What to Say When in English

7/31/2019 What to Say When in English

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WHAT TO SAY WHENIN ENGLISH

Complaining in English

When complaining in English, it helps to be polite. This page willhelp you with this important English speaking skill.

In a shop

You're in a shop and the assistant gives you the wrong change.

"Excuse me, I think you've given me the wrong change", or"Sorry, I think this change is wrong. I gave you $20, not $10."

In a hotel

"Excuse me, but there's a problem with the heating in my room."

"Sorry to bother you, but I think there's something wrong with theair-conditioning."

"I'm afraid I have to make a complaint. Some money has gonemissing from my hotel room."

"I'm afraid there's a slight problem with my room - the bed hasn'tbeen made."

When people apologise, they normally say "sorry" and offer to putthe situation right.

"Excuse me, but there's a problem with the heating."

"I'm sorry - I'll get someone to check it for you."

or "Sorry to hear that - I'll send someone up."



Speaking tip

Although you may find it strange to use the word sorry when youcomplain, English speakers consider it polite. It will help you getwhat you want!

Agreeing in English

"I think you're right."

"I agree with you."

Strong agreement

"I couldn't agree with you more."

"You're absolutely right."

"I agree entirely."

"I totally agree."

Partly agreeing

"I agree with you up to a point, but…"

"That's quite true, but…"

"I agree with you in principle, but…"

Disagreeing

"I'm not sure I agree with you."

"(I'm afraid) I don't agree."

"(I'm afraid) I disagree."

"(I'm afraid) I can't agree with you."

"(I'm afraid) I don't share your opinion."



Note

When you disagree with someone in English, you can often soundmore polite by using a phrase such as "I'm afraid…"

Disagreeing strongly

"I don't agree at all."

"I totally disagree."

"I couldn't agree with you less."

English greetings

First impressions are important, so here's a guide to using theright expression.

Greetings

Two friends meeting

Friends often say "Hi" to each other. Then they often ask ageneral question, such as "How are you?" or "How are things?" or"How's life?"

The reply to this question is normally positive.

"Fine thanks, and you?"

"Fine thanks, what about yourself?"

"Not bad." Or "Can't complain."

Greeting people you don't know

You can use "Hello" with people you don't know, but a moreformal greeting is "Good morning / afternoon / evening."

The other person normally replies with the same greeting as youhave used and then makes polite conversation, such as "How was

your trip?" or "Did you find our office easily?"



Introducing yourself

At an informal party

"Hello, I'm Maria." Or "Hello, my name's Maria."

The reply could be:

"Hi, I'm Sarah." Or "Hello Maria, I'm Sarah." Or "Nice to meet you,I'm Sarah."

At work-related events

"I'd like to introduce myself. I'm Maria, from english@home."

Or, "Let me introduce myself. I'm Maria from english@home."

The reply could be:

"Nice to meet you. I'm Peter Mitchell, from Mitchell Creations."

"Pleased to meet you. I'm Peter Mitchell, from Mitchell Creations."

"How do you do? I'm Peter Mitchell from Mitchell Creations."

Introducing other people

Introducing a friend to a work colleague

"Sarah, have you met my colleague John?"

"Sarah, I'd like you to meet my colleague John."

Sarah says:

"Pleased to meet you, John." Or "Nice to meet you, John."

John could say:

"Nice to meet you too, Sarah." Or "Hello, Sarah."

Introducing clients



"Mr Mitchell, I'd like to introduce you to my manager, HenryLewis."

Mr Mitchell could then say:

"How do you do?" and Henry Lewis also says "How do you do?"

Or Mr Mitchell could say:

"Pleased to meet you." Or "Good to meet you."

Speaking Tip

"How do you do?" is quite formal for British English speakers andthe reply to this question is to repeat the phrase, "How do youdo?" (as strange as that may sound!)

At a more informal party

When you introduce two of your friends to each other, you cansimply say, "John, this is Sarah."

Cultural considerations

At work, one person may have higher status - your boss, or aclient, for example. It's polite to address them as Mr / Ms until thesituation becomes more informal.

If someone says, "Please call me (Henry)", you know you can usefirst names. If someone uses your first name, you can use theirfirst name too.

People in European and English-speaking cultures often shake

hands when they meet someone for the first time.

* Don't forget to smile! :-)

Making appointments

Useful phrases for making and changing appointments.

Asking to meet

"Are you available on the 17th?"



"Can we meet on the 16th?"

"How does the 3rd sound to you?"

"Are you free next week?"

"Would Friday suit you?"

"Is next Tuesday convenient for you?"

"What about sometime next week?"

Agreeing on a date

"Yes, Thursday is fine."

"Thursday suits me.""Thursday would be perfect."

Suggesting a different date

"I'm afraid I can't on the 3rd. What about the 6th?"

"I'm sorry, I won't be able to make it on Monday. Could we meeton Tuesday instead?"

"Ah, Wednesday is going to be a little difficult. I'd much preferFriday, if that's alright with you."

"I really don't think I can on the 17th. Can we meet up on the19th?"

Setting a time

"What sort of time would suit you?"

"Is 3pm a good time for you?"

"If possible, I'd like to meet in the morning."

"How does 2pm sound to you?"

Changing the arrangement

"You know we were going to meet next Friday? Well, I'm verysorry, but something urgent has come up."



"I'm afraid that I'm not going to be able to meet you after all. Canwe fix another time?"

"Something has just cropped up and I won't be able tomeet you this afternoon. Can we make another time?"

Introducing people

• What's your name?• Who are you?• My name is ...• I am ...

• My friends call me ...

• You can call me ...

• Haven't we met (before)?• Yes, I think we have.• No, I don't think we have.• I think we've already met.• I don't think we've met (before).

• This is ...

• Meet ...• Have you met ...?• Yes, I have.• No, I haven't.• Yes, I think I have.• No, I don't think I have.

• Hello, ... (name)

• Nice to meet you. (informal)• Pleased to meet you.• How do you do? (formal)• Nice to see you.• Nice to see you again.

Making generalisations

English speakers often prefer to make generalisations, rather thansaying something is a fact. When you make generalisations, youwill sound less direct and sure of yourself and therefore moreopen to other people's suggestions and ideas. People will think

you're friendly!



