Common English Words

A list of the most common English words ordered by their frequency of use. You can use this list to learn words efficiently, ensuring you cover the basic vocabulary of English.

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1	the
1. art. Definite grammatical article that implies necessarily that an entity it articulates is presupposed; something already mentioned, or completely specified later in that same sentence, or assumed already
I’m reading the book. (Compare I’m reading a book.)
The street in front of your house. (Compare A street in Paris.)
The men and women watched the man give the birdseed to the bird.
2. art. Used before a noun modified by a restrictive relative clause, indicating that the noun refers to a single referent defined by the relative clause.
2	to
1. part. A particle used for marking the following verb as an infinitive.
I want to leave.
He asked me what to do.
I don’t know how to say it.
I have places to go and people to see.
3	a
1. art. One; any indefinite example of; used to denote a singular item of a group.
There was a man here looking for you yesterday.
2. art. Used in conjunction with the adjectives score, dozen, hundred, thousand, and million, as a function word.
I've seen it happen a hundred times.
3. art. One certain or particular; any single.Brown, Lesley, (2003)
4	and
1. conj. As a coordinating conjunction; expressing two elements to be taken together or in addition to each other.
2. conj. Used simply to connect two noun phrases, adjectives or adverbs.
3. conj. Simply connecting two clauses or sentences.
4. conj. Introducing a clause or sentence which follows on in time or consequence from the first.
5. conj. (obsolete) Yet; but.
5	you
1. pron. (object pronoun) The people spoken, or written to, as an object.
2. pron. (reflexive pronoun, now US colloquial) (To) yourselves, (to) yourself.
3. pron. (object pronoun) The person spoken to or written to, as an object. (Replacing thee; originally as a mark of respect.)
4. pron. (subject pronoun) The people spoken to or written to, as a subject. (Replacing ye.)
Both of you should get ready now.
6	I
1. pron. The speaker or writer, referred to as the grammatical subject, of a sentence.
(audio, Here I am, sir.ogg, Audio)
2. pron. (nonstandard, hypercorrection) The speaker or writer, referred to as the grammatical object, of a sentence.
3. n. (metaphysics) The ego.
4. n. (US, roadway) Interstate.
7	of
1. prep. Expressing distance or motion.
2. prep. (now obsolete, or dialectal) From (of distance, direction), "off".
3. prep. (obsolete except in phrases) Since, from (a given time, earlier state etc.).
4. prep. From, away from (a position, number, distance etc.).
There are no shops within twenty miles of the cottage.
8	in
1. prep. Used to indicate location, inclusion, or position within spatial, temporal or other limits.
2. prep. Contained by.
The dog is in the kennel.
3. prep. Within.
4. prep. Surrounded by.
9	it
1. pron. The third-person singular personal pronoun that is normally used to refer to an inanimate object or abstract entity, also often used to refer to animals.
Put it over there.
Take each day as it comes.
I heard the sound of the school bus - it was early today.
2. pron. A third-person singular personal pronoun used to refer to a child, especially of unknown gender.
10	that
1. conj. Introducing a clause which is the subject or object of a verb (such as one involving reported speech), or which is a complement to a previous statement.
He told me that the book is a good read.
I believe that it is true. — She is convinced that he is British.
2. conj. Introducing a subordinate clause expressing a reason or cause: because, in that.
Be glad that you have enough to eat.
11	is
1. v. third-person singular present indicative of be
He is a doctor. He retired some time ago.
Should he do the task, it is vital that you follow him.
2. n. plural of i
remember to dot your is
	be
1. v. (intransitive, now literary) To exist; to have real existence.
2. v. (with there, or dialectally it, as dummy subject) To exist.
3. v. (intransitive) To occupy a place.
12	for
1. conj. (dated) Because.
2. prep. Towards.
The astronauts headed for the moon.
3. prep. Directed at, intended to belong to.
I have something for you.
13	he
1. pron. (personal) A male person or animal already known or implied.
2. pron. (personal, sometimes proscribed, see usage notes) A person whose gender is unknown or irrelevant.
The rulebook clearly states that "if any student is caught cheating, he will be expelled", and you were caught cheating, were you not, Anna?
3. pron. (personal) An animal whose gender is unknown.
4. n. The game of tag, or it, in which the player attempting to catch the others is called "he".
14	was
1. v. first-person singular past of be.
2. v. third-person singular past of be.
	be
1. v. (intransitive, now literary) To exist; to have real existence.
2. v. (with there, or dialectally it, as dummy subject) To exist.
3. v. (intransitive) To occupy a place.
15	have
Additional archaic forms are second-person singular present tense hast, third-person singular present tense hath, present participle haveing, and second-person singular past tense hadst.
1. v. To possess, own, hold.
I have a house and a car.
Look what I have here — a frog I found on the street!
2. v. To be related in some way to (with the object identifying the relationship).
16	on
1. adj. In the state of being active, functioning or operating.
2. adj. Performing according to schedule.
Are we still on for tonight?
Is the show still on?
3. adj. (chiefly UK, informal, usually negative) Acceptable, appropriate.
17	be
1. v. (intransitive, now literary) To exist; to have real existence.
2. v. (with there, or dialectally it, as dummy subject) To exist.
There is just one woman in town who can help us. (or, dialectally:) It is just one woman in town who can help us.
3. v. (intransitive) To occupy a place.
The cup is on the table.
18	with
1. prep. Against.
He picked a fight with the class bully.
2. prep. In the company of; alongside, close to; near to.
He went with his friends.
3. prep. In addition to; as an accessory to.
19	me
1. pron. As the direct object of a verb.
Can you hear me?
2. pron. (obsolete) Myself; as a reflexive direct object of a verb.
3. pron. As the object of a preposition.
Come with me.
20	this
1. det. The (thing) here (used in indicating something or someone nearby).
This classroom is where I learned to read and write.
2. det. The known (thing) (used in indicating something or someone just mentioned).
They give the appearance of knowing what they're doing. It's this appearance that lets them get away with so much.
3. det. The known (thing) (used in indicating something or someone about to be mentioned).

Dictionary entries from Wiktionary