Examples of Some Key Language Functions (Page 1)

A language function is the purpose of speaking that sentence or phrase. For example, Im
sorry represents the fnction of apologi!ing an", #oo" $orning% represents the fnction
of greeting.
In the speaking test, the examiner &ill ask certain 'estions that are testing yor kno&le"ge of
the sita(le &ays to speak for certain langage fnctions. It is )ery sefl if yo can recogni!e
these langage fnctions.
*o shol" also n"erstan" that some 'estions com(ine t&o (or e)en more) types of langage
fnction in one 'estion.

Index of Language Functions
1. Talking About Pesonal !abits
". Expessing Likes and #islikes
$. Expessing %easons fo Likes and #islikes
&. Expessing a Pefeence
'. (ompaing
). Talking About %ecent (*anges
+. (ontasting
,. Suggesting
-. Expessing .pinions
1/. 0i1ing %easons fo .pinions
11. Explaining
1". Speculating 2 3 0uessing 4*en 5ou #on6t Kno78
1$. Speculating 2 3 guessing8 About t*e Futue
1&. Expessing Plans9 Intentions and !opes fo t*e Futue
1'. (laifying
1). Explaining a 4od 4*en you *a1e Fogotten 2o don6t kno78 t*e 4od
1+. Speaking in 0eneal
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1. Talking About Pesonal !abits
Example :uestion; What do you usually do in the evenings?
1. I usually ...
". I often ...
$. 4*ile I6m studying I usually ...
&. Sometimes I ....
'. As a ule9 I ...
). 4*ene1e I can I ...
,on-t say, .I 7ill ... nless yor meaning incl"es the &or" -if- (or incl"es the i"ea of -if-
&ithot sing that &or".) For example, the follo&ing ans&er is notcorrect/ .0hat "o yo
"o in the e)enings1. 2 .0ell, after I ha)e ha" my "inner I &ill sally &atch some 34
an" chat &ith my parents.. Instea", 5st say, .0ell, after I ha)e ha" my "inner I sally
&atch some 34 an" chat &ith my parents..
6o&e)er, the follo&ing ans&er is 78 (ecase it incl"es the i"ea of .if./ .6o& "o yo sally
get yor ne&s1. 2 .I sally get my ne&s from the 34 or the internet (t sometimes, (if there-s
some special ne&s that I-m intereste" in,) I-ll (y a ne&spaper an" rea" more a(ot a topic (that)
I-m especially intereste" in..
3he &or" -al&ays- means , not .
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". Expessing Likes and #islikes
Example :uestion; What kinds of music do you like?
1. <y fa1ouite ... is ...
". I like ...
$. I en=oy ...
&. I6m 2:uite>at*e8 keen on ...
9. I =ust love ...
:. I absolutely adore ....
;. I6m crazy about ...
<. I6m addicted to ...
-. I6m eally into ...
1/. I don6t mind ...
11. As fa as .... is concened9 I can take it o lea1e it.
1". I don6t cae too muc* fo ... 3 I6m not eally into ...
1$. <y least fa1ouite .... is ...
1&. I dislike ...
19. I can6t stand ...
1:. I hate ... (extreme langage)
1+. I find ...
0hen yo express yor feelings, incl"ing yor likes an" "islikes, try to se facial
expressions to accompany yor &or"s.
0hen expressing strong feelings, place extra stress on the key &or". 3hese are sho&n in
italics, for example, .I a(soltely adore ....
3he expression, .I a(soltely a"ore .... is more sita(le for females to say. =t males say
that &hen talking a(ot their girlfrien" or &ife.
7nly say, .I-m addicted to .... if it-s something that yo "o )ery fre'ently an" almost
can-t control. For example, some (oys are a""icte" to compter games. >nglish speakers
also say, .a""icte". as an exaggeration, sch as, .I-m a""icte" to the internet. or, .I-m
a""icte" to chocolate 2 I eat some chocolate almost e)ery "ay..
,efinitely "o not say, .)ery like.. (A =an" ? le)el mistake.) In >nglish &e "o not say,
.4ery @ )er(.. Instea", &e say, .4er( @ )ery mch. or, .4ery mch @ )er(..
For the )er(, .like., it-s goo" to se the &or", really as in, .I really like spicy foo". 2 this is
)ery natral spoken >nglish. 7f corse, yo can also say, .I like spicy foo" )ery mch. or .I
)ery mch like spicy foo"..
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$. Expessing %easons fo Likes and #islikes
1. ... because ...
". ... since ...
$. T*e main eason I like...... is t*at it6s ......
&. 4*at I like best about ..... is .....
'. T*e t*ing I like best about ..... is ......
). T*e best>7ost t*ing about ... is ...
+. I don6t like t*at 1ey muc* because it6s too ......
,. T*at6s because I find it ......
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&. Expessing a Pefeence
Example :uestion; Do you (or, would you) prefer to travel alone or with others? (e.g., a
friend)
1. I pefe ... because
". <y pefeence is ... because ...
$. I pefe A to ? because ...
?. If I *ad t*e c*oice9 I6d @ A ... because ... ()
9. If I *ad t*e c*oice9 I6d at*e @ A... because ... ()
:. If I *a1e t*e c*oice9 I6ll @ A .... (a real possi(ility for the ftre)
*o can also say, .I ()ery) mch prefer ...., .I certainly prefer .... an" .I "efinitely
prefer .....
Ae)er say, .I like (oth of them.. or some similar ans&er. For example, most people like
(oth rice an" noo"les. If I ask yo &hich "o yo prefer, to say, .I like (oth of them. is a
poor ans&er. In this sitation, the sita(le ans&er is/ .I ha)e no preference, really 2 I like
(oth of them e'ally..
-Prefer- 'estions are also asking yo to make some comparisons (et&een t&o things. *o
shol" se some of the langage of comparing &hen yo gi)e yor reason(s) for yor
preference.
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'. (ompaing
Example :uestion;
What are the differences between peoples homes in the city and peoples homes in the
countryside?
1. A is>ae bigge t*an ?.
B. ? is>ae not as big as A.
C. A BBBBB t*an ?. (>xample/ .7l" people sally ha)e more money in the (ank than
yong people..)
*o can also se some of these/
Dse mch as in, A is mch (etter E &orse than =.
A is not nearly as goo" as =.
= is no&here near as (ig as A
A is not 'ite as important as =.
A is almost as important as =, (t not 'ite.
In comparison to =, A is 'ite (ig. 7r, A is 'ite (ig in comparison to =.
Fompare" to =, A is a lotEmch (igger.
Aote that mo"el C, a(o)e, "oes not se a comparati)e a"5ecti)e. Althogh comparati)e
a"5ecti)es are most commonly se" to form comparison sentences,yo can 5st talk a(ot
.more G., .fe&er G., or .less G. &here G is a non, sally a plral non if the non is
conta(le.
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). Talking About %ecent (*anges
3 (ompaing t*e ecent past and t*e pesent

Example :uestion;
!as your hometown changed much in the past few years? (e.g. "# years)

5es9 it *as. Fo example9 ...

