Phrasal verb
Narrow Down 3
What does 'narrow down' mean?
'Narrow down' means to reduce a list of choices or possibilities by removing less suitable options. We started with nine hotels and narrowed them down to three. Use full nouns either before or after 'down', but put pronouns in the middle: 'narrow them down'. Narrowing down leaves options; choosing one comes later.
Key points
- 'Narrow down' reduces possibilities to a smaller group.
- Full nouns can go before or after 'down'.
- Object pronouns must come between 'narrow' and 'down'.
- Use 'from' for the starting number and 'to' for the remainder.
Can you use "Narrow Down 3" yourself?
This lesson has 5 stages. You can stop at any time and continue later.
Stage 1 of 5
Understand
What it means, when to use it, and mistakes to avoid.
The full explanation
Narrow down means to reduce the number or range of possibilities by removing options that are less suitable, practical, or likely. It applies to choices such as courses, hotels, and job candidates, as well as searches and possible causes.
We had six evening class options, but we narrowed them down to two.
Why it works: The pronoun sits between 'narrowed' and 'down', while 'from' and 'to' explain the starting and remaining quantities.
2 more examples
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Marcus narrowed the list down after checking his work timetable.
The noun phrase 'the list' sits between 'narrowed' and 'down', showing the separable word order.
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The hiring panel narrowed down the candidate search to three finalists.
The phrasal verb appears together before the noun phrase, reducing the search to a smaller group.
Read the full guide
Decide When Fewer Choices Remain
You use the phrasal verb narrow down when you begin with several possibilities and eliminate some so that a smaller group remains. For example, if you want an evening class and see six interesting subjects, you narrow down your options by dropping classes that conflict with your job. You can also narrow down a search or investigate possible causes of a problem. Narrowing down does not mean you have made a final decision yet. It simply reduces your list so that comparing the remaining options is much easier.
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We have five good ideas, but we need to narrow them down.
Why it works: The speaker wants to reduce the list of five ideas to a smaller number.
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The police hope to narrow down the search to two neighborhoods.
Why it works: The search area is being reduced from many neighborhoods to just two.
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Our manager narrowed down the list of candidates to three people.
Why it works: Three candidates still remain on the list; the final person has not been hired yet.
Your turn
What happens when you narrow down a list of possibilities?
Answer: You remove less suitable options so that a smaller group remains to evaluate.
Show the answer
Answer: You remove less suitable options so that a smaller group remains to evaluate.
Narrowing down means reducing a larger set of possibilities to a smaller, more manageable group.
Cut Down a Class List Before You Pick One
Imagine you want to study something new after work. You open a brochure and find six courses that look exciting: pottery, Spanish, cooking, photography, coding, and graphic design. However, you only have free time on Tuesday and Thursday evenings. When you check the timetable, four classes meet on Monday or Wednesday. You remove those four classes immediately because they do not fit your schedule. Now only two courses remain. You have not picked your favorite class yet, but your decision is much simpler.
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Elena: I found six evening classes online, but my work week is very busy. Marcus: Can you narrow them down by checking which ones meet on your free evenings?
Why it works: Marcus suggests using free evenings as a criterion to reduce the class list.
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Elena: Yes, four classes meet on Mondays, so I narrowed the list down to cooking and photography.
Why it works: Elena removed four options, leaving two classes to choose between.
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Marcus: Great, now we only need to compare two schedules instead of six.
Why it works: The decision is easier because only two options remain on the shortlist.
This also comes up in Come down with and Unusual names.
Your turn
Why did Elena remove four classes from her original list of six?
Answer: They met on days when she was busy with work.
Show the answer
Answer: They met on days when she was busy with work.
Elena eliminated four classes because their meeting times conflicted with her work schedule, leaving two classes that fit.
Place Nouns and Pronouns in the Right Slot
With a full noun phrase, you have two correct choices. You can say 'We can narrow down our choices' or 'We can narrow our choices down'. Both sentences sound natural to native speakers. This flexibility means narrow down is a separable phrasal verb. However, when you replace the noun with a pronoun such as them or it, English requires you to put the pronoun between narrow and down. You must say 'narrow them down' or 'narrow it down'. Placing a pronoun after down is an error.
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We can narrow down our choices before lunch.
Why it works: The full noun phrase 'our choices' comes after the complete phrasal verb.
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We can narrow our choices down before lunch.
Why it works: The full noun phrase sits between 'narrow' and 'down'.
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Six classes look fun, but I must narrow them down.
Why it works: The pronoun 'them' must sit between 'narrow' and 'down'.
Your turn
Which sentence places the object pronoun in the correct position?
Answer: I found ten rental apartments and narrowed them down yesterday.
Show the answer
Answer: I found ten rental apartments and narrowed them down yesterday.
