VOA名师答疑2023--Price vs. Rate

Price vs. Rate

Hi there! This week on Ask a Teacher, we will answer a question about the difference between the words "price" and "rate."

Question:

Hello VOA Learning English,

I am confused by the words "price" and "rate." Could you please explain these words for me?

Irfan from Pakistan

Answer

This is a great question, Irfan. Both words can describe an amount of money in exchange for either goods, services or a certain amount of time spent. We use them in different situations. "Rate" has more meanings and uses as well.

Let's start with "price."

Price

"Price" is a noun that can be countable¹ or singular. As a countable noun, it means the amount of money that is exchanged for something. It can also be the amount asked for or paid.

The price for twelve eggs was almost $5.00.

The asking price of the house was $300,000, but it was sold for under $289,000 after negotiations².

As a singular noun, "price" is the cost, result or loss that is paid to get something else.

Amanda's loss of a flexible schedule is the price of going back to school.

We can also use "price" as a verb that takes a direct object.

Marc priced his used TV at $200.

Let's look more closely at "rate" now.

Rate

A "rate" is a cost or value per unit for services or time. This is different from the "price" of something.

For example, you hire a gardener, and their rate is $50 an hour. If the gardener worked three hours at a rate of $50 per hour, then the total price is $150.

"Rate" can also be used to talk about amounts, degrees, or speed of something in comparison to something else.

Your heart rate is the number of beats per minute.

The United States obesity³ rate is almost double that of Italy.

"Rate" can also be a verb that means to apply a value, worth, strength or estimation. It can take a direct object or not.

Finland, Demark and Iceland rate their happiness level as very high.

Saratoga Springs is rated as one of the best small cities in the U.S.

Please let us know if these explanations and examples have helped you, Irfan.

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Words in This Story

flexible – adj. readily⁴ changed or changing

gardener – n. a person who cares for a garden

obesity – n. the state of being overweight in an unhealthy way

1 countable   

adj.可数的，可以计算的

参考例句：

• The word "person" is a countable noun.person这个词是个可数名词。
• Countable nouns have singular and plural forms.可数名词有单数和复数之分。

2 negotiations   

协商( negotiation的名词复数 )； 谈判； 完成（难事）； 通过

参考例句：

• negotiations for a durable peace 为持久和平而进行的谈判
• Negotiations have failed to establish any middle ground. 谈判未能达成任何妥协。

3 obesity   

n.肥胖，肥大

参考例句：

• One effect of overeating may be obesity.吃得过多能导致肥胖。
• Sugar and fat can more easily lead to obesity than some other foods.糖和脂肪比其他食物更容易导致肥胖。

4 readily   

adv.欣然地，容易地，很快地，立即

参考例句：

• I promise all costs will be readily returned.我保证所有的费用会迅速偿还。
• Most plastics do not readily conduct heat or electricity.大多数塑料不易传热或导电。