1. today t*ee ae many moe cas on t*e oads t*an t*ee 7ee t*ity yeas ago.
2 ... there are$is %%%%% than there were$was ....8
2. t*e ai pollution is muc* 7ose>muc* bette t*an it used to be.
2 %%%%%% is$are %%%% than it used to be.8
3. compaed to t*ity yeas ago9 t*e population of t*e city *as inceased by about t7o
million.
2&ompared to thirty years ago, %%%%%%% has ' )
4. t*e population of t*e city *as inceased by about t7o million people in t*e last t*ity
yeas.
2%%%%%% has ' in the last thirty years8
'. moe people today o7n a ca t*an 7as t*e case t*ity yeas ago.
2(ore$fewer$less %%%%%%%%% today ' present tense than was the case thirty years ago.8
6. moe and moe people ae li1ing in *ig*Cise apatment buildings today 7*eeas
t*ity yeas ago9 7e *ad 1ey fe7 *ig*Cise apatments buildings in ou city.
2)oday %%%%%% are ' whereas thirty years ago + past tense)
;. moe and moe lageCscale supemakets ae being built no7adays but t*ee
7ee 1ey fe7 of t*em in my *ometo7n t*ity yeas ago
2(ore and more %%%%%%%% are being ' nowadays but ' past tense thirty years ago.8

