Cool MateSpare vs There's an extra __ in there
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Spare
Top 2,000 (common)B2adjective
There's an extra __ in there
Top 2,000 (common)
| Spare | There's an extra __ in there | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/speə(r)/"]/🇺🇸 /["/sper/"]/ | 🇬🇧 //ðeərz ən ˈɛkstrə ɪn ðeə//🇺🇸 //ðɛrz ən ˈɛkstrə ɪn ðɛr// |
| Meaning | extra or unused. | There is something additional present. |
| Example | He's studying music in his **spare time**. | There's an extra cookie in there for you. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 2,000 (common) | Top 2,000 (common) |
| CEFR level | B2 | - |
| Part of speech | adjective | |
| Collocations | spare time, spare parts, spare room, spare change, spare tire | extra charge, extra payment, extra work, extra time, extra mile |
| Antonyms | deplete, consume, use up | - |
| Common mistakes | Confusing 'spare' with 'share'., Using 'spare' with uncountable nouns incorrectly., Misplacing it in a sentence, like saying 'spare me some time' instead of 'spare some time for me.' | Using 'extra' without a noun following it., Misunderstanding 'extra' as only referring to physical objects. |
| Usage notes | Use 'spare' to describe something extra that can be used if needed. It's common in everyday conversation and writing, but avoid using it in overly formal contexts. | Use in situations where something unnecessary or more than needed is included. It can be informal but is appropriate in most contexts. |
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Frequently asked questions: Spare vs There's an extra __ in there
What's the difference between Spare and There's an extra __ in there?
Spare: extra or unused. There's an extra __ in there: There is something additional present.
Can you show an example of each?
Spare: He's studying music in his **spare time**. There's an extra __ in there: There's an extra cookie in there for you.
Can I use Spare and There's an extra __ in there interchangeably?
Not always. Spare and There's an extra __ in there 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.