WOTW: occasion
| - Tim Lake |
“Occasion” is a noun. It has two different means. The first of which is more useful for English learners. The second is more formal. Let’s see some examples.
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The main meaning of the noun “occasion” is a specific event, or the time a specific event happens.
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+ I have many beautiful dresses but few occasions to wear them anymore.
+ On several occasions we stayed up until four in the morning chatting.
+ There was only one other occasion, but it was years ago.
+ On all four occasions, patients were transferred to another hospital.
+ England has only won the World Cup on one occasion in 1966.
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Related to that “occasion” also means a special event, ceremony, or celebration.
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+ She gave him a gold watch to mark the occasion.
+ The staff had a party to celebrate the occasion.
+ I’m saving this champagne for a special occasion.
+ Wedding are important and expensive occasions in many parts of the world.
+ The school entrance ceremony was a formal occasion with the parents all dressed smartly.
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The other meaning of the noun “occasion” in formal English, is a reason or a cause.
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+ This is the first time I have had occasion to complain about the service.
+ There is no special occasion to buy that stuff.
+ As an academic, I had no occasion to worry about sports or fitness until now.
+ There may be occasions at work or a home to lose your cool, but it’s usually not helpful.
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The pronunciation is /əˈkeɪʒn/.
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This word is in the New General Service List, a list of the 3,000 most common words in English communication. You can get the full list on our website by clicking here.
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この単語は、英語で最もよく使われる3,000の単語のリストであるNew General Service Listからのものです。完全なリストはこちらから。
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