3here are more sentences that col" (e se" to ans&er this 'estion. 3he sentences sho&n a(o)e
gi)e yo some (asic strctres (t, to gi)e a complete ans&er to a 'estion in the test, yo also
shol" try to se linking o intoductoy p*ases for these sentences. 6ere-s a complete ans&er,
sing some linking phrases an" &or"s/
A/ .6as yor hometo&n change" mch in the past fe& years1. (e.g. BH years)
=/ .*es, it has. For example, today t*ee ae many moe cas on t*e oads t*an t*ee 7ee
t*ity yeas ago. As a esult of t*at9 t*e ai pollution is muc* 7ose bette t*an it used to
be. As 7ell as t*at9 t*e population of t*e city has increase" by about t7o million people in
t*e last t*ity yeas.Anot*e c*ange is t*at moe and moe people ae li1ing in *ig*Cise
apatment buildings today 7*eeas t*ity yeas ago9 7e *ad 1ey fe7 *ig*Cise apatments
buildings in ou city.D
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+. (ontasting
3he 'estion is sally -a compare 'estion-. 0hen yo ans&er one of these 'estions, yo can
se a contrasting statement. 6o&e)er, since the grammar of the comparing ans&ers (see a(o)e)
is more "ifficlt, yo &ill impress the examiner more (y mostly sing that, rather than (y sing
contrasting statements.
>xample/ DA is big but ? is small.D
2BBBB is BBBBB but BBBBB is BBBB8
A contrasting statement has t&o parts an" the secon" part (asically repeats the first part
in grammatical form (t the i"ea expresse" in the secon" part is the opposite i"ea to the
first part. In the example a(o)e, the t&o i"eas expresse" are the a"5ecti)es -(ig- an"
-small- (t yo can se a")er(s or phrases as &ell. (3he yello& &or"s are gi)en extra
stress (ecase they are &or"s in contrast.) For example, .!e works
*uite slowly whereas + work *uite fast. or, .+ was on my way to work but he was on his
way home..
7f corse, it-s mch (etter to a"" &or"s sch as -'ite-. For example, ., is
*uite big while - is rather small..
Instea" of -(t- yo can se, -&hile- or -&hereas-. It-s possi(le (t not necessary to incl"e
the expression, .on the other han".. For example, .A is :uite bigbut9 on t*e ot*e
*and9 ? is at*e small.D
3he )er( form "oesn-t ha)e to (e present tense 2 any sita(le )er( form is possi(le.
0hen yo speak a sentence &ith a contrasting statement, it is impotant to stress the
&or"s that are in contrast. (3he examiners are looking for these stresse" &or"s.
>xaminers se contrast statements as part of their assessment of yor pronnciation
score, not so mch yor grammar score.) For example/ ., is 'ite big &hile - is
rather small.. 3he &or"s -(ig- an" -small- ha)e the greatest sentence stress (t -A- an" -=-
are also stresse".
Examples of Some Key Language Functions (Page B)
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,. Suggesting
Example :uestions;
What would you suggest a visitor to your country see and do?
What do you think the government could$should do?
1. I6d .... 2suggest9 ecommend9 say9 tell *im>*e>t*em8 ....
". <aybe>pe*aps>possibly ... @ could > s*ould ...
$. It mig*t>may *elp if ....@ past tense fom of 1eb
&. It 7ould pobably @ 2be a good idea9 be useful9 *elp8 if @ past tense fom of 1eb
'. I .... 2suggest9 ecommend9 say8 ....
Aotice that the &or" -&ol"- is sally se" in this type of 'estion an" in yor ans&er.
Io, "on-t ans&er &ith the &or"s, .I &ill ..... Instea", say, .I-" ....
Aotice the grammar in this ans&er/ .+d recommend they visit the /reat Wall
and see the )erra &otta Warriors in 0ian.. 3he same )er( form is se" after the &or",
.sggest..
Alternati)ely, yo can se the )er(al non () after the &or"s, .sggest. or .recommen".
(t not after .say.. For example, the ans&er a(o)e col" also (e expresse" as/ .+d
recommend visiting the /reat Wall and seeing the )erra &otta Warriors in 0ian.. =t yo
cannot say, .I-" recommen" they )isiting ..... *o only se the )er(al non &hen yo "on-t
actally say the pronon, .he., .she. or .they..
Jemem(er, .they. can mean .he or she. for this sageK it "oes not ha)e to (e talking a(ot a
grop.. For example/ .What would you suggest someone do if they lost their bicycle?. LLM
.+d suggest they (1 he or she) report the matter to the police. N .+ suggest reporting the
matter to the police..
6ere-s an example of O?, a(o)e. What do you think the government could do about the
pollution problem? .+t would definitely help if the government encouraged alternate
forms of electricity generation, such as wind farms and solar2power.. Aotice that the
past tense, .encorage". is se", althogh it is not the sal past tense meaning. Also
notice that, instea" of ."efinitely. yo can se, .possi(ly., .pro(a(ly. an" .certainly..
At times, the example sho&n at 9. (I .... 2suggest9 say9 ecommend8 ....) is sita(le to se.
3hese times are &hen the examiner "oes not se the &or", .&ol". in the 'estion.
Iome examiners a)oi" sing the &or", .&ol". in the 'estion (ecase they "on-t &ant to tell
yo that yo shol" se .&ol". in the ans&er L they &ant to see if yo kno& a(ot sing
.&ol". in the ans&er. =t &hen the examiner "oesn-t se .&ol". in the 'estion, it is
sometimes possi(le to ans&er correctly &ithot sing .&ol"..
For example/ .Do you have any suggestions for foreigners who are thinking of visiting
&hina?.
LLM .+ recommend (or, + suggest) they visit the /reat Wall and see the )erra &otta Warriors in
0ian.. Aote/ this is most sita(le &hen the examiner "oes not se .&ol". in the 'estion. 3hat
ans&er col" also (e ma"e sing the )er(al non/ .+ recommend (or, + suggest) visiting the
/reat Wall and seeing the )erra &otta Warriors in 0ian..
*o can also ans&er sing .&ol"., e)en &hen the examiner "oes not se .&ol". in the
'estion. .Do you have any suggestions for foreigners who are thinking of visiting &hina?.
LLM .+d recommend (or, +d suggest) they visit the /reat Wall and see the )erra &otta Warriors
in 0ian. 3hat ans&er col" also (e ma"e sing the )er(al non/ .+d recommend
(or, +d suggest) visiting the /reat Wall and seeing the )erra &otta Warriors in 0ian..
It is pro(a(ly (est to se .&ol". in yor ans&ers, e)en &hen yo "on-t nee" to, (ecase this
&ill .impress. the examiner a (it more, since the grammar is a (it more "ifficlt &hen .&ol". is
se".
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-. Expessing .pinions
Example :uestion;
Do you think that children should always be offered an incentive (a reward of some kind)
when parents ask their children to do something?
1. I t*ink ...
". I belie1e ...
$. I feel ...
&. Pesonally9 I 2t*ink9 belie1e9 feel8 ...
'. I tend to @ 2t*ink9 feel9 belie1e8 t*at ...
). In my opinion9 ...
+. In my 1ie79 ...
,. I61e al7ays @ 2t*oug*t>belie1ed>felt8 t*at ...
-. I maintain t*at ...
1/. I61e al7ays maintained t*at ...
11. It seems to me t*at ...
1". I6m con1inced t*at ...
1$. As fa as I6m concened9 ...
1&. <y 1ie7 is t*at ...
1'. Fom my point of 1ie79 ...
16.To my mind9 ...
1+. T*e 7ay I see it9 ...
1,. As I see it9 ...
,on-t say, .personally in my opinion..
,on-t say, .In my eyes.. Dse, .In my )ie&., instea".
7nly se, .maintain. if the topic is something that yo ha)e "iscsse" &ith others many
times (efore. .$aintain. means yo al&ays express this opinion. It is not sita(le to se,
.maintain. if the 'estion is something that yo ha)e pro(a(ly ne)er thoght a(ot
(efore. An" only se, .maintain. a maximm of once in the speaking test.
Iimilarly, yo shol" only say, .I firmly (elie)e. &hen yo are talking a(ot a topic that
sits a strong opinion an" a topic that yo ha)e "eeply thoght a(ot (efore.
*or ans&ers &ill (e (etter if yo incl"e a")er(s sch as -strongly-, firmly-, -honestly-,
-really- an" -personally-.
7nly se, -frankly- &hen saying something that expresses a rather strong or firm opinion.
As &ell as that, this opinion shol" (e rather nexpecte" (for the person yo are talking
to) or (e something that yo "on-t sally tell other people, like a -small secret-. -Frankly-
is se" &hen yo are expressing something in an unusually direct and honest &ay. For
example, .0ho-s yor fa)orite film star1. 2 .Frankly, I "on-t ha)e a fa)orite film star
(ecase I "on-t often &atch films..
Iimilarly, only start a sentence &ith the &or"s, .3o (e honest, .... &hen yo are expressing an
opinion in an unusually direct and honest &ay, an" this opinion is something the listener
pro(a(ly "oes not expect.
