Verbe à particule
Narrow Down 3
What does 'narrow down' mean?
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.
À retenir
- 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.
Cette leçon comporte 5 étapes. Vous pouvez vous arrêter à tout moment et reprendre plus tard.
Étape 1 sur 5
Comprendre
Comprenez le sens, les situations d’emploi et les erreurs à éviter.
Exemples
We had six evening class options, but we narrowed them down to two.
Pourquoi cette forme convient : The pronoun sits between 'narrowed' and 'down', while 'from' and 'to' explain the starting and remaining quantities.
2 autres exemples
-
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.
-
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.
Lire le guide complet
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.
-
We have five good ideas, but we need to narrow them down.
Pourquoi cette forme convient : The speaker wants to reduce the list of five ideas to a smaller number.
-
The police hope to narrow down the search to two neighborhoods.
Pourquoi cette forme convient : The search area is being reduced from many neighborhoods to just two.
-
Our manager narrowed down the list of candidates to three people.
Pourquoi cette forme convient : Three candidates still remain on the list; the final person has not been hired yet.
À vous
What happens when you narrow down a list of possibilities?
Réponse : You remove less suitable options so that a smaller group remains to evaluate.
Voir la réponse
Réponse : 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.
-
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?
Pourquoi cette forme convient : Marcus suggests using free evenings as a criterion to reduce the class list.
-
Elena: Yes, four classes meet on Mondays, so I narrowed the list down to cooking and photography.
Pourquoi cette forme convient : Elena removed four options, leaving two classes to choose between.
-
Marcus: Great, now we only need to compare two schedules instead of six.
Pourquoi cette forme convient : The decision is easier because only two options remain on the shortlist.
Vous retrouverez aussi cette expression dans Come down with et Unusual names.
À vous
Why did Elena remove four classes from her original list of six?
Réponse : They met on days when she was busy with work.
Voir la réponse
Réponse : 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.
-
We can narrow down our choices before lunch.
Pourquoi cette forme convient : The full noun phrase 'our choices' comes after the complete phrasal verb.
-
We can narrow our choices down before lunch.
Pourquoi cette forme convient : The full noun phrase sits between 'narrow' and 'down'.
-
Six classes look fun, but I must narrow them down.
Pourquoi cette forme convient : The pronoun 'them' must sit between 'narrow' and 'down'.
À vous
Which sentence places the object pronoun in the correct position?
Réponse : I found ten rental apartments and narrowed them down yesterday.
Voir la réponse
Réponse : 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'.
-
The committee narrowed the list from eight candidates to three.
Pourquoi cette forme convient : 'From eight' shows the starting total, while 'to three' shows the number remaining.
-
We narrowed our holiday destinations down to two cities.
Pourquoi cette forme convient : 'To two' tells the listener that exactly two cities are still being considered.
-
They removed two options from the menu, leaving four.
Pourquoi cette forme convient : Using the verb 'remove' is clearer than saying 'narrowed down by two'.
À vous
What does the sentence 'We narrowed the group from ten applicants to four' mean?
Réponse : The team started with ten applicants, and four candidates still remain.
Voir la réponse
Réponse : 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'.
-
She narrowed her vacation choices down to two beach towns.
Pourquoi cette forme convient : Past simple adds -ed to narrow without doubling the letter w.
-
Did you narrow the options down before the meeting?
Pourquoi cette forme convient : After the auxiliary 'did', the verb returns to its base form 'narrow'.
-
We didn't narrow it down because we needed more information.
Pourquoi cette forme convient : The negative auxiliary 'didn't' pairs with the base form 'narrow'.
À vous
Which sentence correctly uses narrow in a past negative statement?
Réponse : We didn't narrow it down because three choices were still open.
Voir la réponse
Réponse : 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
Put personal object pronouns between narrow and down: 'narrow them down', not 'narrow down them'. Narrowing down removes options so fewer remain. It may leave a shortlist or a single choice, so the phrase does not always mean the final decision has been made. It describes reducing options rather than making an object physically thinner.
-
I have four good job offers, and I need to narrow them down.
Pourquoi cette forme convient : Correct pronoun order: 'them' sits directly between 'narrow' and 'down'.
-
We narrowed the proposals down to two, but we have not chosen the winner yet.
Pourquoi cette forme convient : Shows that narrowing down reduces options before the final decision is made.
-
The road narrows near the bridge.
Pourquoi cette forme convient : Here 'narrow' is a standard verb meaning to become physically less wide, not a phrasal verb.
À vous
Why is 'We narrowed down them to two' incorrect in English?
Réponse : Object pronouns must appear between the verb and 'down', not after 'down'.
Voir la réponse
Réponse : 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.
-
Yesterday Marcus narrowed down our options from five to two.
Pourquoi cette forme convient : The time word 'Yesterday' signals the past tense even if the /d/ sounds blend together.
-
Tomorrow we will narrow down the list before our call.
Pourquoi cette forme convient : The modal 'will' and time word 'Tomorrow' make the present base form clear.
-
Can you narrow them down before Friday?
Pourquoi cette forme convient : The modal 'can' requires the base form, and 'them' separates the verb from 'down'.
À vous
How can you best tell whether a speaker said 'narrow down' or 'narrowed down' in fast speech?
Réponse : Listen for time words like 'yesterday' and helping verbs like 'will' or 'did'.
Voir la réponse
Réponse : 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.
-
I started with six laptops, but I narrowed them down to two models with good battery life.