To show that something is generally true

tend to

"I tend to agree with you."(I agree with most of what you say.)

"I tend to go to bed early in winter."(I normally go to bed early in winter.)

have a tendency to

"The English have a tendency to drink tea, not coffee."

Note: have a tendency to is used more in written than in spokenEnglish.

To show how common something is

Generally speaking

"Generally speaking, more men than women use the internet."

In most cases

"In most cases, wars are caused by land disputes."

In some cases

"In some cases, English beaches are unsafe for swimming."

In a large number of cases

"In a large number of cases, obesity is caused by over-eating."

Mostly, often, sometimes

(These words go before the main verb, or after the verb to be)

"We are mostly concerned with costs."

"They mostly go to the cinema at weekends."

"Eating chocolate sometimes causes migraines."



"He is sometimes difficult to work with."

"English people often complain about the weather."

Speaking Tip

Although you may find it strange to avoid saying exactly what youmean, being able to make generalisations is a speaking skill thatwill make you sound much more like a native English speaker.

Making invitations

How to make and accept invitations in English.

"What are you doing next Saturday? We're having some peopleover for a meal. Would you like to come?"

"Are you free next Thursday?"

"Are you doing anything next weekend?"

"Would you be interested in coming to the cinema with metonight?"

"How do you fancy going out for a meal at the weekend?"

Accepting

"Would you like to…"

"I'd love to, thanks."

"That's very kind of you, thanks."

"That sounds lovely, thanks."

Do you fancy coming to the cinema tonight?

"What a great idea, thanks."

Declining

"Would you like to come over for dinner on Saturday?"



"That's very kind of you, but actually I'm doing something else onSaturday."

"Well, I'd love to, but I'm already going out to the cinema."

"I'm really sorry, but I've got something else on."

"I really don't think I can - I'm supposed to be doing somethingelse."

Speaking Tip

It's important to be polite when you decline an invitation. Wenormally give a reason why we can't do something and either

apologise, or use words like "actually" or "really".

Making offers

English speakers make offers all the time in conversation.

They say things like:

Can I… ?Shall I… ?Would you like me to… ?

Using these common English phrases - and being able to acceptand reject offers - will make you sound polite and helpful.

"Can I help you?"

"Shall I open the window for you?"

"Would you like another coffee?"

"Would you like me to answer the phone?"

"I'll do the photocopying, if you like."

Shall, can and will are followed by the verb without to.

Shall is more formal than can. Would you like… is followedeither by a noun, or by the verb with to.



Responding to offers

These English dialogues show you ways to accept or reject offersmade to you.

"Can I help you?""Yes please. I'd like to know what time the train leaves."

"Can I help you?""No thanks, I'm just looking." (In a shop.)

"Shall I open the window for you?""Yes please. That would be very kind of you."

"Would you like another coffee?""No thanks." Or, "No thank you."

"Would you like another coffee?""Yes please, that would be lovely." Or, "Yes please, I'd loveone."

"Would you like me to answer the phone?""If you wouldn't mind." Or, "If you could."(Don't answer "Yes, I would", as this sounds like you expectsomeone to do it for you.)

"I'll do the photocopying, if you like.""It's OK, I can do it." Or, "Don't worry, I'll do it.

"Or, "Thank you, that would be great."

English speaking tip

With a little practice, you'll find it easy to use these Englishexpressions. They'll help you sound both natural and confident.

Making predictions

When we want to say what we think will happen in the future inEnglish, we can either use will followed by the verb without to, or

going to followed by the verb.

"What do you think will happen next year?"

"Next week is going to be very busy, I think."



"There won't be a rise in house prices next year."

"He isn't going to win the election."

Because we also use will to talk about intentions and strong

decisions, we often use going to to sound less emotional.

"He won't help us" can mean that he has decided not to help us.But "He isn't going to help us" doesn't have this negativeimplication. It sounds more like a prediction and a simple, non-emotional fact- perhaps he isn't able to help us.

Predictions based on what you know now

We can make predictions based on what we can see now. To dothis, we use going to and the verb (not will).

For example:

"Watch out! You're going to hit that car in front."

"It's going to be a lovely day today - not a cloud in the sky."

Making requests

When you ask someone to do something for you, or ask if you cando something, it's important to sound polite. Here are some of thecommon ways that you can do this.

Asking someone to do something for you

"Could you open the door for me, please?"

"Would you mind opening the door for me, please?"

"Can you open the door for me, please?'

Speaking tip: could and can are followed by the verb withoutto. Would you mind is followed by the verb and -ing.

Asking if you can do something

"Can I use your computer, please?"



"Could I borrow some money from you, please?"

"Do you mind if I turn up the heating?"

"Would you mind if I turned up the heating?"

Speaking tip: Could is more polite that can.

Do you mind if…" is followed by the verb in the present tense,but would you mind if… is followed by the verb in the pasttense.

When you're using these two sentences, don't use please. It'salready polite enough!

Speaking about hopes in English

There are a number of expressions you can use to show yourhopes and preferences.

Hopes

I'm hoping for (noun) ("I'm hoping for a new cell phone.")

I'm hoping to get… ("I'm hoping to get a new phone.")

I would like…

I really want… (Using "want" can be impolite unless you aretalking to a close friend or family member.)

Something I've always wanted is…

I'd be delighted / over the moon if… ("I'd be delighted if you gaveme a new watch.")

What I'd like more than anything else is…

On my Christmas wish list is…

Preferences

I'd rather have (noun) ("I'd rather have tickets to the opera.")

I'd rather you (simple past) ("I'd rather you saved your money.")



I'd prefer (noun) ("I'd prefer some money for the new house.")

I'd prefer it if you (simple past) ("I'd prefer it if you gave somemoney to charity.")

….. would be more suitable / would be better

If I had a choice, I would go for…

If it's all the same to you, …. ("If it's all the same to you, I'd likesome book tokens.")

Suggestions in English

The following English words and expressions are all used to makesuggestions and give advice to people.

should

"You should try to practise English.""You shouldn't translate too much."

Why don't you

"Why don't you join an English club?"

ought to

"You ought to read more."

