Definitions
- Talking about the ability to pay for something without financial strain. - Referring to the availability of time or resources to do something. - Describing the capacity to bear or withstand something.
- Referring to the ability to maintain or support something over time. - Talking about the capacity to endure or withstand something. - Describing the act of providing nourishment or sustenance to someone or something.
List of Similarities
- 1Both words refer to the ability to bear or withstand something.
- 2Both words can be used in a financial context.
- 3Both words involve the idea of maintaining something over time.
What is the difference?
- 1Usage: Afford is used to describe the ability to pay for something, while sustain is used to describe the ability to maintain or support something over time.
- 2Focus: Afford focuses on the financial aspect, while sustain can refer to physical, emotional, or social aspects.
- 3Direction: Afford is directed towards oneself, while sustain can be directed towards oneself or others.
- 4Scope: Afford is limited to the present, while sustain implies a longer-term perspective.
- 5Connotation: Afford has a neutral connotation, while sustain can have positive or negative connotations depending on the context.
Remember this!
Afford and sustain are similar in that they both refer to the ability to bear or withstand something. However, afford is used to describe the ability to pay for something without financial strain, while sustain is used to describe the ability to maintain or support something over time. Afford has a neutral connotation and is limited to the present, while sustain implies a longer-term perspective and can have positive or negative connotations depending on the context.