"Care" is to find something important or to look after someone; "worry" is to feel anxious about something that might go wrong.
To have interest, to find something important, or to look after someone. Can be positive or neutral.
She really cares about the environment. She recycles everything.
A ella le importa mucho el medioambiente. Recicla todo.
I do not care what they think. I will do it my way.
No me importa lo que piensen. Lo hare a mi manera.
Who is taking care of the children while you are at work?
¿Quien cuida a los ninos mientras estas en el trabajo?
To feel anxiety or concern about something negative that might happen.
I am worried about the exam tomorrow. I did not study enough.
Estoy preocupado por el examen de manana. No estudie suficiente.
Do not worry — everything will work out fine.
No te preocupes. Todo va a salir bien.
She worries too much about things she cannot control.
Ella se preocupa demasiado por cosas que no puede controlar.
Common mistake
Confusing "I care" (it matters to me) with "I worry" (I am anxious). "I care about my health" = my health matters to me, I value it. "I worry about my health" = I am anxious, I fear something bad might happen. Care can be positive; worry always implies something negative or uncertain.
Trick to remember it
Key question: is there a specific fear that something bad might happen? "Worry". Is it simply that something matters to you or you are looking after someone? "Care". "I care about you" = you are important to me. "I worry about you" = I fear something bad might happen to you.
Quick rule
Care = to matter / to look after (neutral or positive). Worry = to be anxious about something possibly negative.
Did you know?
"I could not care less" (I do not care at all — literally "it could not matter less to me") is one of the most misused phrases in English. In the US many people say "I could care less" (literally meaning something still matters) when they mean the opposite. It is so common it is now accepted informally, even though it is technically a contradiction.
Exercise 1 · Pick the right one
Do not _____ about what others think of you. Just be yourself.
Exercise 2 · Pick the right one
She _____ deeply about animal rights and volunteers every weekend at the shelter.
Exercise 3 · Form the word
Care = to matter / to look after (neutral or positive). Worry = to be anxious about something possibly negative.
Confusing "I care" (it matters to me) with "I worry" (I am anxious). "I care about my health" = my health matters to me, I value it. "I worry about my health" = I am anxious, I fear something bad might happen. Care can be positive; worry always implies something negative or uncertain.
Key question: is there a specific fear that something bad might happen? "Worry". Is it simply that something matters to you or you are looking after someone? "Care". "I care about you" = you are important to me. "I worry about you" = I fear something bad might happen to you.
Bryan López
Founder of SpeakUP Academy