real problem — actual issue
collocationB1IELTS 5+neutralcommon
A situation or difficulty that truly exists and needs attention, not just something minor or imagined.
Say it like a native
Textbook The genuine and substantive difficulty lies elsewhere.
Native The real problem is somewhere else.
'Genuine and substantive difficulty' is wordy; 'the real problem' is natural.
Pattern: a real problem; the real problem (with/for/of something)
In use
- Finding affordable housing is a real problem in many big cities.daily life
- In my opinion, the real problem with public transport is that it doesn't run late enough for people who work night shifts.IELTS speaking
Common mistake
✗ It's a really problem.
✓ It's a real problem.
'Real' (adjective) goes before the noun; 'really' is the adverb.
Common collocations
a real problem— a real problem, the real problem is, a real issue, cause real problems
Don't confuse it
'Real problem' is stronger than just 'problem'—it means the issue is important or truly exists.