ESL Speaking

Games + Activities to Try Out Today!

  • Adult Activities
  • Kid Activities
  • Textbooks
    • ESL Textbooks for Adults
    • ESL Textbooks for Children
  • Teacher Resources
    • Resources
    • Online TEFL Course
  • Learn English
    • Learn English
    • Confusing English Words

in Learn English

Affect vs Effect: Find out the Differences Between these Two Words

Even many native English speakers struggle with when to use affect or effect. To further compound the confusion, effect and affect both have noun and verb forms that are commonly used.

Not to worry! Keep on reading for all the details you need to know about effect vs affect and you’ll have them straight in no time at all.

effect vs affect

affect or effect

Effect vs Affect

Most people say the “a” and “e” at the beginning of the words quite distinctly so it’s easy to distinguish between these two words.

Effect can have either a soft or hard “e.” “ef-fect” or “ee-fect.”

Affect (as a verb)

A verb that means to act on or produce change in. Or to change someone’s feelings.

Tip: Use “affect” if you could replace it with the verbs “hurt” or “impact.” See the first sentence (The cold weather HURTS/IMPACTS my knees).

Examples: 

  • The cold weather affects my knees.
  • That music really affected me. It was so angry.
  • Covid-19 affected my business in a negative way.
  • How much you study will affect your grades.
Most Confusing Words in English Explained: English Word Pairs that are Easily Confused (For ESL/EFL...
Most Confusing Words in English Explained: English Word Pairs that are Easily Confused (For ESL/EFL...
  • Amazon Kindle Edition
  • Bolen, Jackie (Author)
  • English (Publication Language)
  • 319 Pages - 03/14/2022 (Publication Date)
Check Price on Amazon

Affect (as a noun)

Can also be a noun (less common than as a verb). Used in psychology to talk about emotion or desire.

Examples: 

  • Joe’s body language generally shows no affect. He’s difficult to read.
  • She has a negative affect about her.
  • Tommy took the news about getting transferred to Chicago with little affect.

Effect (as a noun)

A noun that means result or consequence.

Tip: Use “effect” if you could replace it with the noun consequence. See the first sentence (What CONSEQUENCE did Covid-19 have on your business?).

Examples:

  • What effect did Covid-19 have on your business?
  • Video games have a negative effect on teenagers.
  • You won’t notice the effect of the medication until a few days later.
  • Painting your room a dark color will often have the effect of making it look smaller.

Effect (as a verb)

Less commonly used an a verb that means to cause something to happen or to accomplish something.

Examples: 

  • She effected many positive changes in her students.
  • I hope to effect change in my new role at this company.

Affect vs Effect Practice

  1. How were your children _____ by the pandemic?
  2. Hiring someone will have a big _____ on how much free time you have.
  3. I’m so _____ by the weather, especially gloomy, rainy days.
  4. I hope to _____ positive change in my role as volunteer coordinator.
  5. There are a number of _____ that resulted from that decision Ted made.
  6. For my dissertation, I’m going to do some research on the _____ of education levels on vaccination rates.
  7. His teacher really had a positive _____ on Ted this year.
  8. Does Tom have a positive or negative overall _____?

Answers

  1. affected
  2. effect
  3. affected
  4. effect
  5. effects
  6. effects
  7. effect
  8. affect

Other Confusing English Words

Check out some of the most confusing words in English:

adverse vs averse

excess vs access

except vs accept 

advice vs advise

already vs all ready 

Want to Find Out More?

Most Confusing Words in English Explained: English Word Pairs that are Easily Confused (For ESL/EFL...
Most Confusing Words in English Explained: English Word Pairs that are Easily Confused (For ESL/EFL...
  • Amazon Kindle Edition
  • Bolen, Jackie (Author)
  • English (Publication Language)
  • 319 Pages - 03/14/2022 (Publication Date)
Check Price on Amazon

You can find hundreds of confusing English words and word pairs in this book: Most Confusing Words in English Explained. Pick up a copy and ace your next TOEFL, TOEIC, or IELTS exam! Find out everything you need to know about it right here:

check-price-on-amazon-button

Affect or Effect: Join the Conversation

Do you have any tips or tricks for remembering the differences between these two words and their various forms? Leave a comment below and let us know. We’d really appreciate it.

