SHOPPING Phrases, Dialogs and Phrasal Verbs!

 

Here is what you will find in this article. Click on any topic you want to read more about!

1. Shopping Vocabulary
2. Finding the right store / shop
3. Opening times
4. Selecting goods
5. Making Payment
6. Returns and complaints
7. Things written on signs
8. Using a credit card
9. Prices and numbers
10. Making comparisons
11. Different ways of asking someone to SHOW you something
12. When you want to TRY something
13. If you’d like the shop assistant to give you a DIFFERENT SIZE OR COLOUR
14. When you finally decide what you want to BUY
15. Example conversations between a shop assistant, customer and cashier
16. Phrasal verbs related to shopping

 

Whether you love shopping, or just shop when you need to, you can practice your English at the same time!
Shopping is a great way to communicate with lots of different people, and it really helps to boost your confidence in speaking English!
You might hesitate or make mistakes to begin with, if you’re a bit nervous, but that’s completely normal. You may even find it hard to understand what the shop assistant is saying to you, if you don’t understand all the words!
If you familiarise yourself with the phrases and vocabulary in this blog, then you’ll know what you should expect to hear from the people you talk to on your shopping spree. It’ll make shopping a more enjoyable experience, and improve your English too!
The more you do it, the easier it will get, and the more natural it will feel!.
People:

• Customer
• Cashier / clerk
• Attendant / assistant
• Manager

Shopping:

• Wallet (male)
• Purse (female)
• Scale
• Till / Counter
• Barcode
• Receipt
• Gift receipt
• Aisle
• Shelf / shelves
• Trolley / s
• Basket / s
• Lift / s
• Escalator / s
• Bag / s
• Fitting rooms / changing rooms

Ways to Pay:

• Cheques
• Cash
• Notes
• Coins
• Card machine
• Chop and pin machine
• Credit cards / debit cards
• Loyalty card

Where to Buy:

• convenience store / general store / newsagents / department store / shop / store
• chemist / pharmacy
• toy shop / toy store
• book shop
• ladies clothing shop / boutique
• men’s clothing shop / tailor
• shoe shop / cobbler’s
• jeweller’s / jewellery store
• opticians / optometrists
• electrical store
• record shop
• ironmonger’s / ironmongery
• charity shop / second hand shop
• haberdasher’s / haberdashery
• shopping centre
• shopping mall / mall
• market
• florist / botanist
• butcher’s
• fishmonger’s / seafood store
• greengrocers / grocery store
• baker’s / bakery
• delicatessen
• grocer’s
• DIY store / home supply store
• hardware store
• off-licence
• post office
• supermarket
• gardening store / gardening centre

USEFUL PHRASES THAT A CLERK OR CUSTOMER MIGHT USE

1. Finding the right store / shop


Questions:

• Can you recommend a good toy shop/store?
• Is there a chemist / pharmacy in this area?
• Where can I get pet food from?
• Where is the nearest shopping centre?
• Could you direct me to the nearest post office please?
• Do you know where the nearest hardware store is?

Responses:

• There is a really good book shop just around the corner.
• You can buy that here in the hotel.
• The nearest one is a few mile away.
• The best toy shop is in the shopping centre.
• The post office isn’t open on Sundays.
• The convenience store on the corner might sell that.
• 2. Opening times 
  Questions:
  
• What time are you open until?
• What time do you close today?
• Are you open on the weekends?
• Are you open all day?
• What are your opening hours?
• Are you open on Sundays?
• Are you open every day during the week?
• What time do you open tomorrow?

Responses:

• We’re open from 9am to 6pm.
• We’re open on weekdays only (Monday to Friday).
• We’re open from 10am to 8pm.
• We’re open 7 days a week.
• We’re open 24/7 (24 hours a day, 7 days a week).
• We’re closed at lunchtime, between 12pm and 2pm.
• We’re closed on Bank Holidays (national holidays).
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• Selecting goods Clerk’s / Assistant’s Questions:
  
• Can / May I help you?
• Can I help you find something?
• What colour would you like?
• What size would you like?
• Is there anything else I can help you with?
• Would you like to try it on?
• Is that any good?
• What can I do for you?
• How does it fit?
• How about this one?
• Anything else?
• Would you like anything else?

Customer’s Questions:

• Excuse me, do you work here?
• Could you help me please?
• I’m looking for a ….
• I’m trying to find a ….
• Could you tell me where the …. is, please?
• How much is this?
• How much are these?
• How much does this cost?
• How much is that …. in the window?
• Where can I find the …. ?
• Do you sell …. ?
• Do you have any … ?
• Would you have this in another colour?
• Have you got anything cheaper?
• Do you have something less pricey (expensive)?
• Do you have this item in stock?
• Do you have a smaller/bigger/larger size?
• Do you know where else I could try?
• Does it come with a guarantee/warranty?
• Where is the changing/fitting room?
• Is there somewhere I can try it/this/them on, please?
• Where can I weigh my groceries?
• Do/Can you deliver?
• Do you have a refund policy?
• Is this in the sale? 
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• 
  Clerk’s / Assistant’s Responses:
  
• I’m afraid that’s the only colour we have.
• Sorry, we don’t have any more in stock.
• Sorry, we don’t sell those / them here.
• I’m afraid we don’t have any more left.
• I have exactly what you’re looking for.
• This one is on sale right now!
• It comes with a manufacturer’s warranty.
• It comes with a 1-year guarantee.
• The changing / fitting rooms are that way.
• The scales are by the counter over there. That’s where you can weigh your groceries.
• That one is ….(price).
• They’re ….(price) each.
• You can get a refund if you keep the receipt safe, and bring it back within 2 weeks.
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• 4. Making payment 
  
  Cashier’s / Clerk’s Questions:
  
• Are you in the queue?
• Are you being served?
• Who’s next?
• Next, please!
• How would you like to pay?
• Will that be cash or credit?
• Do you have a loyalty card?
• Would you like a bag?
• Can I help you with anything else?
• Will that be all?
• Would you like a gift receipt for that?
• Would you like me to gift wrap it for you?
• Would you like that gift wrapped?
• Would you like any cashback?
• Put your card into the machine, please.
• Enter your PIN, please.
• That comes to ….(price), please.
• The total is ….(price).
• That’s ….(price), please.

Customer’s Questions:

• Do you take credit cards?
• Can I pay by cheque, please?
• Could I have a receipt, please?
• Could I have a gift receipt, please?
• Could you gift wrap that for me please?
• Can I put one item back, please? I’ve changed my mind about this one.
• Could I leave my bags here, and pick them up later, please?
• Do you offer a cash discount?
• Does it have a warranty / guarantee?

Cashier’s / Clerk’s Responses:

• We take / accept all major credit cards.
• Sorry, we don’t accept cheques.
• I’m afraid we take cash only.
• We’re offering 6 months credit, with no deposit, if you’re interested.

Customer’s Responses:

• I’ll pay in cash
• I’ll pay by card
• Here’s ….(money), keep the change!
• That’s it for today.
• That’s all, thanks.
• Thank you. Have a good day!
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• 5. Returns and complaints
  Questions:
  
• Who can I speak to about making a complaint?
• Could I have a refund please?
• Can I speak to the manager please?
• I’d like to return this please.
• I’d like to make a complaint.
• I’d like to change this for a different size please.
• Do you have the original receipt?
• Did you buy it from one of our other stores?
• Can I ask why you’re returning it please?
• Can I ask why you’ve changed your mind please?

Responses:

• It doesn’t work.
• It doesn’t fit.
• It was a gift, but I don’t like it.
• It was a gift, but the person I bought it for doesn’t like it.

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55 Most Commonly Used British and American Slang Words and Their Meanings!!!

It is probably one of the hardest aspects of the English language to learn, because there are so many variations in each small town, let alone in different English-speaking countries!
People use slang to sound less formal. Slang is mainly used because it relaxes the mouth, and allows people to speak in a more comfortable way. It is a lot easier to use slang than ‘perfect English’, which is probably why it’s so common!

1. UNREAL

Something that is unbelievably cool or brilliant

I love this party, it’s just unreal!

2. PROPS

This means respect, recognition

I know he failed the test, but you’ve got to give him props for trying.

3. KUDOS

Another word for respect, recognition

Kudos for organising this party. It’s brilliant!

4. BOTTOM LINE

The main point

The bottom line is we just don’t have enough money to make it work.

5. DISS

When a person disrespects someone else

Stop dissing her behind her back. Show some respect!