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1/. 0i1ing %easons fo .pinions
1. ... because ...
". ... since ...
$. T*e main eason I say t*at is because ...
4. .ne of t*e easons I say t*at is because ... (.ne eason I say t*at is because ... 8
,on-t se, -as- or, -fo- to mean &hen speakingK they are too formalLson"ing an"
nnatral &hen speaking.
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11. Explaining
Example :uestion; Why are many older people reluctant to learn computer skills?
1. T*e eason 7*y ... is because > is t*at ...
". T*e main eason 7*y ... is because > is t*at ...
$. .ne eason 7*y ... is because > is t*at ...
&. .ne possible explanation 2fo t*at8 is ...
'. To undestand 7*y .....9 you fist need to ..... 2undestand9 kno79 be a7ae t*at8
). 4ell9 it6s like t*is; ....
;. 5ou could look at it t*is 7ay; ...
=asically, .explain. means to gi)e an ans&er to a .0hy1. or .6o&1. 'estion that is
rather complex. *o ans&er an .explain. 'estion (y speaking in some "etail.
In the first three examples a(o)e, yo can 'alify the )er(, .is. (y saying, .certainly is.,
."efinitely is. or .srely is..
If yo "on-t kno& an" are gessing the explanation for something, then yor ans&er
(elongs to the 3peculating langage fnction, (elo&. In this case, yo col" 'alify the,
.is. from examples 1 to C (y saying, .possi(ly is., .pro(a(ly is., .might (e., .may (e.,
or .col" (e..
3he langage fnction of e4plaining is most common in Part B 2 e)ery Part B topic asks
yo to explain something.
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1". Speculating 2 3 0uessing 4*en 5ou #on6t Kno78
(0hen talking a(ot the present or the past)
Example :uestion; Do old people in &hina have opportunities to attend any forms of classes?
1. 4ell9 I6m not sue but ...
". 4ell9 I61e ne1e t*oug*t about t*at befoe but ...
$. As fa as I kno79 ...
&. I imagine ...
'. I guess ...
). I suppose ...
+. I6d say ...
Iince yo-re not sre, yo can also se &or"s sch as, .maybe., .perhaps., .possibly.,
.probably., .its *uite likely that ...., .its *uite possible that ...., .its :uite pobable
t*at ...., .may '5., .might '5., .could ' 5.. (A 3 )
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1$. Speculating 2 3 guessing8 About t*e Futue
($ost commonly, ho& the ftre &ill change, compare" to no&.)
Example :uestion; !ow do you think the tourist industry (in &hina) will develop in the
future?
1. I pedict ... @ a non
B. I 2can8 foesee ... @ Pa non @ Q or @ a non
$. I imagine > suppose > guess ...
&. ... 7ill @ ad1eb 2o9 ad1eb @ 7ill8
'. ... be 2pesent tense8 likely to ...
). ... be 2pesent tense8 bound to ...
;. ... be 2pesent tense8 @ going to @ A () N .7ill. @ A ()
,. T*eeEll pobably > possibly be ...
-. 4e mig*t see > *a1e ...
1H. ... 7ill be @ ...
11. ... mig*t be @ ...
1B. I6d be supised if @ past tense>past continuous tense
1C. I6ll be 1ey supised if @ pesent tense>past continuous tense
1&. I expect ...
RA")er( N Ra")er( of certainty N definitely E certainly E probably E possibly.
=e carefl of 5st saying, &ill &ith no a")er( of certainty. -0ill-, &ith no a")er( is se"
in >nglish to talk a(ot something that yo are )ery certain a(ot in the ftre. For
example, R&ill is se" in >nglish to promise something to someone 2 Ill gi)e yo the
money I o&e yo tomorro&. 7f corse, some things are certain, for example, &hina6s
population will be bigger than it is now, thirty years from now. *o can emphasi!e
yor feeling of certainty a(ot the ftre (y saying, .certainly &ill., .&ill certainly.,
."efinitely &ill. or .&ill "efinitely..
6o&e)er, yo can se a simple .&ill. &ithot an a")er( to gi)e yor opinion that
something R&ill "efinitely or R&ill certainly happen (y incl"ing &or"s sch as, .I
think., .I-m sre., .In my opinion., .I (elie)e. etc. For example, .+ believe that twenty
years from now, &hina will have no people living in e4treme poverty..
3he &or"s, ....&ill srely. means, .I &ill (e )ery srprise" if this "oesn-t happen. N .I-"
(e )ery srprise" if this "i"n-t happen.. *o col" se .&ill srely. in the example a(o)e/
&hina6s population will surely be bigger than it is now, thirty years from now.
.#oing to. 0hen yo are talking a(ot things happening in the ftre, (esi"es yor o&n
plans, .going to. means, .it &ill (almost certainly) happen.. For the 'estion a(ot the
torist in"stry, yo col" say something like, .+ think the tourist industry is (certainly)
going to e4pand greatly over the ne4t couple of decades.. Io, e)en thogh .going to.
alrea"y incl"es the i"ea of .certainly &ill happen. or .almost certainly &ill happen.,
yo can, if yo &ant to, a"" the a")er(, .certainly. to emphasi!e this meaning.
P0hen yo are talking a(ot yor plans for the ftre, .going to. N .I inten" to. @ .I think it
almost certainly &ill happen.. Iee (elo&.Q
Instea" of Rimagine-, -sppose- or -gess- yo col" simply say, -think- (t it-s not so
impressi)e to the examiner 5st to say that.
If yo say that something is .(on". to happen, yo shol" not se an a")er( of certainty
(ecase, .(e (on" to happen. alrea"y has a )ery exact meaning of, .there is no "o(t
that it &ill happen. or, .it is ine)ita(le.. If yo say, .3he torist in"stry
is certainly (on" to gro& o)er the next fe& years., the se of the &or" .certainly.
son"s repetiti)e an" re"n"ant, like saying, .6e-s a )ery intelligent genis. or .6e-s a
tall giant.. An", of corse, yo cannot se the a")er(s .possi(ly. or .pro(a(ly. &ith
.(on" to. (ecase those &or"s are in conflict &ith the meaning of, .there is no "o(t
that it &ill happen..
Incl"e some comparati)e () langage &hen talking a(ot the ftre. For example,
.In t&enty or thirty years, people &ill almost certainly (e li)ing longer than they do now,
"e to a")ances in me"ical science..
.I foresee. is sally follo&e" (y @ Pa non @ Q or a non. For example, .+
foresee people working fewer hours per week in the future.. An", sing a non, .+
foresee a decrease in the number of hours people work per week.. (Dse, .people &ork.,
not .people &ill (e &orking..)
.I pre"ict. is similar to .I foresee. in meaning (t &e sally se .&ill. after .pre"ict..
For example, .+ predict people will be working (or, will work) fewer hours per week in
the future.. 3he non sage after .I pre"ict. is the same as for, .I foresee./ .+ predict a
decrease in the number of hours people work per week.. (For, .people &ork., .people
&ill (e &orking. is also possi(le.)
O1H S O11 is the ftre continos tense. Iho& the examiner yo can say the follo&ing
kin" of sentence/ .)hirty years from now, people will almost certainly be
driving electric cars and possibly well also have flying cars by then.. Another
example/ .+n twenty years, some people might be traveling to the moon for holidays..
An example of O1B is/ .+d be very surprised if people were still driving petrol2powered
cars thirty years from now.. 3ype O1C is (asically expressing the same i"ea as O1B an"
yo col" se them interchangea(ly. For example, .+ll be very surprised if
people are still driving petrol2powered cars thirty years from now.. Dsing O1B or O1C
&ill impress the examiner an" help yo get more points for grammar.
3o help yo think of i"eas a(ot the ftre of the topic yo are "iscssing &ith the
examiner, here are fi)e sggestions/
1. 3hink a(ot ho& t*e intenet (or simply, compters) &ill affect the ftre of that topic.
For example, people &ill pro(a(ly (e (ying many things on the internet in the ftre
an" people &ill (e st"ying more on the internet.
B. 3hink of science fiction (). For example/ flying cars or tra)eling to the moon
for a )acation. Ans&ers (ase" on i"eas from science fiction are 'ite sita(le &hen
talking a(ot the ftre, as long as yo 'alify yor ans&er &ith a")er(s sch as
.possi(ly., .may(e., etc. or se the )er( .might. instea" of .&ill..
C. 3hink of ecent ad1ances in science and tec*nology an" exten" these to the ftre. For
example, cloning, genetic engineering, organ transplanting, &in" an" solar po&er,
hy"rogenLpo&ere" cars, electric cars, nanotechnology, ro(ots, (rainL&a)e controlle"
"e)ices etc.
?. 3hink of ho& globaliFation might affect the ftre of that topic. For example, as the
&orl" (ecomes more of a .glo(al )illage., people &ill (e interacting &ith foreigners a lot
more, lea"ing to pro(a(le changes in international la&, politics, langage, social cstoms,
(siness etc.

