Learn vs Teach: Receive Knowledge or Help Someone Gain It?

Learn and teach describe opposite sides of the same educational process. The learner gains knowledge or skill; the teacher helps another person gain it.

Learn: the knowledge moves toward the learner

Use learn when the subject gains knowledge, discovers information, or develops a skill.

• I’m learning English.
• She learned how to drive.
• We learned a lot from the workshop.

Teach: the subject gives instruction

Use teach when the subject instructs another person or provides knowledge.

• He teaches English online.
• Can you teach me how to use this software?
• The course taught us useful negotiation skills.

Useful patterns

Notice the common grammar around each verb.

• learn something
• learn to do something
• learn about/from
• teach someone something
• teach someone to do something

What about study?

Study refers to the activity of spending time learning, often through lessons, reading, or practice. You can study without successfully learning everything.

• I studied French for two years, but I learned much more when I moved abroad.

Common mistakes to avoid

• My tutor learns me English → My tutor teaches me English.
• I teach English every evening is correct only if you are the instructor; if you are the student, use I study/learn English.

Quick practice

1. Choose: “My grandmother ___ me how to cook.”
2. Choose: “I’m ___ how to use Excel.”
3. Explain the difference between study and learn.

Suggested answers: 1. taught; 2. learning; 3. study = the activity, learn = the result/process of gaining knowledge.

Key takeaway

Follow the direction of knowledge: toward the subject = learn; from the subject to another person = teach.