Grammar fix
school friend
classmate
someone you became friends with while you were both students at the same school.
collocationB1common
Hear it in context
Notice where the phrase sounds natural.
I met my oldest school friend when we were both in Year 7.
One of my closest school friends still lives in my hometown, so we meet up whenever I visit.
Fix the pattern
One small grammar move makes it sound right.
Not: She's my friend of school.
Say: She's a school friend of mine. / a friend from school.
Say 'a friend from school' or 'a school friend', not 'friend of school'.
Which sounds natural?
Tap the one a native speaker would say.
'School friend' is plain and warm; 'associate from my educational years' is cold.
Build natural chunks
Words that usually travel with it.
school friend + context
- an old school friend
- a friend from school
- school friends
- best friend at school