Introducing yourself and others

There is a range of ways to introduce yourself and people.

Introducing yourself:

Here are expressions to introduce yourself:

 My name is ...
 I'm ....
 Nice to meet you; I'm ...
 Pleased to meet you; I'm ...
 Let me introduce myself; I'm ...
 I'd like to introduce myself; I'm ...

Introducing others:

Here are expressions to introduce others:

 Jack, please meet Nicolas.

 Jack, have you met Nicolas?
 I'd like you to meet Liza.
 I'd like to introduce you to Betty.
 Leila, this is Barbara. Barbara this is Leila.

Useful responses when introducing yourself or other people:

 Nice to meet you.

 Pleased to meet you.
 Happy to meet you.
 How do you do?

Dialogue:

Alex is talking to the new manager and his assistant. Notice how they introduce
themselves:

Alex: Hi! My name is Alex Litterman, the new manager.

William: Hi! I'm William O'Brian. Nice to meet you, Mr Alex
Litterman.
John: William, please meet Mr Steve Lynch, my assistant
Jack: How do you do?
 Nicolas: How do you do?

Asking For And Giving Permission

Asking for and giving permission:

When you ask for permission to use something that belongs to someone else you have
to do your best to be polite. It is desirable to use the word "please."

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 couscous dish?
 Do you mind if I smoke?
 Would you mind if I asked you something?
 Is it okay if I sit here?
 Would it be all right if I borrowed your mobile Phone?

Giving Permission:

 Yes, please do.

 Sure, go ahead.
 Sure.
 No problem.
 Please feel free.

Refusing to give permission:

 No, please don’t.

 I’m sorry, but that’s not possible.
 I'm afraid, but you can't.

Dialogue:

Liza, eight years old, is asking her mother for

Liza: Please mum, can I use the computer?

Her mother: No, dear you can't. It's time to go to bed.

 Liza: May I read a story before I sleep?

Her mother: Sure! But try to sleep early.

Liza: Thanks a lot mummy.

Talking about favorite things

When you talk about your favorite things you talk about the best liked or most
enjoyed things.

Examples:

 "What's your favorite color?" "Green."

Study the dialogue:

Leila is talking to her new friend Cathy:

Leila: What kind of films do you like best?

Cathy: Science fiction. And you?
Leila: Comedy. And who's your favorite actor?
Cathy: Tom Cruise.
Leila: I like Robert de Nero most.

Asking about favorite things:

 What's your favorite sport?

 What sport do you like best?
 What sport do you like most?
 What kind of sport do you like best?
 Who's your favorite football player?

Responding:

 My favorite sport is football.

 I like football best.
 I like football most.
 My favorite football player is Ronaldo.

Things to remember:
  "Favourite" is British spelling.
 "Favorite" is American spelling.

How to tell the time in English?

There are two common ways of telling the time in

English. For 2:40 you can use one of these two ways.

 Digital: the easier way - "Two forty "

 Classical: you say the minutes first then the hour
- "twenty to three"

Here are the different ways to ask for and tell the time.

Asking about the time:

What time is it?

time do you make it?
's the time?
Have you got the right time?

Telling the time:

Digital It's ... It's ...

2.00 two o'clock two
2.06 six minutes past two two oh six
2.09 nine minutes past two two oh nine
2.12 twelve past two two twelve
2.15 a quarter past two two fifteen
2.20 twenty past two two twenty
2.25 twenty-five past two two twenty-five
2.30 half past two two thirty
2.35 twenty-five to three two thirty-five
2.40 twenty to three two forty
2.45 a quarter to three two forty-five
2.50 ten to three two fifty
 2.55 five to three two fifty-five
2.57 three minutes to three two fifty-seven
2.58 nearly three o'clock two fifty-eight
3.00 three o'clock three

Example:

Question:What's the time, please?

Answer: It's two o'clock.

Making Offers

How to make offers in English?

