explain (something) to (someone)
The most common and direct use: to make a topic or idea clear and understandable for a particular person.
Meaning
The most common and direct use: to make a topic or idea clear and understandable for a particular person.
Cultural Background
In Western business culture, 'explaining' is expected to be direct and concise. If you take too long to explain, people might say 'Get to the point.' Explaining something too simply to a superior can be seen as rude, as it implies they don't know it. Explanations are often more humble and indirect. The 'ELI5' (Explain Like I'm Five) culture is huge. It values the ability to explain complex topics (like crypto or black holes) in very simple terms. In universities, 'explaining' is often replaced by 'critiquing' or 'analyzing' to show a higher level of engagement with the material.
The 'Me' Trap
Never say 'Explain me.' It is the most common mistake for learners. Always add 'to'!
Order Matters
If the thing you are explaining is a long sentence, put the person first: 'Explain to me why you are late' sounds better than 'Explain why you are late to me.'
Meaning
The most common and direct use: to make a topic or idea clear and understandable for a particular person.
The 'Me' Trap
Never say 'Explain me.' It is the most common mistake for learners. Always add 'to'!
Order Matters
If the thing you are explaining is a long sentence, put the person first: 'Explain to me why you are late' sounds better than 'Explain why you are late to me.'
Check for Understanding
After explaining, it's polite to ask 'Does that make sense?' to ensure the other person understood.
Test Yourself
Fill in the missing preposition.
Can you explain the homework ____ me?
We always use 'to' when explaining something to a person.
Which sentence is grammatically correct?
Choose the right option:
The standard pattern is 'Explain [thing] to [person].' Option B is also technically possible but less common than D.
Complete the dialogue with the correct form of 'explain'.
Boss: Why is the report late? Employee: I can ________ the delay ____ you, sir.
After 'can,' we use the base form 'explain,' followed by 'to' for the person.
Match the explanation to the situation.
Match: 1. Explain a recipe. 2. Explain a bill. 3. Explain a poem.
Recipes are for cooking, bills are at restaurants, and poems are for literature class.
🎉 Score: /4
Visual Learning Aids
Practice Bank
4 exercisesCan you explain the homework ____ me?
We always use 'to' when explaining something to a person.
Choose the right option:
The standard pattern is 'Explain [thing] to [person].' Option B is also technically possible but less common than D.
Boss: Why is the report late? Employee: I can ________ the delay ____ you, sir.
After 'can,' we use the base form 'explain,' followed by 'to' for the person.
Match: 1. Explain a recipe. 2. Explain a bill. 3. Explain a poem.
Recipes are for cooking, bills are at restaurants, and poems are for literature class.
🎉 Score: /4
Frequently Asked Questions
10 questionsNo, you must say 'Explain to me.' 'Explain' needs the preposition 'to' before the person.
'Describe' is for physical details (color, size). 'Explain' is for meaning, reasons, or how things work.
It is neutral. It works in both a business meeting and a chat with a friend.
It's better to say 'Explain the project.' 'Explain about' is usually considered redundant.
It is a regular verb: 'Yesterday, she explained the rules to me.'
It means to give a reason for your bad behavior. It's often used by parents or bosses.
Yes, it is one of the most frequent errors for speakers of Spanish, French, and Italian.
Usually, you explain a person's *actions* or *motives*, not the person themselves.
It's a modern term for when a man explains something to a woman in a condescending way.
Yes! 'Can you explain how to cook this?' is a very common and correct structure.
Related Phrases
break down
similarTo explain something by dividing it into smaller parts.
walk through
similarTo explain a process step-by-step.
spell out
specialized formTo explain something in very simple, explicit detail.
clarify
synonymTo make something less confused and more clearly comprehensible.
