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📕 rednote ID(小红书号)：3881567312

Affect: Definition, Usage & Common Mistakes (2 meaning)

Meaning 1：have an impact on (affect)

affect 🔊

/əˈfekt/

vt.

to cause a change in someone or something

Affect meaning illustrated: how environment affects focus and productivity.

have an impact on 🔊

➕

/hæv ən ˈɪmpækt ɒn/

vt.

To produce a change or influence something or someone.

📁 Category：Social Roles 🔖 Level：初级

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Root Explanation

From Latin 'afficere', meaning 'to do to, influence' (ad- 'to' + facere 'do, make').

💡 Mnemonic

Think 'A for Action'. Affect is an Action word (verb) that causes change.

📖 Example

A quiet study environment can positively affect your ability to concentrate. 🔊 A quiet study environment can positively have an impact on your ability to concentrate.

🔗 Collocations

affect performance – to influence how well someone does something

affect decision-making – to influence the process of choosing

directly affect – to have an immediate and clear impact on

🔄 Synonyms

influence (vt.) – to have an effect on the character, development, or behavior of someone or something

impact (vt.) – to have a strong effect on something

alter (vt.) – to change or cause to change in character or composition

🚫 Antonyms

leave unchanged (v. phrase) – to not cause any change to something

maintain (vt.) – to cause something to continue in the same state

🌱 Derivatives

affected (adj.) – influenced or touched by an external factor; also can mean behaving in an artificial way

affecting (adj.) – producing a strong emotional effect; moving

affection (n.) – a gentle feeling of fondness or liking

📖 Cultural Story

Originating from Latin 'afficere', meaning to 'do to' or 'influence'. It entered English in the 14th century. It is frequently confused with 'effect', a common mistake in English writing; 'affect' is primarily a verb, while 'effect' is primarily a noun.

Meaning 2：attack or infect (affect)

affect 🔊

/əˈfekt/

vt.

to attack or infect a part of the body, causing illness or problems.

Affect definition: virus affecting the human respiratory system in detail.

attack or infect 🔊

➕

/əˈtæk ɔːr ɪnˈfekt/

vt.

To attack or infect a specific part of the body, leading to disease or health issues.

📁 Category：Physical & Mental Health 🔖 Level：初级

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Example

The flu can seriously affect your respiratory system, making it hard to breathe. 🔊 The flu can seriously attack or infect your respiratory system, making it hard to breathe.

🔗 Collocations

affect the lungs – to attack or cause problems for the lungs

affect the nervous system – to attack or influence the brain, spinal cord, and nerves

adversely affect – to harm or have a negative impact on (health)

🔄 Synonyms

attack (vt.) – (of a disease, chemical, etc.) to harm or damage a part of the body

infect (vt.) – to contaminate with a disease-causing organism

invade (vt.) – (of microorganisms) to enter and spread harmfully within