affect

Everyday

1. To affect something means to have an effect on it, to change or influence it («Rain affects the match»). tree →
2. To affect someone means to make them feel strong emotions («The sad story affected her deeply»). tree →
3. To affect can mean to attack or harm a part of the body («The illness affects the lungs»). tree →
4. Formally, to affect means to pretend («affect an accent»). tree →

In the lessons

In science pupils investigate «how does X affect Y?» (how does light affect plant growth?); the thing you change is the variable that might affect the result. In health and the environment: pollution affects wildlife, sugar affects teeth. Phrases: «affect the result», «be affected by», «deeply affected».

Examples

• How does temperature affect how fast ice melts? tree →
• Too much screen time can affect your sleep. tree →
• The flood affected hundreds of homes. tree →
• The sad film affected me a lot. tree →
• Pollution affects animals living in the river. tree →
• Does the weather affect your mood? tree →
• The illness mostly affects the skin. tree →
• Many families were affected by the storm. tree →
• The bitter weather had for some time affected his limbs. tree →

Note

Big trap: «affect» is usually a verb (to change something), «effect» is usually a noun (the result). Memory trick: A for Action (affect), E for End result (effect): «Rain affects the plants; the effect is faster growth.» Regular verb: «affected».

In Jewish tradition

In science pupils investigate «how does X affect Y?» (how does light affect plant growth?); the thing you change is the variable that might affect the result. In health and the environment: pollution affects wildlife, sugar affects teeth. Phrases: «affect the result», «be affected by», «deeply affected».

Examples

• Mine eye affected my soul, because of all the daughters of my city. (Writings LAM.3.51, JPS 1917) tree →
• Thou wast wearied with the length of thy way; yet saidst thou not: 'There is no hope'; thou didst find a renewal of thy strength, therefore thou wast not affected. (Prophets ISA.57.10, JPS 1917) tree →
• Thou hast stricken them, but they were not affected; Thou hast consumed them, but they have refused to receive correction; they have made their faces harder than a rock; they have refused to return. (Prophets JER.5.3, JPS 1917) tree →

Note

Big trap: «affect» is usually a verb (to change something), «effect» is usually a noun (the result). Memory trick: A for Action (affect), E for End result (effect): «Rain affects the plants; the effect is faster growth.» Regular verb: «affected».