Phrasal verb
concentrate on sth
Definition
phrasal verb. to give all your attention to one thing or activity.
phrasal verb. to direct one's mental effort or attention toward a specific task or object; functions as a transitive phrasal verb requiring the preposition 'on'.
Examples
“I need to concentrate on my homework right now.”
“It is hard to concentrate on your work when there is loud music playing in the next room.”
“The research team decided to concentrate on the environmental impact of the new factory rather than its economic benefits.”
Examples
simple
“I need to concentrate on my homework right now.”
contextual
“It is hard to concentrate on your work when there is loud music playing in the next room.”
complex
“The research team decided to concentrate on the environmental impact of the new factory rather than its economic benefits.”
Usage
the object is usually a task, a problem, or a specific area of study.
Teaching tip
contrast with 'focus on'; while often interchangeable, 'concentrate' implies a more intense or tiring mental effort.
Pitfall
I must concentrate in my studies.
I must concentrate on my studies.
the verb 'concentrate' always takes the preposition 'on', never 'in' or 'at'.
Phrasal verb
Particles
on
Separability
inseparable
Pattern
concentrate + on + object