It is common that English speakers make offers in conversations in order to be polite

and helpful. When they do so they use these expressions:

Can I… ?
Shall I… ?
Would you like … ?
How about ...?

English learner must be able to make offers as well as accept or reject them. The
following are useful expressions to do so.

Making offers:

Can I help you?

Shall get you some juice?

Would you like a glass of water ?

How about some pizza?

Examples:
  "Can I help you?"
 "Shall I open the window for you?"
 "Would you like another cup of coffee?"
 "Would you like me to clean the board?"
 "How about a juice? "

Remember:

 Shall, can and will are followed by the verb without to. 

Example:
"Can I help you?"
"Shall I bring you the mobile phone?
 Shall is more formal than can.
 Would you like… is followed either by a noun, or by the verb withto.
Example:
"Would you like some tea ?"
"Would you like to drink some coffee?

Responding to offers

Accepting Declining

Yes please. I'd like to. It's OK, I can do it myself. 

That would be very kind of you. Don't worry, I'll do it.
Yes please, that would be lovely. No, thanks
Yes please, I'd love to.  No, thank you
If you wouldn't mind.
If you could.
Thank you, that would be great.

Examples:

 "Can I help you?"

"No thanks, I'm just having a look." (With a shop assistant.)

 "Can I help you?"

"Do you know where the post office is."

 "Shall I help you with your maths problem?"

"Yes, please. That would be very nice of you."
  "Would you like a cup of tea?"
"No thanks." Or, "No thank you."

 "Would you like another piece of cake?"

"Yes please, that would be nice ."
"Yes please, I'd love one."

 "Would you like me to do the the ironing for you?"

"If you wouldn't mind." 
"If you could." 

 "I'll do the washing, if you like."

"It's OK, I can do it." 
"Don't worry, I'll do it."
"Thank you, that would be great."

Making invitations

Making invitations

Do you know how to invite someone to your house for dinner or to go to the movies? 
What do you say in English when someone invites you? 
Here are some common expressions you can use when making or responding to
invitations

Inviting:

 Do you want to go to the movies tonight?

 Would you like to go to the theater tomorrow?
 Would you be interested in going to the the stadium next Sunday?
 How do you fancy going to the the restaurant for dinner?
 How about going to the movies?
 Care to come over for lunch?
 I was just wondering if you would like to come over for a drink.
 We'd be delighted to have you over for my birthday party.

Accepting invitations:
  Sure. What time?
 I'd love to, thanks.
 That's very kind of you, thanks.
 That sounds lovely, thank you.
 What a great idea, thank you.
 Sure. When should I be there?

Declining invitations:

 I can't.  I have to work.

 This evening is no good.  I have an
appointment.
 I'm busy tomorrow.  Can I take
a rain check* on that? 
 That's very kind of you, but actually
I'm doing something else this
afternoon.
 Well, I'd love to, but I'm already
going out to the restaurant.
 I'm really sorry, but I've got
something else on.
 I really don't think I can - I'm supposed to be doing something else.

(*rain check: used to tell someone that you cannot accept invitations now, but would
like to do so at a later time)

Dialogue:

Mike and Ann are in a wedding party:

Mike: Do you want to dance?

Ann: No thanks. I'm a bit tired right now

Mike: How about having a drink?

Ann: Sure, I'd love to!

Expressing likes and dislikes

To talk about your likes and dislikes, you can use these expressions.

Expressing likes:

 I like…
 I love...
 I adore…
 I ‘m crazy about…
 I’m mad about…
 I enjoy…
 I’m keen on…

Expressing dislikes:

 I don’t like…
 I dislike...
 I hate…
 I abhor…
 I can’t bear...
 I can’t stand…
 I detest...
 I loathe...

 Examples of likes and dislikes :

I'm mad about basketball, but I can’t bear ice hockey.

I adore reading poetry, but I loathe doing the housework.

If you neither like nor dislike something:

"I don't mind doing the housework."

Things to remember about likes and dislikes:

1. When these expressions are followed by a verb, the latter is put in the -ing form.
Examples:

"I like listening to music."

