A contest and an opponent take different verbs.

The idea

Use win for a game, race or prize; use beat for the person or team you defeat.

Patterns to compare
VerbObject
wina game, contest or prize
beatan opponent or team

Examples

  • Our team won the final match.
  • Maya beat her brother at chess.
  • Leo won a prize for his painting.
  • The visitors beat the home team yesterday.
  • Can you win the race without stopping?
  • We beat our friends in a quiz.

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Watch out

Do not say win your opponent: say beat your opponent or win the game.

Try it yourself

  1. Choose the correct word. They hope to ___ the tournament. (win / beat)

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    win

    win: The tournament is the contest they hope to take first place in.

  2. Choose the correct word. Can you ___ your cousin at tennis? (win / beat)

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    beat

    beat: Your cousin is the opponent in the tennis match.

  3. Choose the correct word. Our class wants to ___ first prize. (win / beat)

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    win

    win: First prize is the reward the class hopes to receive.

  4. Choose the correct word. The blue team plans to ___ its rivals. (win / beat)

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    beat

    beat: The rivals are the opposing team.

Use it today

Choose the verb that fits the object in each sentence.