Core Vocabulary — 20 Intermediate Words
These words appear frequently in everyday conversations, workplace settings, and general reading at B1 level. Study each word, its definition, and both example sentences.
achieve
verb
To successfully reach a goal through effort and determination.
"She worked very hard to achieve her dream of becoming a doctor."
"The team achieved excellent results in the final quarter."
advantage
noun
A condition that puts you in a better position; a benefit.
"One advantage of living in the city is access to public transport."
"Speaking two languages is a great advantage in the job market."
argue
verb
To give reasons for or against something; to disagree with someone.
"Some people argue that technology makes us less social."
"He argued his case clearly during the meeting."
behaviour
noun
The way a person or animal acts in a particular situation.
"The teacher praised the children's excellent behaviour."
"Poor workplace behaviour can affect the whole team."
compare
verb
To examine the similarities and differences between two things.
"Let's compare the prices in two different shops."
"The report compares sales figures from the last three years."
develop
verb
To grow, improve, or become more advanced over time.
"She is developing her writing skills by practising every day."
"The company plans to develop a new product line next year."
effort
noun
Physical or mental energy used to do something; a serious attempt.
"Learning a new language requires a lot of effort."
"The manager praised the team's efforts during the difficult project."
experience
noun / verb
Knowledge or skill gained from doing something; to go through an event.
"She has five years of experience in marketing."
"Travelling abroad is a wonderful experience for young people."
improve
verb
To make or become better in quality or condition.
"I want to improve my speaking skills before the interview."
"Reading every day will significantly improve your vocabulary."
influence
noun / verb
The power to affect or change someone's thoughts, feelings, or actions.
"Social media has a strong influence on young people today."
"Her teacher influenced her decision to study abroad."
manage
verb
To succeed in doing something difficult; to be in charge of people or a system.
"How do you manage to study and work at the same time?"
"She manages a team of fifteen people at her company."
opportunity
noun
A favourable time or set of circumstances that makes something possible.
"This job is a great opportunity to develop my career."
"He missed the opportunity to apply for the scholarship."
opinion
noun
A personal view or judgement about something; not a fact.
"In my opinion, working from home is more productive."
"She gave her honest opinion during the team discussion."
prevent
verb
To stop something from happening; to keep something from occurring.
"Regular exercise can help prevent many health problems."
"The new security system prevents unauthorised access."
require
verb
To need or depend on something; to make something necessary.
"This job requires excellent communication skills."
"The project requires three months of careful planning."
solution
noun
A way of solving a problem or dealing with a difficult situation.
"We need to find a solution to the traffic problem in this city."
"The manager proposed an innovative solution to reduce costs."
suggest
verb
To put forward an idea or proposal for consideration.
"I suggest we meet at 10 am on Monday."
"The report suggests that more investment is needed in education."
support
verb / noun
To agree with and encourage something or someone; help given to someone.
"My family always supported my decision to study abroad."
"The government provides financial support for small businesses."
challenge
noun / verb
Something difficult that tests your abilities; to question or dispute something.
"Learning a new language is always a challenge."
"The new regulations challenge the way companies operate."
significant
adjective
Large enough to be noticed or have an important effect; meaningful.
"There has been a significant improvement in her grades."
"The deal was a significant milestone for the company."
10 Exercises
Exercise 1 — Fill in the Blank
Use: achieve / effort / improve / opportunity / challenge
1. Learning to speak a new language fluently is a real ___, but it is worth it.
2. She put in a great deal of ___ to prepare for the presentation.
3. Working abroad is an excellent ___ to develop new skills.
4. If you practise every day, you will ___ your writing skills quickly.
5. It is important to set clear goals if you want to ___ success in your career.
Exercise 2 — Choose the Correct Word
Select the best option for each sentence
6. The government plans to ___ new policies to reduce pollution.
7. In my ___, remote work is more efficient for most professionals.
8. The new manager was able to ___ the team very effectively from day one.
9. The report shows a ___ increase in customer satisfaction this year.
10. The doctor ___ that we get at least 30 minutes of exercise every day.