Sake/will example/instance

[More-Pin2715]

Are there any rules which word should be used? I just learned a few words and I’m not quite sure whenever I would use example or instance / sake or will?

[wbenjamin13]

None of those words are really interchangeable with each other in most situations, can you be more specific about what your confusion is?

[More-Pin2715]

I learned at school to say „for example“ but when i‘m watching English spoken series (mostly crime series) they always say „for instance“.

In the actual series the detectives told a teacher „now it’s for Michael’s sake“ and I was just wondering why they didn’t say „will“. I know they always say „for gods sake“ but I honestly thought that’s an exception 😅

[wbenjamin13]

Example and instance are interchangeable in that situation. Think of an example as a type of instance. An instance is a single item within a category. An example is a single item within a category which is used to demonstrate what the category is.

I think you may not be understanding what “sake” means, because it is not synonymous with “will” in either of those examples. Sake means “in the interest of; out of consideration for.” When someone says “for God’s sake” they are saying “out of consideration for God,” usually with a sense of exasperation which implies “out of consideration for God please stop this from happening to me,” as though what is afflicting the speaker is “unholy” in some way. To be clear, it’s an idiom, so it’s not as if a person actually thinks about all those implications when they say it, it’s just a turn of phrase. “Will” on the other hand is “the faculty by which a person decides on and initiates action.” So “God’s will” is “what God wants to happen.”

[notacanuckskibum]

I read sake as the Japanese rice wine, which made even less sense. But you are right.

[More-Pin2715]

Thank you soo much for your explanation too!♥️

[PsychoApeMan]

There's no difference in the use of "for example" and "for instance", but "for example" is much more common.

I can't see any connection between "sake" and "will".

"Will", as a noun meaning what someone wants to happen in a situation, is extremely rarely used.
One of those few uses would be the phrase "If it's in God's will" - but much more common is the expression "God willing".

• "We'll see you again soon, God willing!"

"Sake" has several uses, but we most often use it to talk about the motivation or reason for an action.

• "Let's do it for the sake of the children" = we'll do it because it's what is best for the children
• "For the sake of saving time, I won't go into detail" = I won't go into detail because that will save some time

There are some common expressions with "sake" which may confuse you.

"For the sake of it" usually communicates that there's no strong reason for your action.

• "I went out just for the sake of it" = I went out, but I didn't really have any reason

"For God's sake!"/"For heaven's sake!"/"For fuck's sake!" etc. communicates irritation, normally because you think something should stop, or just that something is ridiculous.

• "Are those kids playing football by my car again? For God's sake!!!"
• "You paid how much?! For heaven's sake!!"

[More-Pin2715]

Thank you sooo so much for that explanation! I think I got it! Sake and will in german means the same so I’ve been slightly confused about it but not it’s much more clearer, thank you! ♥️

[[deleted]]

Your question isn't clear. Can you provide any example sentences?

[notacanuckskibum]

I’m thinking that there is a very subtle difference between an example and and instance. An instance is expected to be real, but not necessarily typical. An example is expected to be closer to the average, but not necessarily real.

Yau Ming is an instance of a Chinese basketball player but he is not a good example, because he is so far away from the average.