Most Common Expressions

 Agreeing/Disagreeing

There is no clearly defined difference between formal and informal ways of agreeing or disagreeing but it’s good to be careful about using expressions that sound too informal in certain situations. Click on the audio jukebox to hear the expressions according to tracks.


To download the audio file of the expression click here.

• Track 1- Simple agreement 
•  
1. I agree.
2. I really agree with you.
3. I think you are right.
4. I couldn’t agree with you more.
5. You said it.
6. Can’t say I don’t agree.
7. I’m with you on this.
8. I partly agree
9. I agree on this but not that.
10. It’s partly true.

• Track 2 - Accepting/Declining/Expressing acceptance 
•  
• I accept your point.
• Please accept this on our behalf.
• Sorry, I can’t accept this.
• I’m 100% with you on this!
• Great idea.
• I’ll take it.
• Sorry, I can’t take it.
• Accept my apology.
•  
• Track 3 - Simple disagreement or refusal
•  
• I disagree with you.
• Everyone has their own opinion, right?
• I think you’re wrong on this.
• I’m sorry but I have to refuse your request.
• You’re wrong.
•   No way!
• You’ve got to be kidding!
• How can you even say that?
• Where is your logic?
•  
• Track 4 - Strong disagreement
•  
• I completely disagree with you.
• You are very wrong to say that.
• I totally disagree with you.
• I can’t find myself to agree with you.
• You’re dead wrong.
• You’re way wrong.

Apologizing and Explaining oneself

There are a few ways to apologize but a good thing to remember is that we usually add something to an apology:

• Part 1- Apologies
•  
• I’m sorry…                    
• I’m very sorry…                    
• I’m terribly sorry…                        
• Excuse me…                     
• Pardon me…                     
• I apologize…                              
• I’m afraid…  

• Part 2 - Explaining Oneself ,
•  Accepting Responsibility
•  
• …I wasn’t very well yesterday
• …I didn’t see you
• …It won’t happen again
• …I’ll be more careful next time
• …I’ll finish it before I go home
• …It’s my fault
• …It’s all my fault

“Excuse me! - Bothering people

This one is a general collection of expressions to use when you must bother someone for ANY particular reason…
Such as…
…asking people to be quiet
…conversation openers
…permission and requests
…thanking and replying
…getting somebody’s attention

 

Asking people to be quiet

Less polite

• Shut up! [impolite]
• Quiet! / kwaöWt / Be quiet!
• Shh!

More polite

• Could you be quiet, please?

Conversation openers

• Excuse me, is anyone sitting here?
• Sorry, have you got the time, please?
• I think we’ve met before, haven’t we?
• It’s really hot, isn’t it?
• Are you going all the way to San Francisco?

Permission and requests

• Could I use your pen?
• Do you mind if I borrow your dictionary?
• (‘Do you mind if I…?’ means ‘Is it a problem for you if I…?’)

Getting somebody’s attention

• Excuse me, have you got a moment?                                 
• Sorry to bother you, but could I just ask you something? 
• Excuse me, can you spare a minute or two?                      
• Excuse me, are you in a hurry?                                          
• Sure. Go ahead.
• It depends what it is.
• Sorry, I’m late already.

Getting to know you! Polite topics when meeting for the first time

There are certain topics that are polite to discuss when getting to know someone. Here are some of them:
 

•  

·         Talking about your background

• Originally I’m from….
• I was (born and) brought up in…
• I come from a (sporty/musical) family.
• My proudest moment was…-ing
• I’ve always dreamt of –ing/ wanted to +verb

Describing your language ability

• I’m fluent in Polish.
• I speak Spanish reasonably well.
• I can get by in Portuguese.
• I speak French but it is a bit rusty.
• I know a few words of Japanese.
• I wish I could speak Italian.

like, such as, and that sort of thing

• I like music such as opera, choral music, and classical music.
• I really love modern music like house, rap, reggae, and hip hop.

After one or two examples, we can use an expression meaning ‘et cetera’.

• I’m fond of opera, and that sort of thing.
• I like jazz, rock, and that sort of thing.

Showing a lot of interest

• Wow!
• Really?
• (That’s) interesting!
• (That’s) fantastic

Expressing Goodbyes and Farewells in English

There are many ways of saying good-bye, just as there are many of saying hello, and it is important to use an expression of the appropriate tone and register. In the end, it’s all up to your judgment but remember that using a very formal expression with someone who is your friend, as it may sound sarcastic.
 

Simple good-byes (Formal)

• Good-bye
• Stay in touch.
• It was nice meeting you.
• I hope to see you soon.

Simple good-byes (Informal)

• Bye.
• See you.
• Talk to you later.
• Catch up with you later.
• Nice seeing you.

Leaving a place (Formal)

• I have to leave here by noon.
• Is it okay if we leave your home at 9pm?
• What do you say we leave work a little earlier today?
• Would you mind if I leave the dinner before it ends?
• I need to depart for the airport in one hour.

Leaving a place (Informal)

• I got to go now.
• I’ll be leaving from the office in 20 minutes.
• How about we jet off to the shops now?
• I’m afraid I have to head off now.
• Let’s get off work early.

English Greeting Expressions

There are many ways of greeting people, both formal and informal. The speaker’s task is to choose the appropriate one for the situation. It is also useful to know lots of different ones so as to not repeat yourself when you meet a number of people at the same time. As with any other aspect, you need to be careful about using informal expressions with people who you do not know well or whose rank or status is higher than yours.
 

General greetings (Formal)

1. Hello!
2. How are you?
3. How are you doing?
4. How is everything?
5. How’s everything going?
6. How have you been keeping?
7. I trust that everything is well.

