Hesitate or doubt?

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ESL forum > Grammar and Linguistics > Hesitate or doubt?

Hesitate or doubt?

curk

Hesitate or doubt?

Can we use both verbs in the same context?

7 Oct 2015

yanogator

These words are very different.

To hesitate is a physical thing. It means�not to do something yet, to wait before doing�something.

John always hesitates to raise his hand�in class until he sees others doing so. Jane, on the other hand, shoots her hand up as soon as the question is asked.

�

To doubt is a mental thing. It means�not to believe that something is true.

�

I doubt that I will score 100% on tomorrow �s test.

� Doubting can be the reason for hesitating: I hesitate to answer this question, because I doubt that I will get it right.

I hope this helps you.

Bruce�

7 Oct 2015