From Kathmandu, this is Late Became, a podcast for Nepali learners of English language. I am your host Umes Shrestha.

This is episode number three.

On this episode, I will be talking about the differences between ‘to read’ and ‘to study’. Similarly, I will also try to explain the differences between ‘to take an exam’ and ‘to give an exam’.

But to start off this episode, let me ask you a question. Which one is the correct sentence?

a. My brother is giving an exam to get the scholarship. b. My brother is taking an exam to get the scholarship.

I’ll give you the answer at the end of this episode.

Now, let me continue with today’s agenda – the differences between the two verbs ‘to read’ and ‘to study’. Whenever I ask my students for an introduction, this is what they usually say.

I am Pooja Gauro. I read in Gautam School. I read in Class 9.

Likewise, you will hear them saying: “I read in a private boarding school” or “I am reading in Class 10”.

Since, the two verbs ‘to read’ and ‘to study’ have almost the same meaning ‘padhnu’ in Nepali, students assume the two verbs as interchangeable and use the verb ‘read’ inappropriately instead of ‘study’.

Though the dictionary meanings of these words are very similar, and they are basically synonyms of each other, remember: there’s a difference between the implied meanings or the hidden meanings of these two verbs. Let me give you some examples.

You can read a book. You can also read a story. You can read newspapers. You can spend time reading comic books. You read a text, a letter, a magazine or signs. And, you read your notes for exams.

But, You study in a school. You study in a class. That’s where you gain or acquire knowledge.

If you are looking for deeper knowledge, you can also study a subject, for instance, you can study a bird’s behaviour. You can study about stars and planets. You can study about music.

You can also study for an examination by reading an English grammar book.

Is the picture a bit clearer now? I’m hoping it is.

So, ‘to read’ usually has a narrow sense - padhnu, while ‘to study’ has a broad sense – adhyan garnu. For example: You can read a story book. After you finish reading the book, you can study it carefully for its design, layout, content and language.

I hope this clears the confusion about ‘read’ and ‘study’.

Now, let me talk about the next confusing pair.

Many Nepali students or speakers of English get confused over ‘take an exam’ and ‘give an exam’. And, I confess that I often say “I am giving an exam” when in fact I should be saying “I am taking an exam”. The English grammar says, it’s the other way around. But, I repeat the same mistakes all the time.

One reason for this mistake is probably because the meanings of ‘give an exam’ and ‘take an exam’ are completely opposite in Nepali. “Give” means ‘dinu” and thus we say ‘kitab deu – give me a book’, ‘paisa deu – give me some money’ and similarly ‘jaanch dinu – give an exam’. It seems very logical, doesn’t it?

But despite sounding logical for our Nepali ears, English has its own way to work out these meanings. So, for example, if Aayush is a student and he is in the exam hall, you will have to say “Aayush is taking an exam”. It is ungrammatical to say, “Aayush is giving an exam”. Bear in mind, the teachers give the students exam, while the students take the exam.

This brings me back to the question I asked earlier. I asked you which one is the correct sentence. a. My brother is giving an exam to get the scholarship. b. My brother is taking an exam to get the scholarship.

I hope you said ‘b’. Since my brother is a student and he’s trying to get a scholarship, the correct sentence is ‘b’ – My brother is taking an exam to get the scholarship.

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So in this episode of the podcast, I talked about the differences between to read and to study – and – to give and to take exam. I hope it was helpful for you.

Remember, you can download the audio transcript of the podcast in my blog www.latebecame.wordpress.com. If you want to suggest me a topic for the podcast, you can also do so by mailing me at latebecame@gmail.com

So, until the next episode.. keep learning and keep practicing.