Lastly, your sentences: You are really close!!! They are just a word or 2 off from sounding like a native. I don't understand respective detailed meaning. (corrected) I don't understand the respective detailed meanings. (corrected) I don't understand the respective detailed meaning of each. Could anybody show me how to use depending on the situation please? (corrected) Could anybody show me how to use depending on the situation please? Are these my sentences grammatically correct? (corrected) Are my sentences grammatically correct?

CONTEND: to state an alternate or opposing opinion. * Person 1: Evolution is only a theory, we have no proof. Person 2: I contend that we do have proof. MAINTAIN: to state that your opinion is not changed from what you stated before. * (continuing from above) Person 1: "I maintain that evolution IS just a theory." CLAIM: To make a statement that may be disputed (statement could be true but maybe not) * He claims he is not the father of the baby. * He claimed to work for the airline so he could fly for free. INSIST: To state something as a demand * Mom said "I insist you clean your bedroom before you play video games" PERSIST: To continue to state something even though others disagree. (repeating) This is more often used for actions rather than speech. *She had failed to reach her goal many times, but she persisted. PLEAD: to argue for something, to beg *I will plead for forgiveness and hope he understands.

The simplest way to "state something" is to SAY it. * She said she would arrive by 9:00. ARGUE - to say something against what has already been said. * Mom: "It is your turn to clean the kitchen." Son: "No it isn't", he argued. ADVOCATE - to state something in favor of an opinion or idea (used more commonly as a noun to describe the person doing it) * When you have visited a place, you will find it harder to advocate its destruction. but more commonly... *Martin Luther King Jr. was an advocate for civil rights. AFFIRM: to say that a statement or idea is correct (fact) *He affirmed the country's commitment to peace ASSERT: to state a fact or idea with confidence (speaker is sure it is correct) *The police assert that the escaped criminal will be found.