Let’s be honest, sometimes English can be confusing. Sometimes when learning English it is easy to mix up words or be unsure when to use them.
I often hear German speakers who are learning English make mistakes with the words ‘lose’ and ‘loose’.
Take a look at the examples below. Hopefully they will make things clearer for you.
To lose is a verb. It has the same sound as ‘snooze’. To lose means to not be able to find something; to misplace something; to not to win at something; to fail to make money in business.
E.g. Where are my car keys? I’ve lost them. I can’t find them.
If we don’t train hard, we will lose the game on Saturday.
The business did not do well last year. It lost a lot of money.
Loose is an adjective. It has the same sound as ‘goose’. It means not tight or free from any constraints.
E.g. When exercising, I prefer to wear loose clothes. They are more comfortable.
Be careful! There is a large dog loose in the park. ( = The dog is not on a lead.)
The door handle is loose. It needs tightening. I’ll repair it this evening.
Remember: If you go on a diet and lose weight, your clothes become loose!
Have fun learning English!
Louise