"I hate wearing sunglasses."

I like VERB+ING
I detest
 I don't mind

2. Note that" very much" & " a lot" always come after the things you like.
Examples:

 "I like basketball very much/a lot. NOT" I like very much/a lotbasketball."

3. Be careful when you use "I don't mind..."

Examples:

"Do you mind playing football?"

"No, I don't mind."(Although it's in a negative form, it means that it's ok for me. I
neither love it nor hate it.)

Dialogue:

Steve is at home. His girlfriend comes in...Notice how they express their likes and
dislikes

Steve: Hello, darling. Do you fancy watching a film tonight?

Girlfriend: Oh, no thanks, I don't really feel like watching a film tonight. How
about going out instead.
Steve: OK. Do you feel like going to the theater?
Girlfriend: Oh, no. I hate it. Do you like eating at the new Chinese restaurant?
Steve: I don't mind. The Chinese cuisine is alright.
Girlfriend: Well I really love it. Let's go.

Describing people and things

Describing:

What are some good ways to describe

 people?
 things?
 feelings?
 yourself?
 personality?

See the phrases below for examples of descriptions in English.

Questions:

What does Leila / the house look like?

can you tell me about Leila / the house?

is Leila / the house like?

Tell me about Leila / the house!

Responses:

Well, she's old, young, middle aged, fat, overweight, slim, thin,
skinny, blonde, red-head, well-built, tall, dark, beautiful,
funny, cute, really rich, gorgeous ...

She has oval face, square face, round face, long, black hair,
got straight hair, curly hair, blue eyes, round face, long
nose, fair skin , bushy eyebrows, regular teeth, crooked
teeth, rosy cheeks...

She's kind chubby, thin, slim, obese, tall, skinny, short, intelligent,
of silly, nice, naughty...

It's big, small, comfortable, clean ...

Expressing prohibition

To express prohibition the following expressions are used.

To express prohibition you can use:

 It is prohibited to ...

 You aren’t allowed to ...
 You mustn’t ...
 You aren’t permitted to ...
 It is forbidden to ...
 Examples:

 Parking is strictly prohibitedbetween these gates.

 Students aren't allowed to come too late to school.
 Drivers mustn't park their cars here.
 It is forbidden to walk on grass.
 Smoking isn't permitted in hospitals.
 People aren't permitted to throw rubbish here.

Dialogue:

Notice how prohibition is expressed in this dialogue

The security Hey, you. What are you doing here? You aren't
agent: allowed to enter this building.
Mr O'Brian: Sorry, but I have an appointment with Dr Leila
O'Biran. She's my daughter.
The security Show me your ID card please.
agent:
Mr O'Brian: Here you are, sir.
The security Well...That sounds OK. Dr Leila O'Brian is in the
agent: 3rd floor. You can take the lift sir.

Expressions

Asking for advice:

 I've got a bad toothache. What do you suggest?

 What do you advise me to do?
 What should I do?
 What ought I to do?
 What's your advice?
 If you were me what would you do?

Giving advice

 If I were you, I would go to the dentist.

 Why don't you go to the dentist?
 You'd better brush your teeth regularly.
  You ought to/should avoid eating sweets.
 If you take my advice, you'll go to the dentist.
 It might be a good idea to brush your teeth on a regular basis.
 I advise you to brush your teeth on a regular basis.
 Have you thought about seeing a dentist.

Declining to give advice

 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.

Things to remember about asking for and

giving advice:

1. "Advise" is a verb.
Example:
"I advise you to learn English. You will
undoubtedly need it in your higher studies"

2. "Advice" is a noun.
Example:
"My father gave me this piece of advice when
I was young: never give up"

3. "Ought to" has nearly the same meaning as "should". The only difference is that
"ought to " refers to a moral or external obligation but should is more of an advice. 
Example:
"You ought to stop smoking."
"You should stop smoking."

