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Usenet Posted 20 years ago
Usage

Matter vs problem

As an EFL teacher, I find it hard to explain the difference in the meaning of these two words: matter & problem. My students correctly say "the problem was that, there was another matter under discussion, what is the matter with you" and so on.
But they also say "the matter was hat she was unempoloyed" or even "I have never had that matter before"
What "trick" should I use to sort the ... (damn it!)

Thank you

Grandsrin
  

Top answer

[nq:1]As an EFL teacher, I find it hard to explain the difference in the meaning of these two words: matter & problem. [/nq] A matter is not necessarily a problem. It can just be a process.

— Usenet

  • [nq:1]As an EFL teacher, I find it hard to explain the difference in the meaning of these two words: matter & problem.
  • [/nq] A matter is not necessarily a problem.
  • It can just be a process.
  • I am currently arranging to sell my house.
  • The lawyer tells me that the matter will be concluded in four weeks.
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11 Answers
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[nq:1]As an EFL teacher, I find it hard to explain the difference in the meaning of these two words: matter & problem. My students correctly say "the problem was that, there was another matter under discussion, what is the matter with you" and so on.[/nq]
A matter is not necessarily a problem. It can just be a process.

I am currently arranging to sell my house. The lawyer tells me tha
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(Email Removed) a exprimé avec précision :
[nq:2] Grandsrin[/nq]
That's clearer!
Thank you!
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[nq:2]A matter is not necessarily a problem. It can just ... have never had that matter before" is just plain incorrect.[/nq]
It is not necessarily incorrect if something has never been of import to one before.
I think that "matter" must have historically evolved from a phrase such as, "the substance of the matter" or "the issues comprising the matter." A problem has the inherent quality o
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[nq:1]And, to answer your original question, I think practice will resolve this matter. I'm currently taking Spanish as a second language and slowly but surely, some of the peculiarities of the language are becoming natural with practice.[/nq]
Dan, you are so right.
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[nq:1]It is not necessarily incorrect if something has never been of import to one before. I think that "matter" must ... this explaination washes out: You may always substitute matter for problem, however, you may not always substitute problem for matter.[/nq]
But you can't. "Do you have a matter with me?"
Part of your student's confusion of the two words may lie in the fact that "matter"
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[nq:2]It is not necessarily incorrect if something has never been ... problem, however, you may not always substitute problem for matter.[/nq]
[nq:1]But you can't. "Do you have a matter with me?"[/nq]
What's wrong with that?
[nq:1]Part of your student's confusion of the two words may lie in the fact that "matter" is commonly used two ... out the problem/matter situation. And that's lea
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[nq:2]But you can't. "Do you have a matter with me?"[/nq]
[nq:1]What's wrong with that?[/nq]
Come on now, Dan! Have you ever heard or seen that? It's the sort of thing Borat might say.
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[nq:2]What's wrong with that?[/nq]
[nq:1]Come on now, Dan! Have you ever heard or seen that? It's the sort of thing Borat might say.[/nq]
It struck me as a bit medieaval Shakespearean even and, uncommon, but not technically wrong.

Yours,
Dan S.
Reporting to you from South Bend
-Outspokenness is too often confused for a virtue. However, virtues underlie the message not
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[nq:1]It struck me as a bit medieaval Shakespearean even and, uncommon, but not technically wrong.[/nq]
Oh! Right! I see! Do you mean like when two men had an "affair" (of honour)? That was sometimes called a "matter", was it not? "A Matter of Honour" is a film directed by Steven R. Cole about the last fatal duel in Canada.
The two guys had a matter to clear up...
I'm with you now.
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[nq:2]It struck me as a bit medieaval Shakespearean even and, uncommon, but not technically wrong.[/nq]
[nq:1]Oh! Right! I see! Do you mean like when two men had an "affair" (of honour)? That was sometimes called ... about the last fatal duel in Canada. The two guys had a matter to clear up... I'm with you now.[/nq]
But...

surely it takes two to have a matter (with each other)
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