Rare means not common or not frequent.
The idea
Use rare before a noun or after be: a rare book; snow is rare here. The relevant place or situation can affect how rare something is.
Examples
- Snow is rare in this town.
- It was a rare opportunity to visit the garden.
- The library owns a rare book about local history.
- Such delays are rare on this route.
- She saw a rare bird near the river.
- A quiet afternoon is rare at this busy café.
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Watch out
Rare does not mean impossible or automatically valuable; it describes how uncommon something is.
Try it yourself
Choose the adjective for an infrequent event. Snow occurs only infrequently here; it is ___. (rare / common)
Show answer or example answer
rare
Rare describes infrequent snow in this town.
Choose the adjective before the noun. It was a ___ opportunity to visit. (rare / rarely)
Show answer or example answer
rare
Rare modifies the noun opportunity.
Choose what rare allows about an event. A rare event is ___. (still possible / impossible)
Show answer or example answer
still possible
A rare event can still happen.
Practice round
Answer questions and rebuild English sentences to practise. Your score is shown.
Choose the adjective for an infrequent event. Snow occurs only infrequently here; it is ___. (rare / common)
Choose the adjective before the noun. It was a ___ opportunity to visit. (rare / rarely)
Choose what rare allows about an event. A rare event is ___. (still possible / impossible)
Tap the words in the right order.
Tap the words in the right order.
Tap the words in the right order.
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Describe an event that is rare where you live and say where it is rare.