I'm confused with the word " stuff"

Hello Ola, I'm confused with the word " stuff"

could please explain its meaning and usage.

Comments for I'm confused with the word " stuff"

Jan 10, 2011

Answer
by: Ola Zur

Hello,

The word "stuff" is a very common English word. It has many meanings. These are the main ones:

1. A group of things (you don't say what exactly because you don't know how to call it, because it is not important or because it is obvious):
Can you take your stuff off the table?
We need pens, pencils, papers, stuff like that.
He keeps his stuff in his bag.

2. A material, a substance or a thing (you don't say what exactly because you don't know how to call it, because it is not important or because it is obvious):
There was some green stuff on the wall.
I can't eat this stuff.
There is sticky stuff on your shoe.

3. Things that someone does, says, thinks, etc:
We have so much stuff to do!
He did some terrible stuff to his family.
I don't believe all the stuff she said about him.
I like swimming and running and stuff like that.

Ola Zur is the editor of www.really-learn-english.com, an illustrated guide to English.

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