Last update on 2022-04-17 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

About Jackie

Jackie Bolen has been teaching English for more than 15 years to students in South Korea and Canada. She's taught all ages, levels and kinds of TEFL classes. She holds an MA degree, along with the Celta and Delta English teaching certifications.

Jackie is the author of more than 60 books for English teachers and English learners, including 101 ESL Activities for Teenagers and Adults and 1001 English Expressions and Phrases. She loves to share her ESL games, activities, teaching tips, and more with other teachers throughout the world.

You can find her on social media at:
YouTube
Facebook
TikTok
Pinterest
Instagram

« Advice vs Advise: What’s the Difference Between these Two Words?
Accept vs. Except: What’s the difference between these 2 words? »

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. What does this mean? I recommend products (only ones that I like) and if you purchase a product through that link, I earn some money.

39 No-Prep/Low-Prep ESL Speaking Activities: For English Teachers of Teenagers and Adults Who Want...
39 No-Prep/Low-Prep ESL Speaking Activities: For English Teachers of Teenagers and Adults Who Want...
Check Price on Amazon
101 Activities and Resources for Teaching English Online: Practical Ideas, Games, Activities & Tips...
101 Activities and Resources for Teaching English Online: Practical Ideas, Games, Activities & Tips...
Check Price on Amazon
101 ESL Activities: Games, Activities, Practical ideas, & Teaching Tips For English Teachers of...
101 ESL Activities: Games, Activities, Practical ideas, & Teaching Tips For English Teachers of...
Check Price on Amazon

Search ESL Speaking

120-Hour Online TEFL Course from Let’s TEFL: Sign Up Today

Should I Teach English Abroad? | Teaching ESL in a Foreign Country

ESL Restaurant and Ordering Food Activities, Games, Worksheets & More

Present Perfect For and Since Activities, Worksheets, Lesson Plans

Common and Proper Noun Games, Activities, Worksheets & More

Online TEFL Courses

Get Certified Entirely Online

67 ESL Conversation Topics with Questions, Vocabulary, Writing Prompts & More: For English Teachers...
67 ESL Conversation Topics with Questions, Vocabulary, Writing Prompts & More: For English Teachers...
Check Price on Amazon
Scatter Sheets for Intermediate-Advanced Students to Improve Fluency: ESL Speaking & Vocabulary...
Scatter Sheets for Intermediate-Advanced Students to Improve Fluency: ESL Speaking & Vocabulary...
Check Price on Amazon
1001 English Expressions and Phrases: Common Sentences and Dialogues Used by Native English Speakers...
1001 English Expressions and Phrases: Common Sentences and Dialogues Used by Native English Speakers...
Check Price on Amazon
39 ESL Warm-Ups: For English Teachers of Kids (7+) Who Want to Get their TEFL Classes Started Off...
39 ESL Warm-Ups: For English Teachers of Kids (7+) Who Want to Get their TEFL Classes Started Off...
Check Price on Amazon
Jackie Bolen

Disclosure Statement

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

  • Adult Activities
  • Kid Activities
  • Textbooks
  • Teacher Resources
  • Learn English

Our Top-Seller

39 No-Prep/Low-Prep ESL Speaking Activities: For Teenagers and Adults (Teaching ESL Conversation and...
39 No-Prep/Low-Prep ESL Speaking Activities: For Teenagers and Adults (Teaching ESL Conversation and...
Check Price on Amazon

Search

As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

More ESL Activities

teaching english abroad

Top 10 Highest Paid TEFL Jobs | Well-Paying English Teaching Jobs

singular plural noun games

Singular and Plural Noun Games and Activities for ESL

modals games activities

Teaching Modals: Activities, Games, Worksheets & Lessons for ESL

conditionals-esl-activities

ESL Conditionals Games, Activities, Worksheets & Lesson Plans

About, Contact, Privacy Policy

Jackie Bolen has been talking ESL speaking since 2014 and the goal is to bring you the best recommendations for English conversation games, activities, lesson plans and more. It’s your go-to source for everything TEFL!

About and Contact for ESL Speaking.

Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.

Email: [email protected]

Facebook

Pinterest

TikTok

YouTube

LinkedIn

Address: 2436 Kelly Ave, Port Coquitlam, Canada

Copyright © 2022 Jackie Bolen + ESL Speaking. All Rights Reserved.