Practice
English vocabulary practice: useful words beginning with S
Sign in to saveThe schedule says the workshop starts at ten, but the room is not suitable for a group of thirty. These familiar S words help you describe plans, choices, and practical problems.
Understand and use six useful B1 words beginning with S by checking their meaning, word class, and common sentence patterns.
Read and practice
Read the examples and try the written questions in this guide. Listening recordings are not available for this lesson yet.
Try the written questions
The schedule includes a sensible solution. /ðə ˈʃedjuːl ɪnˈkluːdz ə ˈsensəbl səˈluːʃn/
The short answer
Choose an S word by asking what the sentence needs: a plan, a good match, an answer to a problem, two things kept apart, a practical choice, or help.
We found a simple solution to the delivery problem.
Why it works: Solution is a noun for an answer to a problem.
6 more examples
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The schedule lists the times for each training session.
Schedule is a noun here. It names the plan of times.
Not this:We
scheduledthe training for Thursday morning. What changes: Scheduled is a verb because it describes the action of arranging a time. -
This course is suitable for learners at B1 level.
Suitable is an adjective after is. It says that the course is a good match.
Not this:The course is
not suitablefor complete beginners. What changes: Suitable often follows be and is commonly followed by for plus a person, group, or purpose. -
The team found a solution to the login problem.
Solution is a noun for an answer that solves a problem.
Not this:The team
solvedthe login problem quickly. What changes: Solved is the verb for taking action to deal with the problem. -
Please keep personal files separate from shared files.
Separate is an adjective here. It describes files that are not together.
Not this:Please
separatepersonal files from shared files. What changes: Separate is a verb here because it tells someone to divide the files into groups. -
It was sensible to check the address before leaving.
Sensible is an adjective that describes a practical and reasonable choice.
Not this:Checking the address was a
sensibledecision. What changes: Sensible can describe a noun, such as decision, or an action after it was. -
Her colleagues gave her support during the move.
Support is a noun here. It means help or encouragement.
Not this:Her colleagues
supportedher during the move. What changes: Supported is a verb because it describes the help that the colleagues gave.
Read the full guide
Do not learn a new word as an isolated translation. Read the words before and after it. A schedule can be a plan of times, suitable often describes a person or thing after be, and support can be a noun or a verb. A short sentence shows both the meaning and the pattern you need.
Use schedule for a plan of times
A schedule is a plan that shows when events, tasks, or transport happen. It is useful for meetings, classes, trains, and project work. Look for words about time, dates, or a list of planned events.
The schedule shows when each speaker will present.
The noun schedule names the plan. It follows the in this sentence.
Which word fits a plan for meetings and deadlines?
Use schedule: The project schedule changed after the meeting.
Use suitable when something is a good match
Use suitable when a person, thing, place, or time is right for a particular purpose. Suitable often comes after be and before for. The phrase after for tells you what the match is for.
Friday afternoon is suitable for the interview.
Suitable describes Friday afternoon as a good time for the interview.
This chair is not suitable for outdoor use.
For outdoor use gives the purpose that the chair does not match.
Choose solution for an answer to a problem
A solution is an answer or way of dealing with a problem. It is a noun, so it can follow a, the, or another determiner. The common pattern is a solution to a problem, although the solution may not be easy.
We need a solution to the parking problem.
A comes before the singular noun solution, and to introduces the problem.
Which word names an answer to a technical problem?
Choose solution: The technician suggested a solution.
Check whether separate is an adjective or a verb
Separate can describe things that are apart, or it can mean divide things into different groups. After be, it is often an adjective. At the start of an instruction, it can be a verb. The surrounding grammar tells you which job it has.
The two entrances are separate.
Separate follows are and describes the entrances.
Separate the recycling from the general waste.
Separate begins an instruction, so it is a verb that tells you what to do.
Use sensible for practical judgment
Sensible describes an idea, action, or decision that is practical and likely to work well. It is a calm, useful word for everyday choices. Do not use it simply for something that is possible; use it when the choice also seems reasonable.
Taking an umbrella was a sensible idea.
Sensible describes the idea as practical for the weather.
Which adjective describes a practical choice?
Use sensible: It is sensible to save a copy of the form.
Use support as a noun or a verb
Support can name help, encouragement, or practical assistance. It can also describe the action of helping a person, plan, or idea. Check whether the sentence needs a thing or an action. The noun often follows give, need, or receive.
New staff receive support during their first week.
Support is a noun because it names the help that new staff receive.
Several parents support the new timetable.
Support is a verb because it describes what the parents do.
Before you go
Remember this
Use schedule for a plan of times, suitable for a good match, and solution for an answer to a problem. Keep things separate when they should not be together. Choose sensible for a practical decision, and use support for help or the act of helping. Read the sentence pattern before you choose.
Practice with the written examples
You can practice with the written questions in the Learn tab. Each answer includes an explanation.
Try the written questionsListening test not available yet
This lesson does not have the recordings needed for a listening test. Use the written questions in the guide to check your understanding.
Try the written questionsQuestions about "English vocabulary practice: useful words beginning with S"
What does schedule mean in English?
A schedule is a plan that shows when events or tasks happen. You can use it for meetings, classes, transport, or project work. It is usually a noun, as in a schedule for the day, but schedule can also be a verb when someone arranges a time.
The schedule lists the times for each training session.
How do I use suitable?
Use suitable to say that something is right for a particular person, purpose, or situation. It often follows be and is commonly followed by for: This activity is suitable for B1 learners. It can describe a place, time, job, course, or object.
We scheduled the training for Thursday morning.
What is the difference between solution and solve?
Solution is a noun that names an answer to a problem. Solve is a verb for finding or carrying out that answer. You can find a solution to a problem, and you can solve a problem. Check whether the sentence needs a thing or an action.
This course is suitable for learners at B1 level.
Can separate be a verb and an adjective?
Yes. Separate is an adjective when it describes things that are apart, as in separate rooms. It is a verb when it means divide things into groups, as in separate the documents by date. The grammar around the word tells you which use is needed.
The course is not suitable for complete beginners.
What does sensible mean?
Sensible means practical and reasonable. Use it for a decision, plan, or action that is likely to work well in the situation. For example, making a copy of an important document is a sensible step. It does not simply mean possible or ordinary.
The team found a solution to the login problem.