Object pronouns like them and it must appear between narrow and down, never after down.
Connect Starting Numbers to Final Numbers
When you describe how much you reduced a list, use the prepositions from and to. Use from to introduce the starting number and to to introduce the remaining number. For example, 'We narrowed the options from six classes to two' means you began with six classes and two remain. Be careful with the preposition by. If you say 'We narrowed the list by two', you mean you removed two items, leaving four. To prevent confusion in everyday speech, state the final number with to, or simply say 'We removed two options'.
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The committee narrowed the list from eight candidates to three.
Why it works: 'From eight' shows the starting total, while 'to three' shows the number remaining.
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We narrowed our holiday destinations down to two cities.
Why it works: 'To two' tells the listener that exactly two cities are still being considered.
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They removed two options from the menu, leaving four.
Why it works: Using the verb 'remove' is clearer than saying 'narrowed down by two'.
Your turn
What does the sentence 'We narrowed the group from ten applicants to four' mean?
Answer: The team started with ten applicants, and four candidates still remain.
Show the answer
Answer: The team started with ten applicants, and four candidates still remain.
'From ten' marks the starting quantity, and 'to four' marks the smaller result that remains.
Choose the Correct Past Form or Question Pattern
The base form is narrow, and the third person singular is narrows. To form the past simple, add -ed to create narrowed. Do not double the letter w before adding -ed. Pronounce the ending as a single /d/ sound, without adding an extra syllable. When you ask a question with did or make a negative sentence with didn't, the helping verb already carries the past tense. Because did and didn't take the base form of the main verb, write 'Did you narrow the list down?' and 'We didn't narrow it down'.
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She narrowed her vacation choices down to two beach towns.
Why it works: Past simple adds -ed to narrow without doubling the letter w.
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Did you narrow the options down before the meeting?
Why it works: After the auxiliary 'did', the verb returns to its base form 'narrow'.
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We didn't narrow it down because we needed more information.
Why it works: The negative auxiliary 'didn't' pairs with the base form 'narrow'.
Your turn
Which sentence correctly uses narrow in a past negative statement?
Answer: We didn't narrow it down because three choices were still open.
Show the answer
Answer: We didn't narrow it down because three choices were still open.
After didn't, the main verb stays in its base form 'narrow', and the pronoun 'it' sits before 'down'.
Separate Reducing Options From Making a Final Pick
Learners often make two frequent mistakes with this phrasal verb. The first mistake is putting a pronoun after the particle, as in 'narrow down them'. In English, you must separate the verb and particle for pronouns: 'narrow them down'. The second mistake is confusing narrowing down with selecting a winner. Narrowing down means eliminating weak options so a smaller group remains; it does not mean making the final choice. In addition, do not confuse this expression with making an object physically thinner. Narrow down is neutral, polite, and common in workplace and social English.
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I have four good job offers, and I need to narrow them down.
Why it works: Correct pronoun order: 'them' sits directly between 'narrow' and 'down'.
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We narrowed the proposals down to two, but we have not chosen the winner yet.
Why it works: Shows that narrowing down reduces options before the final decision is made.
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The road narrows near the bridge.
Why it works: Here 'narrow' is a standard verb meaning to become physically less wide, not a phrasal verb.
Your turn
Why is 'We narrowed down them to two' incorrect in English?
Answer: Object pronouns must appear between the verb and 'down', not after 'down'.
Show the answer
Answer: Object pronouns must appear between the verb and 'down', not after 'down'.
When the object is a pronoun like them or it, it must sit between the verb and the particle: 'narrowed them down'.
Notice Spoken Endings in Fast Speech
In fast conversation, hearing the difference between 'narrow down' and 'narrowed down' can be challenging. Because 'narrowed' ends in /d/ and 'down' begins with /d/, speakers blend the two sounds into one longer /d/. Do not rely on that single sound alone to identify the tense. Instead, listen for time words like yesterday, last week, or already, or listen for helping verbs like did and will. In our dictation activities, you will hear clear time context so that you can identify whether the speaker describes a past action or an upcoming plan.
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Yesterday Marcus narrowed down our options from five to two.
Why it works: The time word 'Yesterday' signals the past tense even if the /d/ sounds blend together.
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Tomorrow we will narrow down the list before our call.
Why it works: The modal 'will' and time word 'Tomorrow' make the present base form clear.
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Can you narrow them down before Friday?
Why it works: The modal 'can' requires the base form, and 'them' separates the verb from 'down'.
Your turn
How can you best tell whether a speaker said 'narrow down' or 'narrowed down' in fast speech?
Answer: Listen for time words like 'yesterday' and helping verbs like 'will' or 'did'.
Show the answer
Answer: Listen for time words like 'yesterday' and helping verbs like 'will' or 'did'.
