These are words 51 to 75 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
51
what
pronoun, determiner
What matters most to me is having time to rest at the weekend.
collocationswhat about · what if · what kind of · no matter what
Used to ask for information about a thing (What is it?), or to mean 'the thing that' (what I need).
Watch out: In an indirect question keep the normal word order: 'I do not know what she wants', not 'what does she want'.
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52
up
adverb, preposition
I grew up in a small town near the coast.
collocationsgrow up · give up · up to date · make up
Towards a higher place or level. It is also part of many phrasal verbs, such as grow up and give up.
Watch out: Learn phrasal verbs as whole units. 'Wake up' means stop sleeping; 'get up' means leave your bed.
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53
some
determiner
Some people prefer to live alone, while others like sharing a flat.
collocationssome of · some people · some time · some day
An amount or number that is not exact. It is used with uncountable and plural nouns, mostly in positive sentences. In fast speech it is said /səm/.
Watch out: Use any in questions and negatives: 'I do not have any time', not 'some time'. Some is used in offers: 'Would you like some tea?'.
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/səm/ I need some water.
Listen for the short suhm sound /səm/ in some: some water sounds like suhm water. Not a strong sum, and not ah.
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54
other
adjective, pronoun
On the other hand, cities offer better access to health care.
collocationseach other · on the other hand · in other words · other than
Different or additional. 'The other' means the second of two.
Watch out: An adjective has no plural -s: 'other people', not 'others people'. Others (with -s) stands alone as a pronoun. The middle sound is the voiced /ð/.
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55
out
adverb, preposition
The study carried out last year found that many people sleep too little.
collocationsfind out · carry out · out of · point out
Away from the inside of a place, or no longer in a place. It is also part of many phrasal verbs.
Watch out: 'Out of' is written as two words: 'out of date', 'out of reach'. 'Find out' means discover information; 'look for' means search.
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56
good
adjective
Regular exercise is good for both the body and the mind.
collocationsgood at · good for · a good deal of · a good point
Of high quality, pleasant, suitable or healthy.
Watch out: Good is an adjective; the adverb is well: 'She speaks English well', not 'speaks English good'. The comparative is better, not 'more good'.
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57
people
noun
Young people in my country often leave their villages to find work in cities.
collocationsyoung people · most people · many people · people say
More than one person; humans in general or a group of persons.
Watch out: People is plural already: 'people are', not 'people is'. Do not add -s (peoples means nations). Say 'many people', not 'many of people'.
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58
year
noun
The number of cyclists in our city has grown every year since the new lanes opened.
collocationslast year · every year · year after year · for years
A period of twelve months. It is also used for age and school level.
Watch out: After a number, use years: 'three years'. As an adjective, no -s: 'a ten-year-old boy'. Start with /j/, not an 'ear' sound. Some learners say 'ear' for year, or add a /dʒ/ sound.
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59
take
verb
I usually take the train to the capital, and it takes about an hour.
collocationstake part in · take place · take advantage of · take care of
To move something with you or pick it up; to need time; to travel by transport; or to accept something.
Watch out: Say 'take part in', not 'take part of'. With time, the pattern is 'It takes two hours to get there'.
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60
no
determiner, adverb
There is no doubt that technology has changed the way we learn.
collocationsno longer · no doubt · no one · no matter
Used before a noun to mean 'not any' (no time). It is also the opposite of yes.
Watch out: Do not use no with another negative: 'I have no time' or 'I do not have any time', not 'I do not have no time'. No goes before a noun; not goes before a verb or adjective.
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61
well
adverb, adjective
Well, I think living in a small town is healthier, as well as cheaper.
collocationsas well as · as well · get well · well known
In a good way (She sings well); healthy (I feel well); also a word used at the start of a spoken answer to give yourself a moment to think.
Watch out: Well is the adverb and good is the adjective. After 'as well as', use a noun or an -ing form: 'as well as studying'.
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62
because
conjunction
I chose to study engineering because I enjoy solving practical problems.
collocationsbecause of · just because · mainly because · simply because
Introduces the reason for something.
Watch out: Because is followed by a clause; because of is followed by a noun: 'because of the rain', not 'because of it rained'. In writing, do not leave a 'Because…' sentence without a main clause.
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63
very
adverb
Public transport is very important in cities with little parking.
collocationsvery much · very well · very few · very important
To a high degree; makes an adjective or adverb stronger.
Watch out: Do not use very before strong adjectives: not 'very excellent'. Say /v/ with your teeth on your lip, not /b/. Japanese, Korean, Spanish and Arabic speakers often say 'berry'.
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64
just
adverb
I have just finished a course on environmental science.
collocationsjust in case · just as · just now · just a little
Means only or simply, exactly, or a very short time ago.
Watch out: With the present perfect, 'I have just arrived' is the standard British form. In formal writing, 'only' or 'simply' is clearer than just.
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/dʒəst/ I just woke up.