If I were you, I'd…

"If I were you, I'd watch more television."

*All these expressions are followed by a verb, without to. Forexample: "He should visit the Eiffel Tower." (Not "he should tovisit the Eiffel Tower.")

suggest and recommend

Either use a verb + ing"I suggest visiting the Eiffel Tower." (We should all go.)

OR use that + a verb without to"I suggest that you visit the Eiffel Tower." (I'm not going.)



OR use a noun"I recommend the lasagne." (It's a very good dish to choose inthis restaurant.)

advise

"I advise you to buy a good dictionary."

advice

Advice is an uncountable noun. This means that we can't say anadvice. Instead, we say some advice or a piece of advice.

"Let me give you some advice."

"She gave me a very useful piece of advice: to buy a gooddictionary."

Speaking tip

Many people don't like getting advice if they haven't asked for it!To avoid giving the wrong impression, you can try some of theseexpressions:

"You could always…"

"Have you considered…"

"Perhaps we could…"

"Do you think it's a good idea to…"

Talking about fear

There are many words and expressions for talking about fear.

Words

afraid: "Are you afraid of the dark?"frightened: "I’m frightened of spiders."scared: "He’s scared of making mistakes."feel uneasy: "I felt a bit uneasy when I walked home in thedark."spooked: “My cats are easily spooked before a thunderstorm.” terrified: “She was absolutely terrified when she heard the



noise.” petrified: “The building began to shake and we were all

petrified.”

Expressions

a terrifying ordealsend shivers down my spinegive me goosebumps (goosebumps are when you skin has littlebumps on it)make the hairs on the back of my neck stand up (dogs also do thiswhen they are scared)scare the hell out of mebe scared shitless / shit scared (British slang - vulgar)

be bricking it (British slang - vulgar)frighten the life out of meshake with fear jump out of my skin

Examples

One of the best horror films I have seen is “The Blair WitchProject”. It tells the story of a terrifying ordeal in the woods of

northern USA. Some of the scenes in the film sent shivers downmy spine, especially the one when the students run out of thetent in the middle of the night. When they go back, one of theguy’s rucksack has been emptied. When that same guy goesmissing the next day, it gives you goosebumps.

There are some fabulous sound effects, especially the ones of thewind blowing and howling. When you hear the crying voices at theend of the film, it will make the hairs on the back of your neck

stand up.

Perhaps the scariest part of the film is at the end, when you seeone of the surviving students literally shake with fear in thecorner of the basement. It certainly frightened the life out of the girl when she saw him, and I jumped out of my skin at theend when the camera stopped filming. The film scared the hellout of me for weeks afterwards, and I’m ashamed to say that Iwouldn’t go into an empty room in the house unless there was

someone there with me.



Talking about likes and dislikes in English

There's a whole range of English expressions you can use to talkabout how much you like or dislike something.

If you love something

"I love eating ice-cream."

"I adore sun-bathing."

If you like something a lot

"She's fond of chocolate."

"I like swimming very much."

If you like something

"He quite likes going to the cinema."

"I like cooking."

If you neither like nor dislike something

"I don't mind doing the housework."

If you don't like something

"She doesn't like cooking very much."

"He's not very fond of doing the gardening."

"I dislike wasting time."

If you really dislike something

"I don't like sport at all."

"He can't stand his boss."

"She can't bear cooking in a dirty kitchen."

"I hate crowded supermarkets."



"He detests being late."

"She loathes celery."

Things to remember…

Dislike is quite formal.

Fond of is normally used to talk about food or people.

The 'oa' in loathe rhymes with the 'oa' in boat.

Grammar Note

To talk about your general likes or dislikes, follow this pattern:like something or like doing something.

Common mistake

Be careful where you put very much or a lot. These words shouldgo after the thing that you like.

For example, "I like reading very much." NOT "I like very much

reading."

Talking about probability in English

There are many ways of saying that something will probably orpossibly happen.

Probable

bound to = certain: "They are bound to succeed!"

sure to = certain: "He is sure to win the championship."

likely to = probable: "We are likely to win the contract."

definite = sure: "He's a definite frontrunner for the job!"

probable: "It's probable that we will be on holiday around then."

likely: "An election is likely next year."



will definitely happen: "There will definitely be a storm later."

will probably happen: "They will probably take on more staff."

Possible

may: "We may be able to help you."

might: "There might be a holiday next month - I'm not sure."

could: "There could be a bug in the system."

… is possible: "Do you think he will resign?" "Yes, that's

possible."

… is unlikely: "It's unlikely that she will move."

will possibly: "She'll possibly tell us tomorrow."

probably won't: "They probably won't hear until next week."

definitely won't: "I definitely won't go to the party."

… is highly unlikely: "It's highly unlikely that the company willexpand."

Note: Be careful of the word order."Definitely" and "probably" come after "will" (in positivesentences) and before "won't" in negative sentences.

Variations

You can add words to alter the strength of probability:

highly likely / unlikely (= very likely / unlikely)

quite likely / probable / possible (= more likely, probable orpossible)

could possibly / probably

most definitely won't (= even more unlikely)



Talking about the weather

It's true! British people often start a conversation with strangersand friends by talking about the weather. As weather is a neutraltopic of conversation, it's usually safe to use it to strike up a

conversation - at the bus stop, in a shop, or with a neighbour overthe garden fence.

Some examples of conversation starters

"Lovely day, isn't it!"

"Bit nippy today."

"What strange weather we're having!"

"It doesn't look like it's going to stop raining today."

Attitude to weather

Although British people like to complain about bad weather, theygenerally put a brave face on it.

If someone complains about too much rain, you might hear:

"Never mind - it's good for the garden."

If someone complains that it's too hot, you could hear:

"At least my tomatoes will be happy."

If the conversation has been about general bad weather, perhaps

someone will say:

"Well, I've heard it's worse in the west. They've had terribleflooding."

Predicting the weather

We can make predictions about the weather, using a range of forms - not just the "will" or "going to" form:

"I think it'll clear up later."



"It's going to rain by the looks of it."

"We're in for frost tonight."

"They're expecting snow in the north."

"I hear that showers are coming our way."

