Expressing whether something has value or not is a skill you will use constantly in everyday English. Two simple words — worth and point — give you the power to communicate usefulness or the complete lack of it in any situation, from a party invitation to a zombie apocalypse.
How do you use worth to express value in English?
The word worth works as a quick way to say that an action has value — or doesn't. The basic structure is straightforward [1:00]:
- It's worth + verb-ing → expresses that something has value.
- It's not worth + verb-ing → expresses that something lacks value.
For example: "It's not worth arguing with my parents, because they never say yes." Here, you are communicating that arguing brings no benefit. No matter how much you argue, the result stays the same.
On the positive side, you can say "It will be worth going to the party" [3:10], meaning you expect to gain something enjoyable — fun, new connections, dancing.
What does there is no point mean and how is it different?
The expression there is no point carries the same meaning as it's not worth, but it uses a different structure [1:22]:
- There is a point in + verb-ing → value exists.
- There is no point in + verb-ing → no value exists.
An important detail: when you use point in this context, you must include "there is" at the beginning of the sentence. You cannot simply say "no point in arguing" on its own without the subject.
Compare these two sentences side by side:
- "It's not worth arguing with my parents, because they never say yes."
- "There is no point in arguing with my parents, because they never say yes."
Both express exactly the same idea. Choosing one over the other is a matter of personal preference.
How can you practice these expressions with real scenarios?
A fun way to internalize worth and point is to apply them to different situations [2:06]. Consider a zombie apocalypse scenario. A pessimistic person might say:
- "It's not worth trying."
- "There's no point in trying."
An optimistic person would flip it:
- "It is worth trying."
- "There is a point in trying."
The difference is purely about how much value you see in the action.
Can you build your own sentences?
Try these practice prompts [3:46]:
- No value in working hard: "It's not worth working hard" or "There's no point in working hard."
- No value in worrying: "It's not worth worrying, because what is going to happen will happen" or "There's no point in worrying, because what is going to happen will happen."
- Value in learning a foreign language: "It's worth learning a foreign language" or "There is a point in learning a foreign language."
What vocabulary should you remember?
- Worth: used directly after it's or it is, followed by a verb in -ing form.
- Point: requires there is before it and the preposition in before the -ing verb.
- Pessimistic: having a negative outlook on outcomes.
- Optimistic: having a positive outlook on outcomes.
- The inevitable: something that will certainly happen, no matter what you do.
Now that you have both structures clear, share your own examples using worth and point in the comments — it is definitely worth practicing!
