Express Yourself InEnglish :Express Yourself InEnglish By VanSight


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Introduction :Introduction These expressions in their variety are meant to help you enrich your spoken and Written repertoire. It is not really a handicap to learn some of them by heart on condition that You frequently use them while talking to your classmates or friends or even some English-Speaking people. Gradually those expressions become yours and you will use them normally The more you practice them, the better you master them. Take it for granted that The language is first and foremost a means of communication. The more you practice it the More you become perfect. Finally, remember that the world would understand and appreciate What you say if you said it in the right way. 3


Gap fillers :Gap fillers 4 For speaking only I mean.... You see.... Well, let me see... Look! Listen! If you see what I mean! Do you see what I mean? Let’s get this into perspective. Watch it! Picture this. Look here! All right! Is that clear enough?


Opinion :Opinion 5 Asking for Opinion I was wondering where you stood on the question of immigration? What's your position on global warming? What's your opinion of my cooking? What do you think of love? How do you feel about building a space prison for criminals?


Opinion :Opinion 6 Giving Opinion In my opinion the consequences of global warming will be fatal. As far as I'm concerned love is the noblest feeling. From my point of view, poverty could be fought with solidarity.


Opinion :Opinion 7 As I see it, you are getting better. I think / reckon / presume / gather it will get worse with time. It would seem to me that technologies will control us sooner or later. It seems to me that democracy is the solution for developing countries.


Opinion :Opinion 8 I believe politics should be more human... I figure that we are doomed to protect our planet before it is too late. To my mind cloning should be restricted. According to me Euthanasia should be banned. What I think / mean / believe is that developed countries are selfish. I mean that they don't try to help poor countries. I may venture that they are extremely sadist. As for me they like to be at top of the world.


Agreeing with an opinion :Agreeing with an opinion 9 Agreeing with an opinion My view about this is positive. I agree with this idea. I agree completely with this idea. I can't agree more. I agree. This idea is absolutely right. I couldn't agree more on this. I think this idea is perfect.


Partial agreement or polite disagreement :Partial agreement or polite disagreement 10 I agree partially with this idea. This idea is partially right. I see what you mean, but some ……... That's one way of looking at it, but …. I see your point, but technology…. I agree with you, but developing countries …. I think this idea is possible, but rich countries ….. I'm not sure you're right there. I'm not sure that I agree with this idea. The project is feasible, but it needs some more efforts.


Disagreeing with an opinion :Disagreeing with an opinion 11 I think it is a bad idea. I'm afraid I can't agree with this idea. I'm afraid I entirely disagree with you. I think this idea is impossible. I guess this idea is impractical. I see that this idea is bad. I think it is a bad idea. I don't agree with this idea. I suppose this idea cannot be implemented.


Advice :Advice 12 Random Examples If I were you, I wouldn’t buy this old computer. Why don't you stay at home and watch TV? You'd better go to bed early. You ought to revise your lessons regularly. If you take my advice, you'll tell your parents the truth. You should drive slowly in town. It might be a good idea to put on your coat. It's cold outside. You should consider taking the keys before you leave.


Declining to give advice :Declining to give advice 13 I don't know what to advise, I'm afraid. I wish I could suggest something, but I can't. I wish I could help. I'm afraid I can't really help you. I have the same problem myself.


Suggestion :Suggestion 14 Making suggestions Let’s revise our lessons. What about going to the cinema tonight? How about playing cards? Why don't we do our homework? Couldn't we invite your mother to our party? Shall we have…..? What would you say to a cup of coffee? Don't you think …. Does it matter if we use your car?


Suggestion :Suggestion 15 Accepting Suggestions Ok. Yes, let's. Yes, I'd like to Yes, I'd love to. What a good idea! Why not? Yes, with pleasure. Yes, I feel like taking a walk.


Suggestion :Suggestion 16 Disagreeing No, let's not. No, I'd rather not. I don't feel like it. I dislike doing homework. What an awful idea!


Offers :Offers 17 Making Offers: Can I help you? What shall I do for you? Would you like me to check this computer for errors? Shall I bring you a glass of water? I'll buy you a coke. Shall I? What/ Where/ Which ... Would you like me to...? Do you want me to post that letter for you? I’ll be glad to help?


offer :offer 18 Accepting an offer: How kind of you! Thank you very much. That’s very good of you! That’s terribly kind,. Thank you very much. Yes, please do. What a good idea! Yes, please. Thanks. That would be excellent. Yes.


offer :offer 19 Refusing or rejecting an offer: It’s all right thanks. I can manage that alone! No, thank you. But I am very grateful That’s awfully kind, but there’s no need. No, please don't bother. No, thank you.


Invitation :Invitation 20 Inviting I was wondering whether you would stay for dinner. I'm going to my uncle's wedding party next Sunday. Would you like to come, too? Come along! Why don't you come? Will you come, too? You must come over? You must pay us a visit. You must come back some time. We must get in touch... I'll give you a call and fix something. Look me up next time you are around (here).


