Explanation at your level:
You use show when you want someone to look at something. For example, you can say, 'Please show me your book.' It is a very easy and useful word for beginners.
At this level, you use show to talk about teaching. 'Can you show me how to use this phone?' It is also used for directions, like 'The map shows the way to the station.'
Intermediate learners use show with abstract nouns. You can 'show support' or 'show respect.' It is also common in phrasal verbs like 'show up' for meetings or events.
At the B2 level, show is used to describe evidence. 'The data shows a clear increase in sales.' You also learn idioms like 'show your true colors' to describe personality traits.
Advanced users employ show in nuanced ways. You might 'show restraint' in a difficult situation or 'show initiative' at work. It appears frequently in academic writing to introduce findings or illustrate logical arguments.
At the mastery level, show is used in literary and sophisticated contexts. It can imply subtle revelation, such as 'the painting shows a hidden grief.' It is a cornerstone of precise, descriptive English.
30초 단어
- Show means to display or demonstrate.
- It is an irregular verb.
- It is used in many common idioms.
- It is essential for daily communication.
The word show is one of the most versatile verbs in the English language. At its core, it means to allow something to be seen. You might show your friend a new toy or show a visitor the way to the park.
Beyond just looking, it also means to demonstrate or explain. If you show someone how to bake a cake, you are performing the steps so they can learn. It is a fundamental word for communication and teaching.
The word show comes from the Old English word scēawian, which meant 'to look at, see, or inspect.' It shares roots with the German word schauen, which still means 'to look' today.
Over centuries, the meaning shifted from the act of looking to the act of causing someone else to look. It is a classic example of how verbs evolve to describe social interactions rather than just internal physical actions.
You use show in almost every part of life. In casual settings, you 'show off' or 'show someone around.' In formal settings, data might 'show a trend' or a document might 'show evidence.'
Common collocations include show interest, show mercy, and show promise. The word is highly flexible and works well in both professional emails and chatting with friends.
Idioms often use show to describe social dynamics. Show your true colors means to reveal your real personality. Show the ropes means to teach someone how to do a job.
Other common ones include show up (to arrive), show off (to boast), and show the door (to ask someone to leave).
The verb show is irregular. The past tense is showed, but the past participle can be shown or showed. It is often used with the pattern 'show someone something' (dative shift).
Pronunciation is simple: /ʃoʊ/ in US English and /ʃəʊ/ in UK English. It rhymes with go, know, and slow.
Fun Fact
It is related to the German 'schauen', meaning to look.
Pronunciation Guide
Starts with 'sh' sound, ends with a long 'o' sound.
Similar to UK but with a slightly more rounded 'o'.
Common Errors
- Pronouncing it like 'shoe'
- Missing the 'sh' sound
- Adding extra syllables
Rhymes With
Difficulty Rating
very easy
simple
easy
easy
What to Learn Next
Prerequisites
Learn Next
고급
Grammar to Know
Dative Shift
Show me X vs Show X to me
Irregular Verbs
Show-showed-shown
Phrasal Verbs
Show up, show off
Examples by Level
Can you show me your photo?
Show = display
Verb + object
I show him the house.
Show = guide
Simple present
Show me the way.
Show = direct
Imperative
They show a movie.
Show = present
Simple present
She shows her art.
Show = display
Third person singular
We show our tickets.
Show = present
Subject + verb
He shows me his cat.
Show = display
Present tense
Please show the time.
Show = display
Polite request
She showed me her new room.
The guide shows us the city.
The sign shows the speed limit.
Can you show me how to cook?
He shows great kindness.
The graph shows the results.
They showed us the garden.
I will show you the park.
The research shows a link.
He showed up late to the party.
She shows a lot of promise.
Don't show off your money.
The film shows the history of the war.
He showed his true colors today.
She shows interest in music.
The teacher shows us the ropes.
The evidence shows he was there.
She showed restraint during the argument.
The data shows a clear pattern.
He shows great leadership qualities.
The play shows the struggle of the poor.
She showed me the ropes at the new job.
The results show a significant change.
He showed his appreciation with a gift.
The study shows a correlation between diet and health.
He shows an uncanny ability to predict trends.
The subtle details show his artistic mastery.
She shows a deep understanding of the subject.
The report shows a deficit in the budget.
He shows great poise under pressure.
The exhibit shows the evolution of modern art.
She shows a remarkable capacity for empathy.
The narrative shows a profound shift in character.
His silence shows his disapproval.
The architecture shows the influence of the period.
She shows a penchant for classical literature.
The data shows a deviation from the norm.
His actions show a lack of remorse.
The landscape shows the scars of the conflict.
The text shows a complex interplay of themes.
자주 쓰는 조합
Idioms & Expressions
"show off"
trying to impress others
He likes to show off his car.
casual"show up"
to arrive at a place
He finally showed up at 9 PM.
casual"show someone the ropes"
to teach someone how to do a job
My boss showed me the ropes.
casual"show your true colors"
to reveal your real personality
He showed his true colors when he lied.
neutral"show the door"
to ask someone to leave
They showed him the door after the fight.
informal"show a clean pair of heels"
to run away fast
The thief showed a clean pair of heels.
idiomaticEasily Confused
both involve vision
see is passive, show is active
I see the tree; I show you the tree.
both involve vision
watch is focused looking
I watch the show.
both involve vision
look is the act of directing eyes
Look at this!
both mean display
exhibit is formal
The museum exhibits art.
