Real English Phrases To Help You Improve Your Speaking - Part 1

Ten Ways to Say Hello & Goodby 1- Hello 2- Hi 3- (Hey (informal 4- Hi there 5- (Howdy (informal 6- Bye 7- Bye-bye 8- (See ya later (informal 9- Take care 10- Have a good one Ten Informal Ways to Say Yes and No 1- Yeah 2- Yup 3- ! Mm-hmm 4- ! Uh-huh 5- ! Sure 6- Nope 7- Nah 8- Mm-mm 9- Uh-uh 10- ! No way Ten Ways to Ask How Someone Is 1- ? How are you 2- ? How’s it going 3- ? ’How ya doin 4- ? How are things 5- ? How’s life 6- ? How have you been 7- ? How’s your family 8- ? What’s up 9- ? What’s new 10- ? What have you been up to lately Ten (10) Ways to Say How You Are 1- ? I’m fine, thanks. How about you 2- .Pretty good 3- .Not bad 4- ! Great 5- ! Couldn’t be better 6- Can’t complain 7- I’ve been busy 8- ! Same as always 9- .Not so great 10- .Could be better ”Note: The way to respond to “What’s up?” and “What’s new?” is typically “Not much Ten Ways to Say Thank You 1- .Thanks 2- .Thanks a lot 3- .Thank you so much 4- !Thanks a million 5- .Thanks for your help 6- .Thanks for helping me 7- I really appreciate it. 8- I’m really grateful. 9- That’s so kind of you. 10- (I can’t thank you enough (for extremely important things 11- I owe you one (this means you want/need to do a favor for the other person in the future) ”Ten Ways to Respond to “Thank You 1- .You’re welcome 2- .No problem 3- .No worries 4- .Don’t mention it 5- .My pleasure 6- .Anytime 7- .It was the least I could do 8- .Glad to help 9- ! Sure 10- Thank you (use this when you ALSO have something to thank the other person for) Five Phrases for Apologizing 1- [I’m sorry that … [ex. I was so rude yesterday 2- (It’s my fault. (= I am taking responsibility for the problems 3- (Oops, sorry (for very small problems 4- [I should have … [ex. called you and told you I’d be late 5. [formal) I apologize for … [ex. the delay) Five Ways to Respond to an Apology 1- . That’s OK 2- . It happens 3- .No problem 4- .Don’t worry about it 5- (I forgive you. (for serious problems Ten Phrases for Introductions 1- [I just wanted to introduce myself. I’m … [your name 2- [I don’t think we’ve met before. My name’s… [your name 3- … This is 4- … I’d like you to meet 5- ? … Have you met 6- … I’d like to introduce you to 7- .Nice to meet you 8- .It’s a pleasure to meet you 9- .Likewise 10- .And you : Note . One and Two are used to introduce yourself . Three to Sixused to introduce someone else Nine and Ten can be used as a response to Seven and Eight Six Ways to Show Interest 1- ? Really 2- .That’s interesting 3- .Uh-huh 4- .Right 5- .Gotcha 6- .Sure You can use these phrases to show the other person that you are listening. Five Ways to End a Conversation Politely 1- .It was nice chatting with you 2- .Well, it’s getting late 3- .Anyway, I should get going 4- … formal) Sorry, but I’m afraid I need to) 5- (I’m sorry to cut you off, but I actually gotta run (cut you off = interrupt you Ten Phrases for Telephone Calls 1- .Hi, this is Jane 2- ? formal) May I speak with John Smith) 3- ? informal) Is John there) 4- … I’m calling about 5- .I’m returning your call 6- .formal) One moment, please) 7- .informal) Hang on a sec) 8- ? He’s not here. Would you like to leave a message 9- ? Could you ask him to call me back 10- .Thanks for calling Ten Phrases for Asking for Information 1- ? … Can you tell me 2- ? … Could you tell me 3- ? … I'd like to know 4- ? … Do you know 5- ? … Do you have any idea 6- (Could anyone tell me... ? (use this phrase when asking a group of people 7- ? ...Would you happen to know 8- ? ...I don't suppose you (would) know 9- … I was wondering 10- (I’m calling to find out … (use this phrase on the telephone : Note .Use 4,5,7 and 8 when you’re not sure if the other person has the information ”Five Ways to Say “I don’t know 1- .I have no idea/clue 2- .I can’t help you there 3- .informal) Beats me) 4- .I’m not really sure 5- I’ve been wondering that, too Ten Phrases for Asking for Someone’s Opinion & Giving