What is the Difference Between Awake and Wake?

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The main difference between "awake" and "wake" lies in their grammatical functions. "Awake" is typically used as an adjective, while "wake" is a verb.

  • Awake: As an adjective, "awake" refers to the state of having one's eyes open or not being asleep. For example, "I am awake" or "He has been awake for 24 hours".
  • Wake: As a verb, "wake" means to stop sleeping, to rouse from sleep, to come to life, or to become alert. It can be used transitively or intransitively. For example, "She woke up early to prepare for the exam".

In modern American English, the phrase "wake up" is more commonly used than just "wake". However, "wake" may still be used in more polite situations, some British English expressions, and in media featuring a time period a few hundred years ago. For instance, "Wake the children" or "Don't wake the baby". Overall, the difference between "awake" and "wake" is that "awake" refers to the state of not being asleep, while "wake" means to cause someone to become awake.

Comparative Table: Awake vs Wake

Here is a table comparing the differences between "awake" and "wake":

Verb Present Past Past Participle Description
awake Awake Awoke (or awaked, but not common) Awakened (or awaked, but not common) To cease or resist sleep; to wake up
wake Wake Woke (or waked, but not common) Woken (or waked, but not common) To make someone stop sleeping; to wake someone up

Both "awake" and "wake" have similar meanings, with "awake" often being used as a stronger form of "wake". "Awake" is used to describe the state of ceasing or resisting sleep, while "wake" is used to describe the action of making someone stop sleeping. In some contexts, "awake" can also be used intransitively, meaning it can function as both the subject and the object of a sentence. In summary:

  • "Awake" is used to describe the state of being awake or waking up from sleep.
  • "Wake" is used to describe the action of making someone stop sleeping or wake up.