Cool MateStruggle vs We can no longer compete
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Struggle
Top 1,000 (very common)B2verb
We can no longer compete
Top 2,000 (common)
Most common: Struggle
| Struggle | We can no longer compete | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/ˈstrʌɡl/","/ˈstrʌɡlz/","/ˈstrʌɡld/","/ˈstrʌɡlɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈstrʌɡl/","/ˈstrʌɡlz/","/ˈstrʌɡld/","/ˈstrʌɡlɪŋ/"]/ | 🇬🇧 //wiː kæn nəʊ ˈlɒŋɡə kəmˈpiːt//🇺🇸 //wi kæn noʊ ˈlɔŋɡər kəmˈpit// |
| Meaning | To try hard to do something difficult. | We can't compete anymore. |
| Example | She had to struggle through the difficult exam to pass her class. | After the new regulations, we can no longer compete in this market. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 1,000 (very common) | Top 2,000 (common) |
| CEFR level | B2 | - |
| Part of speech | verb | |
| Collocations | 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 | can no longer compete, no longer able to compete, unable to compete, have to compete, struggling to compete |
| Antonyms | succeed, flourish, thrive | - |
| Common mistakes | '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. | Confusing with 'competing' instead of 'compete'., Using 'no longer' incorrectly in other contexts., Misplacing the phrase in a sentence, making it sound awkward. |
| Usage notes | 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. | Use this phrase when discussing the inability to compete effectively, often due to changes or circumstances. It is appropriate in both casual and professional conversations. |
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Frequently asked questions: Struggle vs We can no longer compete
What's the difference between Struggle and We can no longer compete?
Struggle: To try hard to do something difficult. We can no longer compete: We can't compete anymore.
Which is more common: Struggle and We can no longer compete?
Struggle is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
Struggle: She had to struggle through the difficult exam to pass her class. We can no longer compete: After the new regulations, we can no longer compete in this market.
Can I use Struggle and We can no longer compete interchangeably?
Not always. Struggle and We can no longer compete 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.