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How to say “find out” like a native speaker

Discover or learn information you did not know. Follow it with a fact, question word or “about” plus a topic.

All phrases · Workplace

Hear “find out” in real speech

Clip 1 · VOA Learning English

Philadelphia’s history, Spring green, Lunar landings, Scene · 20:46

About this video

Bryan Lynn and Anna Matteo introduce a VOA Learning English programme about Philadelphia, spring, lunar landings and the word “scene”. The programme includes a discussion of China's moon exploration.

In context

Something was stolen from someone.

Listen and find out.

Hello. I'm Guy, newsman with news channel X-Y-Z.

Say it after the speaker

Clip 2 · Adam Grant

The surprising habits of original thinkers | Adam Grant | TED · 4:22

About this video

Adam Grant discusses the habits of people who develop original ideas. He begins with a student's business proposal and later compares businesses that enter a market first with those that improve on an existing idea.

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In context

Maybe procrastinating does not cause creativity.

To find out, we designed some experiments.

We asked people to generate new business ideas, and then we get independent readers to evaluate how creative and useful they are.

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Clip 3 · Kelly McGonigal

How to Make Stress Your Friend | Kelly McGonigal | TED · 1:44

About this video

Kelly McGonigal asks the audience about stress and discusses how people interpret their stress responses. She explains why she wants listeners to reconsider what a pounding heart and other signs of stress mean.

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In context

They also asked, "Do you believe that stress is harmful for your health?"

And then they used public death records to find out who died.

Okay.

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When to use “find out”

  • Planning to check opening hours: “I'll find out when the shop closes.”
  • Describing unexpected news: “We found out that the concert was cancelled.”

Common learner mistake

In an indirect question, use statement order: “find out where it is”, not “find out where is it”.

Possible connected-speech patterns in “find out”

The D can link directly into the vowel of “out”. Avoid a pause that makes the two words sound unrelated.

Related phrases

Everyday sentence practice · Connected speech practice

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