English Conversation: Learn the Right Phrases for Every Situation

Are you guys wasting time in boring English classes where you never get the chance to speak English? Are you spending a lot of time memorizing many grammar rules and word lists? Are you working with English tutor who only wants you to take notes and never have English conversations? Well, it's time to free yourself from old inefficient methodologies of learning English. You know, there are many common phrases you can use in order to express yourself in English. But unfortunately, many English learners don't know them and they don't know how to use them. Using the same phrases over and over sometimes makes your spoken English boring and people wouldn't enjoy talking and communicating with you. And here in this course we have done many researchers in order to find and collect the most common English phrases used in everyday life communication. These phrases are categorized in different common topics. And my dear friends, the method we have used in this course is pretty easy. This course is definitely for those students who want to improve their English speaking skill and communication in everyday life. Those people who want to speak confidently about everyday life topics. Those learners who want to use a creative method in order to improve their spoken English and get a better pronunciation. Those students who want to recognize the formal and informal phrases in everyday life communication. Imagine your friend is going to have an interview for an important job. So how would you encourage him in such situation? You would probably need to say you can do it. Give it your best shot. Encouraging the same person in difficult situations, you might say hang in there. Keep pushing. You've almost got it. In this lesson, we will teach you 10 different common ways to talk about prices. There are different phrases native speakers use to talk about prices and costs. So guys, let's get started and let's understand them. Let's start with the first common phrase and that's it costs a fortune. It costs a fortune. Guys, a fortune is a large amount of money, goods, property, etc. So cost a fortune means cost a lot of money. For example, it cost a fortune to buy this new car or it cost a fortune to get this car fixed. So it costs a lot of money. The next common American phrase is it costs an arm and a leg. Yes, it costs an arm and a leg. This is the second common expression to describe something very expensive. Actually, this phrase is used in an informal casual way. It costs an arm and a leg. My dear friends, this is an American phrase created sometime after World War II. A likely reference is to soldiers who had lost their limbs in the war, thus having to pay a very high price for the war. It costs an arm and a leg. That's a ripoff. Yes, that's a ripoff, which means overpriced. Something that is far more expensive than it should be, right? It's overpriced. That's a ripoff. So, we speak about something that is not worth what you pay for. For example, $300 for that shirt. That's a complete ripoff. That's a complete ripoff. I can't afford it. I can't afford it. Which is common phrase used to say that you don't have enough money to buy something. So if you can afford something, you have the ability, you are able to buy or do something because you have enough money or time. For example, I can't afford that car. It costs an arm and a leg. It cost a fortune. It's very expensive. I can't afford it. That's a bit pricey. That's a bit pricey. This is another phrase which means a little expensive. We could also use other phrases like that's a bit costly or that's a bit dear. Yes, dear. Probably you don't know. We also use the word dear to describe something expensive. For example, the cost of living is very dear, which means very expensive. That's quite reasonable. A reasonable price is not too expensive. Use it when something isn't cheap, but you are happy with the price because you feel like you got a good value for the price. That's quite reasonable. For example, I guess we can afford that car. The price is quite reasonable. It's 20% off which means there is 20% discount. Right? Off here is an adjective which means below the usual standard or rate. Sales have been off this month. Yes, sales have been off this month. So guys, off here is an adjective which means something that is below the usual standard or rate. And remember my dear friends, off and discount are just the same. There is no difference here. That's a good deal. We usually use this phrase to say that something has a good value for the amount of money. So it's a very successful transaction or business agreement or we can say a bargain. Yes, that's a bargain. That's a good deal. For example, only $50,000 for all that land. That's a great deal. That's a good deal. It was a real bargain. When something is sold for a price that is lower than usual or lower than its value, we could say it was a real bargain. For example, we got tickets to the show at half price. It's a real bargain. A real bargain. So, my dear friends, bargain is something you buy cheaply or for less than its usual price. For example, there are no bargains in clothes shops at the moment. It was dirt cheap. Dirt cheap. So guys, dirt cheap is an informal way to say extremely cheap or cheaply. It was dirt cheap. For example, I got these shoes dirt cheap. So guys, if you say that something is dirt cheap, you are emphasizing that it's very cheap indeed. [Music] Okay, my dear friends, in this lesson we will learn some nice useful phrases to say that something is easy or something is hard to do. So, are you ready to learn these phrases? Let's get started. [Music] Let's start