explain
/ɪkˈspleɪn/verb
उच्चारण इक्स्प्लेन
समझाना, स्पष्ट करना
Basic wordPYP · asked 8 times
Asked in previous papers
as spelling
+3 more
SSC CHSL Pre 2023SSC CHSL Pre 2021SSC Exams 2018- 1
[I, T] ~ (sth) (to sb) | ~ that… | ~ why, how, etc.
to tell somebody about something in a way that makes it easy to understand
समझाना, स्पष्ट करना
- The teacher explained the rule to us.
- Can you explain how this works?
- Please explain the meaning of this word to the class.
+ 2 more examples
- He explained that the bus route had changed.
- I will explain why the formula works after the break.
- 2
[I, T] ~ (sth) | ~ why, how, etc.
to give a reason for something
(किसी बात का) कारण बताना, सफ़ाई देना
- He could not explain his absence.
- Can you explain why the bus is so late?
- Nothing can explain his sudden change of mind.
+ 2 more examples
- How do you explain these marks on the wall?
- Heavy rain explains why the roads are flooded.
§Structures (grammar patterns) 4
explain + noun + to + person
The person who is told comes after to. You cannot put the person directly after explain.
जिस व्यक्ति को समझाया जाए वह 'to' के बाद आता है। Explain के तुरंत बाद व्यक्ति नहीं रखा जा सकता।
- Radhika explained the problem to her teacher.
- Can you explain this word to me?
explain + wh-clause / that-clause
Explain takes how, why, what, whether or a that-clause.
'Explain' के साथ how, why, what, whether या that-clause आता है।
- The guide explained how the fort was built.
- He explained that the bus had broken down.
explain + -ing / possessive + -ing
Explain can take a gerund phrase: explain being late.
'Explain' के बाद gerund phrase आ सकता है: explain being late।
- She explained missing the class by describing her fever.
explain oneself / explain away
Explain yourself means give reasons for your behaviour; explain away means offer excuses to make something seem less serious.
'Explain yourself' का अर्थ अपने व्यवहार के कारण बताना है; 'explain away' का अर्थ बहाने देकर किसी बात को हल्का दिखाना है।
- The principal asked him to explain himself.
- He tried to explain away the error.
+Collocations 4
adverb + explain
clearlybrieflycarefullypatientlysimply
- The teacher patiently explained the concept again.
explain + noun
ruleproceduremeaningdifferencereasonsituation
- She explained the difference between 'few' and 'a few'.
verb + to explain
tryfailrefusebe unableneed
- He refused to explain why he was late.
explain + to sb
to the classto the clientto the officerto my mother
- I explained to my mother why I need a laptop.
“More examples 5
- Please explain what you mean by 'sustainable'.
कृपया बताइए कि 'sustainable' से आपका क्या अभिप्राय है।
- That does not explain why the lights went out.
इससे यह स्पष्ट नहीं होता कि बत्तियाँ क्यों बुझ गईं।
- Radhika explained her plan to the whole class.
राधिका ने अपनी योजना पूरी कक्षा को समझाई।
- Scientists cannot yet explain the strange sound.
वैज्ञानिक अभी उस अजीब आवाज़ की व्याख्या नहीं कर सकते।
- The photograph explains itself.
यह चित्र अपने आप सब स्पष्ट कर देता है।
!Common mistakes 3
✗ Sir explained me the grammar.
✓ Sir explained the grammar to me.
Explain does not take the listener directly; use to.
'Explain' सुनने वाले को सीधे नहीं लेता; 'to' लगाना होता है।
✗ Please explain about the rule.
✓ Please explain the rule.
Explain is transitive and takes no about.
'Explain' सकर्मक है और इसके साथ 'about' नहीं आता।
✗ He explained about why he was absent.
✓ He explained why he was absent.
Explain takes a wh-clause directly, without about.
'Explain' के बाद wh-clause सीधे आता है, 'about' के बिना।
≠Thesaurus: which synonym when
These verbs all help someone understand, but the manner differs.
ये क्रियाएँ किसी को समझने में मदद करती हैं, पर तरीका अलग है।
To make clear by giving details or reasons.
विवरण या कारण देकर स्पष्ट करना।
- He explained the process.
→Phrasal verbs 1
explain sth away
to give reasons why sth is not your fault or is not important
(बहाने बनाकर) टाल देना, सफ़ाई देकर बात को हल्का कर देना
- He tried to explain away the missing money, but nobody believed him.
- You cannot simply explain away such poor results.
◇Word family
?Which word?
explain something to somebody
Do not say 'explain me the rule'. The person comes after to: 'Explain the rule to me.'
Explain के बाद व्यक्ति सीधे object की तरह नहीं आता। इसलिए 'Explain me the rule' गलत है और 'Explain the rule to me' सही है। इसके noun 'explanation' की spelling में i नहीं आता।