SpeakUp

Grammar fix

catch a flight

travel by plane

to get on a plane in order to travel somewhere, usually at a specific time.

collocationB1common

Hear it in context

Notice where the phrase sounds natural.

  • I have to leave early to catch a flight to Paris.travel
  • Last year, I almost missed my chance to catch a flight because there was heavy traffic on the way to the airport.IELTS speaking

Fix the pattern

Pattern: catch a/the flight (to/from place)

WrongI need to catch the flight to home.

RightI need to catch a flight home. / the flight home.

It's 'fly home' / 'a flight home' — no 'to' before 'home'.

Patterncatch a/the flight (to/from place)

Use it right

Choose the version that sounds natural in speech.

Stiff I am required to board my aeroplane at 6 a.m.

Natural I've got to catch a flight at 6.

'Board my aeroplane' is stiff in casual talk; 'catch a flight' is natural.

Build natural chunks

Words that usually travel with it.

  • catch a flight
    a flight toan early flightthe red-eyemiss

Don't confuse it

'Catch a flight' is about getting on a plane at the right time, not just flying in general.

Try it in Daily Speak →