Word of the week: bit
The noun bit appears to be known from A2 level and there are four meanings included up to B2 level. Learners at A2 level know both the meaning of SMALL AMOUNT, as in a bit of chocolate, and the informal phrase a bit, meaning ‘slightly’. Both these meanings are very useful ones for learners and will make their English sound more natural at an early stage. As the entry shows, the use of a bit gets more complicated at the B levels, with the expression quite a bit (meaning the opposite of ‘small amount’) and the further colloquial use of a bit, as in I’ll see you in a bit. Additions at the C levels will include the phrases bit by bit and bits and pieces.To view the full entry for bit on the English Vocabulary Profile, please click here.
