Practice
Useful English words beginning with U
Sign in to saveThe letter U begins words for a helpful thing, a surprising situation, a time-sensitive task, new information, clear meaning, and a condition. The sentence tells you which word fits.
Use useful, unusual, urgent, update, understand, and unless in clear B1-level sentences.
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
This request is urgent. /ðɪs rɪˈkwest ɪz ˈɜːdʒənt/
The short answer
Use useful for something that helps, unusual for something not common, urgent for something needing quick attention, update for new information or the act of giving it, understand for knowing the meaning, and unless for an exception to a condition.
The map was useful when we took a different route home.
Why it works: Useful describes the map because it helped the speakers find their way.
5 more examples
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It is unusual to see snow here in April.
Unusual describes an event that does not happen often in this place or season.
Not this:It
is usualfor the park to be busy on Saturday. What changes: Usual describes something expected or common. -
This message is urgent, so please read it today.
Urgent tells the reader that the message needs prompt attention.
Not this:The message is
not urgent. You can read it tomorrow. What changes: The second sentence removes the need for quick action. -
I will update the team after the meeting.
Update is a verb here. The speaker will give the team new information.
Not this:
The updateincludes the new meeting time. What changes: Update is a noun here. It names the new information. -
Do you understand the last question?
Understand means know the meaning of the question in this context.
Not this:I
understood the instructionsafter I read them twice. What changes: Understood is the past form, used when the meaning became clear earlier. -
Unless the traffic improves, we will be late.
Unless introduces the condition that must change for the speakers to arrive on time.
Not this:
If the traffic improves, we may arrive on time. What changes: If states the positive condition directly. Unless means except if.
Read the full guide
First, ask what job the word does in the sentence. A useful tool helps. An unusual event is not common. An urgent request needs attention soon. Then notice whether update names information or an action, whether understand has a subject who knows something, and whether unless introduces the condition that stops an action.
Start with the word's job
Do not learn these words as a list alone. First, notice whether the word describes a thing, names information, gives an action, or introduces a condition. That grammar clue helps you choose the right place for it in a sentence.
The guide is useful for new staff.
Useful is an adjective. It describes the guide.
Please update the staff after the meeting.
Update is a verb. It names the action of giving new information.
Use useful for something that helps
Use useful for a person, object, idea, or piece of information that helps with a purpose. It often appears before a noun, but it can also follow be. Add for when you want to name the purpose.
Her advice was useful for my interview.
The advice helped with a particular purpose, the interview.
Which adjective describes a phone number that helps you contact the office?
Use useful: The phone number is useful if you need to call the office.
Use unusual for something not common
Use unusual when something is not common, expected, or typical. The word can describe an object, event, sound, or behavior. It does not automatically mean bad. An unusual idea may simply be different from the ideas people normally hear.
We heard an unusual noise outside.
The noise was not expected, so unusual describes it.
It is unusual for Amir to arrive late.
The sentence says that Amir does not usually arrive late.
Use urgent when time matters
An urgent matter needs attention quickly. Use urgent before a noun, as in an urgent call, or after be, as in The call is urgent. Choose it when waiting could cause a problem or when the deadline is very close.
The doctor asked for an urgent reply.
The reply needs to happen soon, so urgent fits.
A request must be answered today. Which word describes the request?
Use urgent because the request needs quick attention.
Notice update as a verb and a noun
Use update as a verb when someone gives newer information: update the customer, update the website, or update a colleague. Use it as a noun when you name the information itself: an update on the project. The words around it show which job it has.
Could you update me after the call?
Update is a verb because the sentence asks you to do the action.
We received an update on the delivery.
Update is a noun because it names the information received.
Use understand and unless in complete ideas
Understand needs a person or group who knows the meaning, reason, or situation: I understand the problem. Unless introduces the exception to a result: Unless the weather changes, the event will continue. Read both parts of an unless sentence to see what condition changes the outcome.
She understands why the delivery was late.
She is the person who knows the reason.
Unless it rains, we will eat outside.
Rain is the exception that would change the plan.
Choose the word that means except if: unless or urgent?
Use unless. It introduces the condition that can change the result.
Before you go
Remember this
Choose the word by its meaning and grammar. Use useful, unusual, and urgent as adjectives. Check whether update is a noun or a verb. Use understand for meaning that becomes clear, and use unless for the exception that changes the result.
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 "Useful English words beginning with U"
Which words beginning with U does this lesson practice?
This lesson practices useful, unusual, urgent, update, understand, and unless. They have different jobs in a sentence: some describe nouns, update can name information or an action, understand is a verb, and unless introduces a condition.
The map was useful when we took a different route home.
What is the difference between useful and unusual?
Useful means helpful for a purpose. Unusual means not common or expected. A tool can be useful because it helps you complete a task, while an unusual sound is one that people do not normally hear in that situation.
The map was not useful because it showed an old road.
When should I use urgent?
Use urgent when something needs attention quickly. An urgent request usually has a close deadline or needs a prompt response. Do not use urgent for every important task, because important work can sometimes wait until a later time.
It is unusual to see snow here in April.
Can update be a noun and a verb?
Yes. As a verb, update means give newer information to someone or change information so it is current. As a noun, an update is the new information itself. The words around update show which meaning and grammar you need.
It is usual for the park to be busy on Saturday.
What does unless mean in English?
Unless means except if. It introduces the condition that would change the main result. Read the two parts together to check the meaning, especially because unless already includes a negative idea and usually does not need another negative after it.
This message is urgent, so please read it today.