Compare two ways to describe what is normal.
The idea
Ordinary means not special; usual means regularly occurring or familiar in a particular situation.
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| ordinary | not special |
| usual | regular or expected |
Examples
- It was an ordinary stone, not a jewel.
- The café serves ordinary bread, not cake.
- An ordinary box held the rare coin.
- We took our usual bus on Monday.
- The shop opened at its usual time.
- Rain delayed their usual walk after lunch.
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Watch out
A rare event can be ordinary in quality; frequency alone does not make it ordinary.
Try it yourself
Choose the correct word. The cup is plain, an ___ cup. (ordinary / usual)
Show answer or example answer
ordinary
ordinary: the cup is plain, not special.
Choose the correct word. This is my ___ seat; I sit here every day. (ordinary / usual)
Show answer or example answer
usual
usual: this is the regularly chosen seat.
Choose the correct word. The train arrived at its ___ time, as it does daily. (ordinary / usual)
Show answer or example answer
usual
usual: the time is the one normally expected.
Practice round
Answer questions and rebuild English sentences to practise. Your score is shown.
Choose the correct word. The cup is plain, an ___ cup. (ordinary / usual)
Choose the correct word. This is my ___ seat; I sit here every day. (ordinary / usual)
Choose the correct word. The train arrived at its ___ time, as it does daily. (ordinary / usual)
Tap the words in the right order.
Tap the words in the right order.
Tap the words in the right order.
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Describe an ordinary object and your usual journey.