Joe went to an interview for the position of a software engineer. The interviewer at the end asked him a simple question, ‘Joe, give me an example of how software helps you in your daily life? And Joe answered, well, my computer software helped me prepare my resume, which is in front of you. My application reached you through the application software, I go shopping, keep a tab on my schedule, read books, learn skills, and I think almost 80% of my activities depend on some or other form of software. Let’s read about ‘Give Me an Example Meaning- How To Use And Alternatives?’.
Give Me an Example Meaning- How To Use And Alternatives?
Joe was selected. The fact is that he articulated his example very well with his everyday life and chose such examples which were best suited in that situation. The artistic part about answering ‘give me an example’ questions is to select the correct key that fits the question from the various options that exist.
What does it mean to give an example? Well, it simply means to explain a single sample or a case from a similar pattern of the same thing. So, what matters is how well you choose a single specimen from that pattern of examples and relate it to the question perfectly.
What is an example?
According to Merriam Webster, an example is representative of a group of similar things. The world example comes from the Latin word ‘exemplum,’ meaning a sample or specimen, and from old French ‘essample’ which means a model or sample.
We come across many situations in our everyday life where we have to give an example, and sometimes we need to ask for an example. Sometimes we have so many answers that we end up confused as to which choice would be suitable to give, and when we need to ask for an example, asking directly in a formal situation might not sound right, and we end up looking for alternatives. So let’s explore how to answer, how to use, and what are all the alternatives to Give me an example.
What does it mean when you are asked to give an example?
When asked to give an example, it can mean answering verbally or something that one needs to show through their action or to set an example. All these answers depend on the circumstances you are into:
- To answer verbally- This is the easiest part because when you have to answer, verbally you already have a set of answers in your mind to choose from, and you have to select the best-suited example for your situation. let’s say- Give me an example of why people get bored easily? you can answer because they lose interest due to less attention span or all other answers you have.
- Showcase an example- In such situations, you have to demonstrate what you want to convey. Consider you said I know a lot of languages and the other person asks Great can you give me an example then, you shouldn’t answer I can speak Frech, Spanish, etc. you have to talk a few words in some other language and showcase your skill.
- To set an example- When you set up an example, you are showing others how to behave and act in the best way possible imagine your boss is a disciplined person, and he values every single second, which makes it easier to work every task efficiently, such a boss sets an example for everyone to follow the same.
- Comparing an example- Sometimes, to give a good example, start by comparing two things. Imagine an interviewer asks which is the best software available in the market for developers? You should not say the most popular one because in such a situation comparing technique comes in handy, explain about the software you have previously worked with and which one was the best so far because it’s futile to talk without experience.
- The best example- don’t just answer with ‘for example, if the question demands you to choose only one, try to evaluate the example saying ‘’ A great example is, or My favorite example is, such phrases show that you know a lot about that subject. It also clears your confusion as to which choice is appropriate hence learn to evaluate.
Therefore, give me an example, implies different tones at different times, and once we know how to identify the underlying tone the answers come flawlessly.
How to use the phrase Give me an example?
The commonly used phrase while giving an example is often ‘For Example’ but replacing this can make you sound confident, different, and out of the box, because let’s admit English is a language where the meaning of the word changes frequently as per the context in which it is used.
- To ask for a piece of information- There are many ways to ask for an example without using the word ‘example’. Is your new dress too bright, for instance? You can ask for any information using the phrase give me an example or its substitutes.
- To understand something- It’s not always necessary to understand everything, sometimes we know things when explained with an example or with someone’s experience. In such situations, it’s alright to say that ‘’Can you please elaborate by way of an example’’.
- When you want more- After listening to a presentation or a story about some discovery, and you don’t feel satisfied, ask for more by asking for an example. You can say, ‘ How can you prove that or ‘I think I need some more insight’ Such phrases will automatically give you more examples and satisfying answers.
- To choose the best- Imagine being confused between two mobile phones when you want to buy one, or between two brands, or holiday destinations in such cases ask for someone’s opinion by saying ‘ What’s your favorite for example’ or ‘which is the best example’ this is a great way to clear all your confusion and also select the best.
- To give additional information- When talking about something with your colleagues, or conveying something to your superior, if you feel that you have forgotten something or left out then, use this example technique by saying ‘One example that I heard is’ or ‘the most common example is..’ such phrases can give you extra time and helps you convey additional information.
