- Do you often find yourself saying “hard thing” instead of using a more precise English phrase?
- Are you unsure whether to say “difficulty to do” or “difficulty doing” something?
- Do you want to sound more professional by using the exact verbs and adjectives that native speakers pair with the word “difficulty”?
Mastering Difficulty Collocations is a vital step toward English fluency. In English, words don’t exist in isolation; they live in “word partnerships” called collocations. By learning which words naturally bond with “difficulty,” you reduce your mental translation time, lower your language anxiety, and ensure your speech sounds natural rather than robotic. This guide, curated by our experts at translateen.com, focuses on the most modern and frequent usages used in 2024.
Essential Collocations using DIFFICULTY as a Noun
In English, “difficulty” is primarily used as a noun. It can be uncountable (general hardship) or countable (specific problems). Here is how you can use it effectively in different contexts.
Adjectives: Describing the Level of Difficulty
These adjectives help you specify how hard a situation is. Using the right adjective shows a high level of nuance.
- Great/Extreme difficulty: Used for very hard tasks.
Example: “He had great difficulty breathing after the marathon.” - Technical difficulty: Specific to machinery, software, or digital tools.
Example: “The webinar was delayed due to a minor technical difficulty.” - Financial difficulty: Used when talking about money problems.
Example: “The startup is currently experiencing financial difficulty.” - Considerable difficulty: A formal way to say something was quite hard.
Example: “We located the document with considerable difficulty.”
Verbs: Actions Taken with Difficulty
These verbs describe how we interact with problems—whether we are facing them or solving them.
- Experience/Encounter difficulty: To meet or face a problem.
Example: “Users may encounter difficulty when logging in for the first time.” - Have difficulty: The most common way to express a struggle.
Example: “I have difficulty remembering people’s names.” - Overcome difficulty: To successfully deal with a problem.
Example: “She overcame many difficulties to graduate at the top of her class.” - Cause difficulty: When one thing makes another thing harder.
Example: “The heavy snow caused significant difficulty for commuters.”
Prepositional Patterns: The Grammar of Difficulty
Getting the preposition right is the difference between an intermediate and an advanced learner.
- Difficulty in (doing something): Used before a gerund (-ing).
Example: “They found difficulty in finding a replacement.” - Difficulty with (something): Used before a noun.
Example: “Are you having difficulty with the new software?”
The Master Summary Table
| Collocation | Part of Speech | Quick Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Encounter difficulty | Verb + Noun | To face an unexpected problem. |
| Technical difficulty | Adjective + Noun | A problem with a machine or system. |
| Overcome difficulty | Verb + Noun | To solve a hard problem. |
| Difficulty with… | Noun + Preposition | Having trouble with a specific object/topic. |
| Severe difficulty | Adjective + Noun | An extremely hard situation. |
Common Mistakes: Natural vs Unnatural
Avoid these common learner traps to ensure you sound like a modern English speaker.
| Do Not Say | Say This |
|---|---|
| I have difficulty to understand. | I have difficulty understanding. |
| He made a big difficulty for me. | He caused difficulty for me. |
| With much difficulty I did it. | I did it with great difficulty. |
| I am in a difficulty. | I am in difficulty (or) I am having difficulty. |
Contextual Story
“Dear Team, I am writing to inform you that we have encountered some technical difficulty with the latest server update. Many users are having great difficulty accessing their accounts. While this has caused considerable difficulty for our support team, we are working hard to overcome these difficulties by the end of the day. If you have difficulty with any specific client files, please let me know immediately.”
Frequently Asked Questions about Difficulty Collocations
Is it “difficulty to do” or “difficulty doing”?
In modern English, we almost always use the gerund (-ing) form. You should say “I have difficulty speaking” rather than “difficulty to speak.” The latter is a very common error for speakers of Romance languages.
Can “difficulty” be plural?
Yes. We use “difficulty” (uncountable) for the general concept of being hard, and “difficulties” (plural) when referring to specific, multiple problems or hurdles.
What is the difference between “difficulty” and “hardship”?
“Difficulty” usually refers to a task being hard to complete or a technical problem. “Hardship” usually refers to severe suffering, such as lack of food or money, often over a long period.
Which preposition is best: “in” or “with”?
Use “in” followed by an -ing verb (difficulty in searching) and “with” followed by a noun (difficulty with the remote). However, in modern casual English, the “in” is often dropped entirely (difficulty searching).
Is “extreme difficulty” better than “big difficulty”?
Yes. Native speakers rarely say “big difficulty.” To sound more natural and professional, use “great,” “extreme,” “considerable,” or “serious.”
