react/reaction It’s time the government reacted on the crisis.
It’s time the government reacted to the crisis. Their reaction on the article was predictable.
Their reaction to the article was predictable. react/reaction to sth (NOT on/at ): ‘People reacted to the speech in different ways.’ ‘Reactions to the news of the merger were less positive than expected.’ realize 1
The criminal mind is not always easy to realize.
The criminal mind is not always easy to understand. I didn’t realize the meaning of ‘junk mail’.
I didn’t understand the meaning of ‘junk mail’. See Language Note below 2
The school year is divided into three terms, as you realize.
The school year is divided into three terms, as you know. Nobody realized whether he was coming.
Nobody knew whether he was coming. See Language Note below 3
Our own mistakes are sometimes difficult to realize.
Our own mistakes are sometimes difficult to recognize. I’m sure you will realize the song when you hear it.
I’m sure you will recognize the song when you hear it. See Language Note below KNOW • REALIZE • RECOGNIZE • UNDERSTAND know be aware of a fact or particular piece of information: ‘Do you know their new telephone
number?’ ‘I know she’s fond of you. She told me so herself.’
realize suddenly become aware of a fact or the true meaning of something, especially because
you have thought about it or received new information about it: ‘I suddenly realized
that the thumping I could hear was the sound of my own heart.’ ‘It was only when I saw
the expression on the doctor’s face that I realized the seriousness of her illness.’
recognize know what something is because you have seen/heard/ smelled it before; know who
someone is because you have seen them before: ‘I’m sorry I didn’t recognize you -
you’ve had your hair cut!’
understand know what something means, what causes something, how something operates, how
someone feels, etc: ‘I’ve never really understood physics.’ ‘Such behaviour is very
difficult to understand.’