Iee !E%E for more "etaile" examples of the grammar &hen talking a(ot the ftre.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
1&. Expessing Plans9 Intentions and !opes fo t*e Futue
Example :uestion; What are your future work plans? (after you graduate)
1. I plan to ...
". <y plan is to ...
C. I plan on @ Aing ()
&. I intend to ...
'. I *ope to ...
). I6m going to ...
+. <y ambition is to ...
,. <y immediate goal is to ...
-. <y ultimate 23 final8 goal is to ...
1/. Gltimately9 ...
11. !opefully9 ...
1". Ideally9 ...
1$. I expect to ...
1&. IEd like to ... 3 I 7ant to ..
19. As an altenati1e9 I mig*t ...
1). If all goes 7ell9 I6ll > I s*ould ...
1+. If e1eyt*ing goes accoding to plan9 I6ll > I s*ould ...
1,. <y deam is to ...
1-. It6s al7ays been my *ope>plan>ambition>deam to ...
BH. <y *eat is set on @ Aing ()
,on-t say, .I &ish to., for example, .I &ish to st"y in the D.8.. It-s too formal. Instea",
se .+ hope to study in the 7.8.. or the simpler sentences, .I" like to st"y in the D8..
an", .I &ant to st"y in the D8.. (Iee note (elo& a(ot .&ant to..)
Iee the note a(ot sing, .&ill. in the notes for .Ipeclating a(ot the Ftre..
0hen yo are talking a(ot yor plans for the ftre, .going to. com(ines t&o i"eas/ .I
inten" to. @ .it almost certainly &ill happen.. Io "on-t se .going to. if yo are not very
sure that this &ill happen. It is similar to sing .&ill. (t .&ill. only has the meaning of,
.it almost certainly &ill happen.K it is not connecte" to yor intentions.
For example, the follo&ing sentence is not )ery sita(le/ .I-m going to get a "egree in
Accontancy in Astralia.. $any things col" happen to case this not to happen an", after all,
yo first ha)e to get yor :.9 in the I>T3I test% 3he follo&ing examples are sita(le/ .I-m going
to go shopping tonight.K an", .I-m going to sit for the I>T3I test again in t&o months..
7n the other han", if yo ha)e alrea"y (een a"mitte" to a ni)ersity in Astralia an" yo kno&
yor parents ha)e the money, an" especially if yo alrea"y ha)e yor )isa an" plane ticket, then
the follo&ing statement is sita(le/ .I-m going to start my ni)ersity st"ies in Astralia in
Fe(rary..
.I &ant to. is ok (t it 5st refers to yor "esire. A "esire is not al&ays the same as a plan
or intention. ,on-t o)erse, .I &ant to. &hen talking a(ot yor plans for the ftre
(ecase it-s too simple.
,on-t se the &or" .can. or the &or" .mst. &hen talking a(ot the ftre. Instea", se
.&ill (e a(le to. an" .&ill ha)e to.. . (an . and . must . ae only used 7*en efeing to
no7.
For example/ .After I go to Fana"a I can practice more >nglish. is incorrect. 3he correct
sentence is, .,fter + go to &anada, +ll be able topractice more 9nglish..
Iimilarly, .0hen I arri)e in Astralia, the first thing I mst "o is fin" a place to li)e.
is incorrect. 3he correct sentence is, .When + arrive in ,ustralia, the first thing +ll have to do
is find a place to live.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
1'. (laifying
1. 4*at I mean is ..
". <y meaning is ....
$. In ot*e 7ods9
&. T*at is to say9 ...
'. Let me put t*at anot*e 7ay.
). To put t*at anot*e 7ay9 ...
+. 4*at I6m tying to say is ..
,. <y point is t*at ...
9. <oe specifically9 ...
1/. Fo example9 ...
11. Fo instance9 ...
Gsing .)hat is to say9 .... is a little formalLson"ing. It is (est to only se that &hen
speaking 'ite seriosly a(ot something in Part C (or &hen ans&ering a Part 1 'estion
that is a .Part CLstyle. 'estion).
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
1). Explaining a 4od 4*en you *a1e Fogotten 2o don6t kno78 t*e 4od
DI can6t emembe t*e 7od but .....
1. it6s a t*ing t*at ...
". it6s a type of ...
$. it6s somet*ing you ...
&. *e6s a peson 7*o ...
'. it6s somet*ing like ...
). it6s simila to ...
+. it6s kind of like a ...D
3hese sentences se the present tense (ecase yo are speaking in general. For example,
.+ts a thing, a tool that you use to put air into your bicycle tyre 2 you use it like this.
(Iho& the action). (a (icycle pmp)
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
1+. Speaking in 0eneal
1. .n t*e 7*ole9 ..
". As a ule9 ...
$. In geneal9
&. 0eneally9 ...
'. 0eneally speaking9 ..
). Fo t*e most pat9 ...
+. Typically9
,. Gsually9
Dse the Present 3ense &hen speaking in general.
Dse plral nons. Althogh singlar nons are possi(le in some cases, yo &ill make
fe&er mistakes (y sing plral nons.
>xamples/
.=oys like to play compter games (t girls prefer to go shopping..
.I like "og. is wrong an" means, .". Instead, use .I like "ogs..
"I like dogs" means, "I like all dogs; this dog, that dog, whenever I see a dog,
I like it." But it is unsuitable to sa, "I like !andas" be"ause ou don#t see
di$erent !andas in our everda li%e. In this "ase, it is more suitable to sa,
"I like the !anda" &' "I like the !anda s!e"ies"(.
.,ogs are frien"lier than cats (t cats are cleaner than "ogs..
Dse the present tense. For example/ .I sally get my ne&s from the internet
(ecase ..... A)oi" sing &ill &hen speaking in general, sch as, .I will sally get my
ne&s from the internet (ecase .....
!"# ' .($any) People say .... (:ot, .Iomeone sai".) A)oi" saying, .It is sai" ....
(ecase that son"s too formal in natral speech.
Language functions refer to the purposes in which we use language to
communicate. We use language for a variety of formal and informal
purposes, and specific grammatical structures and vocabulary are often used
with each language function. Some examples of language functions include:
Compare and contrast
Persuasion
s!ing "uestions
#xpressing li!es and disli!es
Cause and effect
Summari$ing
Se"uencing
Predicting
greeing%disagreeing
&reeting people%introductions
When teaching about language functions, it is important that teachers
explicitly teach the vocabulary and phrases associated with each language
function. 'or example, when teaching the language function of
compare%contrast teachers may teach the following vocabulary: both,
similar, also, different, in contrast, similarly, etc. (uring the lesson planning
and preparation stage, teachers should brainstorm the vocabulary words
associated with the language function that will be taught. )t is important that
as students become familiar with the vocabulary associated with each
language function that more advanced functional vocabulary is introduced to
students. n excellent resource for teachers to identify advanced vocabulary
isthesaurus.com or dictionary.com.