4. "You'd better" is the short form of "you had better"

Example:
"You'd better see a doctor!" = "You had better see the doctor"

Study the dialogue:

I'm terrible at English and I think I should do something about it. What do

Student:
you advise me to do?
Teacher:I think you should try this website. It's a fantastic website for beginners.
Student: I've heard about it, but what do you think I should start with?
Teacher:You'd better start with the lessons.Then, try the exercises.

Suggestions

The following English phrases and expressions are all used to make suggestions and
give advice to people.

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 grandmother to our party?
 Shall we have a walk along the river?
 What would you say to a cup of coffee?
 Don't you think it is a good idea to watch TV?
 Does it matter if we use your car?

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.
 That sounds like a good idea.  

Refusing suggestions:

 No, let's not.

 No, I'd rather not.
 I don't feel like it.
  I dislike going for a walk.
 What an awful / bad idea!

Things to remember about suggestions:

1.The verb "suggest" can be followed by either:

 should + verb = I suggest (that) we should go to the theater.

 a verb (in the subjunctive form)= I suggest (that) we go to the movies.

2."That" is optional:

 "I suggest that we should visit Paris."

 "I suggest we should visit Paris."

Dialogue:

Two friends talking about where to go this evening:

Alice: You know Alan, why don't we go to the cinema to watch Titanic?

Alan: No, let's not. We've seen the film many times before. What about
going to the library? We have to finish our school project!
Alice: That sounds like a good idea. But when we finish let's go to the cafè.
Alan: Yes, I'd love to.

How to express your opinion

Expressing opinion

I think... 
As far as I'm concerned,..
To my mind,...
According to me,... 
As I see it, ...
It seems to me that... 
In my point of view / my opinion,....
From my point of view...
I am of the opinion that...
I take the view that. .. 
My personal view is that... 
In my experience... 
As far as I understand / can see/see it,...
 Agreeing or disagreeing

Agreeing with an opinion:

I agree with this opinion.

I completely agree with this view.
This is absolutely right.
I couldn't / can't agree more.

Partial agreement:

I agree with this point of view, but... 

This idea is right, but...
I agree with you, but...

Disagreeing with an opinion:

I'm afraid. I can't agree with you. 

I disagree with you.
I don't agree with you. 
I'm not sure I agree with you 
I think you're wrong

Asking about direction

To ask about directions use these questions:

 How can I get to . . . from here?

 How can I get to . . . ?
 Can you show me the way to...?
 Can you tell me how to get to . . . ?
 Where is . . . ?
 What's the best way to get to . . . ?

Giving directions

To give directions use these expressions:

  Go straight on
 Turn left/right
 Take the first (turning) to the left/right.
 Go past the restaurant/school...
 The ... is beside/in front of/next to...the....

Telephone conversations

It is common that English speakers make phone calls either for business reasons or

personal affairs. These are expressions you can use in your conversations on the
phone.

 You 've reached .... company/department.

 How can I help you?
 Can I speak to Mr/Mrs.....?
 Could I speak to ...., please?
 Who shall I say is calling?
 Who's calling, please?
 Who's speaking?
 It's Mr/Mrs... here.
 It's Mr/Mrs... speaking.
 Mr/Mrs... speaking.
 Please hold and I'll put you through.
 Just a second. I'll see if s/he is in.
 Hang on for a moment.

Do the quiz below on Phone Conversations expressions and click on the button to

check your answers.

(Before doing the quiz you may want to read the lesson on phone conversation)

Choose the right answer

 1. Which question the person answering the phone may ask you when you call a
company.
Who's calling please?
2. You say ‘hang on’: 
To keep a telephone connection open 
3. Please ... and I'll put you through.
hold
4. What is the expression used to connect two people on the telephone?
I'm putting you through
5. Hang on for...
a second
6. Just a second. I... if he is in!
'll see
7. Please hold and I'll ... you through
put
8. Who ... I say is calling?
shall
9. You 've ... the Finance Department.
reached
10.... I speak to Mrs O'Neil?
Can

Giving news

There are different ways to give news:

Giving good and bad news

 I'm really pleased to tell you...