6. DIG

To really like something

Hey, I dig your new style. Where did you buy that T-shirt?

7. BOB’S YOUR UNCLE

This is a well-used phrase in the UK. It is added to the end of sentences, and means something like and that’s it!

• How did you make this cake? It’s delicious!
• Well, I just mixed in the batter thoroughly, poured it into a cake pan, baked it for 30 minutes and Bob’s your uncle!

8. BUDGE UP

When you ask someone to move and make space for you

 I want to sit down too, could you budge up a little please?

9. ACE

This has two meanings, something that is awesome, really cool
Or to achieve something with perfection, really easily 

– Ace! I just got a promotion at work!
– Robert aced his physics exam!

10. ALL RIGHT?

This means ‘hello, how are you?’

• All right?
• Good thanks, you all right?

11. FULL OF BEANS

This means to have loads of energy

All the children were full of beans at the party today. I couldn’t get any of them to sit still!

12. BLATANT

Something that is really obvious

She’s blatantly very annoyed, everyone can see it apart from you.

13. PEAR SHAPED

This means something has become a disaster

I was trying to organise a surprise birthday party for her, but it’s all gone pear shaped!

14. PIECE OF CAKE

When someone is boasting or they think something is extremely easy to do, they would use this

• What did you think of the exam? I thought it was really difficult.
• No, it was a piece of cake!

15. BLIMEY

This is an exclamation of surprise

Blimey, look at all this mess here! I’d only left the house for an hour, and look what you’ve done!

16. BOTCH

There are two ways of using this expression –‘to botch something up’ or ‘to do a botch job’. They both mean that the work done was not of a high standard, or was clumsy workmanship

The builder did a terrible job on the roof. He just botched it up, and it still leaks every time it rains!

17. CHEERS

Used when drinking with friends to salute or make a toast (raise your glasses and clink them together)

Cheers everyone! Happy birthday to John!

18. SMASHING

This means something is terrific, brilliant

I had a smashing time on holiday, it was so much fun!

19. SOD’S LAW

This is another name for Murphy’s Law – whatever can go wrong, will go wrong

• I wore my pretty new dress, because it was a sunny day, but as soon as I stepped out of the house, it started raining, and I got completely soaked!
• Sod’s Law!

20. CHIN WAG

This means having a nice, long chat with someone. You can probably tell why!

I saw Mary after such a long time yesterday! We had a lovely chin wag together, like the good old days.

21. CHUFFED

Used when someone is really pleased about something

My mum bought me a fantastic car when I passed my driving test. I was chuffed to bits!

22. CRAM

This means to study hard in a very short period of time

I was so busy with my family before the exam, that I only had three days to cram in all the revision work!

23. NICE ONE

Can be used when someone does something particularly impressive

• I published my first book last year, and I’ve already started working on the sequel!
• Nice one! You’re doing really well.

24. CRIKEY

An exclamation of surprise

• I went shopping today! (comes in with lots of bags)
• Crikey! Have you spent all of our savings??!!

25. DEAR

Something that is expensive 

I avoid going shopping into the town centre nowadays, everything is so dear!

26. FAFF

This is when someone procrastinates, or wastes time wondering around

Come on we have to go now. Stop faffing around, we’re going to be late!

27. DO

Another word for a party

Are you going to Lizzie’s birthday do next week? 

28. FLOG

To sell something

I managed to flog my car for a really good price!

29. FORTNIGHT

Two weeks. This comes from an abbreviation of ‘fourteen nights’

I’ve been really ill for the past fortnight, and still haven’t recovered.

30. GOBSMACKED

This means amazed (your gob is your mouth, and if you smack your gob, it would be out of amazement!)

I can’t believe I passed that exam! I thought I was going to fail, I’m completely gobsmacked!

31. SPLASH OUT

When you spend far too much money                                

I wanted to give Sarah a special treat for her birthday, so I splashed out on a very romantic weekend away.

32. GRUB / NOSH

Both these words mean food                                                                                                    

I’m going to get some grub for myself from the local takeaway. Do you want anything?

33. BEE’S KNEES

Something or someone fabulous, spectacular

– You should see my new sound-system, it’s the bee’s knees!– I don’t like Harvey very much, he thinks he’s the bee’s knees!

34. GUTTED

When someone is really upset or disappointed

I’m so gutted I failed my driving test, again!

35. PEANUTS

When something is cheap, financially low

– I hate my job. I have to work such long hours, and I get paid peanuts.– You should buy your clothes on-line. You can find some great designs for peanuts! 

36. HAGGLE

To argue over, and try to negotiate the price of something you want to buy

– The last time I went shopping with my mum, she was haggling for something that was already really cheap!
– I managed to haggle the price of this shirt down by 25%!

37. JOLLY

You might hear people use this in all sorts of ways, but basically it means ‘very’. So “jolly good” would mean ‘very good’

• Don’t worry, I will pay you back before the end of this month.
• I should jolly well think so!

38. THROW A SPANNER IN THE WORKS

This is an expression that means to wreck something

I managed to keep the surprise a secret, right up until the day before my sister’s birthday, then he threw a spanner in the works by telling her!

39. KIP 

A short sleep, forty winks, a nap, a power nap, or a snooze.

Why don’t you try and have a kip before everyone gets here? You won’t have time to rest later.

40. WIND UP

This has a couple of meanings. If something you do is a ‘wind up’ it means you are making fun of someone – you could be called a wind-up merchant if you do this.
However, if you are ‘wound up’ it means you are annoyed.

– John really is a wind-up merchant, but the girl he was picking on was so gullible!
– I was just winding her up for fun, but she took offence to it and got really angry!

41. MATE

This means friend, chum, pal, or buddy.

I’m going to the cinema with my mates tonight.

42. NOT MY CUP OF TEA

This is a common saying which means that something is not to your liking.

I don’t really like this sort of music. It’s just not my cup of tea.

43. PORKIES

This means telling lies. It comes from cockney rhyming slang. Short for ‘porky pies’, meaning ‘pork pies’, which rhymes with lies!

Don’t listen to her, she’s telling porkies!

44. ROW

This means an argument (rhymes with ‘cow’)

My brother had a huge row with his girlfriend yesterday. He’s really upset!

45. DONKEY’S YEARS

If someone says ‘I haven’t seen you in donkey’s years’, it means they haven’t seen you for a very long time!

Hi Sarah! What a surprise to see you here. I haven’t seen you in donkey’s years! How have you been?

46. EASY PEASY

A childish term for something very easy

I could make that for you, if you like? It’s easy peasy!

47. SORTED

When someone asks you about a problem you have already fixed, you could say this.
You can also say “get it sorted”, when you are telling someone to get on with something they have to do.

• What’s happening about that roof leak then?
• Oh that’s sorted now. I found a really good builder to do the job.

48. STROP

If someone is sulking or being particularly miserable, you would say they are ‘being stroppy’, or ‘throwing a strop’

Janet would you please cheer up? It’s your birthday, don’t be so stroppy!

49. CHEERIO

This is a friendly way of saying goodbye

Right, I have to go now, see you soon. Cheerio!

50. WANGLE

This is used to say some people have all the luck

I can’t believe he managed to wangle an upgrade on their airline seats, AND the honeymoon suite in their hotel!

51. BLINDING

If something is a blinding success, it means it was awesome, brilliant

They had a blinding party after their wedding ceremony. Everyone had such a great time!

52. WONKY

If something is shaky or unstable, you might say it is wonky.

I can’t eat my dinner at this table. It’s wonky and won’t stop wobbling!

53. ZONKED

If someone is zonked or ‘zonked out’ it means they are totally knackered, or exhausted

He had a lot of fun at his birthday party earlier, but he’s completely zonked out now!

54. DODGY

If someone or something is a bit dodgy, it is not to be trusted.

I saw a few dodgy-looking people standing around along that quiet street near our house, so just to be on the safe side, I notified the police.
This food looks a bit dodgy, it might have passed its expiry date. I don’t think we should eat it.

55. LEG IT

This is a way of saying ‘run’ or ‘run for it’

I went out on Halloween night, and someone jumped out from behind a bush to scare me. I was so frightened, that I just legged it all the way back home!

 

42 Easy to Memorize English Idioms Related to School and Education

English Idioms Related to School and Education

1. PUT / GET YOUR THINKING CAP ONTo engage your mind and think in a serious manner.

• Right, we need to figure out how we’re going to solve this problem before mum and dad get back, so let’s put our thinking caps on!