)n addition to functional vocabulary, students must also be introduced to
grammatical structures associated with each language function. 'or
example, when teaching the language function of compare%contrast,
teachers might teach comparative ad*ectives +i.e., smaller than, more
expensive than, etc, or superlative ad*ectives +i.e., smallest, most
expensive,. recommended boo! that will assist teachers with grammatical
structures in #nglish is the -#SL%#LL .eacher/s 0oo! of Lists-, which can be
purchased from the #L( Strategies store by clic!ing here.

#nglish learners must be provided with ample opportunities to practice the
vocabulary and grammatical structures associated with language functions in
both oral and written contexts. When preparing for a lesson, teachers must
identify how the vocabulary or grammatical structure will be explicitly
introduced to students, as well as how students will practice in a structured
way under the guidance of a teacher. 'unctional vocabulary and grammatical
structures can be differentiated for students at varying proficiency levels,
with students at the lower levels of #nglish proficiency practicing easier
vocabulary and grammatical structures than students at higher levels of
#nglish proficiency.

'or additional resources on teaching language functions to #nglish learners,
please ta!e a moment to view the S)1P resources available to teachers by
clic!ing here.
Tangage Fnctions in>nglish an" 4oca(lary

Ageeing in Englis*
In >nglish con)ersations, people often say that they agree or "isagree &ith each other.3here are
many &ays of agreeing or "isagreeing an" the one yo se "epen"s on ho&strongly yo agree or
"isagree. 6ere-s a list of some common expressions.
Agreeing in English
.I think yo-re right...I agree &ith yo..
Strong agreement
.I col"n-t agree &ith yo more...*o-re a(soltely right...I agree entirely...I totally agree..
Partly agreeing
.I agree &ith yo p to a point, (tU..3hat-s 'ite tre, (tU..I agree &ith yo in principle,
(tU.
Disagreeing
.I-m not sre I agree &ith yo..
.(I-m afrai") I "on-t agree...(I-m afrai") I "isagree...(I-m afrai") I can-t agree &ith yo...(I-m
afrai") I "on-t share yor opinion..
Note
0hen yo "isagree &ith someone in >nglish, yo can often son" more polite (y sing a phrase
sch as .I-m afrai"U.
Disagreeing strongly
.I "on-t agree at all...I totally "isagree...I col"n-t agree &ith yo less..
(omplaining in Englis*
0hen complaining in >nglish, it helps to (e polite. 3his page &ill help yo &ith thisimportant
>nglish speaking skill.
In a shop
*o-re in a shop an" the assistant gi)es yo the &rong change..>xcse me, I think yo-)e gi)en
me the &rong change., or .Iorry, I think this change is&rong. I ga)e yo VBH, not V1H..
In a hotel
.>xcse me, (t there-s a pro(lem &ith the heating in my room...Iorry to (other yo, (t I think
there-s something &rong &ith the airLcon"itioning...I-m afrai" I ha)e to make a complaint. Iome
money has gone missing from my hotelroom...I-m afrai" there-s a slight pro(lem &ith my room L
the (e" hasn-t (een ma"e..
0hen people apologise, they normally say .sorry. an" offer to pt the sitation right..>xcse
me, (t there-s a pro(lem &ith the heating...I-m sorry L I-ll get someone to check it for yo..or
.Iorry to hear that L I-ll sen" someone p..
Speaking tip
Althogh yo may fin" it strange to se the &or"
soy
&hen yo complain, >nglishspeakers consi"er it polite. It &ill help yo get &hat yo &ant%
Englis* geetings
First impressions are important, so here-s a gi"e to sing the right expression.
Greetings
T7o fiends meeting
Frien"s often say .6i. to each other. 3hen they often ask a general 'estion, sch as.6o& are
yo1. or .6o& are things1. or .6o&-s life1.3he reply to this 'estion is normally positi)e..Fine
thanks, an" yo1..Fine thanks, &hat a(ot yorself1..Aot (a".. 7r .Fan-t complain..
0eeting people you don6t kno7
*o can se .6ello. &ith people yo "on-t kno&, (t a more formal greeting is .#oo"morning E
afternoon E e)ening..3he other person normally replies &ith the same greeting as yo ha)e se"
an" thenmakes polite con)ersation, sch as .6o& &as yor trip1. or .,i" yo fin" or
officeeasily1
ntroducing yourself
At an infomal paty
.6ello, I-m $aria.. 7r .6ello, my name-s $aria..3he reply col" (e/.6i, I-m Iarah.. 7r .6ello
$aria, I-m Iarah.. 7r .Aice to meet yo, I-m Iarah..
At 7okCelated e1ents
.I-" like to intro"ce myself. I-m $aria, from englishWhome..7r, .Tet me intro"ce myself. I-m
$aria from englishWhome..3he reply col" (e/.Aice to meet yo. I-m Peter $itchell, from
$itchell Freations...Please" to meet yo. I-m Peter $itchell, from $itchell Freations...6o& "o
yo "o1 I-m Peter $itchell from $itchell Freations..
Introducing other people
Intoducing a fiend to a 7ok colleague
.Iarah, ha)e yo met my colleage Xohn1..Iarah, I-" like yo to meet my colleage Xohn..Iarah
says/.Please" to meet yo, Xohn.. 7r .Aice to meet yo, Xohn..Xohn col" say/.Aice to meet yo
too, Iarah.. 7r .6ello, Iarah..
Intoducing clients
.$r $itchell, I-" like to intro"ce yo to my manager, 6enry Te&is..
$r $itchell col" then say/.6o& "o yo "o1. an" 6enry Te&is also says .6o& "o yo "o1.7r
$r $itchell col" say/.Please" to meet yo.. 7r .#oo" to meet yo..
Speaking Tip
.
!o7 do you doH
. is 'ite formal for =ritish >nglish speakers an" the reply to this'estion is to repeat the phrase,
.
!o7 do you doH
. (as strange as that may son"%)
At a moe infomal paty
0hen yo intro"ce t&o of yor frien"s to each other, yo can simply say, .Xohn, this isIarah..
Cultural considerations
At &ork, one person may ha)e higher stats L yor (oss, or a client, for example. It-s polite to
a""ress them as $r E $s ntil the sitation (ecomes more informal.If someone says, .Please call
me (6enry)., yo kno& yo can se first names. If someoneses yor first name, yo can se
their first name too.People in >ropean an" >nglishLspeaking cltres often shake han"s &hen
they meetsomeone for the first time.+ ,on-t forget to smile%
;C8

Introducing people

0hat-s yor name1

0ho are yo1

$y name is ...

I am ...

$y frien"s call me ...

*o can call me ...

6a)en-t &e met ((efore)1

*es, I think &e ha)e.

Ao, I "on-t think &e ha)e.

I think &e-)e alrea"y met.

I "on-t think &e-)e met ((efore).

3his is .
$eet ...

6a)e yo met ...1

*es, I ha)e.

Ao, I ha)en-t.

*es, I think I ha)e.

Ao, I "on-t think I ha)e.

6ello, ... (name)

Aice to meet yo. (informal)

Please" to meet yo.

6o& "o yo "o1 (formal)

Aice to see yo.

Aice to see yo again.

<aking appointments
Dsefl phrases for making an" changing appointments.
Asking to meet
.Are yo a)aila(le on the 1;th1..Fan &e meet on the 1:th1..6o& "oes the Cr" son" to
yo1..Are yo free next &eek1..0ol" Fri"ay sit yo1..Is next 3es"ay con)enient
for yo1..0hat a(ot sometime next &eek1.
Agreeing on a date
.*es, 3hrs"ay is fine...3hrs"ay sits me...3hrs"ay &ol" (e perfect..
Suggesting a different date
.I-m afrai" I can-t on the Cr". 0hat a(ot the :th1..I-m sorry, I &on-t (e a(le to make it
on $on"ay. Fol" &e meet on 3es"ay instea"1
.Ah, 0e"nes"ay is going to (e a little "ifficlt. I-" mch prefer Fri"ay, if that-s alright&ith
yo...I really "on-t think I can on the 1;th. Fan &e meet p on the 1Yth1.
Setting a time
.0hat sort of time &ol" sit yo1..Is Cpm a goo" time for yo1..If possi(le, I-" like to meet in
the morning...6o& "oes Bpm son" to yo1.
Changing the arrangement
.*o kno& &e &ere going to meet next Fri"ay1 0ell, I-m )ery sorry, (t somethingrgent has
come p...I-m afrai" that I-m not going to (e a(le to meet yo after all. Fan &e fix another
time1..Iomething has 5st croppe" p an" I &on-t (e a(le to meet yo this afternoon. Fan
&emake another time1.

<aking genealisations
>nglish speakers often prefer to make generalisations, rather than saying something is afact.
0hen yo make generalisations, yo &ill son" less "irect an" sre of yorself an"therefore
more open to other people-s sggestions an" i"eas. People &ill think yo-refrien"ly%
To sho that something is generally true
tend to
.I ten" to agree &ith yo..(I agree &ith most of &hat yo say.).I ten" to go to (e" early in
&inter..(I normally go to (e" early in &inter.)
*a1e a tendency to
.3he >nglish ha)e a ten"ency to "rink tea, not coffee.. Aote/
*a1e a tendency to
is se" more in &ritten than in spoken >nglish.
To sho ho common something is
0eneally speaking
.#enerally speaking, more men than &omen se the internet..
In most cases
.In most cases, &ars are case" (y lan" "isptes..
In some cases
.In some cases, >nglish (eaches are nsafe for s&imming..
In a lage numbe of cases
.In a large nm(er of cases, o(esity is case" (y o)erLeating..
<ostly
,
often
,
sometimes
(3hese &or"s go (efore the main )er(, or after the )er(
to be
).0e are mostly concerne" &ith costs...3hey mostly go to the cinema at &eeken"s...>ating
chocolate sometimes cases migraines...6e is sometimes "ifficlt to &ork &ith...>nglish people
often complain a(ot the &eather..
Speaking Tip
Althogh yo may fin" it strange to a)oi" saying exactly &hat yo mean, (eing a(le tomake
generalisations is a speaking skill that &ill make yo son" mch more like anati)e >nglish
speaker.

