These are words 151 to 175 of the 300 most common words in English. You will meet them in almost every IELTS Listening, Reading, Speaking and Writing task, so it pays to know them well. For each word, read the example, try to guess the meaning, then reveal it and mark honestly how you did. Then say the word aloud, record yourself and compare it with the model voice. When you have finished, try the gap quiz and save your results.
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The words
151
next
adjective, adverb
The next section of the talk explains how cities reduce traffic.
collocationsnext week · next to · the next step · next generation
coming straight after the present one in time or order; next to means beside.
Watch out: Next week, next month and next year take no the when you mean the coming one: say next week, not the next week.
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152
end
noun, verb
In the end, the council decided to build a cycle lane.
collocationsat the end of · in the end · end up · the end of the year
the last part of something; to finish or stop.
Watch out: In the end means finally, after a process. Use at the end of with a noun: at the end of the course, not in the end of the course.
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153
live
verb
Many young adults live with their parents because rents are high.
collocationslive in · live alone · live on your own · live with
to have your home in a place; to be alive.
Watch out: The verb is /lɪv/, but the adjective in live music is /laɪv/. Use in with a city or country and at with an exact address: live in Leeds, live at 12 High Street.
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154
why
adverb
Many people ask why public transport is so expensive.
collocationswhy not · that is why · the reason why · explain why
for what reason; used to ask or explain a reason.
Watch out: In a direct question use do: Why do people move? In a reported question there is no do: I asked why people move.
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155
while
conjunction, noun
While some people prefer city life, others enjoy the quiet of the countryside.
collocationswhile studying · a while ago · for a while · while at university
during the time that; also, used to show a contrast. As a noun, a period of time.
Watch out: Do not use will after while: say while I am abroad, not while I will be abroad. While is followed by a clause or an -ing form; during is followed by a noun.
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156
world
noun
Tourism has grown quickly in many parts of the world.
collocationsaround the world · the whole world · the developing world · a world record
the earth and all the people and countries on it.
Watch out: The sound /wɜːld/ is close to word /wɜːd/ with an extra /l/. Say the l clearly so that listeners hear world, not word.
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157
week
noun
I go to the gym three times a week to stay healthy.
collocationslast week · twice a week · this week · a week ago
a period of seven days.
Watch out: Week and weak sound the same, but they have different spellings and meanings. In writing, check which one you need.
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158
play
verb, noun
Teachers play an important role in shaping young people.
collocationsplay a role · play football · play the piano · play an important part
to take part in a game or sport; to act or perform; a piece of theatre.
Watch out: Play a role, not make a role. Say play football with no the, but play the piano with the.
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159
might
modal verb
Cheaper tickets might encourage more people to use the train.
collocationsmight be · might not · might have been · might well
used to say that something is possible but not certain.
Watch out: After might use the base verb: it might rain, not it might to rain or it might rains. For the past, use might have and the past participle.
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160
must
modal verb
Drivers must stop when the traffic light is red.
collocationsmust be · must have · must not · must remember
used for a strong rule or need, or when you are almost sure something is true.
Watch out: There is no must to and no past form musted. For the past, use had to. Mustn't means it is forbidden, not that it is unnecessary; for unnecessary say don't have to.
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Say it in a sentence
/məst/ You must be tired.
Listen for the short muhst sound /məst/ in must: you must be tired sounds like you muhst be tired. Not a strong must, and not ah.
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161
home
noun, adverb
Working from home saves commuters a lot of time.
collocationsat home · go home · leave home · work from home
the place where you live; also, to or at the place where you live.
Watch out: After go, come, get and arrive, use home with no to: say go home, not go to home. Say at home, not in home.
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162
never
adverb
I have never travelled outside my own country.
collocationsnever mind · never again · have never been · almost never
at no time; not ever.
Watch out: Never is already negative, so do not add not: say I never smoke, not I don't never smoke. It goes before the main verb but after be: She is never late.
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163
include
verb
The course includes a short research project.
collocationsinclude a section · be included in · the price includes · including
to have something as one part of a whole.
Watch out: Include is a verb, so do not say include of. Use it when the list is not complete: the list includes A and B suggests that there are more items.
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164
course
noun
She took a short course in marine biology last year.
collocationstake a course · of course · a course of action · during the course of
a series of lessons on a subject; also, a direction or way of acting.