Invitation :Invitation 21 Accepting the invitation Ok. I'd like to! Well, I'm free then. Thank you. I'd like to come. Well, I'm not doing anything then. I'll come. Thanks. I am not doing anything special then. Thank you. I'd like to come. Ok!


Invitation :Invitation 22 Refusing the invitation I'm afraid I can't. I'm busy then. I'm sorry but I can't. I'm going somewhere that day. I'm sorry I have a headache.


Complaining :Complaining 23 Making a Complaint I have a complaint to make. ......... I'm sorry to say this but........ I want to complain about........... I'm afraid I've got a complaint about.... I'm angry about....


Complaining :Complaining 24 Responding to a complaint I'm so sorry, but this will never occur again. I'm sorry, I promise never to... I'm really sorry; I'll do my utmost / best not to...........


Apology :Apology 25 Apologizing I do apologize for ___ing.......... I must apologize for ___ing......... I am so sorry for ___ing......... I shouldn't have........... It's all my fault. I'm ashamed of ___ing......... Please, forgive me for ___ing....... I'm terribly sorry for ___ing.......... Pardon me for this............ Please, forgive me for my........ Please, accept my apologies for ____ing.........


Apology :Apology 26 Accepting the Apology That's all right. Never mind Don't apologize. It doesn't matter. Don't worry about it. Don't mention it. That's OK. I quite understand. You couldn't help it. Forget about it. Don't worry about it. No harm done.


Prohibition :Prohibition 27 Expressing Prohibition You aren’t allowed to use your credit card. You mustn’t......... It’s forbidden….... You aren’t permitted to......... You aren’t to.........


Prohibition :Prohibition 28 EXAMPLES You aren’t allowed to smoke in public places. It’s forbidden to walk on the grass in public gardens. You aren’t to wear indecent clothes in the street. You mustn’t drive fast. You aren’t permitted to park your car here.


Certainty :Certainty 29 Expressing Certainty Yes, I'm certain. Of course. I'm positive my grandmother repairs the car. She must be excellent at mechanics. I'm absolutely sure. It's certain that she is a good mechanic.


Probability :Probability 30 Expressing Probability It is probable that my grandfather repairs the car. I guess he is fit for the job. I bet my grandmother is better than he is. I expect / suppose they are good mechanics. I dare say / should say / presume they know what they should do. She may have repaired the car while you were out. Ali may come any minute. Maybe / perhaps the problem won’t be serious. It will probably rain this evening. I’m likely to do the work myself.


Improbability :Improbability 31 Expressing Improbability No, probably not. I don't suppose my grandfather repairs the car. I doubt my grandmother does, either. S/he is unlikely to repair the car. I don't think they can repair that car. I'd be surprised if s/he repaired the car. It's unlikely s/he will repair the car soon.


Possibility :Possibility 32 Expressing Possibility My grandmother may repair the car. Maybe she will repair it. Perhaps she will repair it. Possibly, he will climb it. It's possible she will repair it alone. She might repair it. I suppose she might repair it. There's a chance she'll repair it before sunset.


Impossibility :Impossibility 33 Expressing Impossibility No, it's impossible to repair that old Chevrolet. She can't possibly repair it. I'm sure she doesn't repair it. She definitely doesn't repair it. She certainly doesn't repair it. There's no way she repairs it.


Likes and Dislike :Likes and Dislike 34 Expressing Likes: I like Rotis. I like eating meat with my bare hand. I enjoy eating chicken. I love chickens. I adore eating chicken. I'm fond of chickens.


Likes and Dislike :Likes and Dislike 35 Expressing Dislikes: I hate broccoli. I don't like broccoli . I can't bear broccoli. I can't stand broccoli. I dislike broccoli. I detest broccoli.


Preference :Preference 36 Asking about preference Do you prefer tea or coffee? Would you prefer tea or coffee? Would you rather milk or Orange Juice? Which would you prefer? Doing homework or watching TV? Which would you rather, this bike or that one? Would you prefer to stay here? Would you rather have a drink?


Preference :Preference 37 Expressing Preference I prefer tea (to coffee). I'd prefer to have coffee. I'd rather have tea.


Examples Preferences :Examples Preferences 38 I prefer doing my homework to watching television. I'd prefer to go out than to stay with you. I'd rather go to bed than see that boring film. I'd prefer to sleep. I'd rather sleep.


Necessity :Necessity 39 In the present I have to buy some more eggs for my famous cake. I have got to repair that old car of mine. (informal) I must see the doctor soon because I don't feel well. It is necessary that I take a taxi. I'm late.


Necessity :Necessity 40 In the past I had to work extra hours to pay my bills. In the future I'll have to borrow money. In the present I don't have to drive fast. I don't need to write the report myself. My secretary can do that for me. I needn't buy all these things. In the past I didn't have to tell him about my project. In the future I won't have to revise my lessons. I learn them by heart.


