Hi this is Tutor Nick P and this is Lesson 494. The lesson today is the difference between
interfere and intervene. This is one that sometimes comes up in class. You know,
often you may have an article where they both appear in the same article and students you know,
especially when they look at the definitions sometimes they look very similar to them.
So in this video, we're going to try to clarify the difference between them. Okay. If somebody
wants a screenshot do it right now. Let's get right to it. Both words mean to get involved
in a situation and to try to change it. So here's where they clearly are the same. All right. Let's
continue. However interfere is a more negative is more negative and intervene is more positive.
When one interferes it often suggests one gets involved in a situation that may not be their
business or concern and at least one or both parties may feel their involvement is not wanted.
Sometimes the involvement may even instigate or make things worse by using the word interfere.
The speaker is suggesting that their involvement is having or will have a damaging effect.
Okay. Let's continue. When one intervenes the feeling is more positive. It feels that one is
getting involved to resolve a situation that does not seem like it will be able to resolve itself
or may lead to even worse damage if one does not get involved. All right. Let's continue.
Interfere feels more like you are getting in the way and stopping or slowing down progress.
Intervene feels more like an honest attempt to resolve a matter. Okay.
Sometimes the difference between interfere and intervene may be a matter of opinion.
One party may feel they are intervening. Like well I'm only getting involved to help
and the other party may feel they are interfering. So sometimes the same situation, the same people.
One feels like they're intervening. The other one may say no you're not intervening you're
interfering. So sometimes it can be a matter of opinion too. But obviously interfere is more
negative. Intervene is more positive. All right. Let's continue. And we have seven examples to show
just how we would use this. Here's, here's the first one. Don't get involved in this spat. You
know, sometimes like there's a lover's spat,. You know, a small fight between a boyfriend,
girlfriend or husband and wife. You will only end up interfering. Let them work it out on
their own. So this is negative. You feel like if you'll get involved you'll cause more trouble.
You would be interfering. Number two. Don't interfere with their problems. It is none of
your business. Yeah. A lot of times when it's you know, like you shouldn't really be involved
in this or maybe maybe even the people involved may think you shouldn't be involved in it too.
Then it's more like interfere. Number three. If you interfere, you are only going to make things
worse. So again it's more negative. It sounds like you're making it more of a problem. Number
four. If you don't intervene, her drug problem is going to get worse. All right. Now in this case
you're getting involved because that maybe if you don't get involved, the situation may get worse.
So you're really making an honest attempt to try to help this situation. Number five. If the police
don't intervene, the protesters will burn down the city or burn down the whole city. So they
have to intervene. So they're getting involved to try to improve the situation. Probably the average
person would agree and would probably say that they are intervening rather than interfering. In
fact, it's probably part of their job. All right. Number six. If you interfere in a conversation
your words or opinions are not welcome. Yeah. Somebody is like you know, hey why are you
getting involved. This is not your conversation. So you're interfering with them or number seven.
If you intervene in a conversation you added some information that was useful You know, maybe you've
seen two people having a problem and you added something that kind of helped. Help to resolve
it or help to figure it out . Okay. Anyway, I hope it's clear. I hope you got a better feel of
when you should use interfere and when you should use intervene. Thank you for your time. Bye-bye.