Your Opinion 1- ? … What do you think about 2- ? … How do you feel about 3- ? … What's your opinion of 4- ? … What are your views on 5- … In my opinion 6- … I'd say 7- … Personally, I think/believe 8- … If you ask me 9- … The way I see it 10- … From my point of view Five Phrases for Not Having an Opinio 1- .I’ve never given it much thought 2- .I don’t have strong feelings either way 3- .It doesn’t make any difference to me 4- .I have no opinion on the matter 5- (Whatever (very informal Ten Phrases for Agreeing 1- .Exactly 2- .Absolutely 3- .That’s so true 4- .That’s for sure 5- I agree 100% 6- .I couldn’t agree with you more 7- That’s exactly what I think. / That’s exactly how I feel 8- (Tell me about it ! / You’re telling me ! (informal 9- (I’ll say ! (informal 10- (I suppose so (use this phrase for weak agreement – you agree, but reluctantly : Note Avoid the common error of saying “I’m agree” – the correct phrase is “I agree” or “I’m in agreement” – the second one is more formal. Ten Phrases for Disagreeing 1- .I don’t think so 2- .I beg to differ 3- .I’m afraid I don’t agree 4- .I’m not so sure about that 5- .That’s not how I see it 6- .Not necessarily 7- [Yes, but … [say your opinion 8- .On the contrary 9- (No Way ! (very informal 10- (I totally disagree (very strong Five Phrases for Responding to Good News 1- ! Congratulations 2- ! That’s great 3- ! How wonderful 4- ! Awesome 5- ! I’m so happy for you Five Phrases for Responding to Bad News 1- … Oh no 2- .That’s terrible 3- (Poor you. (Use this to respond to bad situations that are not too serious 4- .I’m so sorry to hear that 5- (I’m sorry for your loss. (Use this only if someone has died Ten Phrases for Invitations 1. [Are you free…? [Saturday night 2. [Are you doing anything…? [Saturday night 3- .Let me check my calendar 4. [informal) Do you wanna…? [see a movie) 5. [formal) Would you like to…? [join me for dinner) 6- ! I’d love to 7_ ! Sounds great 8- .I’d love to, but I have another commitment 9- .I don’t think I can 10- .Maybe another time Five Ways to Make & Respond to an Offer 1- ? more formal) Would you like a drink) 2- ? informal) Do you want some water) 3- Can I get you something to eat 4- (That’d be great, thanks. (=Yes 5- (No, thanks. I’m OK. (=No Six Phrases for Talking About Future Plan 1- I’m going to 2- … I’m planning to 3- … I hope to 4- … I’d like to 5- … I might … / I may Click here for the difference between may and might 6- … I’m thinking about ”Click here for the different prepositions to use after “think Ten Ways to Talk about Likes & Dislikes 1- .[I love… [soccer 2- [I’m really into… [soccer 3- .[I live for… [soccer 4- .[soccer] is my thing] 5- [I’m crazy about… [soccer 6- [I’m not a huge fan of… [modern art 7- .Modern art] isn’t my cup of tea] 8- .[I don’t really care for… [modern art 9- [I’m not into… [modern art 10- (I can’t stand… [modern art] (this phrase expresses strong dislike Five Ways to Make a Suggestion 1. ? [How about… [ex. trying something new] 2. ? [Why don’t you… [ex. talk to your boss] 3- .[Maybe we should…? [ex. do more research 4- .[I’d recommend…? [ex. going to the doctor 5- ? [Have you thought about… [ex. buying a new computer Ten Phrases for Asking/Talking about Jobs 1- ? Where do you work 2- ? What do you do? / What do you do for a living 3- [I work at… [Microsoft] 4- [I’m a/an… [accountant] 5- .I’m unemployed. / I’m between jobs at the moment 6- .I’m looking for work 7- I’m a stay-at-home mom/dad 8- I run my own business 9- [I’m a freelance… [writer/designer/etc 10- .I’m retired Ten Phrases for Describing Relationships 1- .I’m single 2- .I have a boyfriend/girlfriend 3- (We’re engaged. (=gonig to get married 4- .We’re getting married in June 5- .I’m married. 6- .[I’ve been married for … [10 years 7- .I’m divorced 8- (I’m widowed (=my husband/wife has died 9- .I’m not looking for anything serious 10- I’m not quite over my ex (I still have feelings for my ex-boyfriend/girlfriend or ex-husband/wife=)