Mastering the Word 'Difficulty': Common English Expressions and Usage

Do you ever catch yourself struggling with certain English words? You know, those words that seem pretty simple but somehow don’t pop into your head when you need them? One word that often trips up many English learners is "difficulty." Even though it's used all the time by native speakers, non-native speakers often hesitate to use it in everyday conversation.

Today, let’s take a deep dive into how you can start using "difficulty" more naturally in your speech. We’ll look at some practical examples, explore common expressions, and talk about the mistakes people often make with this word. By the end of this post, you'll feel more confident and comfortable using "difficulty" like a pro!

                                                  Difficulty breathing

How to Pronounce "Difficulty"

Let's start with pronunciation. The word "difficulty" is pronounced without rolling the 'r' sound:

• Difficulty /ˈdɪfɪkəlti/

Practice saying it several times to become comfortable with the pronunciation.

Common Expressions with "Difficulty" 

1. Have Difficulty (in) Doing Something

This is one of the most common ways to use "difficulty." It refers to struggling with or facing challenges when performing a specific action. The phrase "have difficulty" is often followed by a verb in its gerund form (verb + ing), which describes an ongoing action that is difficult for someone to carry out.

Structure: have difficulty (in) + gerund (verb + ing)

Examples:

• "I have difficulty waking up early." (This means that waking up early is a challenge for me, and I find it hard to do.)

• "She had difficulty finding a job." (She faced challenges when trying to find employment.)

When to use it: You can use this expression when talking about personal struggles with specific actions or activities. It’s a great way to express that something doesn’t come easily to you, without sounding too negative or harsh. For instance, it’s common to say "I have difficulty understanding this topic" or "He had difficulty learning the new software."

2. With Difficulty

This phrase indicates that an action was completed, but it took a lot of effort, struggle, or hardship to do so. It focuses on the difficulty faced during the action rather than the person or subject itself.

Structure: with difficulty / with great difficulty

Examples:

• "He walked with difficulty after the accident." (He was able to walk, but it was painful and challenging for him due to the accident.)

• "She spoke with great difficulty because of her sore throat." (She managed to speak, but it was a struggle because her throat hurt.)

When to use it: This phrase is particularly useful when describing how someone completed an action despite facing great challenges. It can describe both physical and mental struggles, such as "She managed to finish the race with difficulty" or "He passed the exam with great difficulty."

3. Difficulties (Plural Form)

The plural form "difficulties" is used when talking about multiple challenges or obstacles. It often implies a series of struggles, issues, or problems that arise in a specific context.

Examples:

• "We faced many difficulties during the trip." (We encountered numerous problems or challenges while traveling.)

• "Despite all the difficulties, they succeeded." (They overcame multiple challenges and still managed to achieve their goal.)

When to use it: Use "difficulties" when you’re referring to a variety of problems, challenges, or struggles in a particular situation. For example, you might say, "She faced many difficulties in her career" or "They overcame several difficulties to finish the project."

4. Common Phrases with "Difficulties"

There are several fixed expressions that include "difficulties" to describe specific types of challenges, often in specialized contexts. 

Financial Difficulties

This refers to challenges related to money, such as struggling to meet financial obligations, paying bills, or other economic hardships.

Examples:

• "We're having financial difficulties." (We’re experiencing money problems, and it’s affecting our ability to manage expenses.)

• "Are you okay financially?" "No, we're having some financial difficulties." (This implies a more serious issue with finances, like struggling to make ends meet.)

Technical Difficulties

This is often used when technology, equipment, or systems aren’t functioning properly. It’s common in settings involving computers, machinery, or electronics.

Examples:

• "The YouTube streaming is not working. We're having some technical difficulties." (This means there is a technical problem causing the streaming issue.)

• "The presentation will be delayed due to technical difficulties." (Here, "technical difficulties" refers to problems with the equipment or technology, which is delaying the presentation.)
  
  When to use it: Both of these phrases are frequently used in specific professional or everyday contexts. "Financial difficulties" is used in situations relating to money, while "technical difficulties" applies when discussing problems with equipment or systems.
  
  

5. Difficulty Level

his phrase is used to describe the level of challenge involved in something, especially when evaluating the difficulty of tasks like games, exams, or activities. It’s often used to indicate how hard something is and helps set expectations for effort or skill required.

Example:

• "What’s the difficulty level of this game?" (This is asking how challenging the game is. The person is curious about the skill needed to succeed in the game.)

When to use it: You’ll use this expression when you need to assess or describe the challenge level of a task or activity. For example, when talking about a job or a project, you might say, "What’s the difficulty level of this assignment?" Or when trying a new game, "The difficulty level seems really high, I’m going to need some practice!"

Common Mistakes:

1. Mistake: "I have difficulty to wake up early."

   • Correction: "I have difficulty waking up early."

   • Explanation: When using "difficulty" followed by a verb, always use the gerund form (verb + ing), not the infinitive (to + verb).

2. Mistake: "She had difficulties to find a job."

   • Correction: "She had difficulties finding a job."

   • Explanation: Similar to the first mistake, "difficulties" should be followed by a gerund, not the infinitive.

3. Mistake: "He spoke with difficultyly."

   • Correction: "He spoke with difficulty."

   • Explanation: "Difficulty" is a noun, so there’s no need to add "ly" at the end. "Difficulty" is already used to indicate the struggle in performing the action.

4. Mistake: "I have difficulty with to understand this topic."

   • Correction: "I have difficulty understanding this topic."

   • Explanation: After "difficulty with," use the gerund form (verb + ing) to express ongoing struggles with an activity.

5. Mistake: "She is facing many difficulties to get the report done."

   • Correction: "She is facing many difficulties getting the report done."