General greetings (Informal)

8. Hi.
9. What’s up?
10. Good to see you.
11. How are things (with you)?
12. How’s it going?
13. How’s life been treating you?

Greeting a person you haven’t seen for a long time (Formal)

14. It has been a long time.
15. It’s been too long.
16. What have you been up to all these years?
17. It’s always a pleasure to see you.
18. How long has it been?
19. I’m so happy to see you again.

Greeting a person you haven’t seen for a long time (Informal)

• How come I never see you?
• It’s been such a long time.
• Long time no see.
• Where have you been hiding?
• It’s been ages since we last met.

English Interrupting Expressions- How to interrupt someone

When you want to stop someone interrupting, don’t pause for too long, don’t lower your voice, and (if you want) you can refuse to be interrupted.
You can use the following phrases to interrupt politely:

How to interrupt

• Actually…
• Excuse me…
• I’m sorry, but…
• I just want to say…
• May I interrupt here?
• Do you mind if I say something?

Paraphrasing Expressions

Paraphrasing means repeating things in a different way. You use the technique to:

• check that you have understood what someone means.
• emphasize a point, or make sure that your meaning is clear. This is useful when speaking to people whose first language is not English.

 

Introducing paraphrasing

• So you mean….
• What you mean is…
• What you’re saying is…
• So what you mean to say is…
• Let me get this clear…
• Let me get this straight,…

Requesting Permission Expressions

There are many ways of requesting permission in English. However, knowing when to use the right request formula or structure is a bit tricky. This can be determined by asking yourself these questions:

• Does the other person have higher status than you? (e.g. more authority or older)?
• Is the other person a stranger, an acquaintance, a colleague, a friend or a relative? (You don’t need polite formulas with people you know well – it sounds sarcastic.)
• Is your request going to cause the other person trouble or extra work?
• Is the other person in a good mood or a bad mood?

 

• …Could I use your phone?
• …Might I possibly use your phone?
• …Sorry to trouble you, but do you mind if I use your phone?
• …Would you mind if I used your phone?
• …May I use your phone?
• …Can I use your phone?
• …I wonder if I could use your phone.

Telephone Expressions

There are certain expressions that are always used while talking on the telephone. Even though it is not impossible to use more general conversation terminology, it is still preferable to stick with the accepted phone language: it will sound more professional. Here are some basics:

•  

Phone greetings

		more informal
identifying the listener	Is that Bruno Zola? Could I speak to Bruno Zola, please?	Is that Bruno? Are you Bruno? Is that you, Bruno?
saying who you are	(Yes,) speaking.	Yes (it is).
introducing yourself	My name’s Elena Luma.	It’s Elena. I’m Elena. This is Elena. Here is Elena.

Asking people to speak slowly/speak up

·         Sorry, could you speak slowly, please?        Yes, sure.
Could you speak up, please?                         Yes, of course.

·          

Ending a phone conversation

·         When you phone for information, you can often end with phrases like this:

• OK, I think that’s everything I need.
• OK, I think I’ve got all the details
• Thanks. You’ve been very helpful.
• Thanks very much for your help.
• Bye bye. Goodbye.

Thanks and Expressions of Gratitude

Most languages have an automatic response to thanks. The British do not automatically respond to thanks, but Americans do. A response is not necessary in British English, but is becoming more frequent. In the past, You’re welcome sounded very American. Nowadays it’s common in Britain too. Another common response in Britain is No problem (at all). Remember that Please is not an acceptable response to thanks in either Britain or the USA.
 

Thanking someone

• Thanks.
• Thank you.
• Thanks a lot.
• Thank you very much.
• Thank you very much indeed.
• It was very kind of you.
• I appreciate your help.
• You’ve been very helpful.

Thanking someone who tires to help

• Thanks anyway.
• Thank you for (looking).
• Thanks for (trying).
• It doesn’t matter. Thanks.
• Never mind. Thanks.

Responding to thanks

• You’re welcome. (US)
• Not at all. (formal, UK)
• Don’t mention it.
• (It’s) my pleasure.
• It was nothing.
• That’s alright/OK.
• No problem.
• Any time.

Hesitation Strategies - Conversation Time Fillers

Often we want to give ourselves thinking time before we answer a question, especially if we don’t understand it! Here are four techniques:
 

Techniques	Examples	Advantages	Disadvantages
Pretend you haven’t heard	Pardon? Sorry? Eh?	Simple – only one word to remember.	Everyone does it.
Repeat the question	You mean…what is forty-five divided by nine?	Lots of thinking time.	Can you remember the question?
Use delaying noises	Well… Um… Er…	You can use them several times in the same sentence.	If you use them too often you sound stupid.
Use it depends	It depends. It depends on (the situation). Sorry? You want to know what I think about this? Well…um…it depends, really.	You will sound intelligent. (Stroke your chin at the same time).	You can only use it when there is more than one possible answer.

Don’t forget that you can use more than one technique

Weekends - Asking about what people did?

People often like to ask each other how they spent their holidays or weekend. There are a number of ways to both ask and answer questions about it.

How was...?

How was your weekend?

It was lovely. How was yours?            (great)
It was terrible.                                      (really bad)
It was nice.                                           (fine)
A bit boring.                                         (not very interesting)

Link words: then / after that

• We had a drink. Then we went to the cinema.
• OR We had a drink, and then we went to the cinema.
• I went shopping. After that I met my sister.
• OR I went shopping, and after that, I met my sister.

Anyway, so anyway

In spoken English, you use anyway or so anyway when you want to begin the next part of the story, or go back to then main story.

• Janet didn’t know about it. So anyway, we got in the helicopter, and…
• We drank the champagne. Anyway, we landed and…

Realize, remember, find out

The past perfect is often used after the verbs realize, remember and  find out.