How to write better English

If it takes you twice as long to write something in English as it does in your own language, then try these tips.


Before you start
Ask yourself "Why am I writing?" By thinking about the purpose of your text (perhaps you want to explain something, or ask something etc) you can choose the most appropriate vocabulary and level of formality.

Who are you writing to? Who is your reader, and what is their level of knowledge or English? Choose your language carefully and avoid words and expressions that are too technical or complicated.

Plan before you write. Prepare for writing by making a plan, and looking up all the words you need before you start writing.

A plan helps you keep a clear focus and helps you avoid repetition. Just jot down the points you want to make and order them into logical paragraphs. Remember that paragraphs shouldn't be too long. In fact, in certain types of writing, such as emails, your paragraphs can be one sentence long.

It's quicker to look up all the words you need before you write so you don't interrupt your "flow" of writing.

What to write
Say why you are writing in the first sentence. Use phrases such as "I am writing to enquire about…" so that your reader understands why you are writing. If you're replying to someone, you can write "Thank you for your email."

Use standard greetings and endings. Most letters begin with "Dear Mr X" or "Dear Ms X" and should end "Yours sincerely" (or in American English, "Sincerely yours"). If you know your reader quite well, you can be less formal with "Dear (first name)" and end "Best wishes" or "Best regards". If you absolutely have to write "Dear Sir" end with "Yours faithfully" rather than "Yours sincerely".

In emails you can start with the first name "Jane", or precede it with "Hi". If you are writing to a number of people, you can leave out the greeting. To end an email you can write "Best wishes", "Kind regards", "Thanks" or in British English "Cheers".

Use a closing expression in letters such as "Please do not hesitate to contact me if I can be of further assistance." In emails you can write, for example, "Many thanks for your help."

In letters, write the date out in full: 7 June 2006 or June 7, 2006. Avoid using abbreviated dates such as (7/6/2006) as although British speakers will understand this as 7 June, Americans will understand it to be July 6.

Extra tips
Use linking expressions to connect ideas and sentences. Words such as 'and', 'but', 'therefore', 'however', guide your reader through your ideas and make your writing easier to read. See also Linking Words in our Grammar section.

Be careful of referring words such as 'this' and 'it'. Make sure they refer to the right word or phrase.

Write as concisely as possible. Don't make your sentences too long, as they might become difficult to read. Avoid more than two ideas in any sentence.

Follow this word order principle to keep your sentences concise:

Subject - Verb - Object - Manner - Place - Time
(Who — Does—What— How— Where- When)

"Please could you send us the confirmation as quickly as possible."

"The Managing Director will visit the factory on Monday 10 July at 10 am."

Edit what you write. Use your computer spell-check, but check for grammatical mistakes yourself.

Edit out unnecessary words and phrases and avoid old-fashioned words such as "hereby", "herewith" and above-mentioned". Rather than writing "We hereby enclose a brochure", get to the point with "We are enclosing a brochure."

Read what you have written out aloud. Is it easy to read, or are the sentences too long? Have you put in enough punctuation?

Get someone else to check what you have written. Another person may see something that is unclear or a mistake.

Learn English with television

Television is great for learning English. The pictures make it easier to understand than radio and because you can see who's talking, you get a better idea of what people mean. Just watch their "body language"!

Watch programmes that you find enjoyable and entertaining - whatever you watch will help you to improve your English.

Here's the english@home guide to learning as much as possible while watching English television:

Only watch programmes you find interesting. Learning English should be fun - not something you have to force yourself to do. If you have a passion for football, watch matches or the sports news.

Keep a notebook near to your television, so that you can jot down any new words or expressions that you hear. This is especially useful if the programme you are watching has been subtitled into your language.

Try to watch English television regularly. Even if you can only watch 15 minutes a day, you'll be amazed how much you learn.

Don't worry if you don't understand everything - English television is normally aimed at native English language speakers. Programmes often include difficult words and expressions. If the programme you're watching is full of unknown words, just concentrate on understanding the general meaning.

Even cartoons and children's programmes are useful when learning English and quiz shows are useful for learning how to ask and answer questions in English.

Keep a note of television programmes and presenters that you find easy to understand and try to watch them regularly. Doing this will increase your confidence and give you a sense of achievement.

