[ti:The Difference between Try and Attempt] [by:www.51voa.com] [00:00.00]更多听力请访问51VOA.COM [00:00.04]This week on Ask a Teacher, we answer a question from Lestyo from Indonesia. [00:07.08]I would like to know what is the difference between "attempt" and "try?" [00:12.96]Thank you very much. [00:15.88]Dear Lestyo, [00:17.28]Thank you for writing, and yes, we will try to help! [00:21.56]The words "try" and "attempt" have very similar meanings. [00:27.60]But there is a small yet important difference between "try" and "attempt." [00:35.28]"Try" is more informal. [00:38.04]You use it while speaking with friends and family. [00:42.72]"Attempt" is more formal. [00:45.40]You often use it while speaking and writing about reaching a goal. [00:50.48]"Try" means to make an effort to do something. [00:54.48]When you try something, you may not care about the result. [00:59.00]The effort is on doing the activity more than reaching a goal. [01:03.96]We also use "try" for doing something [01:07.20]that we may have not done before. [01:11.24]Native English speakers often use the word "try" [01:15.40]when speaking about something they want to do in daily activities. [01:19.84]Here are two examples: [01:23.12]I tried a new shirt on and loved it, so I bought it. [01:28.64]I went to my favorite restaurant and tried a soup for the first time. [01:34.64]When you say "I tried a soup," it means just to taste it. [01:40.36]However, it will mean something differen [01:43.04]t if you say, "I tried to eat soup." [01:47.08]It means you tried but could not. [01:50.88]"Attempt" also means to try to do something. [01:54.40]The meaning is similar to "try" [01:56.40]but the result is more important than just doing the activity. [02:01.60]You use it to show an activity or a situation [02:05.12]that is more difficult or more official: [02:08.48]I attempted to get a good grade on the TOEFL test and I was successful. [02:15.76]He attempted to climb Mt. Everest, but the conditions were too dangerous. [02:22.28]Yes, you still can use "try" in place of "attempt" in both examples. [02:27.88]But you want to use "attempt" for something special [02:31.48]and important in someone's life. [02:34.76]I'm happy that you are trying to use new words every day. [02:38.92]And I look forward to seeing your attempt to use them in the comments. [02:45.48]I'm Armen Kassabian. 更多听力请访问51VOA.COM