2. DRAW A BLANK
To get no response from someone when they are asked a question.

• I asked him about his plans for Christmas, but I just drew a blank. He didn’t seem to understand what I was asking him!

3. BACK TO BASICS
An approach that uses traditional ideas and methods which have been successful in the past.

• They seem to prefer having everything back to basics in their office. They have minimal use of advanced technology, but apparently find everything simpler and easier to manage.

4. AS EASY AS ABC
Something that is very simple or easy.

• That jigsaw puzzle is as easy as ABC, I don’t understand why you’ve been struggling with it for so long.
• 5. COPYCAT
  Used to describe someone who copies another person’s work.
  
• I don’t like talking to her about my wedding plans because she’s such a copycat! I know she’ll steal my ideas and use them for her own wedding.

6. COVER A LOT OF GROUND
When a lot of work needs to be completed. If there is a lot of research to be done, or material to get through.

• Our team have done so well over the past two weeks, we’ve managed to cover so much ground that I feel this programmer9. DROP OUT OF SCHOOL (phrasal verb) / DROPOUT (noun)
  To stop attending school completely (leave without graduating).
  
• She dropped out of school at the age of 14 to help her sick grandmother at home, but now she runs her own successful nursing home for the elderly!
• He’s a dropout, I can’t see him being anything successful with his current reputation.

10. SHOW OF HANDS
Raising hands to vote about something.
With a show of hands, who would prefer to have longer working days but a shorter working week

• may be ready by the end of this month!
• We have to complete our research within the next month. We still have a lot of ground to cover, and I fear we may not get everything done in time.

7. COUNT NOSES
To count the number of people around you (generally used on a school trip, to check for missing students).

• My grandmother was constantly counting noses at the birthday party. I think she felt responsible for all the children there!

8. EAGER BEAVER
Someone who works hard and is very enthusiastic.

• Mary is such an eager beaver, she always the first one to do whatever the boss asks. I think she’s hoping for a promotion!
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11. LEARN (SOMETHING) BY HEART / OFF BY HEART
To memorise something so well, that it can be written or recited without thinking.

• I can’t believe you learnt the whole Macbeth play by heart! Well done!
• She learnt all the compositions by Beethoven off by heart!
• 13. FROM THE OLD SCHOOL / OF THE OLD SCHOOL
  Holding attitudes or ideas that were popular and important in the past, but which are no longer considered relevant or in-line with modern trends.
  
• She was a teacher of the old school and believed in strict discipline.
• My grandmother is from the old school, she made her children make their own lunches and walk to school.

14. THE SCHOOL OF HARD KNOCKS
Learning through difficult experiences in life, as opposed to a formal, classroom education.

• I wasn’t able to go to college, but I learnt a lot in the school of hard knocks, it taught me a lot about life.

15. A FOR EFFORT
Giving someone recognition for trying hard to do something even though they may not be successful.

• Jenny definitely deserves an A for effort, she put so much work into her entry for the competition.

16. SCHOOL SOMEONE IN SOMETHING
To train, discipline or coach someone in something.

• She schooled her brother in patience.
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20 Quotes for Being Happy with What You Have!

    Being Happy with What You Have!

 . “Don’t cry because it’s over, smile because it happened.” – Dr Seuss

Dr Seuss, the famous children’s author encouraging us to look on the bright side and be positive! This could be applied to many situations, a breakup, the loss of a loved one, or perhaps leaving school or a job.
Whatever it is, if you can manage a smile then your day will become a bit brighter. Think about all the lovely memories and great moments that will never leave you. And if that fails, pick up one of Seuss’ books. You won’t be able to stop smiling!

2. “To live is the rarest thing in the world. Most people exist, that is all.” – Oscar Wilde
Another famous author! Oscar Wilde on whether people truly live their lives. Do you hate your job but continue to do it anyway? Do you want to travel but you’re afraid to leave home?
Mr Wilde is talking to you! Life is short so why not enjoy it? We are all very lucky to be alive and we should make the most of every single moment!

3.There are only two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle.” – Albert Einstein

Albert Einstein, everybody’s favourite theoretical physicist. Smartphones weren’t around in Einstein’s times which is probably a good thing. Are you a technology addict? Would you choose the latest YouTube video over a conversation with a loved one in the same room?
Drop the smartphone! Let go of the tablet! Shut down the computer! (Not now, reading myenglishteacher.eu is acceptable. Albert said so.) But over the next few days, just look at the world around you. There are beautiful colours, beautiful animals and beautiful people right there next to you! If your eyes are constantly on a screen, you may be missing out…

4. “Life is what happens to you while you’re busy making other plans.” – Allen Saunders
The multitalented Allen Saunders on how life cannot be mapped out. It doesn’t matter how much you try, you cannot truly plan life. You can live in a certain way and work towards certain goals but there will always be unexpected turns.
This can be a good thing! Wouldn’t it be boring if you knew everything that was going to happen in your life? You’d be expecting everything and so how would you be surprised or scared? How would you learn? In two words, you wouldn’t! It would be like reading the last page of a book before you have started it (not recommended!).
5. “Everything you can imagine is real.” – Pablo Picasso


If you have ever looked at a Picasso painting then you will know exactly what he is trying to say! Your imagination has the power to change the world! Using your imagination isn’t just for children.
Picasso himself used his imagination to create extremely popular art. He created this art regularly, each piece of work different from the next. Just think of how many authors, artists and entrepreneurs use their imaginations every day. Are you using your imagination on a regular basis?
If not, try to bring it back into your life. You will be surprised at the results! Life can be a lot brighter with just a little bit of imagination. The best part is, it’s easy! Just relax and imagine. Make Pablo proud.
 


 

 

Adverbs Of Frequency

What is an adverb of frequency?
Adverb of frequency is a word that tells us how frequently or how often something happens.

 

• I always eat breakfast in the morning, even when I am late for work.

1. List of the most common adverbs of frequency:

• always
• usually
• sometimes
• never
• occasionally
• rarely
• seldom
• frequently
• often
• regularly
• hardly ever

EXE: adverbs of frequency: always, usually, sometimes, never, occasionally, rarely, seldom, frequently.

2. Position in a sentence
a) We usually put the adverbs of frequency in the middle of the sentence, between the subject and the verb, but after auxiliary verbs:

• I often go to the beach.
• He sometimes visits his grandma.
• They usually drink coffee in the mornings.
• I hardly ever help my mom in the kitchen.

b) Auxiliary verbs:

• He is usually very happy.
• We are always helping the children at school.
• I have never done anything bad.
• She is always cooking pasta.

NOTE: the verbs have, has, and had are auxiliary verbs only when used with past participle:

• I have never eaten a snake.
• She has never tried coconut water.

But has, have, and had are normal verbs when they are not used with past participle:

• I always have my lunch at school.
• He seldom has English classes.
• We often had dinner late at night in college.
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• c) We can put occasionally, frequently, usually, often and sometimes in the beginning of the sentence in order to make it stronger. However, other adverbs do not sound good in the beginning of the sentence:
  
• Occasionally, I go to the beach.
• Sometimes he visits his grandma.
• Usually, they drink coffee in the mornings.
• Always I go to the beach. INCORRECT
• I always go to the beach.  CORRECT
• Often, I go to the beach. INCORRECT
• I often go to the beach. CORRECT

NOTE: the verbs do, does, and did are auxiliary verbs only when they are used in questions or negatives:

• Do you often go to the cinema?
• He doesn’t always eat grapes.

In other cases, do, does and did are normal verbs:

• She never sleeps at home.
• They rarely did their chores.

If the auxiliary verb is negative the adverb of frequency might go before or after it:

• He doesn’t usually cook at home.
• He usually doesn’t cook at home.
• They don’t often go to the cinema.
• They often don’t go to the cinema.

BUT:

• We aren’t always late for work.
• We always aren’t late for work. INCORRECT (say ‘We are never late for work’)

e) In the question, we put the adverbs of frequency before the main verb:

• Do you often go to the beach?
• Do you sometimes visit your grandma?

BUT:

• Is she always late for soccer practice?
• Are they usually so grumpy?

I hope you find this information useful.

