Improve Your Vocabulary for IELTS – Key Word: Space

Vocabulary plays a crucial role in scoring well in the IELTS test, especially in Writing and Speaking. The word “space” is commonly used in both academic and everyday contexts, but many learners only use it in limited ways. This guide will help you explore collocations and expressions with space so you can use it naturally and flexibly in IELTS.

Understanding the Word “Space”

The word space has multiple meanings:

• Physical area: “The sofa takes up too much space in the living room.”
• Personal need: “I just need some space to think.”
• Outer space: “Astronauts explore space beyond Earth’s atmosphere.”
• Time frame: “In the space of a few hours, the weather completely changed.”

Mastering its collocations will help you express yourself more precisely in IELTS Writing and Speaking.

Verb + Space Collocations

Verbs often combine with space to describe actions related to creating, using, or managing it.

Practice Exercise

Fill in the blanks with the correct form of the verbs: make, provide, save, take up, clear, stare into, find, make use of.

1. I think we can ______ a bit of space if we get rid of some of these books.
2. Can we ______ space for an extra chair so that John can join us?
3. We’ll need to get rid of that old desk. It’s ______ too much space.
4. Print your name and address clearly in the space ______.
5. I think we can ______ better ______ the space if we shift this desk over to the window.
6. She just ignored everyone. She just sat there ______ space.
7. I couldn’t ______ a space in the car park big enough for my 4 x 4.
8. We need to ______ some space in our spare room. We’ve got people coming to stay.

Answer Key

1. save
2. make
3. taking up
4. provided
5. make better use of
6. staring into
7. find
8. clear

Tip for IELTS: These collocations are particularly useful in IELTS Writing Task 1 when describing changes in building layouts, charts, or processes that involve space.

Common Adjective + Space Collocations

Adjectives add detail to the type of space being described. Using the right adjectives will make your descriptions more vivid and accurate.

Practice Exercise

Complete the sentences with the adjectives: blank, confined, extra, storage, advertising, enclosed, open, narrow.

1. Now that the children have left home, we’ve got a lot of ______ space.
2. There’s a ______ space at the bottom of the form for you to sign your name.
3. It’s cruel to keep animals in such a ______ space. They should be in much larger enclosures where they can roam free.
4. There’s a lot of ______ space up in the loft so we can put your suitcases up there.
5. Do not use this substance in an ______ space. Make sure all doors and windows are open when working with it.
6. I eventually found a place to park but it was such a ______ space that I had difficulty getting my car into it.
7. Paris is a city with fine buildings and plenty of ______ spaces. It is a great place for a holiday.
8. We financed our student magazine by selling ______ space.

Answer Key

1. extra
2. blank
3. confined
4. storage
5. enclosed
6. narrow
7. open
8. advertising

Tip for IELTS Speaking: Use adjectives like confined or spacious to describe your home, study environment, or city in IELTS Speaking Part 1 questions about accommodation or lifestyle.

Noun + of + Space Collocations

Certain nouns combine with space using the pattern noun + of + space to show measurement, quality, or availability.

Practice Exercise

Complete the sentences with the nouns: amount, sense, plenty, shortage.

1. It’s a big car with a generous ______ of space inside.
2. The light colours and the big windows give the room a real ______ of space.
3. No, you don’t need to move. I’ve got ______ of space.
4. There’s a ______ of office space in the centre of town at the moment, but there are plans to build a new block.

Answer Key

1. amount
2. sense
3. plenty
4. shortage

Tip for IELTS Writing Task 2: Collocations like a shortage of space or a sense of space can be used when discussing housing problems, urbanization, or environmental issues.

Notes on Usage

Here are some additional expressions and contexts where space is commonly used:

Creating Space

• We moved the furniture around to create more space.

Breathing Space (Metaphorical Use)

• After working all morning without a break, I need a breathing space.
• I left the party because I needed space to think things through.

Space in Time Expressions

• It was a lot to absorb in a short space of time.
• In the space of 24 hours, I had flown halfway around the world.

Outer Space

• Wasn’t Gagarin the first man in space?

Different Types of Space

• parking spaces, floor space, working space, living space, wall space, shelf space

Personal Space

• Our office is very crowded. I need more personal space.

Tip for IELTS Speaking Part 2: You can use personal space or living space naturally when describing your home, city, or work environment.