- Do you struggle to use ‘experience’ naturally in your English conversations and writing?
- Are you unsure whether to say “make experience” or “gain experience”?
- Do you want to sound more like a native speaker when discussing past events or professional backgrounds?
Understanding collocations is a cornerstone of English fluency. Instead of just memorizing individual words, learning which words naturally go together, like ‘gain experience’ or ‘rich experience’, will dramatically improve your speaking and writing, making your English sound authentic and precise. Dive into the world of ‘experience’ and unlock a new level of confidence in your communication!
Common Collocations with EXPERIENCE as a Verb
When ‘experience’ is used as a verb, it means to encounter or go through an event or feeling. It’s often followed by a noun that describes what is being felt or encountered.
Experiencing Emotions and Sensations
- experience joy / happiness: to feel great pleasure or contentment.
Example: After years of hard work, she finally experienced joy when her project launched successfully.
- experience pain / discomfort: to feel physical or emotional suffering.
Example: He continued to experience pain in his knee long after the injury healed.
- experience relief: to feel a sense of ease after something stressful or difficult.
Example: We all experienced relief when the exam results were finally published.
- experience fear / anxiety: to feel worry or apprehension.
Example: Many students experience anxiety before giving a presentation.
Experiencing Situations and Events
- experience difficulties / problems: to encounter obstacles or troubles.
Example: The new software users often experience difficulties with the initial setup.
- experience change: to go through a transformation or alteration.
Example: Our company is set to experience significant change in the coming fiscal year.
- experience growth / decline: to undergo an increase or decrease in something.
Example: The economy is projected to experience growth next quarter, but some sectors might still experience decline.
- experience success / failure: to achieve a positive or negative outcome.
Example: Every entrepreneur hopes to experience success, but must also be prepared to experience failure.
- experience a setback: to encounter an event that delays progress.
Example: The team experienced a setback when their main supplier went out of business.
Essential Collocations using EXPERIENCE as a Noun
As a noun, ‘experience’ refers to knowledge or skill gained over time, or an event or series of events that someone has lived through.
Describing the Quality or Type of Experience
- rich / valuable experience: an experience that is very rewarding or beneficial.
Example: Traveling abroad was a truly rich experience for me.
- firsthand experience: direct personal observation or participation.
Example: As a journalist, she had firsthand experience of the conflict zone.
- practical experience: knowledge or skill gained through doing rather than theory.
Example: Internships are crucial for gaining practical experience in any field.
- professional experience: knowledge or skill gained from working in a particular job or field.
Example: The job description requires at least five years of professional experience.
- relevant experience: experience that directly applies to a specific situation or job.
Example: While he had some experience, it wasn’t particularly relevant experience for this role.
- unforgettable experience: an experience so remarkable that it cannot be forgotten.
Example: Seeing the Northern Lights was an unforgettable experience.
Quantifying Experience
- extensive / vast / considerable experience: a large amount of experience.
Example: The new CEO brings extensive experience in international markets.
- limited / little experience: a small amount of experience.
Example: She has limited experience with coding, so she’s taking a beginner’s course.
- lack experience: to not have enough experience.
Example: Many recent graduates lack experience in a professional setting.
Verbs that Go with Experience (Noun)
- gain / acquire experience: to get knowledge or skill from doing something.
Example: You will gain valuable experience volunteering for this charity.
- have experience (in/with): to possess knowledge or skill.
Example: Do you have experience in project management?
Example: I have experience with various software programs.
- share experience: to tell others about what you have learned or gone through.
Example: The mentor will share her experience with the junior staff.
- draw on experience: to use past knowledge or skill to help with a current situation.
Example: The veteran negotiator could draw on years of experience to resolve the dispute.
- build on experience: to use existing knowledge or skill as a foundation for further learning or development.
Example: We aim to build on our experience from the last project for future endeavors.
| Collocation | Part of Speech | Quick Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| experience joy / pain | Verb + Noun | To feel great pleasure / suffering |
| experience difficulties / problems | Verb + Noun | To encounter obstacles / troubles |
| experience a setback | Verb + Noun | To encounter a delay in progress |
| rich / valuable experience | Adjective + Noun | A rewarding or beneficial event/skill |
| firsthand experience | Adjective + Noun | Direct personal knowledge |
| professional / practical experience | Adjective + Noun | Work-related / hands-on knowledge |
| gain / acquire experience | Verb + Noun | To get knowledge or skill |
| have experience (in/with) | Verb + Noun + Preposition | To possess knowledge or skill |
| draw on experience | Verb + Noun | To use past knowledge to help |
| lack experience | Verb + Noun | To not have enough skill/knowledge |
Common Mistakes: Natural vs Unnatural
Avoid these common pitfalls to make your English sound more natural when using ‘experience’.
| Do Not Say | Say This |
|---|---|
|
I made an experience during my trip. |
I had an experience during my trip. / I gained experience during my trip. |
|
She has many experiences in teaching. |
She has a lot of experience in teaching. (As a skill, ‘experience’ is usually uncountable.) |
|
I feel a big experience in this field. |
I have extensive / considerable / valuable experience in this field. |
|
We felt an unexpected difficulty. |
We experienced an unexpected difficulty. |
|
He wants to get more experiences. |
He wants to gain more experience. |
“After graduating, Maria struggled to find a job because she had limited experience. Determined to gain practical experience, she started volunteering at a local charity. It was a challenging role, and she often experienced difficulties, but she never gave up. Her mentor, who had extensive experience in the non-profit sector, encouraged her to draw on her past experience from university projects to solve problems. Over time, Maria started to experience success and eventually landed her dream job. She often says that volunteering was an unforgettable experience that helped her build on her experience and find her passion.”