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                10 Idioms About Technology

 

Technology is all around us and it is really changing the way we live our lives. Some say technology is making things better and others say that it is making things more complicated.
Whatever you think you cannot deny that technology is here to stay!
So, we have compiled a list of ten idioms that have been given to us by the technology world. There are some fantastic ones here and they can also be used to describe things in the human world.
Before we start, here’s the list:

1. Bells and whistles
2. Blow a fuse
3. Bright as a button
4. Cog in the machine
5. Hit the panic button
6. To be in tune with somebody
7. To be on the same wavelength
8. To make something tick
9. A well-oiled machine
10. To pull the plug

 

15 Phrasal Verbs with CALL: call up, call out, call around!!!!!!!!!

 

1. Call afterTo give a child the same name as someone else, especially a family member

• We have called him Benjamin after his father.

2. Call around / Call roundTo go to someone’s house to visit them

• I called around yesterday but you weren’t there.

3. Call awayTo ask someone to go somewhere else

• I am afraid the doctor was called away on an emergency earlier today, but he should be back soon.

4. Call backTo return a phone call or to phone someone again

• He’s on another call at the moment, but I will get him to call you back.

To return to a place

• She said I could call back later today to collect the laundry.

To be asked to return for a second interview or a second audition

• They are only going to call back 4 people out of the 80 people who went for the first interview.

5. Call forPublicly demand that something be done

• The protesters were calling for the resignation of the president.

To require or make necessary

• John got the job! This news calls for a celebration!

To go somewhere to pick someone or something up

• I will call for you around seven – try to be ready on time!
• 6. Call forthTo elicit a reaction
  
• Bernard insulted his wife’s mother, which called forth an angry response from her.

7. Call inTo phone

• The radio station’s listeners have been calling in all morning with answers to the quiz.

To visit someone

• Can you call in on your grandmother on your way home and make sure she is alright?

To ask a person, especially an expert, to come to do something

• We had to call in fumigators to deal with the mice and cockroaches.

To ask someone to enter a room

• My boss called me in to his office yesterday morning to give me a warning because I came to work late three times this week.

8. Call offTo cancel an organised event

• Sandra called off the wedding at the very last minute!

To stop doing an activity
We had to call off the search when it became too dark to continue
9. Call onTo visit someone

• I am going to call on my mother on the way home from work.

To demand or request that someone do something

• The supporters of the opposition called on the government to call a new election.

To use a quality, usually something that requires a great effort, in order to achieve something

• I had to call on all my strength to finish the marathon.

Have recourse to

• We may need to call on experts in the field for their opinion on the matter.

To ask for an answer or response

• The teacher always calls on me for the answer – it’s not fair!

10. Call upTo phone somebody

• I will call up everyone we’d invited and tell them that we have called off the party.

Select someone to play on a team

• He was called up to play for Spain in the World Cup.

To summon for military service, especially during a war

• When the war broke out, he was terrified that he would be called up.

To make you remember or recall something

• Seeing her again called up all those old memories.

To make information in a computer appear on screen

• This icon will call up the menu.
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•  11. Call out
  Order or request help from someone
  
• They called out the fire services when they saw the flames.

12. Call roundTo visit someone

• Thank you for calling round, I really appreciate it.

13. Call atStop at a harbour, port or station

• This train will be calling at every station on the way to London.

14. Call by
To visit somewhere briefly whilst on your way to somewhere else.

• I thought it my might be nice to call by Aunt Betty’s house on our way to Bristol.

15. Call down
To find fault with; reprimand

• My professor is a perfectionist and always calls me down for such minor errors!

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Phrasal Verbs List with Meanings and Examples

 

Get on – to have a good relationship with someone.

• I get on really well with the people at work, everyone is very friendly.

Take on – to accept extra work.

• I will take on a lot of extra hours this week, I need the money.

Build on – to use your success to go further.

• She has really built on her excellent work in this department, I think she should be promoted.

[Tweet “Decide on – to choose.”]
Decide on – to choose.

• I’m trying to decide on what type of cake I want for the wedding.

Hold on – to wait.

• Please hold on, the manager isn’t ready to see you yet.

Try on – to try clothes to see if they fit.

• Could I try on this dress in a size ten please?

Go on – to continue

• Sorry about that interruption, please go on.

[Tweet “Carry on – to continue”]
Carry on – to continue

• I carried on with my work after a swim.

Come on – to go down

• Come on down kids! Dinner is ready!

Pile on – to gain weight

• He has been piling on the pounds lately.

• List Of Phrasal Verbs With PUT!

   

  1. Put Aside
  To save
  
• We have to put some money aside for our trip to New York.

To reserve something for a customer to pick up later.

• We will put this dress aside for you.

To ignore or forget something

• Jeffrey and Mark became really good friends, once they put their differences aside.

2. Put up with
To tolerate

• The neighbors couldn’t put up with our noise anymore, and they called the police. 

To accept an annoying situation or behavior

• We had to put up with her habit of saying out loud what she thinks. She is our aunt after all.

 
3. Put off
To postpone

• We need to put off our trip to Hawaii this year.
   

4. Put away
To clean, to store, to put something in its place after using it

• Please put away your toys, children!
• I will put away my motorcycle in the garage.

To put someone into prison

• They put him away for more than 20 years.

To save money

• Jennifer put some money away for her future children.

5. Put through
To connect somebody through telephone

• I will put you through to the general manager. Hold on a minute!

To make someone experience difficulties

• He put me through a lot of trouble at work today.

6. Put out
To stop from burning

• He put out a fire pretty quickly.
• Jake put out his cigarette, and went to bed. 

7. Put up
To give food and accommodation

• Give them a call, and they will put you up for a few nights.

To increase the price of something

• The government has put up the gas prices again.

8. Put down
To insult

• My boss is constantly putting me down in front of everyone.

To stop carrying something

• I asked him to put the heavy box down.

To pay a deposit

• I put the first 2000$ down on my new car.
   

9. Put across
To communicate something

• He put his ideas across pretty clearly.

10. Put on
To dress oneself

• She put on a gorgeous dress.

To gain weight

• She put on 15 kilos during the summer.

11. Put back
To put something where it was before

• Please, put all the books back on the shelf.

12.Put in
To interrupt a conversation

• Jake put in his boss’s speech during the meeting.

To make a financial contribution

• Every employee need to put in 10$ for Jessica’s birthday.
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Excuses for Being Late Because of the Traffic, Family Problems and more

Excuses for Being Late Because of the Traffic, Family Problems and much more!!!!!!!!

 

You’re late, you’re flustered and in a panic about how your boss is going to react when you get to work or how your mother-in-law is going to feel about you missing the birthday cake. We’ve all been late at one point in our lives and it’s important to have a store of excuses for when you are in trouble!
These excuses that we have ever so graciously put together for you will get you out of any situation you’re put in. Be careful not to use them too often though, people will start realising that you are making up excuses! The other option of course is to be on time and punctual, but who really has the time and the patience to do that?.
Let’s take a look at the categories by which  we are going to classify our excuses:

1. Traffic
2. Family problems
3. Alarm clock
4. Public transport
5. Car problems
6. Police problems
7. Doctor’s appointment
8. Weather

So, let’s get started!

Traffic

Traffic can ruin anyone’s day.
If you have to drive long distances to get to work it’s likely that you will run into traffic, which is when cars, buses and other vehicles have to form long lines due to the amount of people trying to use the roads. You can spend hours of your life sat in traffic, isn’t that sad?
So, if you don’t want to cycle or walk to work here is a sample dialog of an excuse using traffic.

Stuck in traffic
When you have to drive slowly or stop because of the number of vehicles on the road.
Motorway
A large road that is designed for lots of vehicles to travel at high speed.
Gridlocked
When traffic is so bad that cars cannot move.
Rush hour
An extremely busy period on the roads when people are travelling to work or running errands. This is usually at 8 AM and 5 PM.
Traffic incidents
Bad things that have happened to cause traffic, this could be a car accident or an animal might be on the road.
Traffic updates
Usually on the radio or television, there are presenters that watch the traffic and give people news on which roads are busy. This means that people can avoid traffic.
Alternative route
A different way of getting to a destination and avoiding traffic.

 

50 Popular English Idioms to Sound Like a Native Speaker

 

1. CRUNCH TIME: the period of time just before a project has to be completed and everyone has to work hard

• I’m not getting enough sleep these days. It’s crunch time at work.2. LET YOUR FREAK FLAG FLY: to let others see your uniqueness
  
  
• My colleagues were surprised at the Christmas party- I let my freak flag fly and showed them a break dance routine.

3. GET OUT OF HAND: when you lose control of things, they get out of hand

• The party got out of hand and the guests started to throw bottles at each other.

