How Do We Talk About Starting an Attempt?

When you begin something new or decide to test an idea, specific phrases help you describe that initial effort.

• Have a go at: This informal phrase means to try something, often for the first time or for fun. You are attempting it to see what it’s like.
• Try out: This means to test something to see if it works, is suitable, or if you like it. It implies an experimental period.
• Make an effort: This phrase means to try hard or to use energy and determination to do something. It suggests a conscious decision to put in work and overcome challenges.

What Vocabulary Shows You Are Continuing to Try?

If you are persistent and continue with a task or habit, these phrases are very useful.

• Keep to: This often refers to continuing a plan, rule, routine, or promise. You are adhering to something you started or agreed upon.
• Keep it up: This is an encouraging phrase, meaning to continue doing something well. It's often used to motivate someone to maintain their good performance.

How Do You Say You Are Stopping?

Sometimes, despite our best efforts, we decide to stop trying. This phrasal verb is essential for that context.

• Give up: This phrasal verb means to stop trying to do something, especially because it is too difficult, or you feel discouraged. It can also mean to stop a habit or addiction.

What Words Describe Success or Failure?

After putting in effort, you will either succeed or not. These terms help you describe the outcome.

• Manage to: This means to succeed in doing something, especially something difficult, after trying hard. It often implies overcoming an obstacle or challenge.
• Work out: When an action, plan, or situation works out, it means it is successful or has a good result. It can also mean to solve a problem or to develop in a particular way.
• Successfully: This is an adverb that describes doing something in a way that achieves the desired result. It indicates that an action had a positive outcome.

Exemplos

• I'm going to have a go at painting this weekend.
• She decided to try out the new gym membership for a month.
• You need to make an effort if you want to pass the exam.
• It's important to keep to your study schedule.
• You're doing great with your English; keep it up!
• Don't give up on your dreams, even if they seem far away.
• Despite the bad weather, they managed to reach the summit.
• I hope our travel plans work out well.
• He successfully completed the challenging project ahead of schedule.

Prática

Erros comuns entre falantes de espanhol

Be careful with these common errors when using vocabulary related to trying and succeeding:

• Confuso try with try out / have a go at: While try is a general verb, try out e have a go at specifically imply an experimental or initial attempt.
  • Less specific: I will try a new sport.
  • More natural for a first attempt: I will have a go at a new sport.
  • Less specific: I tried the new software.
  • More natural for testing: I tried out the new software to see if it was good.
• Direct translation of "lograr" or "conseguir" to only achieve: While achieve is correct, manage to is often more natural for specific, difficult actions.
  • Less natural: I achieved to finish the marathon.
  • More natural: I managed to finish the marathon.
• Usando work out incorrectly for personal effort: Work out is for plans, situations, or problems, not usually for a person's direct effort in the sense of "I worked out to do it."
  • Incorreto: I worked out to learn English.
  • Correto: I made an effort to learn English. (The plan itself might work out, but not the person directly)

Perguntas frequentes

What is the difference between try out e have a go at?

Try out often implies testing something to see if it's suitable, effective, or enjoyable, like a new product or method. Have a go at is more informal and means to attempt something, often for enjoyment or simply to experience it, without necessarily a strong goal of mastery. For example, you might try out a new car before buying it, but have a go at a new dance class for fun.

Can work out mean something else?

Yes, work out has several meanings. It can mean to do physical exercise (I work out at the gym three times a week), or to calculate something (Can you work out the total cost for me?). In this lesson, we focus on its meaning of "to succeed" or "to have a good result" for plans or situations.

When should I use manage to instead of just succeed?

Uso manage to when you want to emphasize that something was difficult, challenging, or required special effort, but you still achieved it. Succeed is a more general verb for achieving a goal. For example, I succeeded in passing the exam is correct, but I managed to pass the exam despite being ill highlights the difficulty you overcame.

Aulas relacionadas

• Trying and succeeding vocabulary