Thought · Though · Through · Thorough
The Lesson – Four Words That Look the Same
Four words that look the same ·
The past of think — or a noun meaning an idea.
- I thought the shop closed at 6pm. (past of think)
- She thought about it for a week. (past of think)
- That's an interesting thought. (noun = idea)
- What are your thoughts on the plan? (plural noun)
Despite / although / but. It contrasts two parts of a sentence.
- Though it was raining, we went to the beach.
- Even though he lied, people believed him.
- It's expensive. It's good quality, though. (at the end = however)
In one side and out the other. From A to B. In idioms, it can also mean finished.
- The train went through the tunnel. (in and out)
- We walked through the park to the station. (A to B)
- I'm through with you. It's over. (finished)
- I went through my bag but couldn't find my keys. (searched it)
- I can see through his lies. (I understand the truth)
Complete and careful — nothing is missed. It is an adjective.
- You've done a thorough job. (nothing was left out)
- The police made a thorough search of the house.
- She's very thorough. She checks every detail.
- You've made a thorough mess! (a complete one — it can be negative too)
In every part of a place, or from the beginning to the end of a period of time.
- Cockatoos live throughout Australia. (in every part of it)
- Throughout his life, he exercised every morning. (start to finish)
- It rained throughout the night.
The adverb of thorough = completely, properly.
- Wash your hands thoroughly.
- I thoroughly enjoyed that film.
- I was thoroughly confused by the instructions.
| Word | Sounds like | Job in the sentence | Swap it for… |
|---|---|---|---|
| thought | sport | verb (past of think) / noun | believed · idea |
| though | go | joins two contrasting ideas | although · however |
| through | blue | preposition of movement | in and out · from A to B · finished |
| thorough | THUH-ruh | adjective (describes a noun) | complete · careful |
| throughout | through-OUT | preposition of place / time | in every part of · all through |
| thoroughly | THUH-ruh-lee | adverb (describes a verb) | completely · properly |
We walked through the park.
We walked throughout the park.
The first one: we entered on one side and left on the other. The second one: we covered every part of it.
I thought it was closed.
Though it was closed, we waited.
The first is a verb (past of think). The second joins two contrasting ideas.
She read through the report.
She gave the report a thorough read.
Same idea, different grammar: through follows the verb; thorough describes the noun.
I'm through with this job.
I'm thorough with this job.
The first means I have finished. The second means I am careful and complete. One letter, a very different meeting with your boss.
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