with these common phrases. It's a piece of cake. It's easy as pie. or it's easy as ABC. Or sometimes we could say it's easy as 1 2 3. Actually, the saying a piece of cake means something that is simple to accomplish. If a school assignment is a piece of cake, it's easy that you will barely have to think about it, right? It's a piece of cake. So guys, you could also say it's easy as pi or it's easy as ABC or probably it's easy as one, two, three. Let's start with other informal phrases or vocabulary. It's a cinch. It's a breeze. It's a snap. Or it's a child's play. Yes, it's a child's play. So my dear friends, these are casual and formal vocabulary in English. Cinch, breeze, snap. They are used to say that a task is extremely easy to do. For example, this program was a cinch, right? This program was a cinch to us. Breeze. Breeze is something that is easy to achieve often unexpectedly. For example, you won't have any problem with the interest test. It's an absolute breeze. It's an absolute breeze, which means extremely easy and simple. Anyone can do it. Yes, anyone can do it. Or probably we could say there is nothing to it. There is nothing to it. We usually use these phrases to emphasize that no matter how old you are or no matter where somebody is from, they can do it and it requires no skills. For example, earning money in this country is easy. Anyone can do it. There is nothing to it. Anyone can do it. Listen to these common phrases. I can do it in my sleep. I can do it with my eyes shut or I can do this with my eyes closed. Actually, these are some common informal and casual phrases. American and English native speakers use them to emphasize that something requires no skills, talents, or experience. And it's really easy to do. For example, riding a horse is simple. I can do it with my eyes closed. Right? Listen to these phrases. I was born doing this. I was born doing this. It's a dotle, which is usually used in UK and England. It's a dotle or easy peasy. Easy peasy. Guys, if somebody is born to do something, he is possessing an innate talent or ability in a particular area. Yes, that guy is born to do something. It's a dotle, which usually used in the UK and it's pretty common among English people. It's a dotle. And easy peasy lemon squeezy is an elaboration on easy peasy likewise meaning extremely easy or actually simple. They also say easy peasy Japanesey. For example, learning a new language is easy peasy Japanesey, right? Or it's difficult. Actually, it requires some talents and skills. It's not rocket science. That's my favorite one. I can do it in the dark. Yes, it's pretty easy. I can do it in the dark. It's not rocket science. This is a very common idiom. When someone says that something is not rocket science, it means it's not difficult. In other words, it's easy to do or understand. Actually, this idiom is probably inspired by the study of rocket science, which isn't exactly easy. It's not rocket science. You know, the course can be grueling at times. Yes, it can be grueling. Grueling here means extremely tiring and difficult and demanding great effort and determination. That's grueling. For example, he eventually won the match after five grueling sets. Let's jump to the next common one, and that's it's a bit tricky. It's a bit tricky. So, what does it mean? If a piece of work or problem is tricky, it's difficult to deal with and needs careful attention or skill. For example, it's tricky to learn to ride a skateboard, but you never forget how. The next common word is it's tough. Yes, it's tough. Tough is something that is difficult to do or something that is difficult to deal with. For example, they have had an exceptionally tough life. Yes. So tough is something that is difficult to do or difficult to deal with. There's another funny and common American idiom and that it's not a walk in the park. It's not a walk in the park. So something that is not uh actually very easy to do and usually it is not pleasant. For example, he's not used to hard physical work. Sounds like his new job is not a walk in the park. A walk on the beach is sometimes substituted, but it is heard somewhat less often. So, it's not very often. A walk on the beach. It is very demanding. Yes, it is very demanding, which means it takes a lot of time and energy. A task that requires much skill and effort. For example, she has a busy and demanding job. So guys, something that is demanding needs a lot of attention, efforts or time. For example, I'm trying to learn English and I find it very demanding. [Music] In this lesson, we are going to teach you 10 ways to encourage someone. There are many phrases we could use to encourage people depending on different formal and informal situations. As you know, encouraging people can have a great positive effect on their performance, right? So guys, let's get started. [Music] Let's start with the first phrase and that's keep up the good work. Yes, keep up the good work. We use this phrase to say someone is doing well and you want them to continue. And remember guys, keep up in this case means continue. So it means you are doing great right now and continue following it. Actually, you can use other phrases to encourage someone to continue doing what they were already doing. You can also use these common phrases. There you go. Yes. There you go. Or keep it up. Keep it up. Keep it up is a short form for keep up the good work. Yes, keep it up. That was a nice try or good effort or sometimes we say nice try. Use these phrases after the person didn't succeed and you just want to help them feel better. So, you want them not to give up and start doing it again probably later. That was a nice try. Good effort. Nice