[Mastering the Verb 'Find': Locating, Evaluating, and Realizing]-[AEE 2651: Find Out How to Use "Find" in Three Different Ways]

All Ears English Podcast · B1 · 2026-07-15

📋 Summary

Introduction: The Versatility of 'Find'

In this episode of the All Ears English podcast, hosts Lindsay McMahon and Michelle Kaplan delve into the common, yet often confusing, ways the verb "to find" is used in American English. While it may seem straightforward, the meaning of "find" shifts significantly depending on the context, often leading to misunderstandings when learners confuse its usage for physical location versus subjective opinion.

Three Primary Buckets of Usage

To simplify the verb's functions, the hosts categorize "find" into three distinct "buckets":

Locate or Get: This is the most literal sense of the word, referring to finding a physical object or place. For example, "I found my keys in my bag" or "I found this book on the floor." In this context, it describes the act of discovering something's location.
Think, Experience, or Opinion: This usage shifts from physical space to the speaker's internal evaluation. When you say, "I find her super funny" or "She found the concert to be extremely boring," you are expressing a personal judgment or opinion. The hosts note that if you follow "find" with an object and an adjective, it is almost certainly an expression of opinion rather than location.
Realization: This bucket describes a moment of discovery regarding a fact or a personal preference. For instance, "I find that I work best when there's a little bit of background noise." Grammatically, this is often identified when "find" is followed by a "that clause," signifying a shift from not knowing to realizing a truth.

The Role of Context and Grammar

Distinguishing between these meanings requires an awareness of both grammar and social context. The hosts emphasize that listeners must consider what the speaker already knows about the situation. For instance, asking "How did you find the test?" would rarely mean "How did you locate the exam paper," but rather "What was your opinion of the difficulty of the test?"

Furthermore, the use of continuous tenses provides another layer of nuance. Using "finding" (e.g., "How are you finding the class so far?") almost exclusively relates to the opinion bucket, as it implies a process of discovery or an ongoing experience rather than a singular act of locating an item.

Conclusion: Connection Through Nuance

The hosts conclude that mastering these distinctions is essential for achieving "connection, not perfection." By paying attention to the specific context and the listener's background knowledge, English learners can navigate these linguistic traps with confidence. As Lindsay points out, the takeaway is to pause and analyze: Are we discussing a physical location, a personal evaluation, or a new realization? By doing so, learners can better understand the speaker's intent and engage more naturally in conversations.

🎯Key Sentences

I totally agree.

What are we paying for?

I'm finding this grocery store isn't what it used to be.

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📝Key Phrases

put an end to

fall back on

move from passive recognition to active use

meet and greet

open a can of worms

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📖 Transcript

This is an All Ears English podcast, episode 2651.

Find out how to use find in three different ways.

Welcome to the All Ears English podcast, downloaded more than 200 million times.

Are you feeling stuck with your English?

We'll show you how to become Fearless and fluent by focusing on connection, not perfection.

With your American hosts Lindsay McMahon, the English adventurer, and Michelle Kaplan, the New York radio girl.

I love when we get into a topic that seems very straightforward, you know, but it's actually a little bit more nuanced because it gets us into connection even more, because what this is asking us to do is really think about who we're speaking to and what they know about you, what they're likely to be saying to you in that moment.

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