Placeholder Image

Subtitles section Play video

  • Hi! I'm Phil from BBC Learning English.

  • Today, I'm going to tell you the difference between

  • 'affect' with an 'a' and 'effect' with an 'e'.

  • Just remember that 'affect' with an 'a' is a verb.

  • It means 'to influence'.

  • So, for example:

  • Tiredness is affecting my work.

  • 'Effect' with an 'e' is usually a noun,

  • and it means 'the result of something'.

  • The effect of not having breakfast is to

  • feel really hungry.

  • 'Effect' can be a verb.

  • It's very formal and it means 'to implement something'.

  • The management effected a new policy.

  • So if you find this difference affecting your English,

  • just remember that 'affect' with an 'a' is a verb

  • and that 'effect' with an 'e' is usually a noun.

  • And the effect will be

  • you don't make any more mistakes!

Hi! I'm Phil from BBC Learning English.

Subtitles and vocabulary

Click the word to look it up Click the word to find further inforamtion about it