A difficult action can succeed, and a task can be someone’s responsibility.

The idea

Use manage to plus a base verb for success; use manage with a noun for a responsibility. Manage without means cope without something.

Examples

  • Maya managed to catch the last train.
  • We managed to finish the report before dinner.
  • Did you manage to open the window?
  • A small team manages the community garden.
  • I manage my time with a weekly plan.
  • The shop managed without its usual delivery.

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Watch out

After manage for success, say manage to open, not manage opening.

Try it yourself

  1. Choose the correct answer. After several tries, Leo managed ___ the door. (to unlock / unlocking)

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    to unlock

    to unlock completes the successful action after several tries.

  2. Choose the correct answer. Who ___ the project while Ana is away? (manages / manage)

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    manages

    manages agrees with the singular question word about the person responsible.

  3. Choose the correct answer. We managed ___ a car during our trip. (without / to)

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    without

    without shows that the travellers coped despite having no car.

Use it today

Describe something difficult you managed to do and a task you manage.