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Justyna Jupowicz-Kozak
CEO of Professional Science Editing for Scientists @ prosciediting.com
explained me
Grammar usage guide and real-world examplesUSAGE SUMMARY
No, "explained me" is not correct and should not be used in written English. The verb "explain" cannot take an object pronoun like "me" as its object because "explain" means "to make something clear or understandable to someone." Instead, it should be used with a reflexive pronoun, such as "explained myself." For example, "I explained myself to my boss during the meeting." In some cases, "explain to me" can be used in written English. It is a more common way of expressing the idea of someone explaining something to another person. For example, "Can you please explain to me how to solve this math problem?" or "She explained to me why she couldn't attend the party." Alternatively, "explained" can be used as an intransitive verb, meaning it does not take an object. In this case, you can use it without a pronoun or with an indirect object. For example, "He explained the situation to the team" or "The teacher explained the concept in detail." Overall, it is important to use the appropriate verb forms and pronouns when constructing sentences in written English to ensure clarity and proper grammar.
⚠ May contain grammatical issues
News & Media
Science
Wiki
Table of contents
Usage summary
Human-verified examples
Expert writing tips
Linguistic context
Ludwig's wrap-up
Alternative expressions
FAQs
Human-verified examples from authoritative sources
Exact Expressions
11 human-written examples
They explained me.
News & Media
He explained me, "That was Chevrolet's market.
News & Media
Nobody explained me why and this is most worrying," she wrote.
News & Media
"Nobody really explained me or told me, when you come to New York, all this is going to happen.
News & Media
NeuCoin explained me why we need yet another new cryptocurrency.
News & Media
Jones explained me: "What if you could create a billion maps, one for each user.
News & Media
Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources
Similar Expressions
49 human-written examples
"But this film does a great job of explaining me".
News & Media
These songs explain me better than I can explain them".
News & Media
I met a doctor really careful in explaining me everything I asked her.
Science
He explained to me what happened.
News & Media
Nothing has really been explained to me.
News & Media
Expert writing Tips
Best practice
Avoid using the phrase "explained me" in formal writing. Opt for grammatically correct alternatives such as "explained to me" or "explained it to me" to ensure clarity and correctness.
Common error
A common mistake is directly using a personal pronoun (me, him, her) as the object of "explain". Remember to include 'to' before the pronoun (explain to me) or clarify what was explained (explain it to me).
Source & Trust
87%
Authority and reliability
1.8/5
Expert rating
Real-world application tested
Linguistic Context
The phrase "explained me" is grammatically incorrect as "explain" requires either a "to" preposition before the indirect object or a direct object specifying what was explained. As Ludwig AI points out, standard English prefers constructions like "explained to me" or "explained it to me."
Frequent in
News & Media
43%
Science
36%
Wiki
14%
Less common in
Formal & Business
0%
Encyclopedias
0%
Reference
0%
Ludwig's WRAP-UP
The phrase "explained me" is generally considered grammatically incorrect in standard English. While some instances appear in various sources, according to Ludwig AI, it violates established grammar rules. The proper way to express this thought is to use "explained to me" or "explained it to me". Although present in some news, media, and scientific contexts, it is best to avoid "explained me" in formal writing and professional settings to maintain clarity and grammatical accuracy.
More alternative expressions(6)
Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:
explained to me
Corrects the grammatical structure by using the preposition "to" to indicate the recipient of the explanation.
explained it to me
Adds the pronoun "it" to represent the subject of the explanation, making the sentence grammatically sound.
explained himself to me
Indicates the person is clarifying their own actions or reasoning, using the reflexive pronoun "himself".
clarified for me
Uses the verb "clarified" which implies making something clear to someone, synonymous with explained.
elucidated to me
Uses the verb "elucidated" which implies to make something clear to understand, synonymous with explained but more formal.
detailed to me
Emphasizes the thoroughness of the explanation.
described to me
Focuses on providing a description rather than a full explanation.
walked me through
Implies a step-by-step explanation or demonstration.
gave me an explanation
Rephrases the sentence to use a noun phrase for "explanation".
made it clear to me
Focuses on the result of the explanation—achieving clarity.
FAQs
How can I correct the phrase "explained me"?
The phrase "explained me" is grammatically incorrect. Use phrases like "explained to me" or "explained it to me" instead.
What's the difference between "explained me" and "explained to me"?
"Explained me" is grammatically incorrect. The correct form is "explained to me", where "to" indicates the recipient of the explanation.
Is "explained me" ever acceptable in English?
No, "explained me" is generally not considered acceptable in standard English. It's better to use alternatives like "explained to me".
What are some alternatives to "explained to me"?
Alternatives to "explained to me" include "clarified for me", "elucidated to me", or "detailed to me", depending on the context.
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Table of contents
Usage summary
Human-verified examples
Expert writing tips
Linguistic context
Ludwig's wrap-up
Alternative expressions
FAQs
Source & Trust
87%
Authority and reliability
1.8/5
Expert rating
Real-world application tested