Pourquoi cette forme convient : Demonstrates correct pronoun placement, starting number, and final number.
-
Our team narrowed the venue list down to two halls near the subway.
Pourquoi cette forme convient : Demonstrates noun placement with 'down' at the end and clear selection criteria.
-
We have narrowed it down to two choices, and we will decide tomorrow.
Pourquoi cette forme convient : Shows that narrowing down leaves two options before the final selection.
À vous
Which sentence accurately expresses reducing a list of choices while using correct word order?
Réponse : I started with five hotels and narrowed them down from five to two.
Voir la réponse
Réponse : 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.
Un emploi naturel
Comment utiliser « narrow down »
Courant Convient à la plupart des situations, au travail comme entre amis.
Les mots souvent associés
- 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.
D’autres façons de le dire
- « We narrowed the list down to three. » plutôt que « We reduced the number of items on the list to three. » This is a shorter, natural way to describe reducing a list.
Vos questions sur « 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?
Avant de terminer
À retenir
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.
Étape 2 sur 5
Écouter
Écoutez des phrases, des plus courtes aux plus longues, et écrivez les mots entendus.
0 sur 4 terminés
Écoute 1 sur 4
Écoutez, puis écrivez ce que vous entendez. Réécoutez autant de fois que nécessaire.
0:00
- Marcus narrowed the list down after checking his work timetable.
- The hiring panel narrowed down the candidate search to three finalists.
Écoute 2 sur 4
Écoutez, puis écrivez ce que vous entendez. Réécoutez autant de fois que nécessaire.
0:00
- Marcus narrowed the list down after checking his work timetable.
- The hiring panel narrowed down the candidate search to three finalists.
Essayez un extrait plus long. Écoutez-le une fois, puis reprenez le passage qui vous a échappé.
Écoute 3 sur 4
Écoutez, puis écrivez ce que vous entendez. Réécoutez autant de fois que nécessaire.
0:00
- Marcus narrowed the list down after checking his work timetable.
- The hiring panel narrowed down the candidate search to three finalists.
Cet extrait est plus long. Suivez la consigne au-dessus du champ de réponse.
Écoute 4 sur 4
Écoutez, puis complétez les mots manquants. Le reste du texte est déjà affiché.
0:00
- Marcus narrowed the list down after checking his work timetable.
- The hiring panel narrowed down the candidate search to three finalists.
Entraînement terminé
Votre séance d’écoute est terminée.
Votre résultat est enregistré dans ce navigateur.
Conserver votre progression. Votre pratique est enregistrée uniquement sur cet appareil. Créez un compte gratuit pour la retrouver partout.
Créer un compte gratuitVous avez terminé la leçon gratuite du jour. Vous pourrez en choisir une autre demain. Vous souhaitez poursuivre aujourd’hui ? Consultez les abonnements.
Créez un compte SubLearn gratuit pour retrouver votre progression sur vos autres appareils.
Enregistrer ma progressionÉtape 3 sur 5
Parler
Répétez en même temps que l’enregistrement, puis réutilisez ce que vous avez appris dans votre propre réponse.
Répétition simultanée
Parlez en même temps que la voix
Écoutez la phrase au ralenti, puis parlez en même temps que la voix. Reproduisez aussi le rythme, pas seulement les mots.
À vous de parler
Exprimez-vous avec vos mots
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.
À utiliser : narrow down narrowed down narrow them down
Réfléchissez dix secondes, puis répondez à voix haute pendant la durée indiquée ci-dessus, sans regarder la leçon. Rien n’est envoyé tant que vous ne demandez pas de retour.
0:00
Écouter une autre façon de répondre
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.
Réessayez en répondant à cette question : Which place would you check first?
Étape 4 sur 5
Écrire
Rédigez votre propre réponse
Retour de l’IA · des erreurs sont possibles · Inclus dans l’abonnement Voir l’abonnement
Relisez votre texte
Lire une réponse possible
Brouillon enregistré sur cet appareil.
Appuyez-vous sur ces points pour améliorer votre message. La grammaire et le sens ne sont pas évalués automatiquement. Chaque consigne conserve son propre brouillon dans cet onglet.
Vous avez terminé la partie gratuite de cette leçon
- Comprendre
- Écouter
- Parler
- Écrire
- Faire le pointInclus dans l’abonnement
À reprendre
Avec un compte gratuit, les leçons terminées reviennent en révision pour vous aider à les retenir.Créer un compte gratuit
Étape 5 sur 5 · Inclus dans l’abonnement
Faire le point
Essayez de nouveaux extraits sans indice.
Les tests d’écoute sont inclus dans l’abonnement. Essayez d’abord la dictée gratuite pour décider si vous souhaitez continuer.
Écoute 1 sur 2 Inclus dans l’abonnement
Écoute 2 sur 2 Inclus dans l’abonnement
Suivre MicroEnglish
Retrouvez des leçons, de courtes vidéos et des quiz sur l’application que vous utilisez déjà.
Questions et commentaires
Posez une question sur la leçon, proposez un exemple ou aidez une autre personne à comprendre.
Exemple
Pour retenir ce mot
Mots souvent associés
Formes de la même famille
À ne pas confondre avec
Dans cette leçon
Ce mot ne figure pas dans notre dictionnaire. Vérifiez son orthographe ou essayez une autre forme du mot.
Ce mot n’a pas pu être chargé. Réessayez.
