Ideals are like your personal rulebook for what's good and right.
They are the strong beliefs and values that you think are perfect, even if they're hard to achieve in real life.
For example, if you believe everyone should be treated fairly, then 'fairness' is one of your ideals.
These ideals help you decide how to act and what choices to make.
ideals en 30 secondes
- Perfect standards/values.
- Principles guiding behavior.
- What one strives to achieve.
§ Understanding 'ideals'
The word 'ideals' is a plural noun that refers to the perfect standards, principles, or values that a person or group believes in and strives to achieve. These are often abstract concepts that guide our decisions and actions, even if they are very difficult to fully realize in everyday life.
- Word Type
- Noun (plural)
- CEFR Level
- B1
§ Basic Usage
When using 'ideals' in a sentence, remember that it functions like any other plural noun. It can be the subject of a sentence, the object of a verb, or the object of a preposition.
Her political ideals were shaped by her experiences.
The organization strives to uphold its founding ideals.
§ Common Prepositions with 'ideals'
'Ideals' often appears with certain prepositions that help to clarify the relationship between the ideals and other elements in the sentence.
- of: This preposition is used to indicate what the ideals consist of or what they pertain to.
They spoke about their ideals of justice and equality.
- for: When using 'for', it usually suggests what the ideals are aimed at achieving or what they represent for someone or something.
He fought for his ideals throughout his life.
- with: This preposition can be used to show agreement or alignment with certain ideals.
Her actions were always consistent with her moral ideals.
- to: 'To' can be used to show devotion or adherence to ideals.
She remained true to her ideals despite adversity.
§ 'Ideals' in Different Contexts
The meaning of 'ideals' can be subtly influenced by the context in which it is used. Consider these examples:
- Personal Ideals: These are the values and principles that an individual holds dear and tries to live by.
His personal ideals of honesty and integrity guided all his decisions.
- Societal Ideals: These refer to the collective values and goals that a society or community strives to achieve.
Many people believe in the ideals of a free and democratic society.
- Artistic/Philosophical Ideals: In these contexts, 'ideals' can refer to a perfect form or concept that artists or philosophers aim to represent or understand.
The artist sought to capture the ideals of beauty and harmony in his sculptures.
§ Grammatical Notes
As a plural noun, 'ideals' will always take a plural verb. It can be modified by adjectives to describe the nature of these ideals.
Their shared ideals made them strong allies.
§ Practice Sentences
Try to create your own sentences using 'ideals' with different prepositions and in various contexts. This will help solidify your understanding and usage of the word.
- Can you think of a situation where someone's actions didn't align with their ideals?
- What ideals do you think are most important for a healthy community?
By actively using 'ideals' in your writing and speaking, you will become more comfortable and confident with this B1 level vocabulary word.
How Formal Is It?
"The institution was founded upon strong ethical principles."
"She lives her life according to a clear set of values."
"My personal beliefs really guide how I act."
"My greatest hopes are for everyone to be kind."
"His standards are way too high for anyone to meet."
Exemples par niveau
The politician spoke about the ideals of justice and equality.
A politikus az igazságosság és az egyenlőség ideáljairól beszélt.
Here, 'ideals' refers to abstract principles.
She always tried to live up to her high ideals.
Mindig igyekezett megfelelni magasztos eszményeinek.
'Live up to' means to reach a certain standard.
Many people share the ideals of peace and freedom.
Sok ember osztozik a béke és a szabadság eszményeiben.
'Share' means to have in common.
Our country was founded on strong ideals.
Országunk erős eszményekre épült.
'Founded on' means based upon.
He had very different ideals from his parents.
Nagyon más eszméi voltak, mint a szüleinek.
'Different from' is used to compare.
It's important to have ideals that you believe in.
Fontos, hogy legyenek eszméid, amikben hiszel.
'Believe in' means to have faith in something.
The ideals of a true scientist include curiosity and honesty.
Egy igazi tudós eszményei közé tartozik a kíváncsiság és az őszinteség.
'Include' means to contain as part of a whole.
They fought for their ideals of a better future.
Küzdöttek egy jobb jövő eszményeiért.
'Fought for' means to struggle to achieve something.
Collocations courantes
Phrases Courantes
live up to one's ideals
соответствовать своим идеалам
strive for ideals
стремиться к идеалам
betray one's ideals
предать свои идеалы
hold onto ideals
держаться идеалов
abandon one's ideals
отказаться от своих идеалов
question one's ideals
ставить под сомнение свои идеалы
uphold ideals
отстаивать идеалы
sacrifice one's ideals
пожертвовать своими идеалами
pursue ideals
преследовать идеалы
clash of ideals
столкновение идеалов
Comment l'utiliser
Usage Notes:
The word "ideals" is typically used in the plural form when referring to a set of principles or values. It can be used to describe personal beliefs, societal aspirations, or the guiding principles of an organization.
- Personal Ideals: "She lives by her ideals of honesty and kindness."
- Societal Ideals: "Democracy is founded on the ideals of liberty and equality."
- Organizational Ideals: "The company was established with the ideal of excellent customer service." (Note: In this specific context, "ideal" can sometimes be singular to refer to a primary guiding principle.)
It often implies a sense of aspiration and can be contrasted with reality, acknowledging that ideals might be difficult to fully achieve.
Common Mistakes:
- Confusing with "ideas": While related, "ideals" are more specific; they are ideas about what is perfect or highly desirable, rather than just any thought or concept. For example, "My ideal for a vacation is relaxing on a beach" is different from "My idea for a vacation is to visit Paris."