Sentence Patterns
Subject + show + indirect object + direct object
He showed me the map.
Subject + show + direct object + to + indirect object
He showed the map to me.
Subject + show + that + clause
The data shows that we are growing.
Subject + show + how + to + verb
She showed me how to swim.
Subject + show + noun + to be + adjective
The results show the project to be successful.
어휘 가족
Nouns
Verbs
Adjectives
관련
How to Use It
10
Formality Scale
자주 하는 실수
While 'showed' is sometimes accepted, 'shown' is the preferred past participle.
Show is transitive (requires an object); see is about perception.
It is a phrasal verb, not just 'show'.
Show usually needs an indirect object.
Show implies displaying; point implies direction.
Tips
Memory Palace Trick
Imagine a TV screen showing everything you need to learn.
When Native Speakers Use It
We use it for almost any visual interaction.
Cultural Insight
The phrase 'show me the money' is iconic in movies.
Grammar Shortcut
Show + person + thing.
Say It Right
Focus on the 'sh' sound.
Don't Make This Mistake
Don't confuse it with 'see'.
Did You Know?
It comes from the same root as 'look'.
Study Smart
Learn it with its phrasal verbs.
Memorize It
Mnemonic
Show = See + How. You show someone how to do something.
Visual Association
A teacher pointing at a whiteboard.
Word Web
챌린지
Use 'show' in three sentences today.
어원
Old English
Original meaning: to look at or inspect
문화적 맥락
None
Used in everything from 'The Show must go on' to 'Show me the money'.
Practice in Real Life
Real-World Contexts
at school
- show your work
- show the teacher
- show interest
at work
- show results
- show initiative
- show the ropes
in travel
- show your passport
- show the way
- show the ticket
social
- show respect
- show off
- show up
Conversation Starters
"Can you show me how to do something new?"
"What is the best show you have seen?"
"Do you like to show off your skills?"
"When was the last time you showed someone the way?"
Journal Prompts
Write about a time you showed someone a new skill.
Describe a show you enjoyed recently.
How do you show your friends that you care?
What does your current work show about your goals?
자주 묻는 질문
8 질문No, it is irregular (show, showed, shown).
It is common in speech, but 'shown' is better in writing.
See is passive perception; show is active demonstration.
It means to display something to gain admiration.
Yes, to present data or evidence.
A show (like a TV show).
Yes, like showing someone around.
Like 'go' with an 'sh'.
셀프 테스트
Can you ___ me the way?
Show is used for directing.
Which means to teach?
Show can mean demonstrate.
Show is a regular verb.
The past participle is shown.
Word
뜻
Phrasal verb meanings.
Show + indirect object + direct object.
점수: /5
Summary
To show is to share knowledge or vision with others.
- Show means to display or demonstrate.
- It is an irregular verb.
- It is used in many common idioms.
- It is essential for daily communication.
Memory Palace Trick
Imagine a TV screen showing everything you need to learn.
When Native Speakers Use It
We use it for almost any visual interaction.
Cultural Insight
The phrase 'show me the money' is iconic in movies.
Grammar Shortcut
Show + person + thing.
예시
Can you show me your new phone?
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맥락에서 배우기
관련 표현
Communication 관련 단어
aah
A1안심하거나 만족하거나 기쁠 때 내는 소리예요. 하지만 아프거나 놀랐을 때 쓰기도 해요.
accentuate
C1To make a particular feature of something more noticeable or prominent. It is frequently used to describe how one thing emphasizes the beauty, importance, or intensity of another.
acknowledgment
B2An acknowledgment is the act of accepting or admitting that something is true, or a formal statement confirming that something has been received. It can also refer to a public expression of thanks for someone's help or contribution.
actually
B1Actually is used to emphasize that something is a real fact or the truth, often contrasting with what was thought or said. It can also be used to introduce a surprising piece of information or to gently correct someone.
address
A2누군가에게 직접 말을 걸거나 어떤 문제를 해결하려고 시도하는 거야. 연설을 하거나 편지에 주소를 쓸 때도 이 단어를 써.
addressee
B2The person or organization to whom a letter, package, or message is addressed. It refers to the intended recipient of a piece of communication.
adlocment
C1Describes a style of communication or behavior that is formal, directed, and oratorical in nature, specifically pertaining to a public address or a declamatory speech. It is used to characterize language that is intentionally designed to be heard by an audience for the purpose of instruction or inspiration.
adloctude
C1격식 있고 직접적인 대화 방식을 말해. 상대에게 친근하게 다가가면서도 권위 있는 태도를 유지하는 거지.
admonish
C1To firmly warn or reprimand someone for their behavior, or to advise someone earnestly to do or avoid something. It often implies a sense of moral guidance or authoritative concern rather than just anger.
adpassant
C1To mention or address a secondary topic briefly and incidentally while focused on a primary task or discussion. It describes an action that occurs seamlessly 'in passing' without disrupting the main narrative or workflow.
