How can I learn basic materials in English?

The most effective way is spaced repetition: practice this deck of 31 flashcards using the Flashcards, Learn, Write, and Match modes. The system shows you each word right before you're about to forget it, so you retain it long-term instead of just memorizing it for a test.

How many words are in the basic materials deck?

This deck has 31 cards at level A2, each with pronunciation audio and an example sentence.

Do I need an account to practice basic materials in English?

No. You can practice for free without creating an account. If you sign in, your progress is saved automatically and you can keep studying from any device.

Basic materials Flashcards | SpeakUP Academy

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Basic materials

Learn the English words for common materials things are made of.

A231 cards

How do you want to practice?

Flashcards

Flip each card and rate how well you remembered it. That is how we learn when to show it to you again.

Learn

A quiz that adapts to your pace: multiple choice that progresses to typing the answer.

Write

Listen to the word and type it. Great for practicing spelling and pronunciation.

Match

Match the words against the clock. A fun, low-pressure way to review.

Terms in this deck

wood
a material that comes from trees
plastic
a light, man-made material
metal
a hard, shiny material like iron or steel
glass
a hard, clear material used for windows and bottles
paper
a thin material made from wood, used for writing
cotton
a soft, natural fabric made from a plant
leather
a material made from animal skin
rubber
a strong, flexible material used for tires and boots
cardboard
a thick, stiff paper used to make boxes
ceramic
a material made from baked clay
wool
a warm, soft fabric made from sheep hair
silk
a smooth, shiny fabric made from silkworms
steel
a strong metal made from iron
stone
a hard, natural material found in the ground
fabric
material made by weaving or knitting fibers
clay
a soft, natural material used to make pottery
concrete
a hard building material made from cement, sand, and water
brick
a small, hard block used to build walls
gold
a valuable, shiny yellow metal
silver
a valuable, shiny white metal
bronze
a brownish metal made from copper and tin
aluminum
a light, silver-colored metal
denim
a strong cotton fabric used to make jeans
velvet
a soft, thick fabric with a smooth surface
linen
a light, natural fabric made from flax plants
polyester
a man-made fabric used in many kinds of clothing
nylon
a strong, man-made material used for fabric and rope
iron
a strong, heavy metal used to make tools and machines
copper
a reddish-brown metal used in wires and pipes
canvas
a strong, heavy fabric used for bags, tents, and paintings
cement
a gray powder mixed with water and sand to make concrete

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How to study this deck

This deck helps you describe what things are made of. Practice with "made of" and "made from": "The table is made of wood", "The shirt is made of cotton". Group the materials into natural (wood, cotton, stone), metals (steel, gold, copper) and synthetic (plastic, nylon, polyester).

The trickiest words

glass: as a material it is glass, as an object it is a drinking glass, and glasses are eyeglasses.
iron: it is the metal and also the clothes iron. As a verb, "iron a shirt" means to press it.
leather: it is pronounced "LETH-er", not "leeder".

Examples in context

The table is made of wood.
The window is made of glass.
The boots are made of rubber.
The dress is made of silk.
He made a bowl out of clay.
He gave her a silver ring.
The couch is covered in velvet.
The gate is made of iron.

Mini dialogue

A: What is this bag made of?
B: It is made of leather. The strap is nylon.
A: And your watch?
B: Steel and glass. It is not gold, sadly.

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