/θɪŋ/
Translation
An object that you can see, hold, or talk about but may not name.
Word origin
From Old English thing, which first meant a meeting or matter people talked about, then any object.
- Origin
- Old English
- Root
- thing
Grammar
Examples
?
"Thing" names an object when you do not know its real name.
.
Here "things" means jobs or tasks, not objects.
.
"Thing" points to one part or idea you like most.
"Thing" is one of the most useful words in English. You can use it for almost any object, idea, or matter when you do not have a better word ready.
Where this fits
Used in
Stories
(23)A New Day
1 min read · Core 1000
A Day Together
2 min read · Core 1000
The New House
2 min read · Core 1000
The First Day at Work
3 min read · Core 1000
Market Day
3 min read · Core 1000
The Journey
3 min read · Core 1000
The New Neighbour
3 min read · Core 1000
The Surprise Party
3 min read · Core 1000
One Sheep Short
4 min read · Core 5000
The Broken Window
4 min read · Core 5000
The Clock in the Hall
4 min read · Core 5000
The Letter She Never Sent
4 min read · Core 5000
The Long Way Home
4 min read · Core 1000
The Passenger
4 min read · Core 5000
Two Gardens
4 min read · Core 5000
The Box in the Wood
5 min read · Core 5000
The First Letter
5 min read · Core 5000
The Register
5 min read · Core 5000
The Swimming Lesson
5 min read · Core 5000
The Tuesday Visitor
5 min read · Core 5000
The Whale on the Beach
5 min read · Core 5000
Two Tickets to Paris
5 min read · Core 5000
The Last Light
8 min read · Core 5000
Grammar articles
(53)Adjective order in English: opinion, size, age, shape, colour, origin, material, purpose
Adverb position in English: before the verb, after be, and the just, still and already traps
Advanced articles in English: the zero article, the with names and places, and go to school vs go to the school
Articles in English: a, an, the and the zero article
As vs like in English: swims like a fish, works as a waiter, and the truth about like I said
Both, either and neither in English: the two-of-something words, agreement traps, and Me neither
British vs American grammar: have got, gotten, the team are, and the other quiet differences
Causative have and get in English: have something done, get something done and having someone do it
Cleft sentences in English: it was X who, what I need is, and how to move the emphasis
Comparatives and superlatives in English: the complete guide
Compound nouns in English: car park, coffee cup, and why GREENhouse is not green HOUSE
Conditional sentences in English: the four types explained
Countable and uncountable nouns in English: advice, information, news and the ones you simply have to learn
This, That, These and Those: How to Point at Things in English
Discourse markers in English: well, anyway, actually, mind you and by the way
Dummy subjects in English: it's raining, there's a problem, and why the subject slot is never empty
Ellipsis and substitution in English: I think so, neither do I, and the words you are allowed to leave out
Emphasis in English: I do like it, my own, the very, and how to push back
For, since, already, yet and still in English: which word, and where it goes in the sentence
Future continuous and future perfect in English: will be doing vs will have done
Future in the past: was going to, would, was about to, and the grammar of plans that failed
Gerund and infinitive: which verb form comes next?
Gradable and ungradable adjectives: why very furious sounds wrong, and which intensifier goes where
English Greetings and Survival Phrases: Say Something Today
Hedging and vague language in English: sort of, a bit, -ish, stuff and or so
Indirect questions in English: Could you tell me where the station is, and the word order that goes with it
Who, What, Where, When, Why and How: The English Question Words
Inversion and word order in English: the subject-verb-object spine and when it flips
Linking words in English: however, although, even though, despite and therefore
Modal verbs in English: rules, examples and how to use them
Modals of deduction in English: must be, might be, could be and can't be
Nominalisation in English: arrive becomes arrival, decide becomes decision, and why written English turns actions into things
Participle clauses in English: -ing and -ed clauses, and the dangling participle trap
Advanced passive structures in English: the get-passive, it is said that, and passives with two objects
Passive voice in English: rules, examples and when to use it
Past continuous tense: was and were plus -ing, and when to use it instead of the past simple
Past modals in English: should have, could have, must have and might have
Phrasal-prepositional verbs: look forward to, put up with and the other three-part verbs
Phrasal verbs exercises: 80 questions with answers
Phrasal Verbs with Come: 13 Meanings You Actually Need
Phrasal Verbs with Get: 16 Meanings You Actually Need
Phrasal Verbs with Look: 12 Meanings You Actually Need
Phrasal Verbs with Put: 13 Meanings You Actually Need
Present perfect continuous: have been doing, and how it differs from the present perfect
Reflexive and reciprocal pronouns in English: myself, yourself, each other, and when English does not bother
Relative clauses in English: defining, non-defining and when to drop the pronoun
Reporting verbs in English: admit, deny, suggest, promise, and the pattern welded to each one
So, such, too and enough in English: words of degree and result
The subjunctive and the unreal past in English: I suggest he go, if I were you, and it's time we left
Used to, would and be used to: talking about past habits and states in English
Verb patterns with objects in English: want somebody to do, make somebody do, and see somebody doing
Wish and if only in English: wish + past, wish + past perfect, wish + would, and why I wish I would is wrong
Word formation with prefixes: un-, in-, im-, dis-, re-, over-, under- and mis-
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thing: worksheet, infographic and listicle
Free printable study downloads for the English word "thing" (An object that you can see, hold, or talk about but may not name.): a worksheet with the answer key built in, an infographic, and a sentence listicle. Open any one to view, print or save.
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Start your free weekThis word is part of lesson 2.