Memory Problems? Remember v. Recall
2022-09-24
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1Hello! This week on Ask a Teacher, we will answer a question from Jego in Ethiopia about the difference between "remember" and "recall."
2Dear Learning English,
3What is the difference between "remember" and "recall?"
4Thank you,
5Jego from Eithopia
6Dear Jego,
7Thank for writing to us again and asking this question.
8Both "recall" and "remember" are verbs that involve memory --- thinking about something that happened in the past.
9In many cases, the two words are interchangeable.
10"Remember" is a verb that means to think about the past.
11You can create from memory a mental picture of the past.
12I remember playing outside a lot as a child.
13The opposite of "remember" is to "forget" something.
14We often use "remember" as a command so others "do not forget" something important.
15Remember to take the cat to the animal hospital.
16Don't forget to take the cat to the animal hospital.
17Recall has a few different meanings and uses.
18It can be similar in meaning to "remember."
19This meaning is "to call back into memory" or "access something from memory again."
20I don't recall meeting her last year.
21In this sentence, we can replace "recall" with "remember" as the meanings are similar.
22As a noun "recall" is the ability to remember something or the act of remembering.
23The first syllable of the word is stressed.
24So we say RE-call, not re-CALL.
25Although he had not spoken French for a while, his recall of vocabulary was amazing.
26Recall also has two more uses as verbs.
27The first means to order someone back to a place or country officially.
28She was recalled back to her home country because her visa expired.
29We often use the passive voice with this meaning of recall.
30Lastly as a verb, to recall something means, "to order back."
31We often use this expression when talking about businesses or companies asking for products to be returned because there is something wrong with them.
32Car companies often recall cars to change the safety system.
33"Remember" means to keep something in your memory, while "recall" means to access your memory.
34You cannot exchange "do not forget" with "recall," only with "remember."
35Acceptable: Don't forget the flowers for the wedding.
36Acceptable: Remember the flowers for the wedding
37Not acceptable: Recall the flowers for the wedding.
38Please let us know if these examples have helped you, Jego!
39What question do you have about American English? Send us an email at learningenglish@voanews.com
40And that's Ask a Teacher.
41I'm Faith Pirlo.
1Hello! This week on Ask a Teacher, we will answer a question from Jego in Ethiopia about the difference between "remember" and "recall." 2Question: 3Dear Learning English, 4What is the difference between "remember" and "recall?" 5Thank you, 6Jego from Eithopia 7Answer: 8Dear Jego, 9Thank for writing to us again and asking this question. 10Both "recall" and "remember" are verbs that involve memory --- thinking about something that happened in the past. In many cases, the two words are interchangeable. 11Remember 12"Remember" is a verb that means to think about the past. You can create from memory a mental picture of the past. 13I remember playing outside a lot as a child. 14The opposite of "remember" is to "forget" something. We often use "remember" as a command so others "do not forget" something important. 15Remember to take the cat to the animal hospital. 16Don't forget to take the cat to the animal hospital. 17Recall 18Recall has a few different meanings and uses. It can be similar in meaning to "remember." This meaning is "to call back into memory" or "access something from memory again." 19I don't recall meeting her last year. 20In this sentence, we can replace "recall" with "remember" as the meanings are similar. 21As a noun "recall" is the ability to remember something or the act of remembering. The first syllable of the word is stressed. So we say RE-call, not re-CALL. 22Although he had not spoken French for a while, his recall of vocabulary was amazing. 23Recall also has two more uses as verbs. The first means to order someone back to a place or country officially. 24She was recalled back to her home country because her visa expired. 25We often use the passive voice with this meaning of recall. 26Lastly as a verb, to recall something means, "to order back." We often use this expression when talking about businesses or companies asking for products to be returned because there is something wrong with them. 27Car companies often recall cars to change the safety system. 28Summary 29"Remember" means to keep something in your memory, while "recall" means to access your memory. 30You cannot exchange "do not forget" with "recall," only with "remember." 31Acceptable: Don't forget the flowers for the wedding. 32Acceptable: Remember the flowers for the wedding 33Not acceptable: Recall the flowers for the wedding. 34Please let us know if these examples have helped you, Jego! 35What question do you have about American English? Send us an email at learningenglish@voanews.com 36And that's Ask a Teacher. 37I'm Faith Pirlo. 38Faith Pirlo wrote this lesson for VOA Learning English. 39_______________________________________________________________________ 40Words in This Story 41access - v. a way of being able to use or get something 42syllable - n. a part a word is naturally divided into when pronounced. 43expire - v. to end : to no longer be valid after a period of time 44passive voice - n. a way of writing or speaking that uses passive verbs 45_______________________________________________________________________ 46Do you have a question for the teacher? We want to hear from you. We have a new comment system. Here is how it works: 47Each time you return to comment on the Learning English site, you can use your account and see your comments and replies to them. Our comment policy is here.