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difficult to understand vs difficult to be understood

Both phrases are correct, but they are used in different contexts. 'Difficult to understand' is used to describe something that is hard to comprehend, while 'difficult to be understood' is used to describe something that is hard for others to comprehend.

Last updated: March 27, 2024 • 14455 views

difficult to understand

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English to describe something that is hard to comprehend.

This phrase is used to describe something that is hard to comprehend or grasp.

Examples:

  • The professor's explanation was difficult to understand.
  • The concept was difficult to understand at first.
  • The instructions were difficult to understand without proper guidance.
  • The book was difficult to understand due to its complex language.
  • The technical jargon was difficult to understand for the beginners.
  • It is difficult to understand what it means be a world champion.
  • Then I find it difficult to understand why someone would deliberately terminate their own existence.
  • I know it's difficult to understand.
  • It is difficult to understand how such an alarming acknowledgement can be used to justify inaction.
  • Dean, we know this is difficult to understand.
  • The Council text is difficult to understand and ambiguous.
  • It is difficult to understand why the main simplification tool is used so rarely.
  • Although it may appear easy at first, it's very difficult to understand.
  • It is therefore not difficult to understand why European farmers are worried about their futures.
  • It's difficult to understand the sum of a person's life.
  • That's not so difficult to understand.
  • It's not too difficult to understand what happen next.
  • It is difficult to understand what feels to the busy being.
  • I therefore find the attitude of these non-EU countries difficult to understand.
  • I find it difficult to understand or justify why services were left out of that enterprise.
  • On our committee, we find it very difficult to understand those decisions.
  • The reasons for this initiative and its goals are not difficult to understand.
  • However, I have always found it rather difficult to understand its main priorities.
  • I find it difficult to understand the Commission's action for two reasons.
  • It is difficult to understand why two different processes are needed.

Alternatives:

  • hard to understand
  • challenging to understand
  • complex to understand
  • confusing to understand
  • not easy to understand

difficult to be understood

This phrase is correct and is used to describe something that is hard for others to comprehend.

This phrase is used to describe something that is hard for others to comprehend or interpret.

Examples:

  • His accent was difficult to be understood by the audience.
  • The message was difficult to be understood due to the poor audio quality.
  • Her emotions were difficult to be understood by those around her.
  • The reasons behind his actions were difficult to be understood by his colleagues.
  • The implications of the decision were difficult to be understood by the team.
  • Naturally, it is difficult to be understood in this chaotic situation.
  • Tom found it difficult to make himself understood in French.
  • What we have reiterated now in the amendments that in the end have not been voted for are very simple things which at that time we found it difficult to make understood.
  • Isn't it difficult to make yourself understood in a foreign language?
  • Criminal law is part of each individual nation's own cultural tradition, and it is very difficult to arrive at common definitions of what is to be understood by these basic legal concepts.
  • Finally, it must also be understood that the lack of proper status makes it extremely difficult for performers in Europe to make a living from their creations, regardless of the size of their contribution to the economy of culture in EU.
  • It is extremely difficult to accept the laying-off of good, well-trained, professional workers at what was and is understood still to be an industrially and economically efficient plant.
  • It is understood that for imports and exports the amount of biomass feedstocks for biofuels is more difficult to ascertain, and estimations may be necessary.
  • It can never be understood by outsiders.
  • And to be understood... eliminated the Salimbeni.
  • Stresses that trade adjustment should not be understood as mere compensation to be paid for the erosion of preferences or the wider effects of liberalisation, but as a mechanism to facilitate the difficult transition to a more liberalised environment;
  • The technology I've invented can't be understood by the average mind.
  • Unconventional lives can't be understood by everyone.
  • Perhaps one day... they will be understood.
  • Sometimes it's about the desire to be understood.
  • Things are too complicated to be understood by one individual.
  • Such risk-taking needs to be understood and supported also by the financial sector.
  • That instrument should not be understood as a basis for the prioritisation of certain projects on the core network.
  • It should not be understood as anything else.
  • Therefore, it is in this sense that the concept of relative stability should be understood.

Alternatives:

  • hard to be understood
  • challenging to be understood
  • complex to be understood
  • confusing to be understood
  • not easy to be understood

Related Comparisons

to better understand vs to gain a better understanding to understand vs to be understood helpful in understanding vs helpful to understand to better understand vs For better understanding how to better understand vs to understand better highly hard to understand vs hard to understand

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