When you need this
Basketball travels well. All you need is a ball and a hoop, so you'll find courts in parks in New York, on rooftops in Shanghai, and behind schools in Manila. It's also one of the most-watched sports in the world, which means it comes up at work, on campus and online.
The core idea is short: two teams of five try to put the ball through the other team's basket. A normal shot is worth two points, a long shot from behind the curved line is a three, and a free throw after a foul is worth one. You move the ball by dribbling it or passing it, never by carrying it.
Americans use two verbs for playing casually. Shoot hoops means practicing shots alone or with a friend. Play ball is more general and more relaxed, and you'll hear it in movies all the time.
Phrases
practice shooting at a basket, usually for fun
the ring and net you shoot through
an attempt to score
score, or fail to score
a shot from behind the three-point line
a free shot after a foul, worth one point
bounce the ball while you move
throw the ball to a teammate
illegal contact with another player
one of four parts of a professional game
the floor where the game is played
jump and push the ball down through the hoop
Say it out loud
Tap a sentence to hear it. Say it after the voice.
Practice · 3 min
Say one natural line for each situation.
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
Say it today
Use it once in a real conversation before tomorrow. Out loud counts, even to yourself.