THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN KNOWING A WORD AND USING IT

The article explores the difference between knowing a word and being able to use it in communication. It explains the concepts of receptive and productive vocabulary and examines why many learners recognize words but struggle to use them in speaking and writing. Drawing on language acquisition research and classroom examples, the paper highlights the importance of active retrieval, meaningful context, and communicative practice in vocabulary development. The author concludes that true vocabulary learning occurs when students actively use words in real-life situations rather than simply memorizing them.