Listen for the short juhst sound /dʒəst/ in just: I just woke up sounds like I juhst woke up. Not a strong just, and not ah.
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65
come
verb
Several students came up with the idea of a shared study room.
collocationscome from · come across · come up with · come to a conclusion
To move towards the speaker or to arrive. It also means to originate (I come from…).
Watch out: The past tense is came and the participle is come ('has come'). Say 'I come from Iran'.
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66
could
modal verb
If governments invested more, public transport could become much cheaper.
collocationscould you · could be · could have · could not
The past of can (When I was young, I could swim), or a polite or less certain form (Could you help me? It could be true).
Watch out: No -s and no to: 'she could go'. The l is silent. For one past success, say 'was able to': 'I was able to finish yesterday'.
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/kəd/Could you open the window?
Listen for the short kuhd sound /kəd/ in could: could you open sounds like kuhd-yuh open. Not a strong kood, and not ah.
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67
work
verb, noun
Many employees now prefer to work from home two days a week.
collocationswork out · work on · at work · hard work
Activity done to earn money or to achieve something; as a verb, also to function properly.
Watch out: As a noun it is uncountable: 'a lot of work', not 'works' or 'a work'. Say 'a job' for one position: 'I have a job'. Spanish speakers often say 'a work' or 'works'.
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68
use
verb, noun
Students use online dictionaries at home and on the bus.
collocationsmake use of · in use · use up · no use
As a verb, to employ something for a purpose. As a noun, the act of employing it.
Watch out: The verb ends in /z/ and the noun in /s/. 'Used to' (past habit) is different from use: 'I used to walk', not 'I use to walk'.
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69
than
conjunction, preposition
Living in the city is more expensive than living in a village.
collocationsrather than · more than · less than · other than
Used after a comparative adjective or adverb to introduce what you compare with. In fast speech it is said /ðən/.
Watch out: Compare with than, not 'that' or 'then': 'bigger than'. Then is about time. Do not use more with -er: 'more bigger'.
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/ðən/ She is taller than me.
Listen for the short thuhn sound /ðən/ in than: taller than me sounds like taller thuhn me. Not a full a as in cat, and not ah.
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70
now
adverb
Now that more people have smartphones, mobile learning apps are popular.
collocationsright now · by now · from now on · now that
At the present time. It is also used to introduce a new point.
Watch out: Do not use now with a past tense. Use the present: 'I now live in London'. In formal writing, nowadays or at present sounds more academic.
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71
then
adverb
First we interviewed ten residents, and then we compared their answers.
collocationssince then · by then · just then · back then
After that, or at that time. It is also used in 'if … then' to show a result.
Watch out: Then is not than. Do not join two sentences with only a comma: 'I finished, and then I left', not 'I finished, then I left'.
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72
also
adverb
The scheme will reduce traffic and will also improve air quality.
collocationsnot only … but also · also known as · will also · can also
In addition. It usually goes in the middle of a sentence before the main verb or after be.
Watch out: Also usually goes before the main verb ('She also speaks French') and after be ('She is also a teacher'). At the end of a sentence use too.
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73
into
preposition
Many old factories have been turned into apartments and offices.
collocationsturn into · divide into · get into · look into
To the inside of something, or showing a change of form (turn into). Before a consonant it is often said /ˈɪntə/.
Watch out: Into shows movement to the inside: 'walk into the room'. Use in for position: 'in the room'.
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74
only
adverb, adjective
The only problem with the plan is the cost.
collocationsnot only … but also · the only way · if only · only just
And no more than; or the single one (the only child).
Watch out: Only goes right before the word it limits. After 'Not only' at the start of a sentence, the order changes: 'Not only is it cheap, but it is also fast'.
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75
look
verb
Researchers look at how children learn language by listening.
collocationslook at · look for · look forward to · look after
To direct your eyes at something; also to seem (look tired).
Watch out: Look at is for pointing your eyes; look for is searching. After 'look forward to', use an -ing form: 'I look forward to hearing from you'.
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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).
matters most to me is having time to rest at the weekend.
I grew in a small town near the coast.
of my friends live abroad.
On the hand, cities offer better access to health care.
The study carried last year found that many people sleep too little.
We had a holiday in Spain.
Young in my country often leave their villages to find work in cities.
The number of cyclists in our city has grown every since the new lanes opened.
a seat, please.
I have time today, so I cannot come.
She speaks English very .
I chose to study engineering I enjoy solving practical problems.
Thanks much for the lift.
a minute, please.
Two friends to my house yesterday.
If governments invested more, public transport become much cheaper.
Many employees now prefer to from home two days a week.
I a spoon to eat the soup.
Living in the city is more expensive living in a village.
that more people have smartphones, mobile learning apps are popular.
If you heat ice, it turns into water.
He is not only a doctor but a writer.
Many old factories have been turned apartments and offices.
She is an child.
at the photos on the wall.
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