4. GET YOUR HEAD AROUND IT: to understand something

• I just can’t get my head around the fact that Joe is leaving us.

5. DIG IN YOUR HEELS / STICK TO YOUR GUNS: to refuse to compromise or change your mind

• My parents wanted me to give up writing, but I dug in my heels and went on to become a famous writer.
• My parents wanted me to give up writing, but I stuck to my guns and went on to become a famous writer.

6. POUND THE PAVEMENT: to walk the streets looking for a job

• I’d been pounding the pavement for months before I found a job in a fast food restaurant.

 

7. PULL A RABBIT OUT OF A HAT: to do something unexpected that may have seemed impossible

• I thought we were going bankrupt, but my partner pulled a rabbit out of his hat and we landed a major contract.

8. LEAVE NO STONE UNTURNED: to do everything you can to achieve your goal

• I’ll leave no stone unturned until I find out who did this.

9. GET IT OUT OF YOUR SYSTEM: to do something you’ve wanted to do for a long time and don’t want to postpone any longer

• I wasn’t sure how she was going to react, but I had to get it out of my system, so I told her I had found another woman.

10. STEP UP YOUR GAME: to start performing better

• If you want to win this competition, you’ll have to step up your game.
• 11. PULL YOURSELF TOGETHER: to calm down and behave normally
  
• I understand you’ve had a bad day, but pull yourself together and get on with your job, will you?

12. SHAPE UP OR SHIP OUT: either start performing better or leave

• This is the last time I’m telling you to arrive on time. Shape up or ship out.

13. CUT SOMEBODY SOME SLACK: to give somebody a break/ not to judge somebody severely

• I was extremely busy last week. Cut me some slack and I’ll finish the report by tomorrow morning.
• 14. BY THE SKIN OF YOUR TEETH: when you do something by the skin of your teeth, you only just succeed/ nearly fail
  
• I hadn’t studied much, but passed the test by the skin of my teeth.

15. ONCE IN A BLUE MOON: when something rarely ever happens

• We used to see him all the time, but now he just visits us once in a blue moon.

16. GO DOWN IN FLAMES: to end or fail suddenly and spectacularly

• She’d wanted to become Managing Director, but her career went down in flames when they found out she’d been leaking information to our competitors.

17. TAR SOMEONE WITH THE SAME BRUSH: to believe that someone has the same bad qualities as others in a group

• I don’t think much of that band, but the singer shouldn’t be tarred with the same brush. She’s got a fantastic voice.

18. COME OUT SWINGING: to be confrontational and strongly defend yourself at the beginning of a debate

• Our local MP came out swinging against the current leadership and demanded that the government resign.

19. HANG IN THERE: wait and be patient

• I know you’d really like to call him, but I don’t think that’s the right thing to do now. Just hang in there and he will call you.

20. SHOOT FROM THE HIP: to speak directly

• If you want to get on well with your boss, try not to shoot from the hip next time. You don’t want to offend him, do you?
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• 21. GO THE EXTRA MILE: to make a special effort/try very hard to achieve your goal
  
• If you want to become proficient in English, you’ll have to go the extra mile and start learning idioms.

My English class was great, we learnt so much because our teacher was the best, she always went the extra mile for us
22. RUNNING ON FUMES: to continue to stay awake when feeling exhausted

• I’m sorry, but I’ve got to go home now. I haven’t slept for twenty hours and I’m running on fumes.

23. SOLD ME OUT: to snitch on someone, or let their secret out

• I asked you to keep it to yourself! I can’t believe you sold me out, I trusted you!

24. YOU SOLD ME (ON SOMETHING): you convinced me of something, because you were persuasive

• OK, you’ve sold me. I’ll go to the match with you.

25. BLEW ME AWAY: when something blows you away, you’re extremely impressed by it

• The exhibition just blew me away. I’d never seen so many beautiful paintings before.

26. BLOW SMOKE: to exaggerate or say things that aren’t true to make you seem better/ more knowledgeable than in reality

• I’m not blowing smoke. I have honestly read War and Peace by Tolstoy.
• 27. CRY WOLF: to call for help when you don’t need it
  
• Do you think Peter is in trouble or is he just crying wolf?

28. COULDN’T CARE LESS: used to express total lack of interest in something

• That man stole a bottle of wine from the shop.
• Oh, really? I couldn’t care less.

29. BE CHUFFED TO BITS: to be pleased and happy
Hey, thanks for the present! I’m chuffed to bits
30. FEELING UNDER THE WEATHER: to be ill or unable to do regular activities

• I think I’m going to have to take the day off work. I feel quite under the weather today.

31. BE TICKLED PINK: to be excited and happy

• She was tickled pink by all the compliments she’d received.

32. A BAKER’S DOZEN: thirteen

• Check out our baker’s dozen language learning tips.

33. COMFORT FOOD: food that makes you feel better, because it reminds you of your childhood

• After a tiring day, it’s so nice to make some comfort food and settle down with a good book.

34. SKELETON CREW: the minimum number of people needed to keep a service/office operating

• Can you come back after the holidays? We’re operating with a skeleton crew at the moment.
•  
• 35. LET THE CHIPS FALL WHERE THEY MAY: to let something happen, no matter what happens next
  
• I must tell John how I feel about him, let the chips fall where they may.

36. NO-BRAINER: an easy decision

• Do you think I should propose to Judy?
• Come on, it’s a no-brainer. She’s such a fantastic woman!

37. A STONE’S THROW: very near

• The hotel  was a stone’s throw from the beach. I loved it.

38. HEAR ON THE GRAPEVINE: to hear a rumour or unconfirmed story

• I heard on the grapevine that Charlie and Sarah are dating at the moment.

39. SIT ON THE FENCE: to stay neutral and not take sides

• Well don’t you think I’m right, he’s been acting differently hasn’t he?
• I’m sitting on the fence with this one, you’re both my good friends
•  
• 40. TAKE WHAT SOMEONE SAYS WITH A PINCH OF SALT: regard something as exaggerated, or only believe a part of something
  
• Did you hear what Tina said happened in the office yesterday?
• Oh, I would take anything she says with a pinch of salt.

41. FREAK OUT: to become very angry, scared or excited

• Mum, don’t freak out! I married a guy in Las Vegas.
• 42. BE A CATCH: be someone worth marrying/having
  
• John is taking me out tonight. He’s such a catch, I hope he’ll propose.

43. PIECE OF CAKE: when something is extremely easy to do

• Do you think you could beat him in a race?
• Yeah, piece of cake. I’m definitely a lot faster than him.

44. HIT THE NAIL ON THE HEAD: used if something someone says, is precisely correct

• My doctor hit the nail on the head. He knew exactly what was wrong with me!

45. COSTS AN ARM AND A LEG: when something is very expensive

• My son wants that mountain bike for his birthday, but it’ll cost an arm and a leg!

46. HIT THE BOOKS: to study very hard

• Do you want to go for lunch somewhere nice?
• No thanks, I’m going to hit the books. I have an exam coming up soon.

47. BITE OFF MORE THAN YOU CAN CHEW: to take on something that is too much for you to handle

• He recently got promoted and took on some new responsibilities, but he’s just too busy. He bit off more than he could chew, and I don’t think he can handle it anymore.  
• 
  48. WHEN PIGS FLY: this means that something will never happen
  
• Aren’t you going to buy that dream house you told me about?
• Ugh, I will when pigs fly. It’s just so expensive, I don’t think it’ll happen.

49. DON’T JUDGE A BOOK BY ITS COVER: this means don’t make a decision based on a brief impression or outward appearance

• I don’t like our new neighbours very much, they’re quite strange.
• Hey, you shouldn’t judge a book by its cover. Give them a chance, I think they’re just a bit quirky but really nice!
•  
• 50. YOU ROCK: you are great
  
• Thanks for the tickets, Rob. You rock!

51. MISS THE BOAT: when someone has missed their opportunity to do something

• Have you applied for that job yet?
• No, I think I may have missed the boat. I should’ve done it last week.

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Sentence Connectors in English

 

 Connectors’ are used to link large groups of words: phrases and sentences. You can also use them to connect paragraphs to give them coherence. Sentence connectors are usually placed at the beginning of a sentence and may be categorized as follows:

 

1. HOWEVER

• This restaurant has the best kitchen in town. However, their staff are quite rude.

2. IN CONTRAST

• House prices have gone up this year. In contrast, car prices seem to be stagnating.

3. NEVERTHELESS

• I was in so much pain I didn’t want to get up in the morning. Nevertheless, I went to football practice as usual.