Writing "Thank You" letters and emails

It's polite to write a "thank you" letter each time you receive a present. You can also write emails to thank people, but it's still considered more "personal" to write a short letter by hand.


Layout and format
"Thank you" letters can be quite short, and fill one or two sides of A5 paper (one side of A5 paper is half the size of a sheet of A4 or office paper). You can write your address in the top left hand corner of the paper, but you don't need to write the recipient's address. You can also write the date under your address.

You normally start the letter "Dear…" followed by the name of the person you are writing to.

In the first paragraph (which can be short), you should thank the person for the gift and say something complimentary about it:

"Thank you for the book tokens. I'm looking forward to choosing a book with them."

"Thank you for the wall calendar. It will be very useful to me this year!"

"Thank you very much for the beautiful soaps. I'm looking forward to relaxing in a hot bath!"

"Thank you very much for the lovely photo frame. It will look very nice on my chest of drawers."

"Thank you very much for the elegant scarf you sent me. It's exactly what I need for special occasions."

In the second paragraph, you can give general news about how you spent the holiday period (or how you spent your birthday if you have received a birthday present). You could also show interest in the other person's holiday.

"We had a very quiet and relaxing Christmas at home. The kids ate too many chocolates as usual, so now we're all on a diet! I hope your Christmas was as good, and that you were able to relax for a few days."

In the third paragraph you can talk about more general family or personal news.

In the final paragraph, you should thank the person again for their gift, and give your wishes for the New Year if applicable. (See below for useful phrases for ending the letter.)

Useful phrases
You should start your letter with "Dear" and follow it by the person's first name:

"Dear Tom" or "Dear Uncle Bill"

You can end your letter with any of these phrases:

"With love (from)", "With much love (from)", "Lots of love (from)" or "Love (from)" followed by your name on the next line. The "from" in these phrases is optional.

You normally end the letter with repeated thanks and wishes for the New Year:

"Thank you again for my present."
"Thank you again for such a thoughtful gift."
"Wishing you a happy New Year."
"With all my best wishes for a happy New Year."
"Wishing you all the best in 2006."

An example thank you letter
7, London Rd
Manchester

30 December, 2005

Dear Uncle Bill

Thank you very much for the French cookery book you gave me. The recipes look wonderful, and I'll certainly enjoy using it.

I hope you and Auntie Susan had a good Christmas. We stayed at home, but had a couple of day trips out nearby. Our local theatre put on a production of "A Christmas Carol", which was fun.

I go back to University next week, and this year I'm going to have to study hard for the final exams. I've really enjoyed the course so far, but I'm not sure what to do once I get my degree. The University arranges career interviews, but I don't really have a clear idea of what I want to do. Hopefully it will all become clearer during the course of the year.

Thank you again for the lovely present, and Happy New Year!

With much love

Anna

Telephoning in English (2)

Vocabulary for making telephone calls in English.


Social talk on the phone
If you know the person, or have spoken before, it's normal to chat for a few seconds before saying why you are calling.

You: "Hello, this is (Tom McIvor) speaking." or "Hello, this is (Tom McIvor)."

You might also want to add your company name: "This is (Tom McIvor) from (McIvor Worldwide)."

The other person: "Hello, how are you?"

You: "Fine, thanks. And you?"

The other person: "Very well, thanks."
or "Not bad."
or "Can't complain."
or "A bit busy" etc.

You: "Oh good."
or "Oh right."
or "Glad to hear that."

If someone asks you how you are, respond (positively!) and return the question. This social talk can be extended. You could ask about a project you know the person is working on, or a mutual friend, or the person's family.

You: "Hello, this is (Tom McIvor). How are you?"

Other person: "Fine, and yourself?"

You: "Fine, thanks. How's the restructuring going?"

Other person: "Well, we're pretty busy, as you can imagine."

You: "Yes, I can! Anyway, I'm calling about…"

To introduce the subject of your call, you can use words such as 'anyway', or 'well', or 'right'.

Remember, if you haven't spoken to the person before, or don't know them, then social talk is inappropriate - get straight to the reason for your call.

Calling someone you don't know
Perhaps a colleague has asked you to call someone. You don't know the person, so you should introduce yourself and mention your colleague's name.

You: "Hello, this is (Sarah Brown) calling, from (McIvor Worldwide)."