 I've got a bit of good news to tell you..
 I've got some good / brilliant / great / wonderful / splendid news for you...
 You know what! I've got a bit of great news for you...
 Great news for you...
 I'm afraid I've got some bad news for you...
 I'm sorry I've got a bit of bad news to tell you..
 I really don’t know how to say it, but …
 I’m sorry to have to say this, but …
 I really feel bad to have to say this, but …
 Responding to news

Responding to good news

 Wow, that sounds exciting !

 That’s great !
 How fantastic !
 What fantastic / good / brilliant / great / wonderful / splendid news!
 That's good / brilliant / great / wonderful / splendid news!
 That sounds like great news!
 Congratulations!
 That’s wonderful / fantastic!
 I’m glad to hear that!
 Great news!
 Incredible!
 Superb!
 Sounds great!
 Lucky you!
 Oh, how wonderful!
 I can’t believe that!

Responding to bad news

 I’m awfully sorry that…

 I’m sorry to hear that..
 I’m sorry to hear such terrible news.
 My goodness!
 I can’t believe it!
 Poor you!
 I do sympathize with you.
 Please, accept my deepest sympathy.
 I know how you must be feeling.
 That must be awful
 Oh, dear !
 Too bad !
 That’s awful / a pity / unfortunate.

Talking about occupations (jobs)

The following English phrases
and expressions are used for
talking about occupations.

Aking about occupations

 What do you do for a

living?
 What do you do to
make a living?
 What company do you
work for?
 What's your job?
 What's your occupation?
 What do you do?

Answers

 I am a doctor/teacher/hairdresser...
 I’m in sales/online digital marketing/public education...
 I work for a private school/an oil company...
 I teach for a living...

How to show interest

 Are you?
 That's interesting.
 How interesting!
 That sounds like a lot of hard work.
 That must be a lot of work.
 That must be a rewarding job.

Example of a conversation

This is an example of a conversation where the speakers are talking about occupations

At the bus stop.

After work, two strangers are making a friendly conversation while waiting for the
bus.
John: Good morning! We always take the same bus but we’ve never spoken before.
My name is John.

Lisa: Hi! I am Lisa.

John: How was your day?

Lisa: So tired. It was a busy day.

John: Excuse me, but what do you do for a living?

Lisa: I am a secretary. I work for a German company.

John: Wow! That sounds like a lot of hard work. I guess you can speak German.

Lisa: Yes I can. How about you? What do you do for a living?

John: I am in digital marketing. Most of my work is done online.

Lisa: That must be interesting.

John: Yes it is indeed.

New Year's Eve

New Year's Eve, also called Old Year's Night, is celebrated on December 31st, the
final day of the year. It is celebrated all over the world with parties and social
gathering with usually a lot of fireworks and noise.

In the United States of America, New York is the

place where this celebration is associated with. People
gather in the Times Square just before midnight in the
last minute of the countdown to see the "ball
dropping".

The celebration is also associated with parties in other

parts of the world. In France, for instance, the
celebration is called le Réveillon. Special food is
prepared accompanied with champagne. People also go to the Eiffel Tower in Paris to
see fireworks display. In Japan, people traditionally clean their home. Buddhist temple
bells are rung 108 times at midnight. In Brazil, the beach of Copacabana is considered
by many to be the place of the most beautiful fireworks show in the world.

On New Year's Eve, people commit themselves with resolutions. These are made to
reform a habit and should go into effect and remain until fulfillment.

Source: Wikipedia

Comprehension

1. What "drops" at midnight in Times Square?

a.   a ball 

b.   a clock 
2. Where in The USA is the biggest New Year's Eve party? 

a.   New York

b.   Los Angeles 

c.   Washington Square

3. Where do temple bells ring 108 times? 

a.   Japan 

b.   Brazil

c.   France
4. Countries around the world celebrate New Year's Eve

a.   In the same way

b.   in different ways