<aking in1itations
6o& to make an" accept in)itations in >nglish..0hat are yo "oing next Iatr"ay1 0e-re ha)ing
some people o)er for a meal. 0ol"yo like to come1..Are yo free next 3hrs"ay1..Are yo
"oing anything next &eeken"1..0ol" yo (e intereste" in coming to the cinema &ith me
tonight1..6o& "o yo fancy going ot for a meal at the &eeken"1.
Accepting
D4ould you like toID
.I-" lo)e to, thanks...3hat-s )ery kin" of yo, thanks...3hat son"s lo)ely, thanks..
#o you fancy coming to t*e cinema tonig*tH
.0hat a great i"ea, thanks..
Declining
.0ol" yo like to come o)er for "inner on Iatr"ay1..3hat-s )ery kin" of yo, (t actally I-m
"oing something else on Iatr"ay...0ell, I-" lo)e to, (t I-m alrea"y going ot to the
cinema...I-m really sorry, (t I-)e got something else on...I really "on-t think I can L I-m
sppose" to (e "oing something else..
Speaking Tip
It-s important to (e polite &hen yo "ecline an in)itation. 0e normally gi)e a reason &hy&e
can-t "o something an" either apologise, or se &or"s like .
actually
. or .
eally
..
<aking offes
>nglish speakers make offers all the time in con)ersation.3hey say things like/
(an II HS*all II H4ould you like me toI H
Dsing these common >nglish phrases L an" (eing a(le to accept an" re5ect offers L &illmake yo
son" polite an" helpfl..Fan I help yo1..Ihall I open the &in"o& for yo1..0ol" yo
like another coffee1..0ol" yo like me to ans&er the phone1..I-ll "o the photocopying, if yo
like..
S*all9 can
an"
7ill
are follo&e" (y the )er( &ithot
to
.
S*all
is more formal than
can
.
4ould you likeI
is follo&e" either (y a non, or (y the)er( &ith
to
.
!esponding to offers
3hese >nglish "ialoges sho& yo &ays to accept or re5ect offers ma"e to yo..Fan I help
yo1..
5es please. I6d like to kno7
&hat time the train lea)es...Fan I help yo1..
Jo t*anks
, I-m 5st looking.. (In a shop.).Ihall I open the &in"o& for yo1..*es please.
T*at 7ould be 1ey kind
of yo...0ol" yo like another coffee1..
Jo t*anks
.. 7r, .
Jo t*ank you
...0ol" yo like another coffee1..
5es please9 t*at 7ould be lo1ely
.. 7r, .
5es please9 I6d lo1e one
.
.0ol" yo like me to ans&er the phone1..
If you 7ouldn6t mind
.. 7r, .
If you could
..(,on-t ans&er .*es, I &ol"., as this son"s like yo
expect
someone to "o it for yo.).I-ll "o the photocopying, if yo like...
It6s .K9 I can do it
.. 7r, .
#on6t 7oy9 I6ll do it.
.7r, .
T*ank you9 t*at 7ould be geat
..
English speaking tip
0ith a little practice, yo-ll fin" it easy to se these >nglish expressions. 3hey-ll help yoson"
(oth natral an" confi"ent.

<aking pedictions
0hen &e &ant to say &hat &e think &ill happen in the ftre in >nglish, &e can either se
7ill
follo&e" (y the )er( &ithot
to
, or
going to
follo&e" (y the )er(..0hat "o yo think
7ill *appen
next year1..Aext &eek
is going to be
)ery (sy, I think...3here
7on6t be
a rise in hose prices next year...6e
isn6t going to 7in
the election..=ecase &e also se
7ill
to talk a(ot intentions an" strong "ecisions, &e often se
goingto
to son" less emotional..6e
7on6t
help s. can mean that he has "eci"e" not to help s. =t .6e
isn6t going to*elp
s. "oesn-t ha)e this negati)e implication. It son"s more like a pre"iction an" asimple, nonL
emotional factL perhaps he isn-t
able
to help s.
Predictions "ased on hat you kno no
0e can make pre"ictions (ase" on &hat &e can see no&. 3o "o this, &e se
going to
an"the )er( (not
7ill
).For example/.0atch ot%
5ou6e going to *it
that car in front...
It6s going to be
a lo)ely "ay to"ay L not a clo" in the sky.
<aking e:uests
0hen yo ask someone to "o something for yo, or ask if yo can "o something, it-simportant to
son" polite. 6ere are some of the common &ays that yo can "o this.
Asking someone to do something for you
.Fol" yo open the "oor for me, please1..0ol" yo min" opening the "oor for me,
please1..Fan yo open the "oor for me, please1-
Speaking tip;

could
an"
can
are follo&e" (y the )er( &ithot
to
.
4ould you mind
isfollo&e" (y the )er( an"
Cing
.
Asking if you can do something
.Fan I se yor compter, please1..Fol" I (orro& some money from yo, please1..,o yo
min" if I trn p the heating1..0ol" yo min" if I trne" p the heating1.
Speaking tip
/
(ould
is more polite that
can
.
#o you mind ifID
is follo&e" (y the )er( in the
pesent tense
, (t
7ould you mindifI
is follo&e" (y the )er( in the
past tense
.0hen yo-re sing these t&o sentences, "on-t se
please
. It-s alrea"y polite enogh%

Speaking about *opes in Englis*
3here are a nm(er of expressions yo can se to sho& yor hopes an" preferences.
#opes
I-m hoping for (non) (.I-m hoping for a ne& cell phone..)I-m hoping to getU (.I-m hoping to get
a ne& phone..)

I &ol" likeUI really &antU (Dsing .&ant. can (e impolite nless yo are talking to a close
frien" or family mem(er.)Iomething I-)e al&ays &ante" isUI-" (e "elighte" E o)er the moon ifU
(.I-" (e "elighte" if yo ga)e me a ne& &atch..)0hat I-" like more than anything else isU7n
my Fhristmas &ish list isU
Preferences
I-" rather ha)e (non) (.I-" rather ha)e tickets to the opera..)I-" rather yo (simple past) (.I-"
rather yo sa)e" yor money..)I-" prefer (non) (.I-" prefer some money for the ne& hose..)I-"
prefer it if yo (simple past) (.I-" prefer it if yo ga)e some money to charity..)U.. &ol" (e
more sita(le E &ol" (e (etter If I ha" a choice, I &ol" go forUIf it-s all the same to yo, U.
(.If it-s all the same to yo, I-" like some (ook tokens..)
Suggestions in Englis*
3he follo&ing >nglish &or"s an" expressions are all se" to make sggestions an" gi)ea")ice to
people.
s*ould
.*o shol" try to practise >nglish...*o shol"n-t translate too mch..
4*y don6t you
.0hy "on-t yo 5oin an >nglish cl(1.
oug*t to
.*o oght to rea" more.
If I 7ee you9 I6dI
.If I &ere yo, I-" &atch more tele)ision..+All these expressions are follo&e" (y a
1eb
, &ithot
to
. For example/ .6e
s*ould
)isitthe >iffel 3o&er.. (Aot .he
s*ould to
)isit the >iffel 3o&er..)
suggest
an"
ecommend
>ither se a
1eb @ ing
.I sggest )isiting the >iffel 3o&er.. (0e shol" all go.)
.%
se
t*at @ a 1eb
&ithot to.I sggest that yo )isit the >iffel 3o&er.. (I-m not going.)
.%
se a
noun
.I recommen" the lasagne.. (It-s a )ery goo" "ish to choose in this restarant.)
ad1ise
.I a")ise yo to (y a goo" "ictionary..
ad1ice
A")ice is an nconta(le non. 3his means that &e can-t say
an ad1ice
. Instea", &e say
some ad1ice
or
a piece of ad1ice
..Tet me gi)e yo some a")ice...Ihe ga)e me a )ery sefl piece of a")ice/ to (y a goo"
"ictionary..
Speaking tip
$any people "on-t like getting a")ice if they ha)en-t aske" for it% 3o a)oi" gi)ing the&rong
impression, yo can try some of these expressions/.*o col" al&aysU..6a)e yo
consi"ere"U..Perhaps &e col"U..,o yo think it-s a goo" i"ea toU.
Talking about fea

