Appearance
I am / You are / He is / She is…
• tall
• small
• overweight, fat
• slim
• young
• old
• … years old.
• beautiful / pretty, handsome
• sun-tanned
• pale
I have / You have / He has / She has (got)…
• blue / green / grey / brown eyes
• freckles
• a beard
• a full beard
• a moustache
• a goatee
• a stubbly beard
• blond hair
• red hair
• brown hair
• black hair
• dyed hair
• blond highlights
• short hair
• long hair
• straight hair
• curly hair / curls
• a bald head
• a square / round / triangular / oval face
• a big / small / long nose
• big / small ears
Clothing and Accessories
I wear / You wear / He wears / She wears…
• glasses
• contact lenses
I am wearing / You are wearing / He/She is wearing…
• earrings
• a necklace
• a wristband
• a bracelet
• a cap
• a red scarf
• a tie
Character
I am / You are / He is / She is …
• shy
• quiet
• lively
• active
• easygoing
• outgoing
• nice
• friendly
• funny
• happy
• annoying
• sad
• aggressive
• a pain in the neck
• a little chatter box
Archive for February 11th, 2010
Personal Description
Giving your opinion
Giving your opinion
I think that . . .
I don’t think that . . .
In my opinion . . .
Asking for support or details
Why do you think that?
Could you elaborate?
Could you give (me) an example?
Can you illustrate that?
What evidence do you have?
Could you explain it in more detail?
Could you provide some details?
Supporting your opinions
Let me illustrate,
For example,
For instance,
To give you an example,
Let me give you an example,
To elaborate,
First, (second), etc.
(These phrases can be followed by details, examples, elaboration, or a summary of your main points.)
Asking for input
What do you think (about . . . )?
How do you feel (about . . . )?
Any ideas?
What are the alternatives?
Exploring Options
Let’s look at Option 1.
What (do you think) about Plan B?
How about the third alternative?
Let’s consider Bob’s proposal.
Moving on
Let’s move on to Option 2.
What about Plan C?
Let’s look at the fourth choice.
How about Mary’s idea?
Should we move on to the next point?
Before we move on, we need to consider . . .
Opening a discussion
To begin with,
We need to discuss . . .
determine
find out
Let’s start by (V ing)
We’ll start by (V ing)
The problem here is . . .
issue
question
The important thing (here) is . . .
The main thing we need to discuss is . . .
Let’s look at . . .
It looks like . . .
It appears that . . .
Asking for input
What do you think?
How about you?
How do you feel about that?
Any ideas on that?
Responding
(That sounds like a) good idea.
Sounds good.
The problem with that is . . .
That raises the issue of . . .
brings up
Asking for Elaboration
Could you elaborate (on that)?
Could you tell me a little more about it?
Could you give (me) some details?
Could you fill me in on that?
Could you expound on that?
What else can you tell us (about that)?
Is there anything else you can tell us?
Is there more to it?
Elaborating
To elaborate,
To give you more information,
Let me explain.
Let me elaborate.
Let me tell you a little more (about it).
Let me give you some details.
What’s more,
Clarifying your own ideas
In other words,
What I mean is . . .
What I’m trying to say is . . .
What I wanted to say was . . .
To clarify,
Asking for Clarification
What do you mean (by that)?
What are you trying to say?
What was that again?
Could you clarify that?
Clarifying another’s ideas
You mean . . .
What you mean is . . .
What you’re saying is . . .
(I think) what she means is . . .
What he’s trying to say is . . .
If I understand you, (you’re saying that . . . )
If I’m hearing you correctly,
So, you think (that) . . .
Interrupting politely
Excuse me,
Pardon me,
Sorry to interrupt,
May I interrupt (for a minute)?
Can I add something here?
I don’t mean to intrude, but . . .
Could I inject something here?
Do you mind if I jump in here?
Getting back to the topic
Anyway,
Now, where was I?
Where were we?
What were you saying?
You were saying . . .
To get back to . . .
Asking for Instructions
How do you (do this)?