4. NONETHELESS

• I don’t think Sean has serious behavioural problems. Nonetheless, I’ll talk to him first thing in the morning.

5. YET

• I’ve asked you a thousand times not to leave your dirty socks on the floor. Yet, you keep doing it.

6. ON THE OTHER HAND

• England has the best language schools. On the other hand, it has the worst weather.

7. BY COMPARISON

• Going out with Jim has its risks. By comparison, being with Tim is as easy as falling off a log.

8. ON THE CONTRARY

• I don’t hate Jim. On the contrary, I’m rather fond of him.

9. INSTEAD

• I didn’t want to take a side in the argument. Instead, I put my headphones on and listened to some smooth jazz.

10. IN ANY CASE

• I was thinking of going round Jim’s place. In any case, I haven’t been invited.

11. ALL THE SAME

• Yes, he’s very good-looking. All the same, I don’t think you should go out with him.

 

SIMILARITY
1. LIKEWISE

• You can’t give your phone number to every man who asks for it. Likewise, you can’t go out with everyone who fancies you.

2. SIMILARLY

• You’re not allowed to use your phone here. Similarly, you have to switch it off when you’re in the library.

3. CORRESPONDINGLY

• She’s an excellent photographer. Correspondingly, her paintings are works of art.

4. IN THE SAME WAY

• Cutting down on sugar will help you lose weight. In the same way, doing more exercise will help you get rid of a few kilos.

5. ALSO

• I want to talk to Prince Harry when I’m in England. Also, I want to meet his sister-in-law.
• RESULT
  1. AS A RESULT
  
• I’ve done a pranic healing course. As a result, I’ve been able to cure my neighbour’s sick cat.

2. AS A CONSEQUENCE

• Zack has skipped school on many occasions. As a consequence, he’s failed his French test.

3. THEREFORE

• We’re going to experience some meteor showers in the next few days. Therefore, the number of miraculous self-healings will rise.

4. THUS

• You didn’t tell me you wanted to come. Thus, we won’t be taking you with us.

5. ACCORDINGLY

• Plenty of tourists visit the area in summer. Accordingly, selling hand-made objects is the main source of income for locals.
• SEQUENCING
  1. FIRST, FIRSTLY, FIRST OF ALL, IN THE FIRST PLACE
  
• First of all, I’d like to talk about the benefits of having a pet pig.

2. TO BEGIN WITH

• To begin with, pet pigs are cleaner than dogs.

3. FOR ONE THING

• For one thing, they’re completely loyal to their owners.

4. SECOND, SECONDLY, IN THE SECOND PLACE

• Secondly, their impressive numeracy skills must be mentioned.

5. FOR ANOTHER THING

• For another thing, you might want to consider how cute they look in pyjamas.

6. THIRD, THIRDLY, IN THE THIRD PLACE

• In the third place, you can always count on your pet pig to perform some tricks for you when you’d like to impress a pretty girl.

7. ALSO

• Also, they don’t eat much.

8. BESIDES

• Besides not eating much, they won’t ever chew on your electric cords.

9. IN ADDITION

• In addition, they can be taught to feed themselves if you allow them access to your pantry.

10. FURTHERMORE

• Furthermore, they make wonderful walking buddies.

11. MOREOVER

• Moreover, they’ll show you the way home when you’re drunk.

12. FINALLY

• Finally, pet pigs are fantastic guards. No burglar would ever have the heart to hurt a pet pig.

13. LAST, LASTLY, LAST OF ALL

• Lastly, your reputation as an eccentric will rapidly grow in the neighbourhood if you’re seen walking a pet pig on a leash every morning.
• ORDER OF IMPORTANCE
  1. MOST IMPORTANTLY
  
• I’d like to talk to you about how to keep calm at your workplace. Most importantly, never go to the canteen while your boss is there.

2. PRIMARILY

• You’ll have to focus on your immediate surroundings. Primarily, on your computer screen.

3. ABOVE ALL

• Above all, don’t ever look up from your notes when people are around.

4. MOST SIGNIFICANTLY

• Most significantly, avoid eye-contact at all costs.

5. ESSENTIALLY, BASICALLY (usually spoken)

• How can I put this? Essentially, having an affair with one of your colleagues should be the last thing on your mind.
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• PARTICULARIZATION
  1. IN PARTICULAR, PARTICULARLY
  
• Nearly a third of marriages end in divorce. In particular, it’s middle-aged couples that yearn for much more from life.

2. MORE SPECIFICALLY

• Couples tend to argue about financial issues. More specifically, they argue when one of them is out of work.
•  
• EXAMPLIFICATION
  1. FOR EXAMPLE
  
• To solve this problem, you might want to try making small gestures. For example, making your spouse’s favourite meal for dinner or giving him a massage after a tiring day.

2. FOR INSTANCE

• Appreciate the small things your spouse does for you. For instance, leave thank-you notes for them every now and then.

3. TO ILLUSTRATE

• Misunderstandings can be highly destructive. To illustrate, if your spouse sees you with a friend of the opposite sex in a café, he might not understand why he hasn’t been invited and demand an explanation. 
• EMPHASISING
  1. AS A MATTER OF FACT
  
• I love sleeping with my pet pig. As a matter of fact, I can’t fall asleep unless he’s in my bed.

2. IN FACT

• I told them not to invite Rachel to the party. In fact, I was the only person who saw what a party pooper she really was.

3. ACTUALLY

• I think it would be a good idea to send her some flowers. Actually, you should get her a hundred orchids.

4. INDEED

• He may be the best-dressed man around. Indeed, he has a really good taste in fashion.
• FOCUSING AND LINKING
  1. AS FOR (often suggests disinterest or dislike)
  
• I’m going to Janet’s party at the weekend. As for Mary’s, I think I’ll pass.

2. WITH RESPECT TO

• Starting your own IT company may be the one of the best things you can do right now. With respect to opening a pet shop, it’s hard to say the same thing.

3. REGARDING

• Start your day with making the most important phone calls. Regarding emails, you might put them off until later.

4. WITH REGARD TO

• With regard to handling complaints, you might want to keep in mind that your customers are always right.

5. AS REGARDS

• Working from home has many advantages. As regards disadvantages, it might be difficult to keep your cat off your keyboard.

6. TALKING OF

• Talking of cats, you can’t trust them to keep you company when you need it. They’re quite selfish creatures.

7. AS FAR AS … CONCERNED

• As far as dogs are concerned, they might give you a chance to get up from your desk and get some exercise during the day.
•  
• CONCLUSION
  1. IN CONCLUSION
  
• In conclusion, it may be said that pigs make the best pets.

2. IN BRIEF

• Meeting my boss at the pub was an interesting experience. In brief, it was a disaster.

3. IN SUMMARY

• In summary, it may not be the best idea to frequent the same pubs as your boss.

4. TO SUM UP

• To sum up, some people are better suited to working from home than others.

5. ALL IN ALL

• All in all, you have to make sure both you and your customers are satisfied with your work.
• CORRECTION
  1. RATHER
  
• I thought it was a good idea to get a ferret. Rather, it had always been my dream to get one.

2. TO BE MORE PRECISE

• You might want to change a few things. To be more precise, I think you should start again from scratch.
• TIME
  1. AT FIRST
  
• It wasn’t a piece of cake to learn English. At first, I couldn’t pronounce all the words correctly.

2. THEN

• Then, I couldn’t spell all the words correctly.

3. AFTERWARDS

• Afterwards, I had a hard time understanding the tenses.

4. LATER

• Later, I couldn’t memorize phrasal verbs and idioms.

5. IN THE MEANTIME

• In the meantime, I was getting some help from MyEnglishTeacher.

6. MEANWHILE

• Meanwhile, I was enjoying my skype lessons more and more.

Formal and Informal Email Phrases – from Greetings to Closing Phrases

 

Whether you’re writing to friends, colleagues or to a potential business partner, your main goal is to get your message across, in other words, to ensure the recipient understands you.
If you use improper or incorrect language and continuously make mistakes in your e-mail, not only might you fail to make yourself understood, you might also fail to make a good impression on the reader

 In this article, you’ll find examples of language that are commonly used in different types of emails, and hopefully, you’ll find the most appropriate one for your message.