Human attributes

We also attribute human features to the weather, almost as if theweather can decide what to do:

"The sun's trying to come out."

"It's been trying to rain all morning."

"It's finally decided to rain."

Understanding the forecast

Many British people are keen gardeners, and they keep a closeeye on the weather forecast. Here are some of the weatherfeatures which can worry gardeners:

a hard frostblizzard / galeforce conditionshailstonesprolonged rainblustery winda drought

Here are some more temperate conditions which gardeners like:

mild weathersunny spellslight drizzle

Talking about your family

English Vocabulary for talking about your family.

Your family tree



Your closest relatives are your parents: your mother and

father; and your siblings (brothers or sisters). If your motheror father is not an only child, you also have aunts and / oruncles. An aunt is the sister of your mother or father, while anuncle is the brother of your mother or father. Your female child is

called your daughter, and your male child is your son.

If your aunts or uncles have children, they are your first cousins.(In English, the word cousin is used, whether the cousin is femaleor male.) Your female cousin is your mother (or father's) niece,while a male cousin is the nephew of your mother and father.

In-laws

When you marry, your husband (or wife's) family become your in-laws. The mother of your spouse (husband or wife) is yourmother-in-law and his or her father becomes your father-in-law. The term in-law is also used to describe your relationshipwith the spouses of your siblings. So the husband of your sisterbecomes your brother-in-law, while the sister of your husbandbecomes your sister-in-law. If you are a woman, you becomethe daughter-in-law of your husband's parents, and if you are aman, you become the son-in-law of your wife's parents. The

same term in-law is used for all generations. The husband of youraunt is still your mother's brother-in-law, for example.

Grandparents / grandchildren

The parents of your parents are your grandparents -grandmother and grandfather. You are their grandchildren -either a granddaughter or a grandson. If your grandparent hasa sister, she is your great-aunt. If your grandparent has a

brother, he is your great-uncle. (And you are either his or hergreat-niece or great-nephew.)

The mother of your grandmother or grandfather is your great-grandmother. The father is your great-grandfather. If you goback another generation, the grandmother of your grandmother /grandfather is your great-great-grandmother. The grandfatherof your grandparent becomes your great-great-grandfather.

Second families



If your mother or father remarries, you can acquire a new familyand set of relatives. For example, if your father marries a secondwife, she becomes your step-mother. Any children she alreadyhas become your step-sisters or step-brothers.

If your mother or father remarries and has children, they becomeyour half-brothers or half-sisters.

You might also hear people talking about their biologicalbrother / sister etc, to mean a brother who is related by blood,rather than by marriage.

Types of family

nuclear family = mother, father and children: "The traditionalBritish family unit is a nuclear family."

single-parent / one-parent family = a family which only hasone parent (because the parents are divorced, or because one of the parents has died): "There are more and more single-parentfamilies in the UK."

immediate family = your closest relatives: "Only immediate

family members attended the funeral."

extended family = your entire family: "The wedding invitationswere sent to the entire extended family."

close-knit family = a family where the members have closerelationships with each other: "They are a close-knit family."

dysfunctional family = a family where the members haveserious problems with each other: "He comes from a ratherdysfunctional family."

blood relative = a relative connected to you by "blood" ratherthan through marriage: "She's not a blood relative, but we're stillvery close."

Expressions with family

family gathering = a meeting / celebration of family members:

"There's a small family gathering next week."



family resemblance = where members of the family look / actsimilar: "You can see a distinct family resemblance between thefather and the son."

to start a family = to start having children: "They want to wait a

couple of years before starting a family."

to run in the family = a characteristic that is common amongfamily members: "Baldness runs in his family."

to bring up / raise a family = to have and look after children:"It's difficult to raise a family on one income."

a family car = a car big enough to transport a family: "The Volvo

Estate is a popular family car."

family-size = large quantity item: "We need to buy family-sizepackets of biscuits!"

family-friendly = a policy that favours families: "This hotel isfamily-friendly."

family doctor = a doctor who looks after general medical needs:"There are a number of good family doctors in this area."

family man = a man who prefers to spend his time with hisfamily: "John is a family man."

family values = traditional ideas about what a family should be:"Some political parties often emphasise family values and theimportance of marriage."

family name = surname: "What's your family name?"

Describing family relationships

Children often quarrel with each other, and these arguments - or

squabbles - are often quickly resolved. In fact, sibling rivalry(the competition between brothers and sisters) is quite common.

More seriously, if arguments continue into adulthood, familyfeuds can develop where both sides can end up hating each other

and even trying to hurt or destroy each other.



A person who no longer speaks to a family member is estrangedfrom his / her family. Often estrangement is voluntary. However,if parents decide they no longer want anything to do with theirchildren, they cut them off (= break off communiation), or evendisinherit them. (Decide not to leave them anything when they

die.)

Most people feel loyalty to their family, and will defend familymembers saying "He / She's family". There's also a saying

"Blood's thicker than water" which means that your family tiesare stronger than any other relationships.

Telling a story

A useful skill in English is to be able to tell a story or an anecdote.Anecdotes are short stories about something that happened toyou or to someone you know.

How to start

Traditional stories often start with the phrase "Once upon a time".However, if you are going to tell your story after someone elsehas already spoken, you can say something like:

That reminds me!Funny you should say that. Did I ever tell you about…Hearing your story reminds me of when…Something similar happened to me….

How to tell your story

First of all, your story should be quite short. Try to keep it

grammatically simple as well, so that it is easy to follow.

Make it easy for the listener to understand by using sequencingand linking words:

Sequencing wordsThese words show the chronological sequence of events.

First of all, I (packed my suitcase)Secondly, I …. (made sure I had all my documents)

Previously (before that) ….. I changed some money.Then… I (called a taxi for the airport)



Later (on)… (when we were stuck in traffic, I realised…)But before al that… (I had double checked my reservation)Finally… (I arrived at the wrong check-in desk at the wrong airportfor a flight that didn't go until the next day)

Linking wordsUse these words to link your ideas for the listener. Linking words can be used to show reason, result, contrasting information,additional information, and to summarise.

