have problems in understanding

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "have problems in understanding" is correct and can be used in written English.
It is typically used to express difficulty in comprehending or grasping something. You can use it when describing a situation where someone is struggling to understand something. Example: "John had problems in understanding the advanced calculus concepts in his math class." Here, the sentence indicates that John had difficulty understanding the complex concepts in his math class.

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

Orton (1983a) asserts that students have problems in understanding the meaning of the derivative when it is written as a fraction.

International Journal of STEM Education

However, empirical studies have shown that people generally have problems in understanding the risks and benefits of medical treatment and decision making, and this could impact on the actual application of existing laws [ 37].

BMC Medical Ethics

One stakeholder from Kakuma camp identified refugees' English proficiency as a challenge: "A big number of people who apply for these courses, have problems in understanding English which needs a lot of creativity in making all ends meet".

International Journal of Educational Technology in Higher Education

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

The retailer has had problems in understanding discerning Chinese consumers as their buying decisions aren't always price driven.

Forbes

Half of the participants declared never having problems in understanding written information related to their medical condition.

European Journal of Public Health

Despite having had the surveys translated into the native languages of the refugees, there were some participants who had problems in reading and understanding the survey.

Journal for Labour Market Research

"It's typically for younger people, but also for people in their 80's and even 90's in the early stages of hearing loss" who have problems understanding conversations in noisy restaurants or at meetings, he said.

The New York Times

Children who had undergone surgery or physiotherapy appeared to have fewer problems in understanding the KOOS.

Acta Orthopaedica

Because we are not in the Church, we have problems understanding".

Huffington Post

"Even a native English speaker would have problems understanding them.

The New Yorker

Ordinary mortals tend to have problems understanding ideas like this.

The New York Times - Arts

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "have problems in understanding", ensure the context clearly identifies what is causing the difficulty. Providing specific examples can enhance clarity.

Common error

Avoid vague statements. Instead of saying someone "has problems in understanding the topic", specify which aspects of the topic are causing the confusion. For example, "has problems in understanding the complex equations."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "have problems in understanding" functions as a verbal phrase indicating a difficulty or challenge in comprehension. It is often used to describe situations where someone is struggling to grasp or make sense of something. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage in English.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

60%

News & Media

40%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "have problems in understanding" is a grammatically correct and commonly used expression to indicate difficulty in comprehending something. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is suitable for various contexts, particularly science and news media. While the phrase is generally neutral in register, specifying the source of the difficulty can enhance clarity and avoid overgeneralizations. Alternatives such as "struggle to comprehend" or "find it hard to grasp" offer subtle variations in meaning. The analysis of authoritative sources and usage patterns provides a comprehensive understanding of how this phrase is employed in real-world contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

struggle to comprehend

Emphasizes the effort required to understand something.

have trouble comprehending

Similar to 'struggle to comprehend' but with a slightly different tone.

find it hard to grasp

Highlights the difficulty in initially understanding a concept.

find difficulty in grasping

Similar to 'find it hard to grasp', but using 'difficulty'.

experience difficulty understanding

Emphasizes the experience of struggling to understand.

encounter difficulties in understanding

More formal way of expressing the presence of problems in comprehension.

are challenged in understanding

Highlights the challenging aspect of the comprehension process.

lack understanding of

Focuses on the absence of understanding.

battle to understand

Stronger emphasis on the effort and struggle involved.

be perplexed by

Focuses on the confusion resulting from a lack of understanding.

FAQs

What are some other ways to say "have problems in understanding"?

Alternatives include "struggle to comprehend", "find it hard to grasp", or "lack understanding of" depending on the context.

How do I use "have problems in understanding" in a sentence?

You can use "have problems in understanding" to describe difficulties in grasping concepts. For example, "Students may "have problems in understanding" abstract theories."

Is it better to use "have difficulty understanding" or "have problems in understanding"?

Both "have difficulty understanding" and "have problems in understanding" are correct, but "have difficulty understanding" might sound slightly more formal.

What's the difference between "have problems understanding" and "struggle to understand"?

"Have problems understanding" generally indicates a difficulty, while "struggle to comprehend" implies a more active and effortful attempt to understand something despite the difficulty.