 

GREETINGS

Formal

• Dear Sir/ Madam,
• Dear Sir or Madam,
• To whom it may concern: (especially AmE)
• Dear Mr/ Ms Jones,
• Dear Dr Smith,

(note: First names are NOT used. Using Miss or Mrs to address a woman  is not appropriate, as you don’t know whether she’s married or not)
Informal

• Hi Dennis,
• Hello Claire,
• Dear Mum.
•  

• REASON FOR WRITING / REPLYING

  Formal
  
• I am writing to make a reservation/ to apply for the position of…/ to confirm my booking/ to ask for further information about …
• I am writing with regard  to the sale of …/ to the complaint you made on 29th February
• Thank you for your e-mail of 29th February regarding the sale of… / concerning the conference in Brussels.
• With reference to our telephone conversation on Friday, I would like to let you know that…

Semi-formal / Informal

• Just a quick note to invite you to…/ to tell you that…
• This is to invite you to join us for...
• Thanks for your e-mail, it was wonderful/great to hear from you.
• I wanted to let you know that / tell you about / ask you if

• MAKING A REQUEST / ASKING FOR INFORMATION

  Formal
  
• Could you please let me know if you can attend … / if you are available for a meeting on 12th December?
• I would appreciate it if you could please send me a brochure/ if you could please reply within two days.
• Could you possibly arrange a meeting with the Logistics Manager?
• I would also like to know if there are any swimming pools in your area.
• Please let me know how much the tickets cost.

Informal

• I was wondering if you could come and see me sometime next week.
• Would you mind coming early to help me clear up the place?
• Do you think you could call Jerry for me?
• Can you call me/ get back to me asap? (as soon as possible).

• OFFERING HELP / GIVING INFORMATION

  Formal
  
• We are happy to let you know that your article has been selected for publication.
• I am glad to inform you that we will be holding our annual conference in Brussels on 20 September 2014.
• We regret to inform you that the show has been cancelled due to bad weather conditions.
• We are willing to arrange another meeting with the CEO.
• We would be glad to send you another statement if necessary.
• Please do let me know if I can be of further assistance.
• Should you need any further information/assistance, please do not hesitate to contact us.

Informal

• I’m sorry, but I can’t make it tomorrow. (= I can’t come tomorrow.)
• I’m happy to tell you that John and I are getting married next month.
• Would you like me to come early and help you clear up the place?
• How about I come and help you out?
• Do you need a hand with moving the furniture?.

• COMPLAINING

  Formal
  
• I am writing to express my dissatisfaction with… / to complain about…
• I regret to say that I was not completely satisfied with the room you provided us.
• We regret to inform you that your payment is considerably overdue.
• I would like to receive a full refund and compensation for the damages.
• I am interested to hear how your company can compensate us for the distress we suffered.

Informal

• I’m sorry to say that you’re late with the payments.
• I hope you won’t mind me saying that the place you’d recommended to us wasn’t as nice as we’d expected.
•  
•  
• • We would like to apologize for any inconvenience caused.
  • Please accept our apologies for the delay.
  • Please let us know what we can do to compensate you for the damages caused.
  • We will make sure that this will not happen again in the  future.
  • I am afraid I will not be able to attend the conference.
  Informal
  
• I’m sorry for the trouble I caused.
• I apologize for the delay.
• I promise it won’t happen again
• I’m sorry, but I can’t make it to the meeting.
•  

• ATTACHING FILES

  Formal
  
• I am attaching my CV for your consideration.
• I am sending you the brochure as an attachment.
• Please see the statement attached.
• Please find attached the file you requested.
• I am afraid I cannot open the file you have sent me.
• Could you send it again in … format?

Informal

• I’m attaching/sending you the holiday photos.
• Sorry, but I can’t open it. Can you send it again in … format?
•  

• ENDING

  Formal
  
• I look forward to hearing from you.
• I look forward to hearing when you are planning to visit our town.

Informal

• Hope to hear from you soon.
• I’m looking forward to seeing you.

 

100 advanced English words

Here are 100 advanced English words which should you be able to use them in a sentence will impress even educated native speakers! Perfect if you want to impress the examiner in examinations like: IELTS, TOEFL and Cambridge CAE and CPE. If you are really serious about having an extensive and impressive vocabulary, try learning these and then try these advanced vocabulary tests.

Part ONE / Part TWO

aberration

(n.) something that differs from the norm (In 1974, Poland won the World Cup, but the success turned out to be anaberration, and Poland have not won a World Cup since).

abhor

(v.) to hate, detest (Because he always wound up getting hit in the head when he tried to play cricket, Marcin began to abhor the sport).

acquiesce

(v.) to agree without protesting (Though Mr. Pospieszny wanted to stay outside and work in his garage, when his wife told him that he had better come in to dinner, he acquiesced to her demands.)

alacrity

(n.) eagerness, speed (For some reason, Simon loved to help his girlfriend whenever he could, so when his girlfriend asked him to set the table he did so with alacrity.)

amiable

(adj.) friendly (An amiablefellow, Neil got along with just about everyone.)

appease

(v.) to calm, satisfy (When Jerry cries, his mother gives him chocolate to appease him.)

arcane

(adj.) obscure, secret, known only by a few (The professor is an expert in arcaneKashubian literature.)

avarice

(n.) excessive greed (The banker’s avariceled him to amass an enormous personal fortune.)

brazen

(adj.) excessively bold, brash, clear and obvious (Critics condemned the writer’s brazenattempt to plagiarise Frankow-Czerwonko’s work.)

brusque

(adj.) short, abrupt, dismissive (Simon’s brusque manner sometimes offends his colleagues.)

cajole

(v.) to urge, coax (Magda's friends cajoledher into drinking too much.)

callous

(adj.) harsh, cold, unfeeling (The murderer’s callous lack of remorse shocked the jury.)

candor

(n.) honesty, frankness (We were surprised by the candor of the politician’s speech because she is usually rather evasive.)

chide

(v.) to voice disapproval (Hania chidedGregory for his vulgar habits and sloppy appearance.)

circumspect

(adj.) cautious (Though I promised Marta’s father I would bring her home promptly by midnight, it would have been more circumspect not to have specified a time.)

clandestine

(adj.) secret (Announcing to her boyfriend that she was going to the library, Maria actually went to meet George for a clandestine liaison.)

coerce

(v.) to make somebody do something by force or threat (The court decided that David Beckham did not have to honor the contract because he had been coerced into signing it.)

coherent

(adj.) logically consistent, intelligible (William could not figure out what Harold had seen because he was too distraught to deliver a coherent statement.)

complacency

(n.) self-satisfied ignorance of danger (Simon tried to shock his friends out of their complacency by painting a frightening picture of what might happen to them.)

confidant

(n.) a person entrusted with secrets (Shortly after we met, he became my chief confidant.)

connive

(v.) to plot, scheme (She connivedto get me to give up my plans to start up a new business.)

cumulative

(adj.) increasing, building upon itself (The cumulative effect of hours spent using the World English website was a vast improvement in his vocabulary and general level of English.)

debase

(v.) to lower the quality or esteem of something (The large raise that he gave himself debased his motives for running the charity.)

decry

(v.) to criticize openly (Andrzej Lepper, the leader of the Polish Self Defence party decried the appaling state of Polish roads.)

deferential

(adj.) showing respect for another’s authority (Donata is always excessively deferential to any kind of authority figure.)

demure

(adj.) quiet, modest, reserved (Though everyone else at the party was dancing and going crazy, she remained demure.)

deride

(v.) to laugh at mockingly, scorn (The native speaker often derided the other teacher’s accent.)

despot

(n.) one who has total power and rules brutally (The despot issued a death sentence for anyone who disobeyed his laws.)

diligent

(adj.) showing care in doing one’s work (The diligent researcher made sure to double check her measurements.)

elated

(adj.) overjoyed, thrilled (When he found out he had won the lottery, the postman was elated.)

eloquent

(adj.) expressive, articulate, moving (The best man gave such an eloquent speech that most guests were crying.)

embezzle

(v.) to steal money by falsifying records (The accountant was fired for embezzling €10,000 of the company’s funds.)

empathy

(n.) sensitivity to another’s feelings as if they were one’s own (I feel such empathy for my dog when she’s upset so am I!)

enmity

(n.) ill will, hatred, hostility (John and Scott have clearly not forgiven each other, because the enmitybetween them is obvious to anyone in their presence.)

erudite

(adj.) learned (My English teacher is such an erudite scholar that he has translated some of the most difficult and abstruse Old English poetry.)

extol

(v.) to praise, revere (Kamila extolledthe virtues of a vegetarian diet to her meat-loving boyfriend.)