- To ask about someone’s experience- Imagine someone tells you a fascinating story and you want to know more about their experience or when someone says they have learned many skills over the years, and you want to know more about their experience than just say ‘Give me some examples’ or ‘For instance..?’
- When you feel something is unbelievable- If I say that I know a person who can watch Netflix every day without a break, or I read about this scientist who claims that the world will end in 30 years. Such a piece of information sounds hard to believe. so, you can easily ask for evidence by saying ‘who is that person for example’ or ‘prove me with example’ hence, give me an example is a phrase that enhances your ability to know more and can buy you time in critical situations.
These are some day-to-day life situations where ‘give me an example is useful when conveying and to learn something.
Alternatives to Give me an example
When the phrase give me an example is used in a different context then, its meaning changes. yes, it still means to ask for an example, but with alternatives, you can limit or increase the amount of information that you require.
- To support your argument – use phrases ‘such as’ or ‘to quote a well-known example’ and ‘e.g.’ instead of simply saying, ‘For example’ In a presentation or a debate or to convey your viewpoint through writing change of phrase can help you support your argument strongly.
- When the known examples are not the only examples- when you have to talk about more than known examples then, the phrase ‘For example’ becomes redundant. Instead, one can use some interesting phrases such as-
- …among other examples
- …And so on
- ..I’m sure there are more
- And other things of the same nature
- These are few well-known examples but, there is more to the story.
- When you want to know how often something is said- Sometimes instead of new or different information, we want to know something typical, in such cases ‘give me an example is not specific enough instead, you can say-
- What is the most common example…
- What is typical about…
- What would be an obscure substitute…
- Give me well-known information…
- What is the most famous example of this information…
- When you want a specific number of examples – When asking for limited information or a few examples about something then, many examples are not relevant, hence pick one, elaborate it, and that’s it. So, if you are looking for a specific amount of information then, you can use phrases such as-
- An additional example…
- Any two examples…
- Only one instance where…
- Give me some examples of…
- When you want to compare two different examples- If a person is talking or sharing about many experiences and you want to know more by comparing their previous answers then, the phrases can be styled as:
- Give me a similar example as your previous one?
- A better example than this can be..?
- What are a few less-known examples with similar applications..?
- Give me a different example in the same field..?
- Give me an example that’s not connected in this context..?
Some common substitutes to say Give me an example–
- Explain me for an instance – ‘for an instance’ can be used interchangeably with ‘Give me an example.
- To give me an idea- This phrase implies that you want the other person to be brief but elaborate.
- What is the case in point- If someone has told you something and you have never heard of it before, but you want them to elaborate just that part of the information.
- Can you illustrate this point – When you want someone to make a point of their argument with evidence, you can ask them to illustrate, this will emphasize a piece of particular information.
- Can you name few situations- This phrase can be used to ask situational questions as well as examples about one’s experience.
- What are some common methods – This phrase implies examples about the usage of something such as – device, software, etc.
- Give me an epitome – When you want a perfect example of something.
- Give me a demonstration- Instead of just an example if you want the other person to show their skill or whatever they want to convey.
These are some phrases that can be used in place ‘Give me an example’ depending on the context.
The above-given alternatives are some examples to help the reader understand the various meanings hidden within a phrase. Each phrase has its meaning and context, hence do not use them interchanging with each other.
Concluding –
Give me an example is a simple phrase, but most of the time, English is about the context rather than its literal meaning, and once you learn to emphasize the context, you sound different and confident. Let’s say you are interviewing someone or someone is interviewing you so, instead of using the phrase, for example, you say Let’s consider, let’s imagine..’ or ‘In particular..’ you will sound to the point, and you will be conveying what the other person wants. Hence learn the context before you memorize the synonyms.
The above-given alternatives are some examples to help the reader understand the various meanings hidden within a phrase. Each phrase has its meaning and context, hence do not use them by interchanging with one another.
Some common doubts-
- What is the difference between the abbreviation ‘’i.e.’’ and ‘’e.g.’’ can we use them interchangeably?
A- ‘’I.e,’’ stands for id est, which is Latin for ‘’that is’’ and ‘’e.g.’’ means for example. No, they cannot be used interchangeably because they differ in meanings.
- What does it mean to illustrate something?
A- The word illustrate means to be a perfect example of something.
‘’The cricket tournament illustrates the importance of this sport in the country’’
- What does the word exemplify mean?
A- exemplify is similar to symbolize, it means that something is typically similar.
“The Red Fort exemplifies the Mughal architecture”.
