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normal life — usual way of living

collocationB1IELTS 5+neutralcommon

The way people usually live, without anything strange, difficult, or different happening.

Say it like a native

Textbook She resumed her customary mode of daily existence.

Native She got back to normal life.

The paraphrase is absurdly formal; 'normal life' / 'back to normal' is everyday.

Pattern: normal life (noun phrase); live a normal life; return to normal life

In use

  • After the surgery, she was finally able to return to a normal life.daily life
  • If I won the lottery, I think I would still want to live a normal life, just with a bit more comfort.IELTS speaking

Common mistake

✗ After the surgery he returned to the normal life.

✓ After the surgery he returned to normal life.

Usually no 'the' — 'normal life', 'back to normal'.

Common collocations

  • a normal life — a normal life, back to normal, lead a normal life, get on with

Don't confuse it

'Normal life' focuses on the usual, everyday situation, while 'ordinary life' can mean something less special or less exciting.

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