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Grammar fix

personal goal

individual aim

Something you want to achieve for yourself, based on your own interests or needs.

collocationB1common

Hear it in context

Notice where the phrase sounds natural.

  • My personal goal this year is to learn how to cook healthy meals.daily life
  • One of my personal goals is to improve my English so I can study abroad in the future.IELTS speaking

Fix the pattern

Pattern: personal goal (noun phrase); set/achieve/reach a personal goal

WrongI made a personal goal to run daily.

RightI set myself a personal goal to run daily.

You SET a goal (or 'set yourself' one), not 'make' one.

Patternpersonal goal (noun phrase); set/achieve/reach a personal goal

Use it right

Choose the version that sounds natural in speech.

Stiff I have established an objective of a personal nature.

Natural I've set myself a personal goal.

'An objective of a personal nature' is corporate nonsense; 'set a personal goal' is plain.

Build natural chunks

Words that usually travel with it.

  • set a personal goal
    set a personal goalachievereach a goalmy main goal

Don't confuse it

Unlike a 'professional goal', which is about your career, a 'personal goal' can be about any area of your life.

Try it in Daily Speak →