0
Laborious Posted 6 years ago
Grammar

Difference between "to mistake something" and "to be mistaken about something"

Would anyone please tell me if "to mistake something" and "to be mistaken about something" mean the same or if there's any difference between them?

For example, I'm providing you with sentences:

1a. I mistook her signature on the envelope and thought it was somebody else's.

1b. I was mistaken about her signature and thought... .


2a. You can't mistake their house - it has a big yellow gate.

2b. You can't be mistaken about their house - it has a big yellow gate.


3a. If I am not mistaking it, she is one of the top rankers of the University.

3b. If I am not mistaken about it, she is one of the top rankers of the University.








  

Top answer

Laborious 1a. I mistook her signature on the envelope and thought it was somebody else's. " Laborious 1b.

— Anonymous

  • Laborious 1a.
  • I mistook her signature on the envelope and thought it was somebody else's.
  • " Laborious 1b.
  • I was mistaken about her signature and thought...
  • If you mean the same as number 1, no.
Free · every Monday

Get the Weekly English Kit 📬

New words, one handy idiom, and a 2-minute quiz — delivered to your inbox to keep your streak alive.

2 Answers
0
Laborious1a. I mistook her signature on the envelope and thought it was somebody else's.

I can't call that wrong, exactly, but it sounds like a roundabout way of putting the simpler "I mistook her signature on the envelope for somebody else's."

Laborious1b. I was mistaken about her signature and thought... .

If you

0
0
LaboriousWould anyone please tell me if "to mistake something" and "to be mistaken about something" mean the same or if there's any difference between them?

They strike me as a bit different.

You mistake something for something else.
You are mistaken about something.

LaboriousI mistook her signature on t
0

Related Questions