When you’re learning English, it’s normal to ask your teacher, “What does this mean?” And of course, that’s a useful question.

But sometimes, the more useful question is:

“Why do we say it this way?”

For example, if your teacher introduces two words that seem to have the same meaning, don’t stop at learning their definitions. Ask:

?? “What’s the difference between these two words?”
?? “Why would I use this one instead of the other?”
?? “Can I use this expression in a different situation?”
?? “Does this sound natural in everyday conversation?”
?? “Why does this sentence sound better this way?”

These questions help you notice something important: knowing what a word means isn't always the same as knowing how to use it.

You might know the meaning of “borrow” and “lend,” for example, but still be unsure which one belongs in a particular sentence. Asking your teacher to explain the difference in context can help the idea stick much better than simply memorising two definitions.

And you don't have to wait until you are completely confused before asking.

If your teacher says something and you're thinking, “I've seen this before, but I've never really understood why it's used like that,” — that's a good question to ask.

The next time you're in English class, try asking one “why” question.

You may find that the answer teaches you more than the original explanation did.