Watch out: Course and coarse (rough) sound the same. In Speaking, of course can sound blunt if you use it too often, so vary it with certainly or yes.
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165
house
noun, verb
House prices have risen faster than wages in many cities.
collocationsa detached house · buy a house · house prices · the House of Commons
a building where people live, usually for one family; as a verb, to provide a place for people or things.
Watch out: The noun is /haʊs/ with an s sound; the verb is /haʊz/ with a z sound. A house is the building; a home is the place where you live.
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166
report
noun, verb
According to the report, bus use has fallen in rural areas.
collocationswrite a report · report on · according to the report · news report
a spoken or written account of what was found or done; to give such an account.
Watch out: The stress is on the second syllable for both the noun and the verb: re-PORT. Do not stress the first.
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167
group
noun, verb
A small group of students collected the data for the project.
collocationsa group of · age group · in groups · group discussion
a number of people or things that belong together.
Watch out: Say /ɡruːp/ with a long vowel, not /ɡrʊp/. In British English you can say the group was ready or the group were ready; choose one and keep to it.
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168
case
noun
In this case, the government chose to subsidise train fares.
collocationsin this case · in case · in any case · in the case of
a particular situation or example; a legal matter; a container (a suitcase, a pencil case).
Watch out: In case means as a precaution: take an umbrella in case it rains. Do not use it to mean if. After in case of, use a noun: in case of fire.
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169
woman
noun
More women than men now study medicine at some universities.
collocationsa young woman · a working woman · women's rights · a woman and a man
an adult female person.
Watch out: One woman is /ˈwʊmən/; two women is /ˈwɪmɪn/. The first vowel changes, and the spelling changes with it.
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170
around
adverb, preposition
Tourists walk around the old town to see the markets.
collocationsaround the world · around here · turn around · around midnight
on all sides of; in different places; also, about or approximately.
Watch out: Around for approximate numbers is natural in speaking. In formal writing use about or approximately instead.
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171
book
noun, verb
Students can book a study room online through the library.
collocationsread a book · book a table · book a ticket · be fully booked
a set of pages with writing; as a verb, to arrange to have or use something in advance.
Watch out: Book is short, /bʊk/ with a short vowel, not /buːk/. As a verb it means reserve.
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172
family
noun
In many countries, the extended family lives close together.
collocationsthe extended family · family members · a nuclear family · start a family
a group of people related to each other, usually parents and children.
Watch out: The plural is families. In fast speech family is often said with two syllables, /ˈfæmli/, which is fine.
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173
seem
verb
It seems that young people read less news in newspapers than their parents did.
collocationsseem to be · it seems that · seem likely · seem like
to give the impression of being or doing something.
Watch out: Seem is not used in continuous tenses: say it seems, not it is seeming. After seem use to be or an adjective: seem to be tired.
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174
let
verb
Schools should let students choose some of their subjects.
collocationslet someone do · let go · let me know · let alone
to allow someone to do something.
Watch out: After let, use the bare verb: let me go, not let me to go. The past form is also let.
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175
again
adverb
Many learners read a text again to check difficult words.
collocationstry again · again and again · once again · never again
one more time; as before.
Watch out: Again means one more time. Do not use it to mean back: say come back, not come again, when you return.
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Gap quiz
Each sentence has one gap. Drag a word into the gap, or tap a word and then tap the gap. The words are the ones you have just practised, and some of them have changed shape (for example, is or made).
Please sit to me.
At the of the lesson, we did a short test.
Many young adults with their parents because rents are high.
Many people ask public transport is so expensive.
some people prefer city life, others enjoy the quiet of the countryside.
Tourism has grown quickly in many parts of the .
I go to the gym three times a to stay healthy.
Teachers an important role in shaping young people.
It rain later, but I am not sure.
You wear a seat belt; it is the law.
Working from saves commuters a lot of time.
mind, it does not matter.
The price breakfast.
She took a short in marine biology last year.
Most in our street were built a long time ago.
I read a news about the storm.
A small of students collected the data for the project.
In of fire, use the stairs.
More than men now study medicine at some universities.
Tourists walk the old town to see the markets.
Can I a table for two, please?
My lives in a small village.
It that young people read less news in newspapers than their parents did.
Schools should students choose some of their subjects.
Sorry, could you say that , please?
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