Because adjacent /d/ sounds blend together, surrounding time markers and helping verbs provide the most reliable clues.
Build Your Own Sentences About Smaller Options
Now test your understanding by building your own sentences. Remember the three core rules you practiced today. First, keep pronouns in the middle position: write 'narrow it down' and 'narrow them down'. Second, use from for your starting total and to for the options that remain. Third, keep in mind that narrowing down describes eliminating choices, while picking one comes afterward. Practice by describing a real decision you face, such as selecting an evening course, choosing a weekend hotel, or shortlisting job applicants.
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I started with six laptops, but I narrowed them down to two models with good battery life.
Why it works: Demonstrates correct pronoun placement, starting number, and final number.
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Our team narrowed the venue list down to two halls near the subway.
Why it works: Demonstrates noun placement with 'down' at the end and clear selection criteria.
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We have narrowed it down to two choices, and we will decide tomorrow.
Why it works: Shows that narrowing down leaves two options before the final selection.
Your turn
Which sentence accurately expresses reducing a list of choices while using correct word order?
Answer: I started with five hotels and narrowed them down from five to two.
Show the answer
Answer: I started with five hotels and narrowed them down from five to two.
This sentence correctly places 'them' between 'narrowed' and 'down', and uses 'from' for the start and 'to' for the remainder.
Common mistakes with "narrow Down 3"
What learners often say, what to say instead, and why.
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Not this:
I narrowed down them to two hotels.Say: I narrowed them down to two hotels.
Object pronouns must come between the verb and particle.
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Not this:
We narrowed down the options from seven by three.Say: We narrowed the options down from seven to four.
'To' introduces the number remaining; 'by' introduces the number removed.
-
Not this:
Did you narrowed the list down?Say: Did you narrow the list down?
After 'did', use the base form 'narrow'.
-
Not this:
She narrowded the choices down yesterday.Say: She narrowed the choices down yesterday.
The past form is 'narrowed', without doubling the 'w'.
Use it naturally
How people really use “narrow down”
Neutral Fine almost anywhere, at work or with friends.
Words it often goes with
- narrow down the listWe can narrow down the list by checking which rooms were open.
- narrow down the searchKnowing when you last saw your bag will help narrow down the search.
- narrow down our optionsLet's narrow down our options to three places.
- narrow down the possible causesThese simple checks will help narrow down the possible causes of the problem.
What people also say
- “We narrowed the list down to three.” instead of “We reduced the number of items on the list to three.” This is a shorter, natural way to describe reducing a list.
Questions about "Narrow Down 3"
What does 'narrow down' mean?
Narrow down means to eliminate less suitable options from a larger group so that a smaller, more manageable number remains. It applies to lists of choices like classes, hotels, or job candidates, as well as searches and possible causes of a problem. Narrowing down does not mean you have selected the winner yet; it simply makes the final comparison easier.
We had eight ideas, but we narrowed them down to two.
Do I say 'narrow down the list' or 'narrow the list down'?
Both word orders are completely correct when you use a noun phrase. You can say 'narrow down the list' or 'narrow the list down'. Native speakers use both patterns interchangeably. However, if you replace the noun with a pronoun like 'it' or 'them', you must place the pronoun in the middle: 'narrow it down'.
We need to narrow down the list before our meeting.
We need to narrow the list down before our meeting.
Why is 'narrow down them' wrong?
In English phrasal verbs that can separate, an object pronoun such as 'them', 'it', or 'us' must sit between the verb and the particle. Placing a pronoun after 'down' violates standard English grammar. Always say 'narrow them down' or 'narrow it down'.
Six courses look interesting, but I need to narrow them down.
Does 'narrow it down' mean I have chosen one?
No, narrowing down refers to the reduction process, not the final selection. After narrowing a list down, two or three strong possibilities often still remain. You can narrow a search down to a single option, but the phrase itself describes removing the weaker alternatives rather than celebrating the final choice.
We narrowed the candidates down to two, but the manager has not chosen one yet.
What is the difference between 'down to two' and 'down by two'?
The preposition 'to' introduces the number that remains, while 'by' introduces the number that was removed. For example, if you start with six classes and narrow them down to two, two classes remain. If you narrow them down by two, you removed two classes and four remain. To avoid confusion, speakers usually use 'to' or say 'removed two'.
We narrowed the list down from six options to two.
We removed two options from our original list of six.
What is the past tense of 'narrow down'?
The past simple form is 'narrowed down'. You add -ed to the base verb without doubling the letter w. The ending is pronounced as a single /d/ sound, not an extra syllable. When asking a question with 'did' or using a negative with 'didn't', keep the base form: 'Did you narrow it down?' and 'We didn't narrow it down'.
Yesterday she narrowed her choices down to two.
Did you narrow down the results before calling the client?
