classified ads

Meaning

1. 1nounusually plural

   Short, low-cost notices in a newspaper or website, grouped by subject, offering things to sell, jobs or services.

   Grammar: Usually plural: look at the classified ads; one notice is a classified ad.

   Patterns

   • in the classified ads
   • place a classified ad

   I found my first apartment through the classified ads.

   She placed a classified ad to sell her old bicycle.

   He read the classified ads every Sunday looking for work.

Word forms

Common combinations

place a classified ad

I placed a classified ad for my piano.

browse the classified ads

Dad likes to browse the classified ads.

online classified ads

Online classified ads have replaced the newspaper pages.

answer a classified ad

She answered a classified ad for a babysitter.

local classified ads

Local classified ads list rooms for rent.

Synonyms and how they differ

small ads

Small ads is the common British term and sounds a bit more homely.

want ads

Want ads is American and focuses on notices asking for something, often jobs.

classifieds

Classifieds is the shortened form, usually the whole section rather than individual notices.

personal ads

Personal ads are notices from people seeking relationships, so they are only one kind.

Word family

classify verb

to sort into groups

classified adjective

sorted by category; also officially secret

classification noun

sorting into categories

advertisement noun

full form of ad

Commonly confused: classified ads or classified information?

Practice

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Write a sentence using “classified ads”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

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