Everyday things without anything unusual

The idea

Ordinary describes something normal or not special. It can come before a noun or after a linking verb.

Examples

• It was an ordinary Tuesday at the bakery.
• The box looks ordinary, but it contains a surprise.
• We ate an ordinary meal before the concert.
• An ordinary pen will work for this form.
• Their house is ordinary from the outside.
• On an ordinary day, the park is quiet.

Watch out

Ordinary does not necessarily mean bad; it simply says that something is not unusual.

Try it yourself

1. Choose the correct answer. Nothing unusual happened; it was an ___ day. (ordinary / extraordinary)

   Show answer or example answer

   ordinary

   Ordinary fits a day with nothing unusual.

2. Choose the correct answer. Choose the correct phrase: an ___ (ordinary jacket / jacket ordinary)

   Show answer or example answer

   ordinary jacket

   ordinary jacket: Ordinary comes before the noun here.

3. Choose the correct answer. Must an ordinary tool be useless? (yes / no)

   Show answer or example answer

   no

   No is right: a normal object can still be useful.

Use it today

Describe an ordinary day and an object that looks ordinary.