Before you go
Remember this
Use narrow down when you eliminate possibilities so that fewer choices remain. Place full nouns in either position, but always put pronouns in the middle: narrow them down. State the starting count with from and the final count with to. Remember that narrowing down reduces your list, but picking the single winner is a separate final step.
Stage 2 of 5
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Listening 1 of 4
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0:00
- Marcus narrowed the list down after checking his work timetable.
- The hiring panel narrowed down the candidate search to three finalists.
Read the transcript
Can you narrow down our choices before tomorrow?
The speaker uses the base form 'narrow down' after the modal verb 'can', followed by the noun phrase 'our choices'.
Listen for
At natural speed these words change shape. Tap one to hear it again.
- listen for "dow-nour": the final n in "down" joins the start of "our".
Listen for
At natural speed these words change shape. Tap one to hear it again.
- listen for "dow-nour": the final n in "down" joins the start of "our".
Listen for
At natural speed these words change shape. Tap one to hear it again.
- listen for "dow-nour": the final n in "down" joins the start of "our".
Listening 2 of 4
Listen, then type what you hear. Replay as often as you need.
0:00
- Marcus narrowed the list down after checking his work timetable.
- The hiring panel narrowed down the candidate search to three finalists.
Read the transcript
We have eight courses, so let us narrow them down.
The pronoun 'them' must sit between 'narrow' and 'down', and numbers can be written as words or digits.
Listen for
At natural speed these words change shape. Tap one to hear it again.
- The last sound of the first word runs straight into the next word.
- listen for "eigh(t) courses": the t in "eight" may be hard to hear before "courses".
Listen for
At natural speed these words change shape. Tap one to hear it again.
- The last sound of the first word runs straight into the next word.
Listen for
At natural speed these words change shape. Tap one to hear it again.
- The last sound of the first word runs straight into the next word.
Try a longer clip. Listen once, then replay the part you missed.
Listening 3 of 4
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0:00
- Marcus narrowed the list down after checking his work timetable.
- The hiring panel narrowed down the candidate search to three finalists.
Read the transcript
Yesterday our group narrowed down eight class options to two. Everyone chose Tuesday or Friday because our schedules are completely open.
'Yesterday' signals the past tense 'narrowed down', where the starting number is eight and the result is two.
Listen for
At natural speed these words change shape. Tap one to hear it again.
- The last sound of the first word runs straight into the next word.
- The last sound of the first word runs straight into the next word.
- listen for "narrowe(d) down": the two d sounds meet, so the past ending may be hard to hear.
Listen for
At natural speed these words change shape. Tap one to hear it again.
- The last sound of the first word runs straight into the next word.
- The last sound of the first word runs straight into the next word.
- The last sound of the first word runs straight into the next word.
Listen for
At natural speed these words change shape. Tap one to hear it again.
- The last sound of the first word runs straight into the next word.
- The last sound of the first word runs straight into the next word.
- The last sound of the first word runs straight into the next word.
This clip is longer. Follow the instruction above the answer field.
Listening 4 of 4
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0:00
- Marcus narrowed the list down after checking his work timetable.
- The hiring panel narrowed down the candidate search to three finalists.
Read the transcript
Elena looked at several cooking classes online this morning. She began with seven choices, though five took place on busy workdays. That helped Elena narrow down our options to two weekend workshops. Now we can compare class prices together and choose one before Friday.
The speaker describes starting with seven choices and using 'to two' to state the final number of remaining weekend workshops.
Listen for
At natural speed these words change shape. Tap one to hear it again.
- The last sound of the first word runs straight into the next word.
- The last sound of the first word runs straight into the next word.
- The last sound of the first word runs straight into the next word.
Listen for
At natural speed these words change shape. Tap one to hear it again.
- The last sound of the first word runs straight into the next word.
- The last sound of the first word runs straight into the next word.
- The last sound of the first word runs straight into the next word.
Listen for
At natural speed these words change shape. Tap one to hear it again.
- The last sound of the first word runs straight into the next word.
- The last sound of the first word runs straight into the next word.
- The last sound of the first word runs straight into the next word.
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Can you narrow down our choices before tomorrow?
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Your turn
Say it your way
Your friend lost a backpack at school. Speak for 30 to 60 seconds from memory about how you help narrow down the places to search. Start with ten possible places and explain how you reduce the list to three.
Use: narrow down narrowed down narrow them down
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My friend lost her backpack at school, so I helped her narrow down the places to search. We started with ten possible places. I asked her where she went after lunch. She remembered having the bag in her afternoon class, so we narrowed down the list to five places. To narrow them down further, we asked two classmates if they had seen it. Their answers left us with three places: the library, the gym, and the science room. We decided to check the library first because she had studied there before going home.
Try once more and answer this: Which place would you check first?
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