fabricate

(v.) to make up, invent (When I arrived an hour late to class, I fabricated some excuse about my car breaking down on the way to work.)

feral

(adj.) wild, savage (That beast looks so feral that I would fear being alone with it.)

flabbergasted

(adj.) astounded (Whenever I read an Agatha Christie mystery novel, I am always flabbergastedwhen I learn the identity of the murderer.)

forsake

(v.) to give up, renounce (I won't forsakemy conservative principles.)

fractious

(adj.) troublesome or irritable (Although the child insisted he wasn’t tired, his fractiousbehaviour - especially his decision to crush his jam sandwiches all over the floor - convinced everyone present that it was time to put him to bed.)

furtive

(adj.) secretive, sly (Claudia’s placement of her drugs in her sock drawer was not as furtiveas she thought, as the sock drawer is the first place most parents look.)

gluttony

(n.) overindulgence in food or drink (Helen’s fried chicken tastes so divine, I don’t know how anyone can call gluttonya sin.)

gratuitous

(adj.) uncalled for, unwarranted (Every evening the guy at the fish and chip shop gives me a gratuitoushelping of vinegar.)

haughty

(adj.) disdainfully proud (The superstar’s haughty dismissal of her co-stars will backfire on her someday.)

hypocrisy

(n.) pretending to believe what one does not (Once the politician began passing legislation that contradicted his campaign promises, his hypocrisy became apparent.)

impeccable

(adj.) exemplary, flawless (If your grades were as impeccable as your brother’s, then you too would receive a car for a graduation present.)

impertinent

(adj.) rude, insolent (Most of your comments are so impertinent that I don’t wish to dignify them with an answer.)

implacable

(adj.) incapable of being appeased or mitigated (Watch out: once you shun Grandmother’s cooking, she is totally implacable.)

impudent

(adj.) casually rude, insolent, impertinent (The impudent young woman looked her teacher up and down and told him he was hot.)

incisive

(adj.) clear, sharp, direct (The discussion wasn’t going anywhere until her incisive comment allowed everyone to see what the true issues were.)

indolent

(adj.) lazy (Why should my indolentchildren, who can’t even pick themselves up off the sofa to pour their own juice, be rewarded with a trip to Burger King?)

inept

(adj.) not suitable or capable, unqualified (She proved how inept she was when she forgot two orders and spilled a pint of cider in a customer’s lap.)

infamy

(n.) notoriety, extreme ill repute (The infamyof his crime will not lessen as time passes.)

inhibit

(v.) to prevent, restrain, stop (When I told you I needed the car last night, I certainly never meant to inhibityou from going out.)

innate

(adj.) inborn, native, inherent (His incredible athletic talent is innate, he never trains, lifts weights, or practices.)

insatiable

(adj.) incapable of being satisfied (My insatiable appetite for blondes was a real problem on my recent holiday in Japan!)

insular

(adj.) separated and narrow-minded; tight-knit, closed off (Because of the sensitive nature of their jobs, those who work for MI5 must remain insular and generally only spend time with each other.)

intrepid

(adj.) brave in the face of danger (After scaling a live volcano prior to its eruption, the explorer was praised for his intrepid attitude.)

inveterate

(adj.) stubbornly established by habit (I’m the first to admit that I’m an inveteratecider drinker—I drink four pints a day.)

PART 2

  

jubilant

(adj.) extremely joyful, happy (The crowd was jubilant when the firefighter carried the woman from the flaming building.)

knell

(n.) the solemn sound of a bell, often indicating a death (Echoing throughout our village, the funeral knellmade the grey day even more grim.)

lithe

(adj.) graceful, flexible, supple (Although the dancers were all outstanding, Joanna’s control of her lithebody was particularly impressive.)

lurid

(adj.) ghastly, sensational (Barry’s story, in which he described a character torturing his neighbour's tortoise, was judged too lurid to be published on the English Library's website.)

maverick

(n.) an independent, nonconformist person (John is a real maverick and always does things his own way.)

maxim

(n.) a common saying expressing a principle of conduct (Ms. Stone’s etiquette maxims are both entertaining and instructional.)

meticulous

(adj.) extremely careful with details (The ornate needlework in the bride’s gown was a product of meticuloushandiwork.)

modicum

(n.) a small amount of something (Refusing to display even a modicum of sensitivity, Magda announced her boss’s affair to the entire office.)

morose

(adj.) gloomy or sullen (David’s morose nature made him very unpleasant to talk to.)

myriad

(adj.) consisting of a very great number (It was difficult to decide what to do on Saturday night because the city presented us with myriad possibilities for fun.)

nadir

(n.) the lowest point of something (My day was boring, but the nadir came when my new car was stolen.)

nominal

(adj.) trifling, insignificant (Because he was moving the following week and needed to get rid of his furniture more than he needed money, Kim sold everything for a nominalprice.)

novice

(n.) a beginner, someone without training or experience (Because we were all novices at archery, our instructor decided to begin with the basics

nuance

(n.) a slight variation in meaning, tone, expression (The nuances of the poem were not obvious to the casual reader, but the teacher was able to point them out.)

oblivious

(adj.) lacking consciousness or awareness of something (Oblivious to the burning smell emanating from the kitchen, my father did not notice that the rolls in the oven were burned until much too late.)

obsequious

(adj.) excessively compliant or submissive (Donald acted like Susan’s servant, obeying her every request in an obsequious manner.)

obtuse

(adj.) lacking quickness of sensibility or intellect (Political opponents warned that the prime minister’s obtuseapproach to foreign policy would embroil the nation in mindless war.)

panacea

(n.) a remedy for all ills or difficulties (Doctors wish there was a single panacea for every disease, but sadly there is not.)

parody

(n.) a satirical imitation (A hush fell over the classroom when the teacher returned to find Magdalena acting out a parodyof his teaching style.)

penchant

(n.) a tendency, partiality, preference (Fiona’s dinner parties quickly became monotonous on account of her penchantfor Indian dishes.)

perusal

(n.) a careful examination, review (The actor agreed to accept the role after a three-month perusal of the movie script.)

plethora

(n.) an abundance, excess (The wedding banquet included a plethora of oysters piled almost three feet high.)

predilection

(n.) a preference or inclination for something (James has a predilection for eating toad in the whole with tomato ketchup.)

quaint

(adj.) charmingly old-fashioned (Mary was delighted by the quaint bonnets she saw in Romania.)

rash

(adj.) hasty, incautious (It’s best to think things over calmly and thoroughly, rather than make rashdecisions.)

refurbish

(v.) to restore, clean up (After being refurbishedthe old Triumph motorcycle commanded the handsome price of $6000.)

repudiate

(v.) to reject, refuse to accept (Tom made a strong case for an extension of his curfew, but his mother repudiatedit with a few biting words.)

rife

(adj.) abundant (Surprisingly, the teacher’s writing was rife with spelling errors.)

salient

(adj.) significant, conspicuous (One of the salient differences between Alison and Helen is that Alison is a couple of kilos heavier.)

serendipity

(n.) luck, finding good things without looking for them (In an amazing bit of serendipity, penniless Mark found a $50 bill on the back seat of the bus.)

staid

(adj.) sedate, serious, self-restrained (The staid butler never changed his expression no matter what happened.)

superfluous

(adj.) exceeding what is necessary (Samantha had already won the campaign so her constant flattery of others was superfluous.)

sycophant

(n.) one who flatters for self-gain (Some see the people in the cabinet as the Prime Minister’s closest advisors, but others see them as sycophants.)

taciturn

(adj.) not inclined to talk (Though Magda never seems to stop talking, her brother is quite taciturn.)

truculent

(adj.) ready to fight, cruel (This club doesn’t really attract the dangerous types, so why was that bouncer being so truculent?)

umbrage

(n.) resentment, offence (He called me a lily-livered coward, and I took umbrage at the insult.)

venerable

(adj.) deserving of respect because of age or achievement (The venerable High Court judge had made several key rulings in landmark cases throughout the years.)

vex

(v.) to confuse or annoy (My boyfriend vexesme by pinching my bottom for hours on end.)

vociferous

(adj.) loud, boisterous (I’m tired of his vociferous whining so I’m breaking up with him.)

wanton

(adj.) undisciplined, lewd, lustful (Joanna’s wanton demeanor often made the frat guys next door very excited.)

zenith

(n.) the highest point, culminating point (I was too nice to tell Emily that she had reached the absolute zenithof her career with that one top 10 hit of hers.)