I booked a flight because….As a result, I was late…Although I had a reservation, I hadn't checked the airport name.I made sure I had an up-to-date passport and I also took along

my driving licence.In short, I had made a complete mess of the holiday.

Tenses

We can use a variety of tenses to tell stories and anecdotes. Jokesare often in the present tense:

A man walks into a bar and orders a beer.

We also use the present tense to give a dramatic narrative effect:

The year is 1066. In medieval England people are worried that theking, Harold, is not strong enough to fight off a Norman invasion.

However, we generally use past forms to talk about past events.If you tell your story in chronological order, you can use the pastsimple:

I double checked my reservation. I packed my suitcase, and thenI called a taxi.

Use the past continuous to describe activities in progress at thetime of your story, or to describe the background.

The sun was shining and it was a beautiful day. We were drivingalong the motorway quite steadily until we suddenly saw in frontof us the warning lights to slow down. We were heading towards a

huge tailback.

http://www.english-at-home.com/grammar/linking-words/

http://www.english-at-home.com/grammar/linking-words/



Sometimes, you might want to avoid telling your story as onechronological event after the other. You can use the past perfect(simple and continuous) to add more interest to your story bytalking about events that happened before the events in yourstory:

I double checked my reservation, which I had made three dayspreviously.

I wanted to visit some friends who had been living in France forthe last five years.

Vocabulary

Try to use a wide range of words to make your story moreinteresting. Remember that you can "exaggerate" when you tell astory, so instead of using words like "nice" or "bad", experimentwith more interesting words, such as "beautiful", "fabulous","wonderful", "horrible", "awful" or "terrible".

Finally - remember that you are telling a story - not giving alecture. Look at the people listening, and try to "involve" them inthe story or anecdote. Keep eye contact, use the right intonation

and try to make your face expressive. You might also want to trypractising a few anecdotes in the mirror before "going live". Havefun!

Visiting the doctor

The first time you visit a new doctor, you should talk about yourmedical history - the illnesses you have had, any operations youhave had and so on. Your doctor might want to give you a check-

up.

A check-up will include monitoring your blood pressure, ashigh blood pressure is serious and can lead to life-threateningconditions. Your doctor will probably also take your pulse tocheck that your heart rate is normal.

A doctor uses a stethoscope to listen to your breathing -particularly if you have a heart or chest infection, or a condition

such as asthma.



Of course, you can also visit the doctor for a huge range of otherreasons. Children need to have their injections and if you aregoing abroad on holiday, you might also need to have injectionsagainst infectious diseases. In winter, you can also get a fluvaccine so that you won't get the flu.

If you need medication, a doctor will write you a prescription.You can get your prescription filled at a chemist.

For more serious medical conditions, you can get a referral to aclinic or a hospital. You might need blood tests done, or youmight need an X-ray, or you might need to see a specialist.

Words that describe behaviour

The A-Z of English word and phrases that describe behaviour.

A

active = always doing something: "She's an active person andnever wants to stay in."

aggressive = being angry or threatening: "He's aggressive and

starts arguments."

ambitious = wanting to succeed: "He's ambitious and wants tolead the company."

argumentative = always arguing with people: "He won't acceptwhat you say - he's argumentative and loves to disagree!"

arrogant = thinking you are better than anyone else: "He always

behaves as if nobody else's opinion is important - "I find him veryarrogant."

assertive = being confident, so people can't force you to dothings you don't want to do: "It's important to be assertive atwork."

B

bad-tempered = in a bad mood: "What's got into him lately?He's so bad-tempered."



big-headed = thinking you're very important or clever: "I'venever met anyone so big-headed!"

bossy = telling people what to do all the time: "He's so bossy - henever lets me do things the way I want to do them."

C

careless = not taking care: "He's a careless driver - "I'm surehe'll have an accident."

caring = wanting to help people: "My boss is caring and oftenasks me how things are going."

catty = saying nasty or spiteful things about other people: "Iknow you don't like her, but calling her names is a bit catty."

cautious = being careful, so that you avoid mistakes: "He'scautious about investing money in the stock market."

charming = pleasant and likeable: "What a charming man!"

cheeky = being rude or disrespectful: "It was a bit cheeky of himto ask for more money."

clever = intelligent: "She's a clever student and picks things upquickly."

conceited = thinking you're very clever, or better than others:"He's so conceited - he thinks everyone should admire him."

conscientious = doing something carefully, because you want todo it well: "She's a conscientious student and always does her

homework."

considerate = thinking and caring about others: "My neighbourbrought me flowers when I was in hospital - he's veryconsiderate." ("That was considerate of him.")

coy = pretending to be shy so that you don't have to giveinformation: "He's very coy about his qualifications - maybe hedoesn't have any."

creative = someone who can make or design things, or can thinkof solutions to a problem: "She's creative and artistic."



curious = wanting to know things: "I'm curious to find out whatyou think of the situation."

D

deceitful = trying to make people think something, so that youget what you want: "He lied to get this job - he's so deceitful."

docile = quiet and submissive: "She's a docile child and alwaysdoes what she's told."

dogmatic = wanting others to accept your ideas withoutdiscussion: "He's a dogmatic politician and always thinks he'sright."

domineering = trying to control other people: "He's loud anddomineering in the office - it's difficult to get him to listen to us."

E

enthusiastic = having a lot of interest in something: "He's anenthusiastic supporter of equal rights."

excitable = someone who easily gets excited: "He gets very

excitable about politics - it's one of his passions in life."

extroverted = outgoing and lively: "She's extroverted and lovesgoing out with people."

F

faithful = being loyal to someone or something: "She's a faithfulfriend."

fickle = changing your mind and being unpredictable: "Politicianscan be fickle when it suits them!"

flaky = slightly unstable and unreliable: "She's a little flaky attimes, but otherwise she's a good worker."

full of himself = acting proud of yourself: "He was full of himself after he got the promotion - it got annoying after a while."

funny = making other people laugh: "He can be extremely funnywhen he's in the mood."



fussy = only liking certain things: "She's fussy about what shewears."

G

good-natured = kind and thoughtful: "She's good-natured andalways tries to help."

grumpy = someone who tends to be in a bad mood: "He's alwaysgrumpy in the morning and never says 'hello'."

