Collocations for understand - verb
ADV.
clearly, well | fully, perfectly, quite
I fully understand the reason for your decision.
I fully understand the reason for your decision.
not really
Her behaviour wounded him in a way he did not really understand.
Her behaviour wounded him in a way he did not really understand.
adequately | correctly, properly
She realized that she had never properly understood him.
She realized that she had never properly understood him.
easily, readily
The reasons for this decision are not easily understood.
The reasons for this decision are not easily understood.
instinctively, intuitively
She intuitively understood his need to be alone.
She intuitively understood his need to be alone.
VERB + UNDERSTAND
be able/unable to, can/could
I can''t understand what all the fuss is about.
I can''t understand what all the fuss is about.
try to | begin to | be easy to | be difficult to, be hard to
It is difficult to understand why he reacted in that way.
It is difficult to understand why he reacted in that way.
help (to), help sb (to)
PREP.
about
We understand little about this disease.
We understand little about this disease.
PHRASES
be commonly/generally/popularly understood
What is generally understood by ‘democracy’?
What is generally understood by ‘democracy’?
be imperfectly/incompletely/poorly understood
The effects of these chemicals on the body are still poorly understood.
The effects of these chemicals on the body are still poorly understood.
be universally/widely understood