Cool MateStrive vs Struggle
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Strive
Top 2,000 (common)C1verb
Struggle
Top 1,000 (very common)B2verb
Most common: Struggle
| Strive | Struggle | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/straɪv/","/straɪvz/","/strəʊv/","/straɪvd/","/ˈstrɪvn/","/ˈstraɪvɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/straɪv/","/straɪvz/","/strəʊv/","/straɪvd/","/ˈstrɪvn/","/ˈstraɪvɪŋ/"]/ | 🇬🇧 /["/ˈstrʌɡl/","/ˈstrʌɡlz/","/ˈstrʌɡld/","/ˈstrʌɡlɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈstrʌɡl/","/ˈstrʌɡlz/","/ˈstrʌɡld/","/ˈstrʌɡlɪŋ/"]/ |
| Meaning | To work hard to achieve something. | To try hard to do something difficult. |
| Example | We encourage all members to strive for the highest standards. | She had to struggle through the difficult exam to pass her class. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 2,000 (common) | Top 1,000 (very common) |
| CEFR level | C1 | B2 |
| Part of speech | verb | verb |
| Collocations | hard, mightily, desperately, after, against, for | desperately, hard, manfully, have to, against, along, down, struggle to your feet, badly, really, clearly, through, with, struggle to make ends meet, fiercely, furiously, violently, against, with, struggle free |
| Antonyms | relax, surrender, give up | succeed, flourish, thrive |
| Common mistakes | 'Strive' is often confused with 'strive for'; remember it needs 'to' before a verb., Some learners use 'strived' as the past tense, but it's 'strove' or 'strived' depending on context., Mixing up 'strive' with 'thrive' due to similar sounds. | 'Struggled' vs 'struggles' confusion - using the wrong tense., Omitting 'to' when saying what one struggles to do., 'Struggles with' is sometimes mistakenly used with objects instead of actions. |
| Usage notes | Use 'strive' in contexts where you want to emphasize effort towards a goal. It's appropriate in both formal and informal situations but may sound overly dramatic for casual conversations. | Use 'struggle' when discussing challenges or difficulties, both physically and mentally. It's appropriate in most contexts, from casual conversations to more serious discussions about issues. |
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Frequently asked questions: Strive vs Struggle
What's the difference between Strive and Struggle?
Strive: To work hard to achieve something. Struggle: To try hard to do something difficult.
Which is more common: Strive and Struggle?
Struggle is the most common in everyday English.
Which is more advanced: Strive and Struggle?
Strive is the highest level, at C1, on the CEFR scale.
Are Strive and Struggle the same CEFR level?
Strive: C1, Struggle: B2 on the CEFR scale.
What part of speech are Strive and Struggle?
Strive: verb, Struggle: verb.
Can you show an example of each?
Strive: We encourage all members to strive for the highest standards. Struggle: She had to struggle through the difficult exam to pass her class.
Can I use Strive and Struggle interchangeably?
Not always. Strive and Struggle are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.