to understand vs to be understood

Both phrases are correct, but they have different meanings and are used in different contexts. 'To understand' is used when someone comprehends or grasps something, while 'to be understood' is used when someone is comprehended or grasped by others.

Last updated: March 24, 2024 • 2684 views

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English to indicate the action of comprehending or grasping something.

"to understand"

This phrase is used when someone is trying to comprehend or make sense of something. It indicates the act of understanding a concept, idea, or situation.

Examples:

I want to understand the instructions clearly before starting the task.
She couldn't understand why he was acting that way.

Show examples from the web [+]

to grasp the reasonableness of. his behavior is hard to understand. c. : to have ... Articles Related to understand. alt 594938b88b98e. Read This to Get 'Smart ...
Sep 27, 2023 ... Learn how to understand and use the Nutrition Facts Label to make informed food choices that contribute to a healthy diet.
give someone to understand that The Director had given her to understand (= told her) that she would be promoted. [ + obj + to infinitive ] A secret buyer ...
For more than twenty years, his theory of electromagnetism was largely ignored. Physicists found it hard to understand because the equations were complicated.
Feb 5, 2018 ... To understand deep learning we need to understand kernel learning. Authors:Mikhail Belkin, Siyuan Ma, Soumik Mandal.
Monitoring training load to understand fatigue in athletes. Sports Med. 2014 Nov;44 Suppl 2(Suppl 2):S139-47. doi: 10.1007/s40279-014-0253-z. Author. Shona L ...

Alternatives:

to comprehend
to grasp
to get the idea
to make sense of
to figure out

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English to indicate the state of being comprehended or grasped by others.

"to be understood"

This phrase is used when someone wants to express that they want others to comprehend or grasp their thoughts, feelings, or intentions.

Examples:

I want my point of view to be understood by everyone.
She felt frustrated because she wasn't being understood by her colleagues.

Show examples from the web [+]

'Necessary' usually has to be understood as an activity which does not compete with local service providers.
What exactly is to be understood by trilateral cooperation?
Shoes: this concept has to be understood in a broad sense.
"Vehicles" is to be understood in a broad sense, including all means of transport.
This Regulation is to be understood and interpreted in conformity with the Community's international obligations, including the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea of 10 December 1982.
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.
And to be understood... eliminated the Salimbeni.
The principle of subsidiarity needs to be understood in its original meaning.
Its work needs to be understood not just by specialists but by any interested European citizen.
- That is the thing, to be understood.
This learned constable is too cunning to be understood.
If she wishes to be understood by a foreigner, she shouts.
Things are too complicated to be understood by one individual.
...Could begin to be understood.
Of course you want to be understood by as many people as possible.
But through the years and a series of special exercises Could begin to be understood.
This learned constable is too cunning to be understood.
There's one thing that has to be understood.
Naturally, it is difficult to be understood in this chaotic situation.
The phrase is to be understood as Mr Imbeni said.

Alternatives:

to be comprehended
to be grasped
to be clear to others
to be perceived correctly
to be interpreted correctly

How TextRanch works

Fast and reliable proofreading, editing, and language advice tailored to your needs.

1. Choose Your Service

Quick Text Editing

Emails and short texts
Proofreading & editing
Ready in 5-10 minutes

SUBMIT YOUR TEXT NOW

Document Editing

Documents of any type (*.docx)
Advanced & Premium editing
Ready in as little as 4 hours

UPLOAD YOUR DOCUMENT

Ask an Editor

Personalized answers to your language questions
Expert guidance on grammar, style, and usage
Ready in 24 hours

ASK YOUR QUESTION

Upload your document or paste your text directly into our platform. Your text is reviewed and refined by our expert editors (real people, not machines) who understand the nuances of English. Expect corrections, improvements, and insightful suggestions that enhance the clarity, tone, and professionalism of your writing.

3. Receive Your Polished Text

In just a few minutes (or hours for longer documents), you'll receive your corrected text. Review the changes, make any final adjustments, and confidently share your polished English with the world.
You can count on a personalized, friendly service every time you use TextRanch. We're committed to helping you make a great impression with every word you write.

We proofread and edit these types of texts and documents:

Short texts Business Emails Personal Emails Social media posts Resume and Curriculum Vitae Business documents Sales proposal Research and academic papers Thesis Dissertation Essays Articles Blog posts and much more....

Why choose TextRanch?

Complete Privacy

Your texts are safe and secure with us. We never share your information with third parties.

Affordable Pricing

No subscription fees and rates up to 50% cheaper than other online editing services.

100% Satisfaction

We guarantee that you'll be satisfied with the quality of our service or your money back.

Top Customer Service

Our team is here to help you with any questions you may have. Contact us anytime.

Our Customers Love Us!

We have an average rating of 4.79 stars based on 283125 votes, and

4.9 Excellent - Reviews 2.137

"7 years without any disappointment. Always 100% satisfied. You guys are the best in the world at what you do. Thank you so much :)"

Zubair
from Bangladesh

"I wasn't aware of this service, it's fascinating and more reliable than standard IA tools available on the internet"

Arturo
from Mexico

"In a world of text messages and online communication, this is great to have as a live tool. Thank you."

Selena
from USA

"Wow, it's just so excellent. I never would have believed I could have a sure and excellent English companion. Thanks, TextRanch."

Ifiok
from Nigeria

"This is my first time using TextRanch, and I like how the editors take time to correct my text. To everyone who has never used TextRanch before, I highly recommend trying it."

Wilson
from France

"It is an amazing source of feedback because, as a non-native speaker, I really need to have a reliable helper correct my text."

Susan
from Germany

to understand vs to be understood

"to understand"

"to be understood"

Related Comparisons

2. Submit Your Text

3. Receive Your Polished Text