How do I . . . ?
What is the best way to . . . ?
How do I go about it?
What do you suggest?
How do you suggest I proceed?
What is the first step?
Giving Instructions
Sequencing
First, (you) . . .
Then, (you) . . .
Next, (you) . . .
Lastly, (you) . . .
Starting out
Before you begin, (you should . . .)
The first thing you do is . . . .
I would start by . . .
The best place to begin is . . .
To begin with,
Continuing
After that,
The next step is to . . .
The next thing you do is . . .
Once you’ve done that, then . . .
When you finish that, then . . .
Finishing
The last step is . . .
The last thing you do is . . .
In the end,
When you’ve finished,
When you’ve completed all the steps,
If…..
If I were you, I would tell her.
What would you do if . . .
Suppose . . .
Imagine . . .
Present Hypothetical
If I were rich, I would buy a bigger house.
If I had a bigger house, I would invite my friends over.
Past Hypothetical
If Jack had been there, he could have prevented the incident.
If I had seen that movie, I would have cried.
Formal Hypothetical
Should you have any questions, feel free to contact me.
Had I been there, I might have been able to help.
General greetings and inquiries
How’s it going?
How’s everything?
How’s life? (This means “How are you?” not “Where are you going?”)
Asking about present activities
What’s up?
What’s happening? (What are you doing now?)
Asking and telling about recent events
What’s new?
Guess what? (What interesting has happened since I last saw you?)
(I want to tell you something. Ask me about it.)
(The appropriate response to this is “What?”)
A: Guess what?
A: I just got a new job. B: What?
B: Congratulations!
Bringing up a serious topic
Can I talk to you for a minute?
Do you have a minute?
Got a minute?
Rejoinders are quick responses to show that you are interested or paying attention.
(Oh) Really?
That’s interesting.
Is that right?
Note how rejoinders are used in the following situations.
1. I just got a new job.
2. I lost my wallet yesterday. Oh really? That’s great!
Oh really? That’s too bad.
Rejoinders may also take the form of follow-up questions. Note how they are used in the following situations.
1. I just bought a new car.
2. Johnny is in the hospital.
3. I’m going to Hawaii.
You did?
He is?
You are?
Asking for Opinions
What do you think?
What’s your opinion?
What are your ideas?
Do you have any thoughts on that?
How do you feel about that?
Giving Opinions
I think we should get a new car.
I don’t think we need one.
I believe (that) smoking should be outlawed.
I don’t believe (that) it should be illegal.
In my opinion, Gone with the Breeze is the best movie ever made.
I feel that it’s the right thing to do.
I don’t feel that it’s such a good idea.
Asking for Advice
What do you think I should do?
What do you suggest?
What would you do (in this situation)?
Giving Advice
I think you should get a lawyer.
Maybe you should try someplace else.
Why don’t you call the company?
Expressing Goodwill
. . .when someone is arriving
Welcome
Welcome back!
Come in.
It’s good to meet you.
(first time only)
It’s good to see you again.
(after the first time)
. . . when someone is leaving
It’s been nice talking with you.
Have a good/nice day.
Have a nice weekend.
Have a nice trip.
Have fun.
Keep in touch.
Encouragement
Good luck!
Good luck on your test.
You can do it!
Do your best.
Do the best you can.
Work hard.
Keep up the good work.
Reassurance
Take it easy.
Don’t worry.
That’s okay.
It’s going to be all right.
Everything will be fine.
No problem.
Responses to good news
Wow!
That’s great!
That’s wonderful.
That’s really good news.
I’m glad/happy to hear that.
Congratulations!
Good for you!
Good job!
Responses to bad news
That’s too bad.
That’s really sad.
That’s terrible!
(for really bad news)
I’m sorry to hear that.
(for sad news)
Country and Nationality
Country Nationality Nationality (plural) Language
I am from . . . I am . . . They are . . . I speak . . .
She is from . . . He is . . . We are . . . He speaks . . .
