrieron con años de diferencia.

Measuring time intervals.

3

He took the engine apart to fix it.

Desarmó el motor para arreglarlo.

Purpose clause with phrasal verb.

4

I can't tell the twins apart.

No puedo distinguir a los gemelos.

Phrasal verb: tell apart.

5

The family was torn apart by the war.

La familia fue destrozada por la guerra.

Passive voice, metaphorical use.

6

The two houses are 50 miles apart.

Las dos casas están a 50 millas de distancia.

Specific distance measurement.

7

Apart from English, she speaks French.

Además de inglés, ella habla francés.

Using 'apart from' as 'in addition to'.

8

The old book is falling apart.

El libro viejo se está cayendo a pedazos.

Continuous aspect.

1

His accent sets him apart from others.

Su acento lo distingue de los demás.

Phrasal verb: set apart.

2

The company is falling apart due to bad management.

La empresa se está desmoronando por la mala gestión.

Metaphorical disintegration.

3

Joking apart, we need to finish this.

Bromas aparte, tenemos que terminar esto.

Idiomatic expression for seriousness.

4

They are poles apart on this issue.

Están en polos opuestos sobre este tema.

Idiom: poles apart.

5

The lawyer took the argument apart.

El abogado desmenuzó el argumento.

Metaphorical 'take apart'.

6

Apart from the occasional glitch, the software is good.

Salvo por algún error ocasional, el software es bueno.

Nuanced exception.

7

We need to keep our professional and private lives apart.

Necesitamos mantener separadas nuestras vidas profesional y privada.

Conceptual separation.

8

The two brothers grew apart over the years.

Los dos hermanos se distanciaron con los años.

Phrasal verb: grow apart.

1

The quality of the finish sets this car apart.

La calidad del acabado distingue a este coche.

Abstract distinction.

2

The society was pulled apart by conflicting ideologies.

La sociedad fue dividida por ideologías en conflicto.

Passive metaphorical use.

3

Quite apart from the cost, it's simply too dangerous.

Independientemente del coste, es simplemente demasiado peligroso.

Intensified 'apart from'.

4

The critic took the film apart scene by scene.

El crítico analizó la película escena por escena.

Detailed deconstruction.

5

Their views are worlds apart.

Sus puntos de vista son mundos opuestos.

Idiom: worlds apart.

6

The structure was designed to come apart easily for transport.

La estructura fue diseñada para desmontarse fácilmente para el transporte.

Infinitive of purpose.

7

He felt a sense of being apart from the rest of humanity.

Sentía una sensación de estar separado del resto de la humanidad.

Gerund phrase.

8

The treaty fell apart after the border incident.

El tratado se rompió tras el incidente fronterizo.

Diplomatic context.

1

The philosopher sought to take apart the very concept of 'self'.

El filósofo buscó deconstruir el concepto mismo de 'yo'.

Metaphysical deconstruction.

2

The fabric of reality seemed to be tearing apart.

El tejido de la realidad parecía estar desgarrándose.

Existential metaphor.

3

The two variables must be analyzed apart from one another.

Las dos variables deben analizarse por separado.

Scientific precision.

4

His intellectual rigor sets him apart in an age of superficiality.

Su rigor intelectual lo distingue en una era de superficialidad.

High-level praise.

5

The empire drifted apart into warring factions.

El imperio se fragmentó en facciones en guerra.

Historical disintegration.

6

Apart from the ontological implications, the theory is sound.

Independientemente de las implicaciones ontológicas, la teoría es sólida.

Academic exception.

7

The sheer scale of the project sets it apart from previous endeavors.

La magnitud del proyecto lo diferencia de esfuerzos anteriores.

Comparative distinction.

8

The music was characterized by a sense of falling apart and reforming.

La música se caracterizaba por una sensación de desmoronamiento y reforma.

Artistic description.

Synonymes

asunder separately independently disconnectedly distinctly aloof

Antonymes

together united jointly

Collocations courantes

Fall apart
Set apart
Take apart
Tell apart
Stand apart
Keep apart
Worlds apart
Poles apart
Years apart
Miles apart

Phrases Courantes

Apart from

Joking apart

Tear apart

Come apart

Grow apart

Stay apart

Pick apart

Pull apart

Break apart

Live apart

Souvent confondu avec

apart vs A part

apart vs Separate

apart vs Aside

Expressions idiomatiques

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Facile à confondre

apart vs

apart vs

apart vs

apart vs

apart vs

Structures de phrases

Comment l'utiliser

Poles apart

Strong idiom for total disagreement.

Apart vs A part

Crucial distinction in writing.

Erreurs courantes
  • Using 'apart of' instead of 'a part of'.
  • Using 'apart of' instead of 'apart from'.
  • Misplacing the pronoun in 'take it apart'.
  • Using 'apart' when 'separate' (verb) is needed.
  • Redundant usage like 'separated apart'.

Astuces

Pronoun Placement

When using 'take apart' with a pronoun, the pronoun goes in the middle: 'Take it apart'.

Academic Precision

Use 'apart' to distinguish between variables in scientific papers.

Idiom Usage

Use 'worlds apart' to emphasize extreme differences.

The Space Rule

If you mean 'a piece of', use two words: 'a part'.

Emphasis

Emphasize 'apart' to highlight the distance or gap.

Context Clues

Look for 'from' to understand what is being excluded.

Transitions

Use 'Apart from this' as a transition to a new point.

Phrasal Verbs

Train your ear to catch 'fall apart' in emotional stories.

Visualization

Visualize a puzzle being disassembled to remember 'take apart'.

Correct Preposition

Always use 'apart from', never 'apart of'.

Mémorise-le

Origine du mot

From Old French 'à part', meaning 'to one side'.

Contexte culturel

A specific historical system of institutionalized racial segregation in South Africa.

The positive connotation of being 'set apart' in meritocratic societies.

Pratique dans la vie réelle

Contextes réels

Amorces de conversation

"What sets your favorite book apart from others?"

"Have you ever taken something apart and couldn't put it back together?"

"How do you keep your work and life apart?"

"Are you and your best friend poles apart or very similar?"

"What happens when a team starts to fall apart?"

Sujets d'écriture

Describe a time you felt apart from a group.

Write about a skill that sets you apart.

Analyze a situation that fell apart recently.

How do you tell apart real news from fake news?

Reflect on the phrase 'worlds apart' in the context of your life.

Questions fréquentes

10 questions

Technically no, it is an adverb or adjective, but it is a core part of many phrasal verbs.

'Apart' often implies a state resulting from separation, while 'separate' is more often used as the action itself.

No, you should say 'a part of' (two words) or 'apart from' (meaning except).

Use it to signal that you are finished being funny and want to be serious now.

It means having completely opposite opinions or characteristics.

It is neutral and can be used in both formal and informal contexts.

Yes, e.g., 'The birthdays are two days apart.'

It means to analyze or criticize something in great detail.

Yes, it is common in both.

Yes, in the phrase 'Apart from...'.

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