To differ and to distinguish

English as a Second Language English Vocabulary, Grammar and Idioms
1

Hi All! When Must I use to differ? When must I use To distinguish!
Many thaks

Terminator :evil:

2

Hi Terminator,

Two or more things can differ from each other. That means, they are different.
You can distinguish between two or more things. That means, you recognize them as different.[YSaerTTEW443543]

TOEIC listening, photographs: Mailing letters[YSaerTTEW443543]

3

Is it incorrect? I can differ this book from another one.
Terminator :evil:

4

Hi! I think what you are trying to say is, “I can’t differentiate this book from one another.” However, I’m not quite sure what you are trying to say. I think there is always a way to differentiate one book from the other. Well, let’s wait what the teachers have to say on this.

5

Hi chocolatee,

There are two verbs: differ and differentiate.

Differ is an intransitive verb (has no object) and means be different from and differentiate is a transitive verb (takes an object) (and also intransitive ) and means make a difference between. Look at these sentences:

Both these bottles look the same but one differs from the other because one has a red label and the other a green label. In that way you can differentiate one from the other

Alan

6

Oh, okay. Your explanation makes a lot of sense. Thank you for giving us this great explanation and these good examples.