SpeakUp

Grammar fix

narrow down

to reduce the number of possibilities

to make a list or group smaller by removing things that are not suitable, so you have fewer choices to consider.

phrasal verbB1common

Hear it in context

Notice where the phrase sounds natural.

  • We need to narrow down our options before we make a decision.daily life
  • When preparing for university, I had to narrow down my list of courses to just three that matched my interests.IELTS speaking

Fix the pattern

Pattern: narrow down + noun / narrow down + to + noun

WrongI've narrowed down it to three.

RightI've narrowed it down to three.

With a pronoun, the object goes in the middle: 'narrow it down'.

Patternnarrow down + noun / narrow down + to + noun

Use it right

Choose the version that sounds natural in speech.

Stiff We have reduced the candidates to a more manageable selection.

Natural We've narrowed it down to three.

'Narrow down' is the everyday phrase for cutting options; the formal version is wordy.

Build natural chunks

Words that usually travel with it.

  • narrow down + to
    the optionsthe listit to threethe search

Don't confuse it

Not the same as 'cut down,' which usually means to reduce the amount of something, not the number of choices.

Try it in Daily Speak →