A travel blogger is sharing city tips. Drag the correct words to complete the advice.
The best way to explore this city is by public transport. You can get on the bus right outside the train station, and don't forget to get off at the third stop for the famous market! 🚌
The correct answer for the first blank is public.
We say public transport — this is the fixed collocation for buses, trains, and other shared travel systems.
The correct answer for the second blank is get.
We say get on the bus — this is the natural collocation for boarding a bus.
The correct answer for the third blank is get.
We say get off at a stop — this is the standard collocation for leaving a bus or train at a particular station.
Phrasal verb
Phrasal verb vs verb + preposition: a phrasal verb has a non-literal combined meaning (run into = meet by chance). A verb + preposition keeps its literal meaning (run into the room = physically run inside). The test: is the meaning predictable from the parts? No → phrasal verb. Yes → just a verb followed by a preposition.
Phrasal verbs combine verbs with particles/prepositions to create new meanings. They're the single biggest gap between textbook English and real native usage.
Diagnostic: can you guess the meaning from the individual words? No → phrasal verb (learn as unit). Yes → literal verb + preposition.
Adjective
Adjective vs adverb: both describe things, but adjectives attach to nouns while adverbs attach to verbs. A quick answer (adjective → noun) vs answered quickly (adverb → verb).
An adjective modifies a noun or pronoun — telling you what kind, which one, or how many: a red car, something useful, three heavy boxes.
Diagnostic test: if the word describes a thing or person, use the adjective form. If it describes an action, you need the adverb (-ly) form instead.
Collocations
Collocation vs idiom: both are fixed expressions, but collocations are transparent (you can guess the meaning from the words: heavy rain = a lot of rain), while idioms are opaque (kick the bucket ≠literally kick anything). Collocations are about which words pair naturally; idioms are about hidden meaning.
Collocations are habitual word combinations: make a decision, strong coffee, take a shower. Grammar allows alternatives, but fluency demands the conventional pairing.
Diagnostic: if the meaning is clear but the combination sounds "off" to native ears (do a mistake instead of make a mistake) — it's a collocation issue.
Vocabulary for A2/Elementary/Pre-Intermediate
A2 vs B1 vocabulary: A2 handles routine situations (shopping, directions, small talk). B1 adds opinion and abstract language (I believe, unfortunately, it depends on). The jump is from concrete/social to abstract/argumentative. If you can describe your weekend but can't discuss the news → you're at A2.
A2 vocabulary = ~1,500–2,500 words. Work, leisure, routine social interactions, basic phrasal verbs, common collocations.
Diagnostic: can you handle small talk and routine social situations? Yes → A2. Can you discuss opinions, news, and abstract topics? No → need B1 vocabulary.
A2 | Elementary | Pre-intermediate
A2 vs B1: A2 handles routine transactions and simple past narration. B1 handles connected discourse, explaining reasons, and understanding main points in clear standard speech. If you can tell what happened but not why it matters, you're still A2.
A2 is the elementary level of the CEFR: past simple, present perfect, first conditional, basic modals, and routine communication about familiar topics.
Diagnostic: can you link ideas with because, although, so that and hold a conversation beyond scripted topics? No → A2. Yes → moving into B1.
Easy
Easy vs Medium vs Hard: Easy = one rule, obvious answer, A1–A2. Medium = one rule but realistic distractors, A2–B1. Hard = interacting rules, edge cases, B2+. Start Easy to check you have the basics before moving up.
The Easy tag filters for single-rule, short-sentence, common-vocabulary challenges designed for beginners or for anyone wanting a confidence check on fundamentals.
Diagnostic: if you get Easy questions wrong, stay here — your foundations need work. If they feel trivial, move to Medium.