a. event通常指具有很大影响、意义大的事件或运动会的比赛项目。如：
Can you remember the events which happened in the 1960s?
The Autumn Uprising is a great event in China's histroy.
There are 300 different events in the Olympic Games.
b. matter 意思为“毛病”、“问题”，通常指“要注意的事情”。如：
What's the matter with you ?
It's a different matter.
c. affair 指已经发生或必须去做的事情，通常用复数形式指“事务”“事 态”如：the world affairs, foreign affairs.
d. thing 是指“事情”“事务”“东西”的意思，指大事、小事、好事、坏事，但一般不用来指专门的事务。如：
To say is one thing but to do is another.
Bring your swimming things.
另外还有business一词，作“事情”解释，一般指“公事”“正事”“商业事务”，强调任务，职务等指派的工作。如：
He is on business.
It's none of your business.