H

happy-go-lucky = not worrying about what might happen in the

future: "He's a bit happy-go-lucky and doesn't think about thefuture."

I

impulsive = doing things without thinking first: "If he seessomething he likes, he just buys it - he can be so impulsive attimes!"

inconsiderate = not considering other people or their feelings:

"It was a little inconsiderate of him not to give you a get-wellcard."

introverted = opposite of extroverted: "He was introverted as ateenager, but became more confident as he got older."

inventive = able to think up new ideas: "As head of Marketing,he can often think of inventive ways to keep his customershappy."

irritating = annoying others: "He can be very irritating to workwith."

J

jokey = making jokes: "You're in a jokey mood today, but we'vegot work to do!"

jolly = happy and cheerful: "It was the weekend and everyonewas in a jolly mood."



K

kind = thoughtful and caring: "My neighbour is kind - she lookedafter my cat when I was on holiday."

L

loud-mouthed = someone who talks a lot and often saysoffensive things: "Don't worry about what he said - he's loud-mouthed at times."

loyal = someone who is faithful and stands by you: "Hiscolleagues were loyal to him when he was having problems withhis boss."

M

manic = behaving in a slightly crazy way: "We're a bit manic atthe moment - we're rushing to finish the work before ourdeadline."

manipulative = trying to get people to do what you want, byinfluencing or deceiving them: "She's very manipulative when shewants something."

moody = having unpredictable moods: "Some people think he'smoody - you never know if he's happy or grumpy."

N

nervous = uncomfortable with a situation: "I'm always nervousbefore an exam."

O

old-fashioned = behaving or thinking in a way that isn't modern:"He's a bit old-fashioned and thinks women shouldn't work."

opinionated = having strong opinions: "He's opinionated anddogmatic - the last person you want to negotiate with."



P

passive = not assertive - doing what other people want you to dowithout arguing: "He's passive at work, but domineering athome."

perfectionnist = someone who wants perfection: "Her boss is aperfectionnist - no spelling mistakes are allowed."

persuasive = being able to persuade people to do things or toaccept your ideas: "He's a persuasive talker."

picky = only liking certain things or people: "She's picky abouther friends."

playful = someone who likes to play and have fun: "You're in aplayful mood today!"

pleasant = nice and polite: "The bank manager was pleasant tome today."

polite = showing good manners: "She's polite and never forgetsto say 'please' or 'thank you'."

pragmatic = being practical and aware of your limitations: "She'spragmatic at work and only does what she can."

Q

quick-tempered = getting angry quickly: "He was quick-tempered when he was young, but he's more relaxed now."

R

reserved = keeping your ideas and thoughts to yourself: "He'sreserved, but polite."

rude = impolite: "He's very rude and never says 'please' or 'thankyou'."

S

scatter-brained / scatty = someone who often forgets things:"Don't you remember where you put your wallet? You're soscatter-brained!"



serious = not light-hearted: "He's a serious student and alwaysdoes his homework."

shy = quiet, because you are not very confident: "He's so shy andhates saying anything to people he doesn't know."

sincere = saying what you believe (opposite of insincere): "He'ssincere in his beliefs."

slapdash = doing your work quickly and carelessly: "He's got avery slapdash attitude - I doubt he'll ever become a lawyer."

slimy = trying to get what you want by being over-friendly: "Thatman is so slimy - he makes me feel sick!"

sly = doing things in a secretive way: "You never know what he'sup to - he's sly and manipulative."

spiteful = trying to hurt other people because you didn't get whatyou wanted: "If she doesn't get what she wants, she can be quitespiteful."

T

thoughtful = someone who thinks a lot: "He's a thoughtfulperson and won't do anything unless he has considered theconsequences."

thoughtless = not thinking about people or the consequences of your actions: "I'm sure he didn't mean to be rude - he can bethoughtless at times."

trustworthy = someone you can trust: "My accountant is really

trustworthy."

V

volatile quickly changing moods: "He's easily excitable and prettyvolatile."

W

witty = being able to make other people laugh by what you say:"He's witty and charming - the perfect person to invite to a party."



Rephrasing

Sometimes we say things that other people don't understand, orwe give the wrong impression.

This is an example conversation where one person says somethingthat the other person thinks is strange.

LUIZ: "English is a very easy language to learn."

IRENE: "What do you mean?"

LUIZ: "Well, what I meant to say was that it is easy if youpractise every day."

IRENE: "Oh, right."

Rephrasing expressions

"What I meant to say was…"

"Let me rephrase that…"

"Let me put this another way…"

"Perhaps I'm not making myself clear…"

Back to the beginning

If you're explaining something, and you realise that the otherperson doesn't understand, you can use the following phrases:

"If we go back to the beginning…"

"The basic idea is…"

"One way of looking at it is…"

"Another way of looking at it is…"

If you forget the English word

If you forget the word you want to use, you can say:

"I can't find the word I'm looking for…"



"I'm not sure that this is the right word, but…"

"What I want to say is…"

Speaking Tip

Don't be afraid to repeat what you're saying, especially if you cando it in a slightly different way.

Giving advice in English

There are many ways of giving advice in English. Here are some of the more common expressions.

"If I were you, I would…"

"Have you thought about…"

"You really ought to…" ('ought' is pronounced 'ort')

"Why don't you…"

"In your position, I would…"

"You should perhaps…"

"You could always…"

Examples

If someone says "I'm having problems learning English", youcould say:

"If I were you, I'd sign up for an English course."

"Have you thought about going to the UK for a couple of weeks?"

"You really ought to watch English television."

"Why don't you read more English books?"

"In your position, I would try and practise speaking English."

"You should perhaps look at the english-at-home.com website."

"You could always get a penpal."



Giving your opinions

There are many ways to give your opinions when speakingEnglish. The exact English expression you use depends on how

strong your opinion is.

Giving your opinion neutrally

"I think…"

"I feel that…"

"In my opinion…"

"As far as I'm concerned…"

"As I see it…"

"In my view…"

"I tend to think that…"

Giving a strong opinion

"I'm absolutely convinced that…"

"I'm sure that…"

"I strongly believe that…"

"I have no doubt that…"

English expressions for asking someone's opinion

"What do you think?"