Armenia Armenian Armenians Armenian
Bulgaria Bulgarian Bulgarians Bulgarian
Cambodia Cambodian Cambodians Cambodian
Estonia Estonian Estonians Estonian
Indonesia Indonesian Indonesians Indonesian
Latvia Latvian Latvians Latvian
Lithuania Lithuanian Lithuanians Lithuanian
Mongolia Mongolian Mongolians Mongolian
Romania Romanian Romanians Romanian
Russia Russian Russians Russian
Italy Italian Italians Italian
Hungary Hungarian Hungarians Hungarian
Ukraine Ukrainian Ukrainians Ukrainian
Australia Australian Australians English
Austria Austrian Austrians German
Bolivia Bolivian Bolivians Spanish
Colombia Colombian Colombians Spanish
Syria Syrian Syrians Arabic
India Indian Indians Hindi, Tamil, etc.
Nigeria Nigerian Nigerians Ibo, Hausa, etc.
Brazil Brazilian Brazilians Portuguese
Canada Canadian Canadians English, French
Malaysia Malay(sian) Malay(sian)s Malay, Cantonese, etc.
Norway Norwegian Norwegian Norwegian
Belgium Belgian Belgians French, Flemish
Egypt Egyptian Egyptians Arabic
Iran Iranian Iranians Persian, Farsi
Peru Peruvian Peruvians Spanish
Korea Korean Koreans Korean
Samoa Samoan Samoans Samoan
Tonga Tongan Tongans Tongan
Germany German Germans German
Cuba Cuban Cubans Spanish
Costa Rica Costa Rican Costa Ricans Spanish
Guatemala Guatemalan Guatemalans Spanish
Nicaragua Nicaraguan Nicaraguans Spanish
Paraguay Paraguayan Paraguayans Spanish
Uruguay Uruguayan Uruguayans Spanish
Venezuela Venezuelan Venezuelans Spanish
Chile Chilean Chileans Spanish
Singapore Singaporean Singaporeans English, Chinese, etc.
Mexico Mexican Mexicans Spanish
Honduras Honduran Hondurans Spanish
Dominican Republic Dominican Dominicans Spanish
South Africa South African South Africans Afrikaans, English, etc.
The United States American Americans English
Japan Japanese Japanese Japanese
Vietnam Vietnamese Vietnamese Vietnamese
China Chinese Chinese Chinese
Portugal Portuguese Portuguese Portuguese
Taiwan Chinese Chinese Chinese, Taiwanese
Nepal Nepalese Nepalese Nepali
Denmark Danish Danish/Danes Danish
Finland Finnish Finnish/Finns Finnish
Poland Polish Polish/Poles Polish
Spain Spanish Spanish/Spaniards Spanish
Sweden Swedish Swedish/Swedes Swedish
England British British/English English
Scotland Scottish Scottish/Scots English
Turkey Turkish Turkish/Turks Turkish
Ireland Irish Irish Gaelic, English
Bangladesh Bangladeshi Bangladeshis Bengali
Iraq Iraqi Iraqis Arabic
Israel Israeli Israelis Hebrew
Kuwait Kuwaiti Kuwaitis Arabic
Pakistan Pakistani Pakistanis Urdu
Qatar Qatari Qataris Arabic
Thailand Thai Thai(s) Thai
France French French French
Greece Greek Greeks Greek
The Philippines Filipino Filipinos Tagalog, English, etc.
Czech Republic Czech Czechs Czech
Switzerland Swiss Swiss German, French, etc.
Iceland Icelander Icelanders Icelandic
New Zealand (a) New Zealander New Zealanders English
The Netherlands Dutch Dutch Dutch
Adding information
And
In addition
As well as
Also
Too
Furthermore
Moreover
Apart from
In addition to
Besides
Ideas are often linked by and. In a list, you put a comma between each item, but not before and.
“We discussed training, education and the budget.”
Also is used to add an extra idea or emphasis. “We also spoke about marketing.”
You can use also with not only to give emphasis.
“We are concerned not only by the costs, but also by the competition.”