try. For example, nice try. I'm sure you will do better next time. I'm sure you will do better next time. The next common phrase is that's a real improvement. Yes, that's a real improvement. You could also say, you are doing great. You are doing great. We use these phrases to say that he or she is making good progress. That's a real improvement. These are general phrases we usually use to encourage people and compliment them on their progress. For example, your writing has gotten better. That's a real improvement. You are doing great. You are on the right track. Yes, this is my favorite one. You are on the right track. Use this phrase when a person is close to the answer. Yes, close to success but hasn't reached it yet. On the right track means that they are going in the correct direction and moving on the right way. You are on the right track. This is another common American phrase. You've almost got it. You also use this phrase when a person is coming very close to success and he's almost there. for example. Come on, man. Run, run. You've almost got it. You've almost got it. What you have got to lose. Yes. What you have got to lose. So, what does this question mean? This question is used to emphasize the fact that if the person doesn't succeed, there won't be any negative consequences. So, they should make an effort. Right? What you have got to lose. What you have got to lose. Don't give up. Hang in there. Yes, hang in there. Actually, these phrases are used when someone is currently having difficulty and problems and the pressure is too much for them. So, we should encourage them not to give up. Don't give up. Hang in there. Hang in there. The phrase give up means to stop trying. So you can say don't give up to encourage people to continue trying despite the difficulty they might be facing. There are some other common phrases American and English native speakers use to actually encourage people not to give up and keep trying. So let's understand some of them. Keep pushing. Keep fighting. Stay strong. Never give up. Never say die. Come on, you can do it. You can do it. And now guys, let's speak about this very common phrase. You can do it. You can do it. Use this phrase to emphasize the hero's ability to succeed. You can say this to a person who has low self-esteem or has difficulty believing they can succeed. You can do it. Yes. for example. Come on, man. You can do it. You can start teaching. You speak English very well. You can do it. I believe in you. The next common American phrase used by native speakers all of the time is give it your best shot. Yes, give it your best shot. Your best shot here means your best try to do something. So this phrase is used to encourage people to do their best and try as much as possible to achieve and obtain something. Give it your best shot. For example, if you want to get accepted in this nice university, you must give it your best shot. Nice job. Well done. You did great. We use these phrases after the person did something good. Actually, it's not related to their employment or profession. You can also add I'm impressed. If the person's success surprises you in a good way, I'm impressed. You did great. Well done. Good job. For example, you just won this award. Nice job, man. I'm impressed. I'm surprised by your success and improvement. My dear friends, there are some phrases that we don't use them in irregular conversation, but we use them usually in writing or speeches. They sound very inspirational. Let's understand them. These phrases are follow your dreams. Reach for the stars. Reach for the stars. Yes. Do the impossible. Believe in yourself. The sky is the limits. The sky is the limit. These phrases are very inspirational. [Music] Guys, sometimes you forget things and sometimes you remember things, right? Actually, in English, there are many different English phrases native speakers use to speak about these issues. Let's understand some of the most common ones. Let's dive in. Okay, let's start with these common phrases. I will always remember or I'll always remember or we could say I'll never forget to. I'll never forget to do something. We usually use these phrases to generally emphasize that we will do something and we will not forget doing something. For example, I will always remember to practice English at least 20 minutes a day. Or, hey, Jack, don't worry. I'll never forget to visit my grandparents once a week. The next common phrases are, "If I remember correctly, if I remember correctly," or, "As far as I can recall," as far as I can recall. These phrases are used for telling someone what you remember about a particular event, probably a person, etc. For example, as far as I can recall, he was jobless and unemployed. So, as far as I can remember or as far as I I can recall means the extent that I am able to remember or according to what I can remember. as far as I can recall. We could also use this phrase if I can remember correctly. This is a phrase that you can use when you are trying to remember something but you are not sure that you are remembering it correctly. I have a vague recollection of. Yes, I have a vague recollection of. If you have a vague memory or idea of something, so the memory or idea is not clear, right? The word vague here means something that is not clear, certain or definite. That's vague. And the word recollection means the action or faculty of remembering something. So if you have a vague recollection, you usually have an unclear remembering of something. For example, I have a vague recollection of what our teacher said in class, which means that I cannot remember very clearly and I'm not sure. The next common idiom, which is my favorite one, is