- Have you ever felt that “very good” isn’t enough to describe a truly special moment?
- Do you know which specific words naturally follow “extraordinary” in a professional conversation?
- Are you worried about using “extraordinary” in a way that sounds unnatural to native speakers?
Mastering collocations—the way words naturally group together—is the secret to moving from basic English to sounding like a fluent professional. When you use extraordinary collocations correctly, you reduce your mental translation time and improve your listener’s ability to understand your nuance and emphasis instantly.
Common Collocations with Extraordinary as an Adjective
In modern English, “extraordinary” is almost exclusively used as an adjective. It describes things that are far beyond what is usual, normal, or expected. Because it is a “strong” or “limit adjective,” we pair it with specific nouns to create precise meaning.
Extraordinary Collocations for Human Ability and Talent
These collocations are frequently used in performance reviews, biographies, and talent scouting to highlight someone who stands out from the crowd.
- Extraordinary talent: “She showed an extraordinary talent for mathematics at a very young age.”
- Extraordinary skill: “The surgeon demonstrated extraordinary skill during the complex operation.”
- Extraordinary gift: “He has an extraordinary gift for making people feel at ease.”
- Extraordinary vision: “The CEO’s extraordinary vision transformed the company into a global leader.”
Extraordinary Collocations for Events and Circumstances
These are often used in news, legal contexts, or formal storytelling to describe situations that are not standard.
- Extraordinary circumstances: “The meeting was called under extraordinary circumstances following the market crash.”
- Extraordinary measures: “The government took extraordinary measures to prevent the spread of the virus.”
- Extraordinary event: “A total solar eclipse is truly an extraordinary event to witness.”
- Extraordinary session: “Parliament was called for an extraordinary session to discuss the emergency bill.”
Extraordinary Collocations for Success and Achievement
Use these when you want to emphasize that a result was much better than what was predicted.
- Extraordinary achievement: “Completing the marathon after his injury was an extraordinary achievement.”
- Extraordinary success: “The new product launch was an extraordinary success, exceeding all sales targets.”
- Extraordinary results: “The new teaching method produced extraordinary results in student engagement.”
- Extraordinary effort: “It took an extraordinary effort from the entire team to meet the deadline.”
Extraordinary Collocations for Qualities and Traits
These describe abstract qualities that are present in a high degree.
- Extraordinary beauty: “The national park is a place of extraordinary beauty.”
- Extraordinary courage: “The firefighters showed extraordinary courage in rescuing the trapped family.”
- Extraordinary kindness: “We were overwhelmed by the extraordinary kindness of the local people.”
- Extraordinary resilience: “The community showed extraordinary resilience in the face of the disaster.”
The Master Summary Table
| Collocation | Part of Speech | Quick Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Extraordinary circumstances | Adjective + Noun | Highly unusual situations |
| Extraordinary talent | Adjective + Noun | Natural ability far above average |
| Extraordinary measures | Adjective + Noun | Extreme actions taken to solve a problem |
| Extraordinary achievement | Adjective + Noun | A massive or surprising success |
| Truly extraordinary | Adverb + Adjective | Used for emphasis (replaces “very”) |
| Extraordinary resilience | Adjective + Noun | Amazing ability to recover from trouble |
Common Mistakes: Natural vs Unnatural
| Do Not Say | Say This |
|---|---|
| Very extraordinary | Absolutely / Truly extraordinary |
| An extraordinary man (Too vague) | A man of extraordinary talent / character |
| Extraordinary news (Common but weak) | Extraordinary developments |
| Do an extraordinary work | Perform an extraordinary feat / task |
“I am writing to recommend Sarah for the promotion. During the last quarter, she faced extraordinary circumstances due to the supply chain disruption, yet she managed to achieve extraordinary results. Her extraordinary effort and extraordinary vision kept the team motivated, making the project an extraordinary success despite the odds.”
Frequently Asked Questions about Extraordinary Collocations
Can I use “very” with extraordinary?
Technically, it is better to avoid “very.” Because extraordinary is a “limit adjective” (meaning it already implies “very, very unusual”), native speakers prefer using “absolutely,” “truly,” or “quite.” Saying “very extraordinary” sounds slightly redundant or repetitive to a native ear.
What is the difference between “extraordinary” and “special”?
“Special” means something is distinct or set apart for a purpose. “Extraordinary” is much stronger; it means something is so unusual that it causes surprise or admiration. You might have a “special” pen, but an “extraordinary” pen would likely have magical powers or a history-making design.
Is “extraordinary” used for negative things?
Yes, though it is more common for positive things. You can use it to describe negative situations that are highly unusual, such as “extraordinary cruelty,” “extraordinary neglect,” or “extraordinary debt.” In these cases, it emphasizes the extreme scale of the problem.
