What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
learn
Example
I want to learn how to play the guitar. [learn: verb]
Example
She learned a lot about history from reading books. [learned: past tense]
comprehend
Example
I can't comprehend why he would do such a thing. [comprehend: verb]
Example
The students were able to comprehend the difficult math problem. [comprehended: past tense]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Learn is more commonly used than comprehend in everyday language. Learn is a versatile word that covers a wide range of contexts, while comprehend is more specialized and used in more formal or academic settings.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between learn and comprehend?
Comprehend is typically associated with a more formal or academic tone, while learn is more versatile and can be employed in both formal and informal contexts.