Other person: "Hello, what can I do for you?"
or "Hello, how can I help you?"

You: "I'm calling on behalf of (Tom McIvor)…"
or "(Tom McIvor) suggested that I call you."
or "(Tom McIvor) asked me to call you."

Remember…
* try to speak clearly and don't be afraid to speak more slowly than normal.

* think about what you want to say before calling.

* don't be afraid to ask your caller to repeat themselves if you don't understand. You can say, "I'm sorry, could you repeat that please?" or "Sorry, I didn't quite catch that."

What to say when there's a problem




When you can't hear someone

"I'm sorry, could you speak up, please?"

"I'm sorry, I can't hear you very well."

"I'm sorry, the line's bad - could you repeat what you just said?"

When you don't understand what someone says

"I'm sorry, I didn't get that. Could you say it again, please?"

"I'm afraid I don't follow you. Could you repeat it, please?"

"I'm sorry, I'm not sure I understand. Would you mind explaining it again, please?"

When you want to correct what the other person has said

"Actually, it's 16, not 60." (Stress the two words where there is confusion - in this example the 16 and the 60.)

"I'm sorry, but I think there's been a misunderstanding. The payment's due next week, not next month."

"I'm sorry, but that's not quite right.." (When you refer back to what someone has just said. You then go on to say what IS right.)

Checking that you understand something

"So if I understand you correctly…"

"When you say… do you mean…?"

Telephoning in English

Useful vocabulary for making telephone calls in English.


Spelling
If you need to spell your name, or take the name of your caller, the biggest problem is often saying vowel sounds:

'a' is pronounced as in 'may'
'e' is pronounced as in 'email' or 'he'
'i' is pronounced as in 'I' or 'eye'
'o' is pronounced as in 'no'
'u' is pronounced as 'you'

Saying consonants
'g' is pronounced like the 'j' in 'jeans'
'j' is pronounced as in 'DJ' or 'Jane'
'w' is pronounced 'double you'
'x' is pronounced 'ex'
'y' is pronounced 'why'
'z' is pronounced 'zed' (rhymes with 'bed' in British English), or 'zee' (rhymes with 'sea' in American English).

Tip: Keep a note of how you say these letters by your telephone.

Giving numbers
Here's a phone number: 0171 222 3344

And here's how to say it:
"Oh-one-seven-one, triple two, double three, double four."

OR

"Zero-one-seven-one, triple two, double three, double four."

Pausing
When you say a seven digit number, separate the number into two blocks of three and four, pausing after each block.

Each digit is spoken separately, unless it's a double or triple. If the second part of the number was '5555', you'll probably find it easier to say 'double five - double five'.

Saying email addresses

@ is pronounced 'at'. For instance, caimin@clara.net is "caimin, at, clara, dot, net".

/ is "forward slash".

- is called a "hyphen" or a "dash".

_ is an "underscore".

Example telephone dialogues
Here are examples of typical telephoning language:

Getting through

You: "Can I speak to (Mr Smith), please?" or "Is (Mr Smith) there, please?"

Receptionist: "May I ask who's calling?" or "Could I have your name, please?"

You: "Yes, this is Tom McIvor speaking."

Many British people don't identify themselves when they make or receive a phone call. Even at home, they normally pick up the phone and say "Hello". But they won't be offended if you ask for their name.

Leaving or taking a message
Receptionist:

"I'm afraid Mr Smith is…
… out of the office today."
… off sick today."
… in a meeting."
… on holiday."
or "I'm afraid his line is engaged."

"…Would you like to leave a message?"

You: "Could you ask him to call me back?" or "Could you ask him to return my call?"

Receptionist: "Does he have your number?" or "What's your number, please?"

The receptionist uses "I'm afraid" or "I'm sorry" if he or she can't connect you.

If the receptionist doesn't offer to take a message, you can ask to leave one.

You: "Could I leave a message, please?"

Receptionist: "Yes, certainly." or "Yes, of course."

How to use abbreviations

When we speak, we often abbreviate words. We also shorten words when we write text messages (SMS). Here's a handy guide to some of the more common abbreviations.