"What's your view?"

"How do you see the situation?"

Speaking Tip

Try to practise using these expressions, so that your speechsounds more varied!



How to ask for things in English

Asking for things in English doesn't need to be stressful. Justremember some key phrases, and you'll be able to deal with mostsituations smoothly and confidently!

Asking clerks or at help desks

(Hello.) Can / Could I have ….. please? (Falling intonation)

(Good morning.) Can / Could you give / get me ….. please?

(Good evening.) A table for two, please.

Interrupting people to ask them for something

Excuse me…

…. Do you know if…?…. Do you have…?…. Do you accept …. (credit cards)?…. Is this the right way for…. (the Post Office)?…. Could you tell me if …. (there's a Post Office near here)?

In more formal situations

Excuse me…

…. Would you mind …. (keeping an eye on my luggage?)…. I wonder if you could …. (move your suitcase a little.)

Responding to questions

You ask for something, then the person you have asked needsmore information. He or she asks you a question. If you haven'texpected this, you can "play for time" - say something to give youtime to think. Say something like "Oh", "Ah", "Um", or "Er" to giveyou a second or two to formulate an answer. Remember, completesilence makes the other person feel uneasy!

You: "Two tickets to Glasgow, please."

Clerk: "Single or return?"You: "Um, return please. We're coming back tomorrow."



(You are at the bureau de change)Clerk: How would you like your money?You: Oh, er, three tens and a five, please.

You: "Hello. Can I have a leaflet about London museums, please."

Clerk: "Sure. Anything else?"You: "Um, do you have any information about musicals?"

Tips

When you ask someone for something, or you ask them to dosomething for you, it is essential to be as polite as possible. Hereare some ways that you can be polite.

Say hello

A "hello" and a smile go a long way! Say "hello" at the beginningof your request.

"Hello. (I'd like) a travel card, please."

In more formal situations, you can say "Good morning", "Goodafternoon" or "Good evening". (Remember, we only say "Goodnight" if we're saying "Good bye" at the end of the day.)

"Good evening. We've booked a table for four."

Remember "please" and "thank you"

"Please" normally goes at the end of the sentence:

"Two tickets please.""Can you give me directions to Oxford Street, please."

Say "thank you" after you have received something:

"Here's your change.""Thank you."

You can use "Yes, please" or "No, thank you" in response to aquestion:

"Would you like salad with your pizza?""Yes, please" or "No, thank you."



Say "excuse me"

If you ask someone who is doing something else, remember tosay "excuse me":

"Excuse me, do yo have this dress in a smaller size?" (In a shop)"Excuse me, do you know where the nearest bank is?" (On thestreet)

Structure of an example conversation

1. Clerk greets you

(Good morning.) How can I help you?

What can I do for you?

2. You ask for something

Hello. I'd like some information about…Can I have….Three stamps for Europe, please.

3. Clerk asks you a question

Single or return?Air-mail or surface mail?

4. You answer

Oh, er, single thanks.Um, let me see. Air-mail please.

5. Clerk asks you if you need anything else

Will that be all?(Is there) anything else?

6. You answer

Ah, actually I'd also like…No, that's it thanks / thank you.

How to express shock in English



It is sometimes difficult to say how you feel in unexpectedsituations, such as natural disasters, especially when you feel sad.Here's a list of some common expressions to help you expressshock and disbelief.

Shock

I was shocked to hear…The news came as a complete shock.We're all in complete shock.Everyone's reeling from the shock of…It happened out of the blue.Who could have predicted it?

I (just) can't get over ….We were completely taken aback by…I was just stunned by…

Disbelief

I just can't believe…It's unbelievable.I / You just can't imagine…

Words can't describe… (how I feel about / the terrible devastationetc)There's no way it could have happened.

Saying how bad something is

It's so awful.It's terrible / What terrible news.It's a tragedy.

It's a catastrophe (pronounced "ca - tas - tra - fee" with the stresson "-tas")This is the worst thing that could have happened.

How to keep the conversation going

What can you say when you want to encourage people to keeptalking to you?

Try making a comment or asking a question - it shows the otherperson you're interested in what they are saying.



Here are some examples of what you can say:

Making comments

"No!" - to show surprise.

"I don't believe it!" - to show surprise.

"Wow!" - to show admiration or surprise.

"That's incredible / amazing / unbelievable" - to show greatinterest in the subject of conversation.

"How awful / terrible" - to show sympathy with someone else'sbad news.

Asking questions

"Really?" - to show surprise.

"And you?" - when someone asks you how you are.

"Did you?" - can be used to encourage someone to tell their story.

For example, "I saw her last night", "Did you?" "Yes, she was withone of her friends, and she…."

How to make a booking in English

Making a booking in English does not have to be complicated. Infact, if you keep the information concise, you will find it easy!

Starting the conversation

I'd like to…..

…. book a double room (for two nights from Monday 2 Augustto…)

…. book a table (for two at 9 pm tomorrow night)

…. book a flight (from London to Paris on Tuesday 10 November)

…. book seats (tonight for "Phantom of the Opera")



You can also reserve a room, a table or seats.

Responding to questions

How many people is the booking for?

… It's for two people.

How would you like to pay?… Can I pay by credit card?

Can you spell your surname?… Yes, it's B - R - O - W - N.

Can you give me your credit card number and expiry date?

…Yes, it's …….

Travel bookings

What time do you want to leave / arrive / check-out?

… I'd like to arrive in London by 6 pm.

Would you like to take advantage of our special insurance / extrafacilities?

… No thank you / Could you give me extra information?

Asking for more information

Does this price include all taxes? (for hotels and flights)

Is there a booking fee? (for flights, theatre tickets)

How much is the baggage allowance? (for flights)

Could you confirm my booking?

What time should I arrive? (for theatres, restaurants)

What time do I have to check in / do I have to check out? (forflights, hotels)

Is there an ensuite bathroom? (for hotels)



Tips

Remember the essential information:- how many nights (at a hotel)- how many people (at a restaurant or the theatre)

- what time (for a flight or at a restaurant)- how much does it cost (for a flight, theatre tickets or a hotelroom)

Research the vocabulary you need before you make a call:- what type of theatre seat you need- what type of hotel room you want- where you want to sit on the plane

Remember to pronounce numbers and letters clearly.

