Vocabulary: How to Use 'Aggravate' and 'Annoy'

Share this & earn $10
English with Alex · engVid English Classes
Published at : 05 Nov 2021
121660 views
1663
20

English teachers sometimes get annoyed when native speakers mistake these two words. If you want to avoid aggravating this annoying habit, just click on this lesson and put your questions to rest. If you’re a native speaker, this lesson is also useful as a refresher, as it breaks down the essential misunderstanding many people have with these two common words. Take the quiz on this lesson here: https://www.engvid.com/vocabulary-aggravate-annoy/

TRANSCRIPT:
Hi guys. I’m Alex. Thanks for clicking, and welcome to this vocabulary lesson on: "Annoy vs. Aggravate". These two words are often confused, even by native speakers. And many native speakers don’t actually think there’s a difference between the two words. Well, today, I’m going to show you the difference between them.

So, very simply: "annoy" and "aggravate" are both verbs. They can also act as adjectives actually if you add: "ed" or: "ing" to them. But, "to annoy", this word is the one that most people understand the meaning of it. So: "to irritate/to pester someone/to get on someone’s nerves". Now, again, this… This is an idiomatic expression which means to annoy a person. So if I say: "She gets on my nerves", she annoys me, irritates me, makes me "err", angry because of something that she does or something he does.

Now, "aggravate". Many people think that "aggravate" is actually a synonym for "annoy", that it has the exact same meaning as "annoy", and we use it the same way as "annoy". This is actually incorrect. Now, "to aggravate" something means to make it worse. Okay? So, usually when you aggravate something it’s always a situation, a problem, a physical injury. Okay? So if you make something worse, a situation worse, a problem worse, a physical injury worse, you’re aggravating it. Okay? It’s not the same as annoy.

So, let’s look at the sentences and decide which word we should use to complete each one… Each sentence.
Now, the first one says:
"She annoyed/aggravated her injury."
Now, if you were listening to me just now, you clearly know that here we should be using: "aggravate". Right? She made her injury worse. So maybe she had a… A shoulder injury and she decided to do some really extreme exercise, and then: "Uhh", her injury was aggravated. She aggravated her injury, she made it worse.

The second sentence says:
"Her uncle annoys/aggravates me so much!"
Now, if you’re a native speaker, you might think: "Well, you can use both of them. There’s nothing wrong with that." Actually, there is something wrong with it if you want to get very technical and the meaning of the two words taken literally. You have to use: "annoy" in this situation. "Her uncle annoys me so much!" Irritates me. Okay?

Let’s continue:
"I always get annoyed/aggravated by him."
So, again, this is similar to the second sentence where you’re talking about someone who is irritated by another person. Here, we’re seeing the adjective form. Right? So: "I always get annoyed or get aggravated, become aggravated or annoyed by him." Really, we should be saying: "annoyed" which means irritated.

Next we have:
"He annoyed/aggravated the problem."
So whatever the problem might be… Again, if you remember back to my initial explanation about aggravating problems, injuries, situations, you will know that here we should be using: "aggravate". Okay? He made the problem worse.

Next:
"We were annoyed/aggravated by her insensitivity."
Now, again, here, she made an insensitive comment, this really irritated us. Right? It didn’t make us worse. Although, again, if you really want to get technical: yeah, you could make a person worse, I suppose, but really "annoy" is the more common, more correct word that you should be using here.

Next:
"She’s always annoying/aggravating her friends."
Now, is she making her friends worse or is she irritating them? I think in this situation, you… Your meaning most of the time when you’re saying a sentence like this means that she’s irritating them, pestering them, getting on their nerves. So: "She’s always annoying her friends."

Now, let me talk about something with you guys. With words like this: "annoy" and "aggravate" where many native speakers don’t even know that there is a difference between the two words, if you say: "Oh, she aggravates me so much." It is in common usage. Most English native speakers don’t know this rule, so if you misuse "aggravate" and mean "annoy" in your sentence, don’t feel too bad about it. Okay? Just know that, technically, there is a difference between the two words. We should not be using them interchangeably, although if you do, know that many native English speakers do the same thing.

So, if you’d like to test your understanding and really get the meaning of "annoy" and "aggravate", you can check out the quiz on www.engvid.com. Good luck with that. Take care, and I’ll see you guys soon. Don’t forget to subscribe to my YouTube channel. See ya.

English grammarEnglish vocabularyvocabulary

Seeking the Lord – Dr. Charles Stanley

Seeking the Lord – Dr. Charles Stanley

There is/are There isn't/aren't

There is/are There isn't/aren't

Real Lawyer Reacts to R. Kelly Trial

Real Lawyer Reacts to R. Kelly Trial

Irjg virus (ransomware). How to decrypt .Irjg files. Irjg File Recovery Guide.

Irjg virus (ransomware). How to decrypt .Irjg files. Irjg File Recovery Guide.

The trickiest word in English - Quite!

The trickiest word in English - Quite!

