common interest — shared interest
collocationB1IELTS 5+neutralcommon
Something that two or more people like, care about, or enjoy doing, which helps them connect or get along.
Say it like a native
Textbook We possess several mutual hobbies.
Native We've got a few common interests.
'Possess mutual hobbies' is stiff; natives say they 'have common interests' or 'share an interest'.
Pattern: have/find/share a common interest (in something)
In use
- They quickly became friends because they have a common interest in photography.relationships
- In my opinion, having a common interest with your classmates makes group projects much easier and more enjoyable.IELTS speaking
Common mistake
✗ We have many common interest.
✓ We have a few common interests.
Plural — 'common interests'.
Common collocations
common interest(s)— share a, a shared, in music, have
Don't confuse it
‘Common interest’ means something shared, while ‘personal interest’ is something only one person likes.