it's on the tip of my tongue. It's on the tip of my tongue, which means I'm trying to remember, but I can't quite remember. So if something that you want to say is on the tip of your tongue, you think you know it and that you will be able to remember it very soon. For example, what was her name? What was her name? Oh, come on. I knew it. Her name is on the tip of my tongue. So guys, this phrase is used to indicate that someone is almost but not quite able to bring a particular word or name to mind. My mind went blank. Yes, my mind went blank. Which means I couldn't remember think of anything. When your mind is blank or goes blank, you cannot remember a particular thing or you cannot remember anything. My mind went blank. For example, I tried to remember her name, but my mind was a complete blank. Or my mind went completely blank. It doesn't ring a bell. That's another common idiom and phrase. It doesn't ring a bell. This is an informal phrase which means it doesn't sound familiar. Do you know Jack? No. It doesn't ring a bell. His name, it doesn't ring a bell. It doesn't sound familiar. So guys, if you say that something rings, you mean that it reminds you of something, but you cannot remember exactly what that is. For example, the name, as I said to you, the name doesn't ring a bell. The next common phrase is, I lost my train of thought. Lose your train of thought means forgetting what you were thinking right in the middle of thinking about it. Yes, I lost my train of thought. So, my dear friends, a train of thought means a connected series of thoughts or ideas in your head. You are telling somebody a story or talking about an idea you had, but you get distracted or you are interrupted by something and you forget what you were talking about. It went in one ear and out the other. Yes, it went in one ear and out the other. So go in one ear and out the other means forgetting something as soon as you hear it. You forget something quickly. You are listening to someone speaking but you are not really listening carefully. When the other person says something, you hear it but you don't remember it. For example, he told me his name but it went in one ear and out the other. Can you refresh my memory? Can you refresh my memory? What does it mean? We use this phrase actually to refresh one's memory. Actually to help someone remember something. For example, it doesn't ring a bell. Can you refresh my memory? Or I have to read my notes again from the previous actually meeting to refresh my memory. It completely slipped my mind. This is a nice American expression which means I completely forgot about it. It completely slipped my mind. So if something slips your mind, you forget it, right? For example, I'm sorry I forgot your birthday. It just slipped my mind. It completely slipped my mind. Actually, when you slip, you fall, right? When it falls from the mind, it it is no longer there. So when you forget about something, it is common to say it slipped my mind. [Music] Guys, imagine that you are talking with a friend who lives overseas. You haven't seen or spoken to that person in a year, and he or she has much news to share. The friend talks for a long time and you listen for a long time, but you want to tell them you have to go to work. How can you do it? You might need to interrupt them, but in a kind way. You know, there are many reasons that interrupting a speaker or a group of speakers may be necessary. They include to ending a conversation, asking a question, giving someone a message or to join a conversation. The goal is to be able to do these things in a polite way. Right? In this lesson, actually, we will share some phrases you can do it. So, let's speak about ending a conversation. So let's return to our situation from the start of the program, right? The desire to end a conversation. These are sometimes that we want to have to leave a conversation before a speaker finishes is speech. In these situations, we can use one of these phrases. I'm sorry to interrupt, but I'm sorry to interrupt, but I hate to interrupt, but or I'm sorry to cut this short, but I'm sorry to cut this short, but So, here's how someone might use one of these phrases in conversations. I'm sorry to interrupt, but I have to be somewhere in an hour. I'm sorry to interrupt, but I have to be somewhere in an hour. Actually, when we interrupt a speaker for any reason, we almost always begin with sorry or I'm sorry or for some kind of interruption, we can say excuse me. And to ask a question, actually, let's move to another common situation. The need to ask a question. As you know, there are some times when we have a question about a subject of discussion or even an unrelated subject or we may want to make sure we have understood the speaker before they continue speaking. Here are two useful phrases for asking questions. We could say, "Sorry to interrupt, but may I ask a question?" Yes, sorry to interrupt, but may I ask a question? I'm sorry for the interruption, but I have a quick question. I'm sorry for interruption, but I have a quick question. Or we could also say, "May I say something here? This will only take a minute." Or probably we could say, "Would you mind telling me? Would you mind telling me?" Or to be more polite, you could also say, I apologize for interruption, but I have an important question about Yes, I apologize for interruption, but I have an important question about Now guys, let's hear how someone might use one of these phrases. Suppose the interrupter briefly walks into a meeting in progress. So, he says, "Sorry for interruption, but I have a quick question. What time do the exchange students get here? To give a message. In other situation, you