   • Explanation: "Difficulties" should be followed by the gerund form, not the infinitive verb.

6. Mistake: "He passed the exam with difficultyly."

   • Correction: "He passed the exam with difficulty."

   • Explanation: "Difficulty" is a noun, so adding "ly" to it is incorrect. The correct form is "with difficulty."

7. Mistake: "We are facing financial difficulty to make ends meet."

   • Correction: "We are facing financial difficulties making ends meet."

   • Explanation: Use the plural form "difficulties" to indicate multiple financial challenges.

8. Mistake: "The game is with difficulty to play."

   • Correction: "The game is difficult to play."

   • Explanation: The correct structure is "difficult to" when describing something that is hard to do.

9. Mistake: "I have difficulty with to find the answer."

   • Correction: "I have difficulty with finding the answer."

   • Explanation: After "difficulty with," use the gerund form (verb + ing).

10. Mistake: "He walked with great difficult."

• Correction: "He walked with great difficulty."

• Explanation: The correct noun form is "difficulty," not "difficult."

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Quiz:

1. Which sentence is correct?

   • A) I have difficulty to understand the lesson.

   • B) I have difficulty understanding the lesson.

   • Answer: B

2. What is the correct way to express "having trouble with something"?

   • A) He faced difficulty running the race.

   • B) He faced difficulty to run the race.

   • Answer: A

3. How do you say "something is hard to do" using "difficulty"?

   • A) The exam is with difficulty.

   • B) The exam is difficult.

   • Answer: B

4. Which is the correct phrase?

   • A) We are facing financial difficulty.

   • B) We are facing financial difficulties.

   • Answer: B

5. How would you express that someone struggled to finish something?

   • A) She finished the project with difficulty.

   • B) She finished the project with difficult.

   • Answer: A

6. What is the correct structure after "have difficulty"?

   • A) Have difficulty with to + verb.

   • B) Have difficulty + verb-ing.

   • Answer: B

7. Which is the correct sentence?

   • A) He spoke with difficultyly.

   • B) He spoke with difficulty.

   • Answer: B

8. Choose the correct form:

   • A) He is facing many difficulties finding a solution.

   • B) He is facing many difficulty finding a solution.

   • Answer: A

9. How do you describe a difficult action in progress?

   • A) I had difficulty finding the keys.

   • B) I have difficulty finding the keys.

   • Answer: B

10. Which of these is correct?

    • A) I have difficulty in to write the essay.

    • B) I have difficulty writing the essay.

    • Answer: B

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FAQ:

1. Q: What is the difference between "difficulty" and "difficulties"?

   • A: "Difficulty" refers to a single challenge or problem, while "difficulties" refers to multiple challenges or problems. For example, "She faced difficulty completing the task" vs. "She faced many difficulties during the project."

2. Q: When should I use "have difficulty" and when should I use "with difficulty"?

   • A: Use "have difficulty" to talk about an ongoing struggle with an action (e.g., "I have difficulty waking up early"). Use "with difficulty" when you want to describe completing an action, but only with a lot of effort (e.g., "He walked with difficulty after the surgery").

3. Q: Can "difficulty" be used with adjectives like "great" or "minor"?

   • A: Yes, "difficulty" can be used with adjectives like "great" to emphasize the extent of the challenge (e.g., "He passed the test with great difficulty"). "Minor difficulties" can describe smaller or less significant struggles.

4. Q: What is the correct form: "difficulty finding" or "difficulty to find"?

   • A: The correct form is "difficulty finding." When using "difficulty," always follow it with a gerund (verb + ing), not the infinitive.

5. Q: Is it incorrect to say "He passed the test with difficultyly"?

   • A: Yes, it's incorrect. "Difficulty" is a noun, and there’s no need to add "ly." The correct sentence is "He passed the test with difficulty."

6. Q: Can "difficulty" be used in both formal and informal contexts?

   • A: Yes, "difficulty" can be used in both formal and informal contexts, though the tone and situation may affect how it’s used. For example, in a formal setting, "financial difficulties" is common, while "I have difficulty understanding this" is widely used in both contexts.

7. Q: How do I use "difficulties" in a sentence related to work?

   • A: "We encountered several difficulties while completing the project." This phrase indicates challenges faced during a task or process.

8. Q: Can "difficulty" be used with a subject other than a person?

   • A: Yes, it can. For example, "The software has difficulty running on older computers" shows how "difficulty" can describe a situation involving things other than people.

9. Q: How do I express "struggling to do something" with "difficulty"?

   • A: Use "have difficulty" to express struggling with an action (e.g., "She has difficulty speaking in public").

10. Q: Can "difficulties" be used to refer to emotional struggles?

    • A: Yes, "difficulties" can also refer to emotional or mental struggles (e.g., "He is having emotional difficulties coping with the situation")

Real-Life Application

Imagine you’re at work, and your boss asks you how your project is progressing. You can say:

• "We’re having difficulty finalizing the report," to explain that there are some obstacles preventing the completion of the task.

Later, if you’re at home and your friend asks how you’re feeling after a long day of work, you might say:

• "I walked home with difficulty because I was so tired," indicating that although you completed the action, it took a lot of effort due to your exhaustion.

These are real-world scenarios where the word difficulty and its variations help you express challenges effectively, whether they’re related to work, emotions, or physical actions!

Conclusion

The word "difficulty" is pretty versatile and comes up often in English. By adding it to your vocabulary with these different phrases, you'll sound more natural and be able to talk about challenges more clearly.

Keep in mind that learning vocabulary isn’t just about understanding what words mean, but also about feeling confident using them in different situations and sentences.

So, practice these expressions regularly, and soon you’ll be using "difficulty" without any difficulty at all!