What prepositions usually follow “extraordinary”?
The most common preposition is “in.” For example, “The book is extraordinary in its detail” or “She is extraordinary in her ability to lead.” You can also use “for,” as in “The city is extraordinary for its architecture.”
Can “extraordinary” be used as a noun?
In modern, everyday English, no. In very specific legal or diplomatic contexts, you might hear about an “Ambassador Extraordinary,” but this is a fixed title. For 2024 English learners, you should treat it strictly as an adjective.
I used to just say 'very very good.' This article is a game-changer for sounding more sophisticated and precise. Thank you for making these subtle but important differences clear!
You're most welcome, Isabella! We love hearing that our articles are 'game-changers.' Moving beyond basic descriptors to more precise and powerful vocabulary is a hallmark of advanced English. Keep up the great work in refining your language!
Does the usage of 'extraordinary' or its common collocations differ significantly between British English and American English? Or is it pretty consistent globally?
That's a great linguistic inquiry, Hiroshi! For 'extraordinary' and the collocations mentioned (talent, skill, gift, etc.), the usage is quite consistent across both British and American English. It's a widely accepted and understood term in both major dialects, so you can use these collocations with confidence globally!
How important is the pronunciation and stress pattern of 'extraordinary' for native speakers? I find it a bit tricky to say quickly, especially the 'traor' part.
That's a very practical question, Anya! The stress typically falls on the 'or' in 'ex-TRAOR-di-nary.' While perfect pronunciation helps, native speakers are usually quite forgiving, and context often clarifies your meaning. However, practicing the common stress pattern will certainly boost your confidence and make you sound more natural. Try breaking it down into syllables and saying it slowly at first!
Simple, clear, and extremely helpful. This has been an extraordinary read! Thank you for the insights.
Your kind words are an extraordinary motivation for us, David! We're thrilled you found the article helpful and clear. We're always here to support your English learning journey!
This article focuses on human ability. Are there common collocations for 'extraordinary' related to beauty, art, or perhaps even difficulty? For instance, 'extraordinary beauty' or 'extraordinary difficulty'?
Excellent point, Sofia! Yes, 'extraordinary' is quite versatile. 'Extraordinary beauty' is a common and lovely collocation. 'Extraordinary artwork' or 'extraordinary performance' are also natural. For difficulty, 'extraordinary challenge' or 'extraordinary feat' (referring to a difficult accomplishment) are good choices. Keep exploring these combinations – the possibilities are extensive!
I recall hearing 'extraordinary dedication' in a documentary and thought it sounded so powerful. Now I see why! The word pairing just clicked after reading this. It makes a huge difference.
That's a wonderful example, Ben! 'Extraordinary dedication' is indeed a very strong and natural collocation. It's fantastic when these linguistic pieces click into place. Keep an ear out for more such pairings in your listening practice; it's a great way to expand your active vocabulary!
What about synonyms like 'exceptional' or 'remarkable'? Can they be used interchangeably with 'extraordinary' in these same collocations (e.g., 'exceptional talent' vs. 'extraordinary talent')? Or do they have slightly different shades of meaning?
Another insightful question, Chloe! 'Exceptional,' 'remarkable,' and 'outstanding' are indeed very close in meaning to 'extraordinary' and can often be used in similar collocations (e.g., 'exceptional talent,' 'remarkable skill'). However, 'extraordinary' often conveys a slightly higher degree of unusualness or astonishment, implying something truly beyond common experience. The choice sometimes depends on the specific nuance you want to convey!
So, 'extraordinary' is almost exclusively an adjective now. Good to know. Are there any rare instances where it can be used as an adverb or noun, or is that completely outdated?
That's a sharp observation, Kenji! While historically 'extraordinary' had noun forms (like 'an extraordinary'), in modern English, it's overwhelmingly used as an adjective. If you need an adverb, you'd typically use 'extraordinarily' (e.g., 'extraordinarily well'). Sticking to its adjective form is the safest and most natural approach today!
This is a lifesaver! I'm constantly trying to make my English sound more native, and I never thought about 'strong adjectives' like this. Thank you, Translateen!
You're very welcome, Maria! That's exactly why we create these articles. Focusing on 'strong adjectives' and their natural collocations is a fantastic strategy to sound more natural and precise. We're thrilled we could help you on your fluency journey!
In my language (Swedish), we often have one word that covers both 'extraordinary' and 'very good.' It's challenging to remember when to use the stronger English word. Collocations really help define the boundaries!
That's a common challenge for learners from many language backgrounds, Lars! Your insight perfectly illustrates why mastering collocations is so vital. They help you pinpoint the precise level of intensity and formality needed, making your English sound much more authentic. Keep up the great work in distinguishing these nuances!