When you spell something or give a number, speak slowly andemphasise the important information.

How to respond appropriately in special situations

Certain situations need special vocabulary…

Congratulations!

You can say Congratulations in many circumstances, such as forweddings, promotions, passing exams, or to the parents andfamily of a new baby.

Well done!

You can say this to someone who has passed an exam or achieved

something difficult like a promotion.

Birthdays

The most usual ways of referring to someone's birthday are bysaying Happy Birthday! or more formally, Many happyreturns!

Cultural note: Some birthdays are more special than others in

Britain. Your 18th birthday is special as you then become anofficial adult. In the past, 21 was the age of adulthood, and some



people still celebrate it in a special way by giving silver keys,which represent the key to the door.

Before an exam or something difficult

Wish someone good luck before something difficult, by sayingGood luck! But if people are superstitious and believe that saying"Good luck" will have the opposite effect, you could also hearBreak a leg!

If someone has failed at something, you can say Bad luck!

Toasting

At parties and gatherings, you might be asked to drink a toast tocelebrate a happy event.

Here's to …

Let's drink to…

Ladies and Gentlemen, "The Bride and Groom".

Please raise your glasses to…

Writing to someone who has passed an exam

If you are writing a card or a letter to someone who has passed anexam, you can use the following expressions:

Well done! It's a fantastic result.

Congratulations on passing! You deserve it after so muchhard work.

Writing wedding cards

Here are a couple of standard phrases to write on wedding cards:

Congratulations! Wishing you many happy years together.

Wishing you the best of luck in your future together.



Writing in sad situations

In difficult situations you can write I was so sorry to hear that….

If you are writing to the relatives of someone who has died, youcan also write

I was deeply saddened to hear…orPlease accept my deepest condolences on the death of…

(You can replace "I" with "We", such as "We were very sad to hearthat…")

How to say what's important

Sometimes you need to say how important things are to you.These are all common ways of telling someone what yourpriorities are.

In a job interview

"The most important thing for me is that the job is challenging."

"What's really important to me is being able to learn somethingnew."

"The most crucial thing for me is to be valued by my colleagues."

"The most vital thing is knowing that I am doing a good job."

"What really motivates me is learning about new ways of doing

something."

"I'm extremely interested in learning more about the market."

"In terms of priorities, I am most interested in getting results. Inaddition, I would like to develop my marketing skills."

"As far as my priorities go, getting results is the most important."

"At the top of my list of priorities is feeling appreciated."

"The least important thing is salary."



How to talk about illness

Sometimes you don't feel very well, but you're not really ill. Hereare some common expressions that you can use to describegeneral "aches and pains" and some useful "sympathetic"

responses.

General aches and pains

"I feel a bit under the weather."

"I'm not feeling very well."

"I think I'm going down with a cold. I've got a sore throat."

"I've got a slight headache." (Or toothache / stomach ache /backache) Pronounced "ake" as in "cake".

"I'm not sleeping very well at the moment."

"I feel a little faint."

"I've got a nagging pain in my shoulder." (nagging = a pain that

won't go away)

"I've got a splitting headache - I hope it's not a migraine."

Sympathetic responses

"I'm sorry to hear that."

"You don't look very well."

"You look a little pale."

"Maybe you're going down with something. There's a bug goingaround."

"Maybe you should go home and get some rest."

"Why don't you go home and have a lie-down."

Mild illness

"I have a bit of a stomach bug."



"I think I've got a bit of a temperature."

"I have a touch of flu." (Flu = influenza)

"I've got a nasty cough." (pronounced "coff")

Learn English with television

Television is great for learning English. The pictures makeit easier to understand than radio and because you cansee who's talking, you get a better idea of what peoplemean. Just watch their "body language"!

Watch programmes that you find enjoyable and

entertaining - whatever you watch will help you toimprove your English.

Here's the english@home guide to learning as much as possiblewhile watching English television:

Only watch programmes you find interesting. LearningEnglish should be fun - not something you have to force yourself to do. If you have a passion for football, watch matches or the

sports news.

Keep a notebook near to your television, so that you can jotdown any new words or expressions that you hear. This isespecially useful if the programme you are watching has beensubtitled into your language.

Try to watch English television regularly. Even if you can onlywatch 15 minutes a day, you'll be amazed how much you learn.

Don't worry if you don't understand everything - Englishtelevision is normally aimed at native English language speakers.Programmes often include difficult words and expressions. If theprogramme you're watching is full of unknown words, justconcentrate on understanding the general meaning.

Even cartoons and children's programmes are useful whenlearning English and quiz shows are useful for learning how to askand answer questions in English.



Keep a note of television programmes and presenters that youfind easy to understand and try to watch them regularly. Doingthis will increase your confidence and give you a sense of achievement.

Making appointments

Useful phrases for making and changing appointments.

Asking to meet

"Are you available on the 17th?"

"Can we meet on the 16th?"

"How does the 3rd sound to you?"

"Are you free next week?"

"Would Friday suit you?"

"Is next Tuesday convenient for you?"

"What about sometime next week?"

Agreeing on a date

"Yes, Thursday is fine.""Thursday suits me.""Thursday would be perfect."

Suggesting a different date

"I'm afraid I can't on the 3rd. What about the 6th?"

"I'm sorry, I won't be able to make it on Monday. Could we meeton Tuesday instead?"

"Ah, Wednesday is going to be a little difficult. I'd much preferFriday, if that's alright with you."

"I really don't think I can on the 17th. Can we meet up on the

19th?"



Setting a time

"What sort of time would suit you?"

"Is 3pm a good time for you?"

"If possible, I'd like to meet in the morning."

"How does 2pm sound to you?"

Changing the arrangement

"You know we were going to meet next Friday? Well, I'm verysorry, but something urgent has come up."

"I'm afraid that I'm not going to be able to meet you after all. Canwe fix another time?"

"Something has just cropped up and I won't be able to meet youthis afternoon. Can we make another time?"

What to Say When in English

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