3here are many &or"s an" expressions for talking a(ot fear.
4ods
afrai"/ .Are yo
afaid of
the "ark1.frightene"/ .Im
fig*tened of
spi"ers..scare"/ .6es
scaed of
making mistakes..feel neasy/ .I
felt a bit uneasy
&hen I &alke" home in the "ark..spooke"/ $y cats are easily
spooked
(efore a thn"erstorm.terrifie"/ Ihe &as a(soltely
teified
&hen she hear" the noise. petrifie"/ 3he (il"ing (egan to shake an" &e &ere all
petified
.
Expessions
a terrifying or"ealsen" shi)ers "o&n my spinegi)e me goose(mps (goose(mps are &hen yo
skin has little (mps on it)make the hairs on the (ack of my neck stan" p ("ogs also "o this
&hen they are scare")scare the hell ot of me (e scare" shitless E shit scare" (=ritish slang L
)lgar) (e (ricking it (=ritish slang L )lgar)frighten the life ot of meshake &ith fear 5mp ot
of my skin
Examples
7ne of the (est horror films I ha)e seen is 3he =lair 0itch Pro5ect. It tells the story of
a teifying odeal
in the &oo"s of northern DIA. Iome of the scenes in the film
sents*i1es do7n my spine
, especially the one &hen the st"ents rn ot of the tent in themi""le of the night. 0hen they go
(ack, one of the gys rcksack has (een emptie".0hen that same gy goes missing the next
"ay, it
gi1es you goosebumps
.3here are some fa(los son" effects, especially the ones of the &in" (lo&ing an"ho&ling.
0hen yo hear the crying )oices at the en" of the film, it &ill
make t*e *aison t*e back of you neck stand up
.Perhaps the scariest part of the film is at the en", &hen yo see one of the sr)i)ingst"ents
literally
s*ake 7it* fea
in the corner of the (asement. It certainly
fig*tenedt*e life out of
the girl &hen she sa& him, an" I
=umped out of my skin
at the en" &henthe camera stoppe" filming. 3he film
scaed t*e *ell out of me
for &eeks after&ar"s,an" Im ashame" to say that I &ol"nt go into an empty room in the hose
nless there&as someone there &ith me.
Talking about likes and dislikes in Englis*
3here-s a &hole range of >nglish expressions yo can se to talk a(ot ho& mch yolike or
"islike something.
If you lo$e something
.I
lo1e
eating iceLcream...I
adoe
snL(athing..
If you like something a lot
.Ihe-s
fond
of chocolate...I
like
s&imming )ery mch..
If you like something
.6e
:uite likes
going to the cinema...I
like
cooking..
If you neither like nor dislike something
.I
don6t mind
"oing the hose&ork..
If you don%t like something
.Ihe
doesn6t like
cooking )ery mch...6e-s
not 1ey fond
of "oing the gar"ening...I
dislike
&asting time..
If you really dislike something
.I
don6t like
sport at all...6e
can6t stand
his (oss...Ihe
can6t bea
cooking in a "irty kitchen...I
*ate
cro&"e" spermarkets...6e
detests
(eing late..

.Ihe
loat*es
celery..
Things to remem"er&
#islike
is 'ite formal.
Fond of
is normally se" to talk a(ot foo" or people.3he -oa- in
loat*e
rhymes &ith the -oa- in
boat
.
Grammar Note
3o talk a(ot yor general likes or "islikes, follo& this pattern/
like
something or
likedoing
something.
Common mistake
=e carefl &here yo pt
1ey muc*
or
a lot
. 3hese &or"s shol" go
afte
the thing thatyo like.For example, .I like rea"ing )ery mch.. A73 .I like )ery mch rea"ing..
Talking about pobability in Englis*
3here are many &ays of saying that something &ill pro(a(ly or possi(ly happen.
Pro"a"le
bound to
N certain/ .3hey are (on" to sccee"%.
sue to
N certain/ .6e is sre to &in the championship..
likely to
N pro(a(le/ .0e are likely to &in the contract..
definite
N sre/ .6e-s a "efinite frontrnner for the 5o(%.
pobable
/ .It-s pro(a(le that &e &ill (e on holi"ay aron" then..
likely
/ .An election is likely next year..
7ill definitely *appen
/ .3here &ill "efinitely (e a storm later..
7ill pobably *appen
/ .3hey &ill pro(a(ly take on more staff.
Possi"le
may
/ .0e may (e a(le to help yo..
mig*t
/ .3here might (e a holi"ay next month L I-m not sre..
could
/ .3here col" (e a (g in the system..
I is possible
/ .,o yo think he &ill resign1. .*es, that-s possi(le..
I is unlikely
/ .It-s nlikely that she &ill mo)e..
7ill possibly
/ .Ihe-ll possi(ly tell s tomorro&..
pobably 7on6t
/ .3hey pro(a(ly &on-t hear ntil next &eek..
definitely 7on6t
/ .I "efinitely &on-t go to the party..
I is *ig*ly unlikely
/ .It-s highly nlikely that the company &ill expan"..
Jote;
=e carefl of the &or" or"er..,efinitely. an" .pro(a(ly. come after .&ill. (in positi)e
sentences) an" (efore .&on-t.in negati)e sentences.
'ariations
*o can a"" &or"s to alter the strength of pro(a(ility/
*ig*ly
likely E nlikely (N )ery likely E nlikely)
:uite
likely E pro(a(le E possi(le (N more likely, pro(a(le or possi(le)col"
possibly > pobablymost definitely 7on6t 23 e1en moe unlikely8
Talking about t*e 7eat*e
It-s tre% =ritish people often start a con)ersation &ith strangers an" frien"s (y talkinga(ot the
&eather. As &eather is a netral topic of con)ersation, it-s sally safe to se itto strike p a
con)ersation L at the (s stop, in a shop, or &ith a neigh(or o)er thegar"en fence.

Some e(amples of con$ersation starters
.To)ely "ay, isn-t it%..=it nippy to"ay...0hat strange &eather &e-re ha)ing%..It "oesn-t look like
it-s going to stop raining to"ay..
Attitude to eather
Althogh =ritish people like to complain a(ot (a" &eather, they generally pt a (ra)eface on
it.If someone complains a(ot too mch rain, yo might hear/.Ae)er min" L it-s goo" for
the gar"en..If someone complains that it-s too hot, yo col" hear/.At least my tomatoes &ill (e
happy..If the con)ersation has (een a(ot general (a" &eather, perhaps someone &ill say/.0ell,
I-)e hear" it-s &orse in the &est. 3hey-)e ha" terri(le floo"ing..
Predicting the eather
0e can make pre"ictions a(ot the &eather, sing a range of forms L not 5st the .&ill. or .going
to. form/.I think it-ll clear p later...
It6s going to
rain
by t*e looks of it
...
4e6e in fo
frost tonight...
T*ey6e expecting
sno& in the north...I hear that sho&ers are
coming ou 7ay
..
#uman attri"utes
0e also attri(te hman featres to the &eather, almost as if the &eather can "eci"e &hatto "o