These are words 26 to 50 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
26
from
preposition
People from rural areas often move to the city to find work.
collocationsfrom … to … · different from · suffer from · come from
Shows a starting point in place or time, or where someone or something comes from.
Watch out: Say 'I come from Brazil', not 'I am come from'. In formal English use 'different from' (British English also allows 'different to').
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/frəm/ She comes from a small town.
Listen for the short fruhm sound /frəm/ in from: comes from a small town sounds like comes fruhm a small town. Not a strong o as in hot, and not ah.
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27
by
preposition
Most students travel to campus by bus because parking is expensive.
collocationsby bus · by hand · by the end of · by far
Shows who or what did something (written by), the means of travel (by bus), a deadline (by Friday), or an amount of difference (by ten minutes).
Watch out: Say 'by bus' or 'by train' with no the or a, but 'on foot', not 'by foot'.
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28
will
modal verb
Experts believe that sea levels will rise if emissions keep growing.
collocationswill be able to · will have to · will probably · will continue to
Used to talk about the future, to make predictions and promises, and to decide something quickly. It is followed by the base verb.
Watch out: Never add -s or to: 'she will go', not 'she wills go' or 'she will to go'. In Speaking, use 'be going to' for plans you have already made.
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/əl/ I will call you later.
Listen for the very short uhl sound /əl/ in will: I will call sounds like I'll call. Not a strong will, and not ah.
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29
or
conjunction
Would you rather live in a flat or in a house with a garden?
collocationseither … or · more or less · or so · or rather
Gives a choice or another possibility.
Watch out: In a negative sentence use or, not and: 'I do not like tea or coffee'. The vowel is long. In British English you do not say the r unless a vowel follows (as in "or else").
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/ə/ Do you want tea or coffee?
Listen for the short uh sound /ə/ in or: tea or coffee sounds like tea uh coffee. Not awr, and not ah.
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30
say
verb
People often say that money cannot buy happiness.
collocationsit is said that · say hello · let's say · say that
To speak words, or to give information in words, numbers or writing (the sign says…).
Watch out: Say focuses on the words; tell needs a person: 'She told me that…', not 'She said me that…'.
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31
go
verb
Many students go abroad for a year to improve their language skills.
collocationsgo abroad · go shopping · go on holiday · go wrong
To move or travel from one place to another. It is also used for leaving, for activities (go swimming) and for how things develop (go well).
Watch out: The past tense is went, and gone is the participle ('has gone'). Say 'go home', not 'go to home'.
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32
so
adverb, conjunction
The town has grown so quickly that its roads are always full.
collocationsso far · so that · and so on · so many
Shows a result (It rained, so we stayed in), or means 'to such a degree' before an adjective (so tired).
Watch out: Do not use because and so together: 'Because it rained, we stayed in', not 'Because it rained, so we stayed in'. Chinese speakers often make this mistake.
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33
all
determiner, pronoun
All students must register before the end of the term.
collocationsall over the world · all the time · after all · above all
Every one of a group, or the whole of something.
Watch out: All goes with a plural verb for plural nouns (all students are) and a singular verb for uncountable nouns (all the information is). Say 'all people', not 'all of people'.
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34
if
conjunction
If more people cycled to work, city air would be cleaner.
collocationsif possible · even if · as if · what if
Begins a possible situation and shows what follows from it.
Watch out: In a real future condition, use the present tense after if, not will: 'If it rains, we will stay home', not 'If it will rain'.
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35
one
number, pronoun
One reason for the rise in prices is the cost of fuel.
collocationsone of the · one day · no one · one another
The number 1. It is also used to avoid repeating a noun (a red one) and, in formal English, to mean any person.
Watch out: The spelling and sound do not match: one starts with /w/. After 'one of the' use a plural noun and a singular verb.
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36
would
modal verb
If I could change one thing about my city, I would build more parks.
collocationswould like to · would rather · would be able to · would prefer
Used for imagined or unlikely situations (If I had time, I would travel), for polite requests, and for past habits (we would play outside).
Watch out: Use the base verb after would: 'would go', not 'would went'. The l is silent: /wʊd/ sounds the same as wood.
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/wəd/ I would like a coffee.
Listen for the short wuhd sound /wəd/ in would, often shortened to I'd: I would like sounds like I'd like. Not a strong wood, and not ah.
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37
about
preposition, adverb
I am writing an essay about the effects of tourism.
collocationstalk about · worry about · care about · what about
On the subject of something. It also means 'approximately' before a number.
Watch out: Do not add about after discuss, mention or research: say 'discuss the topic', not 'discuss about the topic'. Say /əˈbaʊt/ with the stress on the second syllable.
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38
can
modal verb
Governments can reduce traffic by improving public transport.
collocationscan afford · can be used to · can help · cannot afford
Shows ability, possibility or permission. It is followed by the base verb with no to. In fast speech it is said /kən/.
Watch out: No -s and no to: 'she can swim', not 'she cans swim'. Cannot is one word. In British English can't is /kɑːnt/, so say the vowel clearly.
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/kən/ I can help you later.
Listen for the short kuhn sound /kən/ in can: I can help sounds like I kuhn help. Not a full a as in cat, and not ah. Can't is different: it keeps a long, clear vowel.
