usual

«usual» in Mova's school dictionary: what normally happens or what is done most of the time — its meaning for a pupil, its sense in the lessons and examples, with 5 sentences of Mova's corpora that use it.

part of speech

adjective (usual, more usual); noun phrase (as usual)

meaning for a pupil

1) Usual means what normally happens or what is done most of the time. tree →

2) As usual means in the same way as always. tree →

sense in the lessons

In stories, «as usual» tells the reader a habit, and «unusual» marks something strange that may matter to the plot. In everyday life it describes routines: the usual bus, the usual time. In maths and science, «than usual» compares with the normal amount: colder than usual. Phrases: as usual, than usual, the usual, business as usual.

examples

• I will meet you at the usual place. tree →
• As usual, Tom was late. tree →
• It is colder than usual today. tree →
• We had the usual cereal for breakfast. tree →
• The shop is closed earlier than usual. tree →
• Is it usual for owls to fly in the daytime? No, it is unusual. tree →
• Lunch is at the usual time. tree →
• She smiled, as usual. tree →
• ‘Do not forget your usual good custom. tree →

note

Opposite: unusual. Adverb: usually. Say «as usual», not «as usually». Spelled with one l at the end.

In the corpora

• Tipsy means a little alcohol has made someone chattier and sillier than usual, though they are still in control.
• AI is good at the usual cases it has seen many times and often weak at unusual or brand-new ones.
• If a call sounds like family asking for money, hang up and call them back on their usual number.
• His last voyage began with «Family troubles, as usual.
• bù wánr le («BOO WAR luh») means I'm not playing any more, the usual end of a quarrel.

Trees and pragmatics

Every meaning and example of «usual» parsed by Mova, each sentence with its dependency tree and frames.