- Incorrect singular/plural usage: While "an ideal" can refer to a single perfect standard, when discussing a collection of guiding principles, the plural "ideals" is almost always preferred. Using "ideal" as a plural noun (e.g., "Their ideal are very high") is incorrect.
- Overuse or imprecise use: Sometimes "ideals" can be used vaguely when a more specific term might be better (e.g., "goals," "principles," "values"). Ensure you use "ideals" when you truly mean a perfect or highly desirable standard.
Teste-toi 36 questions
My parents teach me good ___.
Ideals are the good standards or principles that parents often teach their children.
We all have dreams and ___ for the future.
Ideals are like dreams and goals we want to achieve in the future.
It's important to have strong ___ to live a good life.
Strong ideals help guide us to live a good and principled life.
Kindness is one of my ___.
Kindness is a good principle or value that someone might believe in strongly.
Her ___ are to help other people.
Helping others is a good principle or standard someone might strive for.
Having good ___ makes you a better person.
Good ideals are the principles and values that help someone become a better person.
Write two sentences about something good you want to do. Use simple words.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
I want to help my mom. I want to learn English.
What is one good rule for your family? Write one simple sentence.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
My family eats dinner together.
Write a very short sentence about something you think is important for a friend to have.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
A friend is kind.
What is one good idea at the school?
Read this passage:
My school has many good ideas. One idea is to help everyone learn. Another idea is to be nice to all students. These ideas make our school a happy place.
What is one good idea at the school?
The passage says, 'One idea is to help everyone learn.'
The passage says, 'One idea is to help everyone learn.'
What is one good idea from the parents?
Read this passage:
My parents have good ideas for our family. They think it's important to be honest. They also think it's important to work hard. I try to follow these ideas.
What is one good idea from the parents?
The passage states, 'They think it's important to be honest.'
The passage states, 'They think it's important to be honest.'
What do they want for their town?
Read this passage:
We have big ideas for our town. We want it to be clean. We want happy people. We work together for these big ideas.
What do they want for their town?
The passage says, 'We want it to be clean.'
The passage says, 'We want it to be clean.'
My brother always tries to follow his good ___.
Ideals are the principles or values someone considers perfect. In this sentence, it refers to good principles that guide his actions.
It's important to have strong ___ to live a happy life.
Having strong ideals means having strong principles or values that guide your life.
The company has high ___ for its employees.
This refers to the high standards or values the company expects from its employees.
She believes in the ___ of kindness and honesty.
Kindness and honesty are values or principles that she believes are perfect or highly desirable.
It's hard to always live up to your own ___.
Living up to your ideals means trying to meet the high standards or principles you set for yourself.
Many people share the same ___ of peace and freedom.
Peace and freedom are values or principles that many people consider highly desirable.
Write a short sentence about something you think is a good idea for everyone to follow.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
It is a good idea for everyone to be kind.
Think about a hero. What is one good thing they believe in?
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
My hero believes in helping people.
What is one rule that makes your school or home a better place?
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
A rule that makes my home better is to always clean up.
What is important to Maria?
Read this passage:
Maria believes in being honest. She always tells the truth, even when it is difficult. Her friends know they can trust her. Honesty is an important ideal for Maria.
What is important to Maria?
The passage says, 'Honesty is an important ideal for Maria.'
The passage says, 'Honesty is an important ideal for Maria.'
What does Tom want to be?
Read this passage:
Tom wants to be a good student. He studies hard every day and always finishes his homework. He thinks it is important to learn new things. Being a good student is his ideal.
What does Tom want to be?
The passage states, 'Tom wants to be a good student.'
The passage states, 'Tom wants to be a good student.'
What is the club's main ideal?
Read this passage:
Our club has a simple ideal: help others. We collect food for people who need it and clean up the park. We believe that helping makes our town better.
What is the club's main ideal?
The passage clearly says, 'Our club has a simple ideal: help others.'
The passage clearly says, 'Our club has a simple ideal: help others.'
This sentence structure clearly communicates how societal advancement is motivated by the aspiration to achieve its core values.
This sentence emphasizes resilience and dedication to one's core principles even when faced with difficulties.
This sentence highlights the fundamental principles that form the basis of an organization.
Which of the following best reflects the 'ideals' of a truly democratic society?
Democratic ideals are foundational principles that guide such societies towards fairness and freedom for all citizens.
Despite facing numerous setbacks, her unwavering commitment to her artistic 'ideals' propelled her to continue creating revolutionary works. What does 'ideals' signify in this context?
Artistic ideals represent the core principles and vision an artist holds for their craft, often driving their creative endeavors.
The company's mission statement outlined its core 'ideals', emphasizing sustainability, ethical production, and community engagement. Which option is a synonym for 'ideals' in this sentence?
In this context, 'ideals' refers to the fundamental principles or values that guide the company's operations and ethos.
If a person lives by high 'ideals', it means they are constantly compromising their values for convenience.
Living by high ideals implies a strong adherence to one's principles, not a willingness to compromise them. It suggests striving for excellence and consistency in one's values.
The 'ideals' of a scientific community often include objectivity, empirical evidence, and peer review.
These are indeed fundamental principles that guide scientific inquiry and ensure its integrity and reliability.
A nation's 'ideals' are typically easy to achieve in practice and require no significant effort.
Ideals, by their nature, often represent aspirational goals that are challenging to fully realize in practice and require continuous effort and commitment.
/ 36 correct
Perfect score!
Summary
Ideals are perfect standards or values that guide behavior and decisions.
- Perfect standards/values.
- Principles guiding behavior.
- What one strives to achieve.
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