A friend of mine in an English learning class was told that the two phrase “I hate …” and “I cannot stand …” are identical.
Is that true?
They have the same meaning.
Nice to learn that!
I always thought that the latter was broader. I thought one could be simply unable to endure a situation (he can’t stand it) because it is too demanding or stressful, although he doesn’t really feel hatred for it.
Can I say that I can’t stand a certain person because I feel depressed whenever she comes up, and not really because I hate her?
“Stand” is not exclusive to hatred. I would not use it if someone merely made me sad, though. If you cannot stand a person, it conveys a strong sense of irritation and displeasure. It would be rather odd to say “I can’t stand her. It’s not that I don’t like her. She just makes me sad.” This is better: “I like Susan. She’s well-meaning, but I can’t stand it when she starts to dwell on the doom and gloom of life. It depresses me.”
Hi Mordant,
So, why did you say that they have the same meaning?
Have these two sentences the same meaning?
1-I cannot stand her voice.
2-I hate her voice.
No replies…!?
Hi Richard
I hope this reply can help resolve your problem
These explanations were extracted from Language Activator of Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English 2007:
hate /heɪt/ [intransitive/transitive verb not in progressive]
‘Go away!’ Jackie screamed. ‘I hate you!’
I hated my first husband. He used to hit me and the children.
Turner was a rebel from the start. He hated authority and he hated the law.
He was an evil dictator who was universally hated.
It takes many years for kids who have suffered so much to learn to love and not to hate.
can’t stand /ˌkɑːnt ˈstænd ǁ ˌkænt-/ [verb phrase] especially spoken
to have a very strong feeling of dislike for a person or for their behaviour because they make you feel very angry or uncomfortable when you are with them:
We used to be quite good friends but now I can’t stand her.
I can’t stand the way he’s always telling people what they should do.
If there’s one thing I can’t stand, it’s hypocrisy.
Hi Aghmore, thank you. I knew them.
The explanations that Mordant provided me with were perfect in my book.
I was looking for the answer of:
Have these two sentences the same meaning?
1-I cannot stand her voice.
2-I hate her voice.
As Mordant said, it should be a subtle difference between their usages.