SpeakUp

Grammar fix

urban area

city region

A place with lots of buildings, people, and activity, like a city or large town, rather than the countryside.

collocationB1common

Hear it in context

Notice where the phrase sounds natural.

  • Many people move to an urban area to find better job opportunities.daily life
  • In my opinion, living in an urban area offers more access to public transport, entertainment, and healthcare.IELTS speaking

Fix the pattern

Pattern: urban area (noun phrase); in/within an urban area; urban areas (plural)

WrongMany people move to urban area for work.

RightMany people move to urban areas for work.

Usually plural and countable — 'urban areas'.

Patternurban area (noun phrase); in/within an urban area; urban areas (plural)

Use it right

Choose the version that sounds natural in speech.

Stiff A higher proportion of inhabitants reside in metropolitan zones.

Natural More people live in urban areas now.

'Urban area' is the standard term; 'metropolitan zones' is jargon.

Build natural chunks

Words that usually travel with it.

  • urban area + in
    in urban areasdensely populatedlive inmove to

Don't confuse it

An 'urban area' is the opposite of a 'rural area,' which means the countryside.

Try it in Daily Speak →