Linh listens to her teacher explain a rule, changing from puzzlement in a small inset to clear understanding in the main scene.
sink in
The instructions took a moment to sink in.
Read the example again
The instructions took a moment to sink in.
I read the message twice before it sank in.
Read the example again
I read the message twice before it sank in.
View meaning & usage
Become fully understood
something sinks in
The subject is usually information or meaning. Here this is not physical sinking in water; the past form is “sank”.
Haven't studied yet
Linh points to a simple diagram of rain, a dripping umbrella and a puddle to explain the wet floor.
account for
How can we account for the wet floor?
Read the example again
How can we account for the wet floor?
The open window accounts for the cold room.
Read the example again
The open window accounts for the cold room.
View meaning & usage
Explain the reason for something
account for something
Here this means explaining a reason. “Account for” can also describe a proportion of a total, but that is a different sense.
Haven't studied yet
The examples were written for this course. Usage was checked against Matt Errey’s book, pages 66, 92, 35, 117, 6. A2–B1 is the course’s intended level.
Recall it · Use it
One step forward every day
Practice completed!
Your browser could not save your play history. Results from this session may be lost when you close the page.
Sentences using suggestions are counted as needing more practice. Review schedule based on each phrase's meaning.
Drag a wire from the dot beside a phrase to the dot beside its matching picture. You can also tap a phrase, then a picture. Drag again to change a pair before checking.
Read the picture descriptions for more context. Similar expressions are accepted when they fit the particular scene.
Phrases
Actions in the pictures
Picture description
Linh observes wet footprints and a dripping umbrella, then infers recent rain in a thought bubble showing a rain cloud.
The picture could not load. Try loading it again before matching.
Picture description
Linh thinks of using a tray to catch water from the umbrella, shown in a thought bubble.
The picture could not load. Try loading it again before matching.
Picture description
Linh realises the wet floor comes from the dripping umbrella; two small insets show initial puzzlement followed by understanding.
The picture could not load. Try loading it again before matching.
Picture description
Linh listens to her teacher explain a rule, changing from puzzlement in a small inset to clear understanding in the main scene.
The picture could not load. Try loading it again before matching.
Picture description
Linh points to a simple diagram of rain, a dripping umbrella and a puddle to explain the wet floor.
The picture could not load. Try loading it again before matching.
Choose a phrase to begin.
Your browser could not save your play history. Results from this session may be lost when you close the page.
A conversation in context
Read the conversation and find the expressions you have learned.
Mai
It occurred to me that we had used the wrong key.
Read the example again
It occurred to me that we had used the wrong key.
Alex
Then it dawned on me why the door would not open.
Read the example again
Then it dawned on me why the door would not open.
Mai
That accounts for the problem. Let us try the other key.
Read the example again
That accounts for the problem. Let us try the other key.
Compare the uses
occur to / dawn on
“Occur to” concerns a thought entering someone’s mind; “dawn on” often stresses beginning to realise something. Both patterns here identify the person experiencing it.
Practice and check your answers
Try answering before revealing the suggested answer. This practice is not scored.
The answers below are models. Other answers can also work if they preserve the facts, meaning and structure requested in the task.
A situation to apply what you have learned
A traveller sees two different departure times. She thinks of a possible explanation, then realises that the displays use different time zones.
Describe the thought entering her mind.
Show the answer and explanation
A possible explanation occurred to her.
“Occurred to her” describes an explanation entering the female traveller’s mind; “her” matches “she” in the situation.
Complete: It dawned ___ her that the displays used different time zones.
Show the answer and explanation
on
“Dawned on her” describes her realising the time-zone difference; the person follows “on”.
Write a sentence explaining the problem with account for.
Show the answer and explanation
The different time zones account for the two departure times.
“Account for” links the different time zones to the two displayed times without inventing two separate departures.
The usage comparisons are checked against the Cambridge Dictionary entries linked beside the compared expressions. The additional conversations and exercises are written for this course.
Progress is saved on the device. Sign in with Google to save with the same account and continue on another device.
