investigate what it is vs investigate what they do

Both phrases are correct, but they are used in different contexts. 'Investigate what it is' is used when you want to find out the nature or identity of something, while 'investigate what they do' is used when you want to understand the actions or behaviors of a group of people or things.

Last updated: March 17, 2024 • 774 views

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English when you want to find out the nature or identity of something.

"investigate what it is"

This phrase is used when you are trying to understand the essence or characteristics of something. It implies a deeper examination or analysis.

Examples:

We need to investigate what it is that is causing the issue.
The scientists are trying to investigate what it is that makes this plant grow so fast.

Show examples from the web [+]

Project Information Literacy (PIL) has conducted six studies since 2008 to investigate what it is like to be a college student in the digital age. Survey and ...
No-one has ever penetrated Earth's mantle to reach the core to investigate what it is made of so much of what we "know" is theory based on intelligent deduction.
I am not proposing to set forth the arguments which issue in the belief of these doctrines, but to investigate what it is to believe in them, what the mind does, what ...
Thus, we investigate what it is that people choose to study. However, it is also necessary to investigate whether what they choose to study is advantageous or ...

Alternatives:

examine its nature
explore its identity
look into its essence
analyze its characteristics
determine its true form

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English when you want to understand the actions or behaviors of a group of people or things.

"investigate what they do"

This phrase is used when you are trying to study or analyze the activities or behaviors of a specific group of individuals or objects.

Examples:

The researchers are going to investigate what they do in their daily lives.
We need to investigate what they do to improve their performance.

Show examples from the web [+]

To understand the methods, we need to investigate what they do, what are their functions? Since certain things are compatible and others are not, certain states ...
Let's investigate what they do. Get your “My Job” worksheet. Zoo First, visit the Microbe Zoo to learn about bacteria. Next, learn about fungi. Go to the Fun Facts ...
Let's investigate what they do. Get your “My Job” worksheet. Zoo First, visit the Microbe Zoo to learn about bacteria. Next, learn about fungi. Go to the Fun Facts ...
Jul 14, 2015 ... Find your dream customers on social and investigate what they do. Is there a hashtag that's particularly popular? How about phrases you think ...

Alternatives:

study their actions
analyze their behaviors
examine their activities
explore their conduct
look into their operations

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investigate what it is vs investigate what they do