attend a conference

Meaning

This collocation means to go to or participate in a formal meeting of people who share a common interest, industry, or profession. It is typically used for large-scale professional development events, networking seminars, or annual industry gatherings.

Examples

• Several members of our sales team will attend a conference in Chicago next month.

  Several members of our sales team will attend a conference in Chicago next month.

• I had the opportunity to attend a conference on artificial intelligence last year.

  I had the opportunity to attend a conference on artificial intelligence last year.

• Are you planning to attend the annual marketing conference this fall?

  Are you planning to attend the annual marketing conference this fall?

• She was invited to attend a conference as a guest speaker.

  She was invited to attend a conference as a guest speaker.

• Our company budget allows each employee to attend one conference per year.

  Our company budget allows each employee to attend one conference per year.

Common Mistakes

• ✗ I will assist to a conference next week.

  ✓ I will attend a conference next week.

  'Assist' means to help, while 'attend' means to go to or be present at. Avoid this false friend.

• ✗ He is going to attend at a conference.

  ✓ He is going to attend a conference.

  'Attend' is a transitive verb in this context and does not require a preposition like 'at' or 'to'.

Related Expressions

Practice

• Our department head wants us to ___ on cybersecurity trends next month.

  💡 To go to a large professional event.

  Show answer

  attend a conference

• It is a great networking opportunity to ___ in your industry.

  💡 To go to a formal gathering of industry professionals.

  Show answer

  attend a conference