Speaking

gonna = is / am going to (do something)
"I'm gonna call him now."

wanna = want to
"I wanna speak to you."

gotta = has / have got to (or have got)
"I gotta go!"

innit = isn't it
"It's cold, innit?"

ain't = isn't / haven't / hasn't
"He ain't finished yet."
"I ain't seen him today."

ya = you
"Do ya now what I mean?"

lemme = let me
"Lemme see … tomorrow's a good time."

whadd'ya = what do you …
"Whadd'ya mean, you don't want to watch the game?"

dunno = don't / doesn't know
"I dunno. Whadd'ya think?"

Text messaging abbreviations
Numbers

2 = to / two
4 = for / four
8 = ate

Letters

U = you
C = see
B = be

CU L8r = see you later

msg - message
pls = please
cld = could
gd = good
vgd = very good
abt = about
ths = this
asap = as soon as possible
tks = thanks
txt = text
LOL = lots of love / laugh out loud
x = a kiss

Shopping vocabulary

English vocabulary to help you shop 'til you drop.


Types of shops in English

department store - a shop that sells many different items in different departments. Harrods is probably the world's best known department store.

supermarket - a large shop that sells mostly food and household items.

grocer (UK) / grocery store (US) - a shop that sells food.

greengrocer - sells fresh fruit and vegetables.

butcher - sells fresh meat.

baker - sells fresh bread and cakes.

fishmonger - sells fresh fish.

chemist (UK) / drugstore (US) - sells medicines and toiletries.

pharmacy (US) - sells medicines.

newsagent - sells newspapers and magazines.

stationer - sells paper goods.

optician - sells glasses / contact lenses.

DIY store - sells things for home improvement.

hardware shop / hardware store / ironmonger - hard goods, such as nails and screws.

corner shop (UK) - a shop on the corner of your street, selling a range of basic goods - food, newspapers, sweets, bread, etc.

delicatessen (deli) - sells specialist food not normally found in supermarkets. For example, an Italian deli, an Asian deli.

bookshop / bookstore - books.

market - market traders (people who work on a market) have stalls that sell fruit and vegetables, clothes, household items and so on.

petshop - for pets and pet food.

flea market - a group of stalls selling old furniture or clothes.

tea shop (UK) - like a cafe, but sells tea and cakes.

petrol station (UK) / gas station (US) sells petrol, car products and sometimes food.

Using 's
When we talk about shops, we often put an 's on the end. For example, "I'm going to the chemist's / greengrocer's / butcher's / baker's / newsagent's / fishmonger's/ optician's."

We don't use an 's with these shops: supermarket, hardware store, petrol station, department store.

Asking for things
"Do you have any…?"
"I'm looking for…"
"I wonder if you could help me…?"

What the shopkeeper says
"I'm sorry, we're out of stock."
"I'm sorry, that's the last one."
"I'm sorry, that's all we have left."

What a sales person says
"Can I help you?"
"Are you looking for anything in particular?"

Your reply
"I'm just looking, thank you."
"I'm just browsing, thank you."

Asking about things
"Do you have this in another size?"
"Do you have this in another colour?"
"Is this made of leather / silk / plastic…?"
"Does this come with a guarantee?"
"Is this fully refundable?"
"Can I bring this back if it's not the right size?"
"Can I bring this back if it doesn't fit?"

Paying - what the shopkeeper says
"Do you have anything smaller?" (If you pay with a large denomination note.)

Paying - what you say
"I'm sorry, I don't have any small change."
"I don't have anything smaller."
"Would you have change for this?"
"Can I have the receipt, please?'
"Can I pay by credit card?"
"Can I pay in cash?"
"Is this on sale?"

Restaurant English

Here's how to ask about the menu and more.


Describing the menu
"The dish of the day" / "daily special" = what the restaurant is featuring.

"What's the dish of the day?"
"It's the chef's omelette."

"set menu" = a menu where the starter, main course and dessert are chosen by the restaurant.

"a la carte" = where you choose what you want to eat from the menu.

Asking for a description of the food
"What is 'fisherman's pie' exactly?"
"Is this dish vegetarian?"
"What's in spaghetti vongole?"
"Does this dish come with any vegetables?"
"Can you tell me how this dish is prepared?"

Describing food
"It's a meat dish, garnished with parsley."
A garnish is something that is served with the food, not mixed in.

"It's topped with cheese."
Topped is something that goes on top of the food.

"It's served with a side salad."
Side salad is salad served in a bowl or separate plate.

