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What does Anyway in English mean? Detailed usage of Anyway in English!
What does Anyway in English mean? Why does Anyway frequently appear in English conversations? In today's article, let's explore the meaning and usage of Anyway in English, and the differences between Anyway, Anyways, and Any way with PREP!
I. What does Anyway in English mean?
What does Anyway in English mean? In English, Anyway (or Anyhow) is pronounced as /ˈen.i.weɪ/ and functions as an adverb, meaning: whatever else is happening, without considering other things. For example:
- Her parents were opposed to Maria giving up her course, but she did it anyway.
- I have no chance of winning the contest, but I'm going to enter anyway.
II. Common usage of Anyway in English
Let’s discover more uses of Anyway in English right in the table below!
|
Usage of Anyway in English |
Meaning |
Example |
|
Anyway is synonymous with "In spite of". |
We use Anyway to indicate contrast with situations or reasons mentioned earlier. Anyway usually appears at the end of a sentence. |
|
|
Anyway is used in spoken language and often appears at the beginning of a sentence, functioning as a discourse marker to start or end a conversation. |
Anyway is used when the speaker wants to return to the previous main topic after being interrupted. |
|
|
Anyway is used to transition to a new topic. |
…there were lots of people in the fair because it was such a sunny day. People were enjoying having their breakfast, you know. Anyway, I suddenly realized that my wallet was gone. |
|
|
Anyway is used to signal that a conversation is about to end. |
|
|
|
Anyway is synonymous with "At least." |
We use anyway in a similar way to ‘at least’ to limit a statement. |
|
III. Differences of Anyway, Anyways, and Any way
To accurately differentiate Anyway, Anyways, and Any way, let's refer to the table below with PREP!
|
Anyway |
Anyways |
Any way |
|
|
Usage |
Indicates contrast with situations or reasons mentioned earlier. Additionally, Anyway can be used to return to the main topic, transition to a new topic, or end a conversation. |
Used similarly to Anyway but less commonly, meaning: "whatever else is happening, without considering other things”. However, avoid using "Anyways" in formal texts or serious situations. |
Any way is a combination of the determiner "any" and the noun "way", forming a phrase that means: "all ways" or "all methods" to accomplish something. |
|
Example |
Jack was tired, but he went to the party anyway. |
Jack anyways misses the train and sits on a tired bench. |
Is there any way Can I help Jack? |
IV. Exercise to differentiate Anyway, Anyways, Any way
To better understand the meaning of Anyway in English and differentiate Anyway, Anyways, and Any way, let's complete the exercise below with PREP!
1. Exercises
Exercise 1: Fill in Any way or Anyway in the blanks.
- Is there _______ to get to the airport in 30 minutes?
- I know it’s expensive, but I want a new car _______.
- _______, let’s get back to work.
- I don’t think there’s _______ we can get to the theater on time _______.
- _______, let’s see if there is _______ to fix this problem.
Exercise 2: Find and correct mistakes
- You can decorate the house anyways you like.
- Any way, let’s get back to the task at hand.
- Great! Any way, how was your holiday?
- I don’t eat meat, but I’ll go to the BBQ any way.
- Please let me know if there is anyways to cancel my booking.
2. Answer
Exercise 1:
- any way
- anyway
- Anyway
- athe way - anyway
- Anyway - any way
Exercise 2:
- anyways ➞ any way
- Any way ➞ Anyway
- Any way ➞ Anyway
- any way ➞ anyway
- anyways ➞ any way
V. Overcome IELTS Challenges with PREP
PREP hopes that through this article, you have gained an understanding of the meaning, how to use Anyway in English, and differentiated Anyway, Anyways, and Any way. If you’re facing challenges, PREP provides the tools and techniques to overcome every obstacle.
- Study IELTS online: Break Barriers, Achieve Band 7+
Hi I'm Chloe, and I am currently serving as an Product Content Administrator at Prep Education. With over five years of experience in independent online IELTS study and exam preparation, I am confident in my ability to support learners in achieving their highest possible scores.
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