We don’t usually start a sentence with also. If you want to start a sentence with a phrase that means also, you can use In addition, or In addition to this…
As well as can be used at the beginning or the middle of a sentence.
“As well as the costs, we are concerned by the competition.”
“We are interested in costs as well as the competition.”
Too goes either at the end of the sentence, or after the subject and means as well.
“They were concerned too.”
“I, too, was concerned.”
Apart from and besides are often used to mean as well as, or in addition to.
“Apart from Rover, we are the largest sports car manufacturer.”
“Besides Rover, we are the largest sports car manufacturer.”
Moreover and furthermore add extra information to the point you are making.
“Marketing plans give us an idea of the potential market. Moreover, they tell us about the competition.”
Summarizing
In short
In brief
In summary
To summarize
In a nutshell
To conclude
In conclusion
We normally use these words at the beginning of the sentence to give a summary of what we have said or written.
Sequencing ideas
The former, … the latter
Firstly, secondly, finally
The first point is
Lastly
The following
The former and the latter are useful when you want to refer to one of two points.
“Marketing and finance are both covered in the course. The former is studied in the first term and the latter is studied in the final term.”
Firstly, … secondly, … finally (or lastly) are useful ways to list ideas.
It’s rare to use “fourthly”, or “fifthly”. Instead, try the first point, the second point, the third point and so on.
The following is a good way of starting a list.
“The following people have been chosen to go on the training course: N Peters, C Jones and A Owen.”
Giving a reason
Due to / due to the fact that
Owing to / owing to the fact that
Because
Because of
Since
As
Due to and owing to must be followed by a noun.
“Due to the rise in oil prices, the inflation rate rose by 1.25%.”
“Owing to the demand, we are unable to supply all items within 2 weeks.”
If you want to follow these words with a clause (a subject, verb and object), you must follow the words with the fact that.
“Due to the fact that oil prices have risen, the inflation rate has gone up by 1%25.”
“Owing to the fact that the workers have gone on strike, the company has been unable to fulfil all its orders.”
Because / because of
Because of is followed by a noun.
“Because of bad weather, the football match was postponed.”
Because can be used at the beginning or in the middle of a sentence. For example, “Because it was raining, the match was postponed.”
“We believe in incentive schemes, because we want our employees to be more productive.”
Since / as
Since and as mean because.
“Since the company is expanding, we need to hire more staff.”
“As the company is expanding, we need to hire more staff.”
Giving a result
Therefore
So
Consequently
This means that
As a result
Therefore, so, consequently and as a result are all used in a similar way.
“The company are expanding. Therefore / So / Consequently / As a result, they are taking on extra staff.”
So is more informal.
Contrasting ideas
But
However
Although / even though
Despite / despite the fact that
In spite of / in spite of the fact that
Nevertheless
Nonetheless
While
Whereas
Unlike
In theory… in practice…
But is more informal than however. It is not normally used at the beginning of a sentence.
“He works hard, but he doesn’t earn much.”
“He works hard. However, he doesn’t earn much.”
Although, despite and in spite of introduce an idea of contrast. With these words, you must have two halves of a sentence.
“Although it was cold, she went out in shorts.”
“In spite of the cold, she went out in shorts.”
Despite and in spite of are used in the same way as due to and owing to. They must be followed by a noun. If you want to follow them with a noun and a verb, you must use the fact that.
“Despite the fact that the company was doing badly, they took on extra employees.”
Nevertheless and nonetheless mean in spite of that or anyway.
“The sea was cold, but he went swimming nevertheless.” (In spite of the fact that it was cold.)
“The company is doing well. Nonetheless, they aren’t going to expand this year.”
While, whereas and unlike are used to show how two things are different from each other.
“While my sister has blue eyes, mine are brown.”
“Taxes have gone up, whereas social security contributions have gone down.”
“Unlike in the UK, the USA has cheap petrol.”
In theory… in practice… show an unexpected result.
“In theory, teachers should prepare for lessons, but in practice, they often don’t have enough time.”
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