Sauces can be cheesy (made with cheese), savoury (not sweet), creamy (smooth), spicy (made with chilli peppers) or delicate (a subtle, rather than strong taste).

Desserts can be rich (very filling with a strong taste, like chocolate gateau), light (not heavy in taste or texture, like a sorbet), tangy (with a sharp taste of lemon or orange, like a lemon pie), or fruity (made with fruit, like trifle).

Ordering in a restaurant - things waiters say
"Are you ready to order yet?"
"Have you decided what you are having?"
"Would you like anything to drink with your meal?"
"Can I recommend the chef's special?"

Ordering in a restaurant - things customers say
"We'd like a little longer, please."
"Could you give us a couple more minutes?"
"We really can't decide. Can you advise us?"

* See also Food Vocab in the Vocabulary section.

Going to the dentist

Dentists recommend that you go for a check-up at least twice a year. At the same time as you see the dentist, you can also make an appointment with the dental hygienist who will clean and polish your teeth for you.

The dentist checks that your teeth are in good condition. If you have a hole, or a cavity, you may need a filling, which is a small amount of porcelain that the dentist uses to fill the hole. Many adults have one or more fillings - often in their back teeth or molars.

You may have more serious problems with your teeth and occasionally the dentist will need to take an X-ray to see the damage to your teeth more clearly. For example, a tooth may be so rotten that the dentist recommends an extraction (where the tooth is removed) or you may need root canal work, where the dentist repairs damage to the roots of a tooth. In both of these occasions, you will need an anaesthetic so that you cannot feel the pain. (Unfortunately, you will still be able to hear the sound of the dentist's drill, the metal instrument used to open up the tooth.)

Some adults also experience problems with their wisdom teeth. There are four of these teeth: two top teeth, and two bottom teeth at the extreme left and right of the mouth. If they don't come down properly, they can become painful and need to be removed.

If you fall over and knock out one of your front teeth, the dentist may be able to fit a false tooth. The dentist can also repair teeth which have disintegrated, by putting a cap on the tooth, to stop it disintegrating further.

Specialist dentists (called orthadontists) can straighten teeth which are crooked. They put braces (wires) on the teeth to do this. Many children need to have this work done.

Finally, "prevention is better than cure". Dentists recommend that you brush your teeth twice a day, and floss your teeth to remove any food between your teeth. An antibacterial mouthwash will help to avoid the build-up of plaque

Visiting the doctor

The first time you visit a new doctor, you should talk about your medical history - the illnesses you have had, any operations you have had and so on. Your doctor might want to give you a check-up.

A check-up will include monitoring your blood pressure, as high blood pressure is serious and can lead to life-threatening conditions. Your doctor will probably also take your pulse to check that your heart rate is normal.

A doctor uses a stethoscope to listen to your breathing - particularly if you have a heart or chest infection, or a condition such as asthma.

Of course, you can also visit the doctor for a huge range of other reasons. Children need to have their injections and if you are going abroad on holiday, you might also need to have injections against infectious diseases. In winter, you can also get a flu vaccine so that you won't get the flu.

If you need medication, a doctor will write you a prescription. You can get your prescription filled at a chemist.

For more serious medical conditions, you can get a referral to a clinic or a hospital. You might need blood tests done, or you might need an X-ray, or you might need to see a specialist.

(See also "medical vocabulary" in the vocabulary section.)

How to respond appropriately in special situations

Certain situations need special vocabulary…


Congratulations!
You can say Congratulations in many circumstances, such as for weddings, promotions, passing exams, or to the parents and family of a new baby.

Well done!
You can say this to someone who has passed an exam or achieved something difficult like a promotion.

Birthdays
The most usual ways of referring to someone's birthday are by saying Happy Birthday! or more formally, Many happy returns!

Cultural note: Some birthdays are more special than others in Britain. Your 18th birthday is special as you then become an official adult. In the past, 21 was the age of adulthood, and some people still celebrate it in a special way by giving silver keys, which represent the key to the door.

Before an exam or something difficult
Wish someone good luck before something difficult, by saying Good luck! But if people are superstitious and believe that saying "Good luck" will have the opposite effect, you could also hear Break a leg!

If someone has failed at something, you can say Bad luck!


