Grammar fix
catch a cold
become ill
to become sick with a cold, usually with a runny nose, sneezing, or a sore throat.
collocationB1common
Hear it in context
Notice where the phrase sounds natural.
- If you go outside without a jacket in winter, you might catch a cold.health
- During the winter months, many students catch a cold because of the cold weather and crowded classrooms.IELTS speaking
Fix the pattern
Pattern: catch a cold
WrongI catched a cold last week.
RightI caught a cold last week.
Irregular past tense — 'caught'.
Patterncatch a cold
Use it right
Choose the version that sounds natural in speech.
'Contracted a viral... infection' is clinical; 'caught a cold' is what people say.
Build natural chunks
Words that usually travel with it.
catch a coldcatcha nastya badcome down with a
Don't confuse it
Do not confuse with 'catch a chill' (become cold from the weather) or 'catch the flu' (a more serious illness).