Frequently Asked Questions about Experience Collocations
Is ‘experience’ countable or uncountable?
‘Experience’ can be both, depending on the context. As a general skill or knowledge, it’s usually uncountable (e.g., “She has a lot of experience“). When referring to a specific event or happening, it can be countable (e.g., “We had several good experiences on our trip”).
What’s the difference between “experience” (verb) and “undergo”?
Both verbs mean to go through or be subjected to something. “Experience” is broader and can refer to sensations, emotions, or events (e.g., “experience joy,” “experience a culture shock”). “Undergo” typically implies a process, change, or something difficult or unpleasant (e.g., “undergo surgery,” “undergo a transformation,” “undergo a difficult period”). While you can “experience a difficult period,” “undergo a difficult period” often sounds more formal and emphasizes the process.
What prepositions typically follow “experience” (noun)?
Common prepositions include “in” and “with”. We use “experience in” for a field or area of work (e.g., “experience in marketing”). We use “experience with” for tools, technologies, or specific tasks (e.g., “experience with Photoshop,” “experience with customer service”). Less commonly, you might see “of” when talking about the nature of an experience (e.g., “an experience of pure joy”).
Can I use “big experience” to mean a lot of experience?
No, “big experience” is unnatural in modern English. Instead, use adjectives like “extensive experience,” “considerable experience,” or “vast experience” to convey a large amount of skill or knowledge. For a memorable event, you might say “a great experience” or “an important experience,” but not “a big experience.”
I appreciate how this article emphasizes the 'natural' aspect of English. It's not just about being grammatically correct, but sounding authentic.
Absolutely, Kwame! Authenticity is key to fluency. English is full of idiomatic expressions and collocations that, while not strictly 'grammar rules,' are essential for sounding natural. We're glad you picked up on that emphasis!
So I shouldn't say 'I experienced a good time' then, right? What would be a more natural way to say that?
You're correct, Olga! 'I experienced a good time' doesn't sound natural. More common ways to express that would be 'I had a good time,' 'I enjoyed myself,' or 'It was a great experience.' While 'experience' can be a noun, as a verb it's usually followed by a less generic noun like 'joy,' 'pain,' or 'difficulty.' Great observation!
The example 'He continued to experience pain in his knee long after the injury healed' really highlights the nuance. It's not just 'feeling' pain, but an ongoing state. Very clear!
You've perfectly captured the nuance there, Hiroshi! 'Experience' often implies a process or a sustained state, rather than a fleeting moment. That example was chosen specifically to illustrate that point. Thanks for highlighting it!
Are there any informal ways to talk about gaining experience? Like slang or more casual phrases?
Great question, Isabel! While 'gain experience' is standard, in informal contexts you might hear phrases like 'pick up skills' or 'learn the ropes' for acquiring experience in a particular area. For just generally getting experience, 'been there, done that' (often a bit dismissive) or 'getting some mileage' (less common) could be used, but 'gain experience' is so versatile it fits most casual situations too.
I'm preparing for my university application and need to write a personal statement. Understanding these collocations will definitely help me sound more sophisticated and natural. Thanks for the guidance!
That's fantastic to hear, Ravi! Using correct and varied collocations like those with 'experience' will indeed elevate your writing and make your personal statement stand out. Good luck with your university application – we're rooting for you!
Fantastic explanation! I've been teaching English for years, and collocations are always a challenge to explain clearly. This article's structure and examples are brilliant. Bookmarking it for my students!
We're so pleased to hear that, Lena! High praise from an experienced teacher is truly appreciated. We aim to make complex topics accessible and engaging for both learners and educators. Thank you for sharing it with your students!
What about 'experience culture'? Is that a valid collocation when traveling, for example?
Yes, Ben, 'experience culture' is a perfectly valid and very common collocation! When you travel, you 'experience the local culture' by engaging with its customs, food, traditions, and people. It means to actively encounter and be part of it. Excellent question!
I used to think 'rich experience' meant having a lot of money because of the word 'rich.' This article helped me understand it means 'valuable' or 'extensive' experience. Thank you for the clarification!
That's a very common point of confusion, Tomomi, and you've hit on a great example of how context changes meaning! 'Rich' in 'rich experience' indeed means full, varied, and valuable. We're happy we could help clear that up for you!
This article is a lifesaver! I always hesitated when using 'experience' because I wasn't sure if it was a verb or a noun in certain contexts. Now I have a clearer picture.
That hesitation is completely normal, Nadia, as 'experience' can function as both a verb and a noun! We're glad this article helped clarify its usage as a verb. Understanding its different roles is key to mastering English. Keep up the great work!
Could I also say 'experience a challenge' or 'experience an opportunity'? Or are those less common?
That's a good question, Diego. You can certainly 'experience a challenge' – it implies going through a difficult situation. However, 'experience an opportunity' is less common. We usually 'take' or 'seize' an opportunity. You might 'experience the benefits of an opportunity,' but not the opportunity itself in that way. Keep testing those boundaries!