may need to give someone a message that can't wait, such as to inform them about a phone call or other time sensitive issues. In giving such messages to people while they are speaking, we sometimes start with excuse me. For example, excuse me, Brian, there is a phone call for you online. Or we could say, "Sorry to interrupt, but you are needed in the lobby to sign for a package." Or we could also say, "I apologize for interruption, but I had to quickly let you know that your wife called." The phrase, "Pardon me," is another way to say, "Excuse me," but it is less common except in very formal situations. and to join the conversation. So finally, there are times when you want to join a conversation between two or more people. Sometimes this is easy to do because you are already friendly with the people and they are talking casually about a subject. Other times the speakers are so deep in discussion that there are no actually natural breaks in the speech. but you still want to offer an opinion or make an important point or share some information. So my dear friends, these phrases can help you to join and enter the conversation. Excuse me, but may I jump here? Excuse me, but may I jump in here? Sorry to interrupt, but or can I add something here? May I add something here? or I couldn't help overhearing. I couldn't help overhearing. I couldn't help overhearing means I couldn't avoid hearing what you said. So, be careful to use this phrase only with people who would actually react kindly, such as friends or co-workers. For example, I couldn't help overhearing you talk about Roma. I just watched it. So, you just learned how to politely interrupt other people. But what might you say if people interrupt you? My dear friends, interrupting someone who has interrupted you. You do not always need to allow an interruption. Right? My dear friends, if you were interrupted rudely or believe that you should finish your thought verse, you have the right to express this without being considered impolite. So guys, use one of these phrases to firmly but respectfully uh redirect the conversation back to yourself. Please let me finish. Yes, please let me finish. Or can I continue, please? Or let me wrap up my thought before you start. Let me wrap up my thought before you start. Or you could say, would you please let me finish? Would you please let me finish? Allowing an interruption. You may choose to allow an interruption if you don't mind being stopped or interrupted. So, respond to a person who has asked if they can interrupt you using one of these expressions. No problem. Go ahead. Sure. What do you think? That's all right. What is it that you want or what is it that you need? [Music] As you know guys in English there are many common useful phrases native speakers use to say that they don't understand something and sometimes they ask for a repetition. So what are those phrases to say that you do not understand something very clearly sometimes? Let's understand them. [Music] Let's start with this word pardon or pardon me. If you didn't hear or understand what the person said, this is used to politely ask someone to repeat something. To repeat something they have said because you didn't hear it. For example, pardon. Pardon me. I didn't get what you just said. Pardon? I didn't get what you just said. What do you mean? We usually use this phrase to ask for more information. What do you mean? This is used when you do not understand what someone is trying to say. For example, you will be careful, won't you? What do you mean? What do you mean? This is also used when you are very surprised or annoyed by what someone has just said. For example, what do you mean? You have canled the trip. What do you mean you have canled a trip? So, I'm surprised and annoyed at the same time. I'm not sure I follow you. I'm not sure I follow you. This is an informal way to say that I don't fully understand. I'm not sure I follow you. Like, imagine your friend says speaking is a productive language. So, if you cannot understand him, you could say, "I'm not sure I follow you." Would you mind repeating that? Would you mind repeating that? This is a very polite way native speakers use to ask others for a repetition. Would you mind repeating that? I beg your pardon, but I don't quite understand. I beg your pardon, but I don't quite understand. I'm not quite sure I know what you mean. I'm not quite sure I follow you. I don't quite see what you mean or I'm not quite sure I got your point. These are five common formal and polite ways to express the lack of understanding. You are just saying that you cannot understand something. Could you clarify that please or would you elaborate on that please? Would you elaborate on that please? We usually use these formal questions in order to to ask speakers to give us more detail so we could understand the point and the explanation. Could you clarify that please? Or would you elaborate on that please? For example, I don't quite see what you mean. Could you clarify that please? I wonder if you could say that in a different way. Or could you put it differently, please? Guys, native speakers usually use these questions to ask the speaker to change the way he explains and talk about something so it could be more understandable. Could you put it differently, please? Right? Or I wonder if you could say that in a different way. Guys, to clarify your idea, you can use one of these expressions and one of these phrases. Let me explain that in more detail. Or let me put it in another way. Or in other words, or you could say to say this differently or to put it differently. Yes, to put it differently. We use these expressions to clarify your idea. [Music]