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39
which
pronoun, determiner
The city has a new metro line, which is why traffic has fallen.
collocationsin which · which means · which is why · all of which
Asks about a choice from a known group (Which one?), or introduces extra information about a thing.
Watch out: Use which for things and who for people. A comma before which adds extra information.
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40
there
adverb, pronoun
There are fewer jobs in rural areas than in cities.
collocationsthere is a need for · there are many · over there · there seems to be
An adverb for a place away from the speaker. In 'there is' and 'there are' it says that something exists.
Watch out: Do not say 'Have a park near my house'; say 'There is a park near my house'. Use there is with a singular noun and there are with a plural noun. Do not mix up there, their and they're. Chinese speakers often use have instead.
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/ðər/There is a bank near here.
In there is, listen for the short thuhr sound /ðər/: there is a bank sounds like thuhr is a bank. Not a full air sound, and not ah.
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41
know
verb
As far as I know, the new library opens next month.
collocationsknow about · know how to · as far as I know · let someone know
To have information in your mind, or to be familiar with a person or place.
Watch out: The k is silent: /nəʊ/. Know is not used in the continuous form: 'I know', not 'I am knowing'.
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42
more
determiner, adverb
More people now work from home than ten years ago.
collocationsmore and more · more than · once more · more or less
A larger amount or number. It is also used to make comparatives of longer adjectives (more expensive).
Watch out: Do not say 'more cheaper' or 'more better'. Short adjectives take -er (cheaper); long ones take more (more expensive). Compare with than.
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43
get
verb
It takes time to get used to living in a new country.
collocationsget a job · get used to · get better · get in touch with
To receive, obtain or become. It has many meanings: get a job, get tired, get to a place.
Watch out: In formal writing, replace get with a more exact verb: receive, obtain, become. After 'get used to', use an -ing form.
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44
who
pronoun
Students who read widely usually write more fluently.
collocationssomeone who · people who · those who · who else
Asks which person (Who is that?), or introduces extra information about a person.
Watch out: Use who for people and which for things. Do not repeat the subject after who: 'the man who lives next door', not 'the man who he lives next door'. Arabic speakers sometimes do this. The w is silent.
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45
like
verb, preposition
I like cities that have a lot of green spaces, like Vienna or Singapore.
collocationswould like to · feel like · look like · like doing
As a verb, to enjoy or find pleasant. As a preposition, similar to (a city like Paris).
Watch out: In formal writing use 'such as' for examples, not like. After 'would like' use to + verb. After plain like, use to + verb or an -ing form.
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46
when
conjunction, adverb
When it comes to learning vocabulary, regular review matters more than long sessions.
collocationswhen it comes to · even when · by the time · since when
At the time that. It also asks about time (When did you arrive?).
Watch out: After when, talk about the future with the present tense: 'When I finish university, I will look for work', not 'When I will finish'.
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47
think
verb
I think public libraries are still important in the age of the internet.
collocationsthink about · think of · I think that · think carefully
To use your mind to form ideas, or to believe something.
Watch out: Begin with /θ/, tongue tip touching the back of your top front teeth, not /s/ or /t/. Say 'I don't think it is useful', not 'I think it is not useful'. Japanese, Korean, Chinese and Turkish speakers often say /s/ or /t/.
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48
make
verb
Online banking has made it easier for people to manage their money.
collocationsmake a decision · make progress · make sense · make an effort
To create, produce or cause something. It is also used to cause a change.
Watch out: Make is for creating results; do is for tasks (do homework). After 'make + person', use the base verb: 'It makes people feel stressed', not 'to feel'.
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49
time
noun
Many parents struggle to find enough time for their children.
collocationsspend time · waste time · on time · for the first time
The measure of hours, days and years. It can also mean an occasion (three times) or a period.
Watch out: Time is uncountable when it means hours and minutes: 'I don't have much time', not 'many times'. 'Times' is for occasions (three times) or periods.
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50
see
verb
I can see why people prefer to live near their workplace.
collocationssee the point · see a doctor · as you can see · see what you mean
To notice with your eyes, or to understand (I see). It also means to meet or visit someone.
Watch out: The past tense is saw and the participle is seen: 'I have seen', not 'I have saw'. For sight, say 'I can see', not 'I am seeing'.
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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).
My teacher comes Canada.
Most students travel to campus bus because parking is expensive.
Look at the dark clouds: it rain soon.
Would you rather live in a flat in a house with a garden?
It is polite to hello to your neighbours.
Many students abroad for a year to improve their language skills.
The town has grown quickly that its roads are always full.
my friends came to the party, not just a few.
I were rich, I would travel the world.
reason for the rise in prices is the cost of fuel.
If I had a car, I drive to work.
I am writing an essay the effects of tourism.
My little brother already read.
The city has a new metro line, is why traffic has fallen.
are fewer jobs in rural areas than in cities.
She the answer at once.
people now work from home than ten years ago.
It is dark outside.
Students read widely usually write more fluently.
My brother looks our father.
I was cooking the phone rang.
I am about buying a new phone.
Online banking has it easier for people to manage their money.
Many parents struggle to find enough for their children.
I can the sea from my window.
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