Permission :Permission 41 Asking for Permission Can I go out, please? May I Open the window, please? Please, can I have a look at your photo album? Please, may I taste that hot spicy Chicken dish?


Permission :Permission 42 Expressing Permission Present & Future You might vote if you are 18. You may speak to the manager. You could see me this afternoon. I'm free then. You can put on my jacket. In the present You don't have to take your medicine if you feel better. In the future You won't have to come early tomorrow. There won't be much to do. Present & Future You needn't answer all the questions. Three are enough. You don't need to have a visa to go from a European country to another.


Request :Request 43 Expressing Request Can you close that door, please? Will you turn down that radio, please? Could you possibly give me that red pen over there? Would you bring me a glass of water please? Would you like to put that case on the reception desk, please?! Would you mind sending these letters for me, please?!


Cause & affect :Cause & affect 44 There are many ways to express cause and affect relationships. Take this for example: He didn't come because he wasn't invited. Since he wasn't invited, he didn't come. The cause of his absence is that he was not invited. He was not invited. So, the effect or the result of this is that "he didn't come". If he had been invited he would have come. But he was not invited, consequently he didn't come.


Cause & affect :Cause & affect 45 Examples She didn't attend the meeting since she was not interested. I'm glad the children are out, for I have got a lot of work to do at home. She didn't tell the police because of fear. Owing to his carelessness, the man had an accident. I'm sorry for being late. Thanks for your attention. He went to hospital because he was not feeling well.


Cause & affect :Cause & affect 46 I The cause of failure is laziness. One reason for failure is laziness. II Failure is caused by laziness. Successive failures are due to carelessness. III The effect of laziness is failure. The consequence of laziness is failure.


Cause & affect :Cause & affect 47 The result of laziness is failure. One effect/consequence/result of laziness is failure. IV He is lazy. Because of this, he fails. She is hard-working. So, she succeeds. He wasted his time. Consequently he didn't succeed in his exams. She works hard. Therefore, she always succeeds. She works hard. As a result, she always gets good marks. He never revises his lessons. As a consequence, the teacher always punishes him.


Fear :Fear 48 Expressing fear What scares / frightens me most is......... My chief / major/ main concern is...... I can’t help being worried by..... The problem is.... It is ............ That scares me. I’m dreading the final verdict.


Sympathy :Sympathy 49 Expressing Sympathy What a pity / shame that..... How disappointing! What bad / sad news! It’s a great disappointment! How terrible! It’s terrible that........!


Hypothesis :Hypothesis 50 Expressing hypothesis about the past Certainty Yes, I’m certain it was a ghost. I’m sure it was only a black cat. It must have been a rodent. Probablity/ possibility Perhaps it was a ghost. It might / may / could have been a black cat. Impossibility It couldn’t / can’t have been an animal. I’m sure it wasn’t a ghost.


Regret :Regret 51 Expressing regret about past mistakes I oughtn’t to have sold my old books. I shouldn’t have done that.


Indifference :Indifference 52 Expressing indifference POLITELY That’s all right. It doesn’t matter at all. I don’t mind. LESS FORMAL It’s all the same to me. I don’t care. VERY INFORMAL Who cares?! So what?!


Dissatisfaction :Dissatisfaction 53 Expressing Dissatisfaction I’m fed up with someone or something. I’m tired of someone or something. I’m sick of someone or something. I’m sick and tired of someone or something.


Asking For Clarification :Asking For Clarification 54 In order to avoid misunderstanding one has to ask for clarification to make sure one Understands the message in the right way. If one is asked for clarification one has to give it and check for understanding. Here are some useful expressions you can use in both situations:


Asking For Clarification :Asking For Clarification 55 Requesting Clarification: Formal Excuse me. What was that again? Pardon me. Would you mind repeating that Pardon me. Could you repeat that please? I beg your pardon. Would you mind repeating that? I’m sorry. I didn’t get the last part. May I interrupt? Could you say that again please?


Asking For Clarification :Asking For Clarification 56 Requesting Clarification: Informal (with friends) What? I didn’t catch that. What did you say? I didn’t get the last part. Huh? (impolite) You lost me. I didn’t get that. Can you make yourself clear? I am completely in the dark.


Asking for clarification :Asking for clarification 57 Asking for clarification for good understanding If I understand the terms correctly.............. Is that right? Could you elaborate on that? Do you mean...... I was under the impression that......... Let me see if I have that right. .................. Is that so?


Giving Clarification :Giving Clarification 58 Use Question Tags. I can’t understand....... I am not sure I got your point. Would you clarify that a little, please?


Giving Clarification :Giving Clarification 59 Giving Clarification and checking for under-standing. -Formal I mean that...... What I mean is that.... Does that make sense to you? Am I making sense? Am I clear enough? Do you get that? Have I made myself clear? Do you see what I mean? Do you understand so far? Are you following me?


Giving Clarification :Giving Clarification 60 Giving Clarification and checking for understanding -Informal Did you catch that? Do you understand? Is that clear now? Right? Okay, so far? Did you get that? Got it?


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