Unspoken - "Good News" (Official Audio)

Unspoken - "Good News" (Official Audio)

Upcoming 100 armed drones of Indian Armed forces

Upcoming 100 armed drones of Indian Armed forces

⭐ Device ⭐ "You Think You Know" Lyrics on screen HD

⭐ Device ⭐ "You Think You Know" Lyrics on screen HD

Constrained DFT to mimic thermalized photo-excited carriers (Charles Paillard)

Constrained DFT to mimic thermalized photo-excited carriers (Charles Paillard)

ASSERTING MY DOMINANCE (Bad Boys at School)

ASSERTING MY DOMINANCE (Bad Boys at School)

Whaldez  - Back to the Sturdiness [ Progressive House, Techno Mix ] 2018 September

Whaldez - Back to the Sturdiness [ Progressive House, Techno Mix ] 2018 September

Preventing COVID-19 in your workplace or while teleworking

Preventing COVID-19 in your workplace or while teleworking

How Do Charge Cards Affect Your Credit Score?

How Do Charge Cards Affect Your Credit Score?

When The Assist is More Beautiful Than the Goal 2021

When The Assist is More Beautiful Than the Goal 2021

#Fanny video #hindi #commend

#Fanny video #hindi #commend

Adrian Rogers: You Can Be Sure (2063)

Adrian Rogers: You Can Be Sure (2063)

Deicide - Homage for Satan (Official Video)

Deicide - Homage for Satan (Official Video)

Adekunle Gold - Okay

Adekunle Gold - Okay

Telling The Story Of An Often Secret Condition, Hidradenitis Suppurativa

Telling The Story Of An Often Secret Condition, Hidradenitis Suppurativa

RVFV, Lola Indigo - Trendy 🏜️

RVFV, Lola Indigo - Trendy 🏜️

Days Gone By (Live at Hillsong Conference) - Hillsong Young & Free

Days Gone By (Live at Hillsong Conference) - Hillsong Young & Free

How to Use an Analytical Balance

How to Use an Analytical Balance

Eddie Vedder - Long Way (Official Lyric Video)

Eddie Vedder - Long Way (Official Lyric Video)

Jerusalema - Stellenbosch University Choir

Jerusalema - Stellenbosch University Choir

Luke Bryan - Most People Are Good (Official Lyric Video)

Luke Bryan - Most People Are Good (Official Lyric Video)

These Period Hacks Will Make You Feel A LOT Better!

These Period Hacks Will Make You Feel A LOT Better!

Mooji - Can I Found MYSELF ? AM I Duality or Non-duality Or Both ? DEEP INQUIRY

Mooji - Can I Found MYSELF ? AM I Duality or Non-duality Or Both ? DEEP INQUIRY

RELAXATION Intense pour Évacuer le Stress, les Pensées Négatives et Libérer l'Esprit • 5 Heures

RELAXATION Intense pour Évacuer le Stress, les Pensées Négatives et Libérer l'Esprit • 5 Heures

THE HALL EFFECT- Become

THE HALL EFFECT- Become

Inquiring for Employment @ Area51 Annex in Alamo

Inquiring for Employment @ Area51 Annex in Alamo

'I Don't Say That Lightly': GOP Senator Attacks Schumer And Pelosi Over 'Reckless' Spending Bill

'I Don't Say That Lightly': GOP Senator Attacks Schumer And Pelosi Over 'Reckless' Spending Bill

Soul II Soul - Dare to Differ (w/lyrics!)

Soul II Soul - Dare to Differ (w/lyrics!)

Teacher Personalities at a Faculty Meeting

Teacher Personalities at a Faculty Meeting

Learn how to clean For Kids (with Morphle)

Learn how to clean For Kids (with Morphle)

Make Invisible Radiation Become Visible - Peltier Cloud Chamber

Make Invisible Radiation Become Visible - Peltier Cloud Chamber

UNUSUAL MEMES COMPILATION V160

UNUSUAL MEMES COMPILATION V160

Three More Ways to Avoid Wasting 2021

Three More Ways to Avoid Wasting 2021

What coaching is (EI)

What coaching is (EI)

$uicideBoy$ - ...And To Those I Love, Thanks For Sticking Around (Lyrics) '' i'll be dead by dawn''

$uicideBoy$ - ...And To Those I Love, Thanks For Sticking Around (Lyrics) '' i'll be dead by dawn''

Bee Gees - I Started A Joke (Live in Las Vegas, 1997 - One Night Only)

Bee Gees - I Started A Joke (Live in Las Vegas, 1997 - One Night Only)

depressing songs for depressed people 1 hour mix ~ A Sad Film ² (sad music playlist)

depressing songs for depressed people 1 hour mix ~ A Sad Film ² (sad music playlist)

How to Make a Decision

How to Make a Decision

WE BUILT A HOUSE IN KENYA, AFRICA | A HOME VLOG

WE BUILT A HOUSE IN KENYA, AFRICA | A HOME VLOG

L.O.L. Surprise! - Shades (Official Lyric Video)

L.O.L. Surprise! - Shades (Official Lyric Video)

I Like To Move It (Original Video)  Madagascar HD

I Like To Move It (Original Video) Madagascar HD

Jon Bellion - All Time Low (Official Music Video)

Jon Bellion - All Time Low (Official Music Video)

GENUINELY TERRIFYING I ALMOST CRIED

GENUINELY TERRIFYING I ALMOST CRIED

Sagittarius: Dry your eyes, a tremendous change is coming; wealth, respect & choice of lovers.

Sagittarius: Dry your eyes, a tremendous change is coming; wealth, respect & choice of lovers.

ST MARK'S BASILICA wins a SUPERB three-way battle in the 2021 Irish Champion Stakes

ST MARK'S BASILICA wins a SUPERB three-way battle in the 2021 Irish Champion Stakes