I'm always confused about when to use 'much difficulty' versus 'many difficulties.' This article helped clarify the countable/uncountable distinction for me, thank you!
You're most welcome, Lena! That's a classic point of confusion, and we're so glad the article brought clarity. To reiterate: 'much difficulty' (uncountable, referring to general hardship/effort) and 'many difficulties' (countable, referring to specific problems or challenges). Mastering this distinction will significantly enhance your precision in English!
I appreciate the focus on modern usage (2024). Language evolves, so it's good to know I'm learning current collocations. Great content!
Thank you, Ivan! We firmly believe in providing the most relevant and current information to our learners. Language is dynamic, and staying updated with modern usage ensures you're learning English that is truly used today. Your positive feedback encourages us to continue this approach!
This article beautifully illustrates why context is king in English learning. My teacher always says to learn phrases, not just individual words, and this explains it perfectly for 'difficulty.'
Your teacher is absolutely right, Sophie! Learning words in context, especially through collocations, is incredibly effective. It's not just about knowing a word's definition, but understanding its natural habitat and how it interacts with other words. We're delighted that our article helped reinforce this crucial learning strategy for you!
Are there any informal or slang ways people use 'difficulty'? Or is it generally a more formal word?
That's an interesting question, Raj! 'Difficulty' itself tends to be a relatively neutral to formal word. You wouldn't typically find it in very informal or slang contexts. In casual conversation, people are more likely to use phrases like 'it's a tough one,' 'it's a pain,' 'it's tricky,' or 'it's a hassle' to express similar ideas without using 'difficulty.' So, while 'difficulty' is versatile, it generally maintains a more standard or formal tone.
Thank you for this! I'm an intermediate learner, and I definitely feel like my speech sounds 'robotic' sometimes because I'm not using these natural pairings. This article is a great starting point for improving that.
That's a very honest and self-aware reflection, Kim! Many learners feel that way. Recognizing the importance of collocations is the first step towards overcoming the 'robotic' feeling and achieving more natural, fluent speech. You're on the right path! Our goal at Translateen.com is to provide you with the tools to sound more authentic. Keep practicing, and you'll notice a significant improvement!
How wonderful to see this kind of detailed analysis! As a non-native speaker, the nuance between 'great' and 'extreme' difficulty is subtle but important for sounding truly proficient. Are there any regional differences (e.g., US vs. UK English) for these particular collocations?
That's a brilliant observation, Anja! For 'great difficulty' and 'extreme difficulty,' the usage is quite consistent across both US and UK English. These particular collocations are broadly understood and used in the same way, conveying a high degree of hardship. Occasionally, there might be slight preferences in specific professional contexts, but generally, you're safe using either in both regions. Keep paying attention to these subtle nuances – that's what makes for advanced fluency!
Such a clear explanation! I always hesitate with these kinds of phrases. The idea of 'word partnerships' makes so much sense. I'll be sure to check out more of your guides.
We're thrilled you found the explanation clear, David! 'Word partnerships' is exactly what collocations are all about – understanding how words naturally pair together. It's a powerful concept for unlocking more natural and fluent English. We look forward to seeing you explore more of our content!
I often see 'encounter difficulty' or 'face difficulty.' Are these good verb collocations, or are there others I should prioritize?
Excellent question, Sofia! 'Encounter difficulty' and 'face difficulty' are indeed very common and natural verb collocations with 'difficulty.' They are both great choices for indicating that one is meeting or experiencing problems. Other strong verb collocations include 'have difficulty,' 'experience difficulty,' and 'overcome difficulty.' Prioritizing these will certainly enhance your fluency!
This is great. I used to think 'difficulty' was always uncountable. Thanks for clarifying the countable usage for specific problems. It will help me avoid common errors.
You're very welcome, Hiroshi! It's a common misconception, and understanding that 'difficulty' can be both uncountable (general hardship) and countable (specific problems/challenges) is a significant step towards more accurate and nuanced English. Keep practicing with examples, and you'll master it in no time!
Fantastic article! It's difficult to find resources that break down specific words like this. I often hear 'major difficulty' or 'minor difficulty' – do these fit into the 'adjectives' category and are they common?
Hi Maria! Yes, 'major difficulty' and 'minor difficulty' are absolutely common and fit perfectly into the category of adjectives describing the level of difficulty. They are very natural-sounding collocations used to specify the scale or impact of a problem. We focused on 'great/extreme' as initial examples, but 'major' and 'minor' are excellent additions to your vocabulary for describing specific issues. Well observed!