variety

variety — noun

1. the condition of being made up of many different elements, people, or experience

1.名詞B1
釋義

the condition of being made up of many different elements, people, or experiences so that things are not all the same or boring.

例句

Tuan introduced variety into his daughter's playtime by rotating art, music, and outdoor games.

variety is — uncountable abstract noun as subject

Soraya added more variety to her meals by cooking dishes from different countries.

adds variety to — verb + variety pattern

同義詞
  • diversity

    more formal; emphasizes the presence of many different types rather than the quality of being mixed

  • range

    focuses on the breadth or scope of differences, not the existence of difference itself

  • breadth

    emphasises how wide or extensive the variety is

反義詞
  • uniformity

    complete lack of variety; everything is the same

  • monotony

    boring sameness that makes something feel dull

文法句型

variety (uncountable) without an article

adds/gives/brings variety to something

用法筆記

Uncountable — do not use with a, an, or plural forms when describing the abstract quality. Frequently appears in phrases like 'add variety to' and 'for variety'.

常見錯誤

❌I like the varieties in my daily routine.
✅I like the variety in my daily routine.
💡abstract variety is uncountable and has no plural form.
❌A variety is the spice of life.
✅Variety is the spice of life.
💡the proverb uses variety without an article.

2. one particular kind or sort of something, with features that make it different f

2.名詞B1
釋義

one particular kind or sort of something, with features that make it different from others in the same group.

例句

Ishaan planted a rare variety of sunflower that grows more than three metres tall.

a rare variety of + singular noun

This new variety of rice needs far less water than traditional types.

同義詞
  • type

    more general and common; variety suggests a subtype within a larger category

  • kind

    informal; used in everyday speech for any group sharing qualities

  • sort

    informal; similar to kind but slightly more vague

文法句型

a/the variety of + noun (a specific type)

variety of + singular noun

用法筆記

Used as a countable noun. Often appears in biology and agriculture contexts to describe distinct subtypes of plants or animals. Unlike sense 1, this sense takes an article (a/the/this/that) and has a plural form (varieties).

常見錯誤

❌This is a different variation of coffee bean.
✅This is a different variety of coffee bean.
💡variation means a change or difference; variety means a specific type.
❌There are many variety of birds in the park.
✅There are many varieties of birds in the park.
💡when countable, the plural form varieties must be used.

3. a collection or set made up of many different kinds of people or things within t

3.名詞A2
釋義

a collection or set made up of many different kinds of people or things within the same broad category.

例句

The market stall sells a variety of handmade gifts, including jewellery and wooden toys.

a variety of + plural noun — assortment pattern

Lucía refused the job for a variety of reasons, from the commute to the pay.

同義詞
  • assortment

    puts more focus on the mixed nature of the collection

  • selection

    suggests the items have been chosen with care from a larger group

  • range

    emphasises the breadth from one extreme to another

文法句型

a variety of + plural noun

a wide/great/rich variety of + plural noun

用法筆記

Always used in the singular with the article a — 'a variety of + plural noun.' The verb that follows can be singular or plural: 'a variety of opinions was shared' (treating a variety as one collection) or 'a variety of opinions were shared' (matching the plural noun). Both are accepted, but plural agreement is more common in everyday English.

常見錯誤

❌I have variety of books at home.
✅I have a variety of books at home.
💡the article a is required before variety in this sense.
❌The shop has a variety of apple.
✅The shop has a variety of apples.
💡the noun after of must be plural.

4. a style of live or broadcast entertainment in which different short acts — such

4.名詞B1
釋義

a style of live or broadcast entertainment in which different short acts — such as musical performances, comedy routines, and magic tricks — are presented one after another.

例句

Théo volunteered to perform a comedy sketch at the school variety show last spring.

variety show — fixed phrase for this entertainment format

Variety entertainment was very popular on British television during the 1960s and 1970s.

文法句型

variety + noun (variety show / variety theatre / variety entertainment)

用法筆記

Used attributively — almost always followed by a noun like show, theatre, or programme. The standalone form 'a variety' is rarely used for this sense. This meaning is less common in modern contexts but still appears in historical references and certain television formats.

常見錯誤

❌We went to see a variety at the theatre.
✅We went to see a variety show at the theatre.
💡variety alone does not refer to a performance; you need variety show.
❌She is a variety performer.
✅She is a variety show performer.' or 'She performs on variety shows.
💡variety performer is not a standard phrase.