visit a relative

Meaning

This phrase means to go and spend time with a family member, such as an aunt, uncle, cousin, or grandparent. It is a warm, neutral expression used to describe family gatherings or casual trips to see family. It can refer to a short afternoon visit or a longer journey.

Examples

• We plan to visit a relative in Chicago over the Thanksgiving weekend.

  We plan to visit a relative in Chicago over the Thanksgiving weekend.

• It's always nice to visit a relative you haven't seen in years.

  It's always nice to visit a relative you haven't seen in years.

• She went to the hospital to visit a relative who was recovering from surgery.

  She went to the hospital to visit a relative who was recovering from surgery.

• Do you have time to visit a relative while you are in town?

  Do you have time to visit a relative while you are in town?

• They decided to visit a relative instead of staying at a hotel.

  They decided to visit a relative instead of staying at a hotel.

Common Mistakes

• ✗ I'm going to visit to a relative.

  ✓ I'm going to visit a relative.

  The verb 'visit' is transitive and does not take the preposition 'to' before the direct object.

• ✗ We will visit a relation this weekend.

  ✓ We will visit a relative this weekend.

  While 'relation' can mean a family member, 'relative' is much more natural and common in modern conversational English.

Related Expressions

Practice

• Every summer, we travel to the countryside to ___.

  💡 Go see a family member.

  Show answer

  visit a relative

• She needs to take a day off work to ___ in the hospital.

  💡 Go see a family member who is sick.

  Show answer

  visit a relative