"Avoid" and "evade" both mean to stay away from something, but they're used in different situations. "Avoid" is for things you keep away from generally or things you try not to do. "Evade," on the other hand, has the sense of escaping or eluding something, often in a clever or tricky way. Think of it as dodging something you don't want to deal with.

Here are some examples to help you understand:

• Avoid: I avoid eating too much junk food. (Translation: I avoid eating too much junk food.)
• Evade: The spy evaded capture by blending into the crowd. (Translation: The spy evaded capture by blending into the crowd.)

Let's look at a few more:

• Avoid: She avoided the pothole while cycling. (Translation: She avoided the pothole while cycling.) This means she steered clear of it.
• Evade: The suspect evaded the police for weeks. (Translation: The suspect evaded the police for weeks.) This suggests an active attempt to escape being caught.

Think of it this way: you avoid a traffic jam by taking a different route, but you evade a question you don't want to answer by changing the subject.

Happy learning!