Toasting
At parties and gatherings, you might be asked to drink a toast to celebrate a happy event.

Here's to …

Let's drink to…

Ladies and Gentlemen, "The Bride and Groom".

Please raise your glasses to…


Writing to someone who has passed an exam
If you are writing a card or a letter to someone who has passed an exam, you can use the following expressions:

Well done! It's a fantastic result.

Congratulations on passing! You deserve it after so much hard work.


Writing wedding cards
Here are a couple of standard phrases to write on wedding cards:

Congratulations! Wishing you many happy years together.

Wishing you the best of luck in your future together.


Writing in sad situations
In difficult situations you can write I was so sorry to hear that ….

If you are writing to the relatives of someone who has died, you can also write

I was deeply saddened to hear…
or
Please accept my deepest condolences on the death of…


(You can replace "I" with "We", such as "We were very sad to hear that…")

Driving vocabulary

Here are some words and phrases you'll find helpful when driving in an English-speaking country.


Regulations
In England, you must drive on the left (unless road signs tell you otherwise or if you are overtaking - passing another car). The driver's seat is on the right hand side of the car, and the passenger's seat is on the left. The gearstick is to the left of the driver.

Drivers and passengers have to wear a seatbelt, except if they have certain medical conditions, and seatbelts should also be worn in the back seat. If you "drink drive" (drive after drinking alcohol), the penalties can be serious. Most people will advise you not to drink alcohol at all before driving.

Be especially careful to respect the speed limits on the roads. A sign tells you what the maximum speed limit is, and if you break the speed limit, you may get a fine or points on your licence. There are many hidden speed cameras in operation, so watch out!

Indicators
You should use your indicators to show if you are turning left or right. You should also use your mirrors (wing mirrors on the side of the car) and rearview mirror (to see behind you) before you set off, make a turning, slow down or overtake. Drivers should also turn round to look over their right shoulder so that they can see what is happening in their blind spot - the place behind you that you cannot see - even with mirrors.

Road junctions
At road junctions, check to see that no pedestrians are crossing the road into which you are turning, as they have priority and you will have to wait. If there is a Stop sign at the junction, you must stop your car behind the white line and wait until there is a gap in the traffic. If there is a Give Way sign (also shown as a triangle), you must give priority to traffic on the main road. There are also box junctions, where there are yellow lines painted in a box on the road. You can only go into a box if your exit is clear.

Some junctions are controlled by traffic lights, and here the same rules apply as for traffic lights on other roads. A red light means "stop", and you can only start moving when the light changes to green. After green, the light changes to amber (orange) and you can only continue if your car has already crossed the line and when stopping could cause an accident.

Roundabouts
At roundabouts, you go round in a clockwise direction. You have to give priority to traffic coming from the right. You should get in lane according to which exit you need. (If you are leaving at the first exit, get into the left hand lane; if you are leaving at the middle exits, get in the middle lane(s); and get into the right hand lane if you are leaving at the last exit.) Signal left to leave the roundabout after you have passed the exit previous to yours.

Pedestrian crossings
There are two main types of pedestrian crossings. There are zebra crossings (which are marked by white stripes in the road) and there are pelican crossings, where a red flashing light means you have to stop for pedestrians. You can't park on either type of crossing, and you should give way to pedestrians.

Motorway driving
There are special rules for driving on motorways. In short, learner drivers (those who haven't yet passed their driving tests) cannot drive on motorways. The speed limit is higher than on other roads, and there are at least three lanes of traffic. You have to take extra care when overtaking, joining or leaving the motorway. If you break down, you should stay in the hard shoulder (a narrow lane on the left) and wait for assistance.

How to ask for things in English

Asking for things in English doesn't need to be stressful. Just remember some key phrases, and you'll be able to deal with most situations smoothly and confidently!


Asking clerks or at help desks
(Hello.) Can / Could I have ….. please? (Falling intonation)

(Good morning.) Can / Could you give / get me ….. please?

(Good evening.) A table for two, please.

Interrupting people to ask them for something
Excuse me…

…. Do you know if…?
…. Do you have…?
…. Do you accept …. (credit cards)?
…. Is this the right way for…. (the Post Office)?
…. Could you tell me if …. (there's a Post Office near here)?

In more formal situations

Excuse me…

…. Would you mind …. (keeping an eye on my luggage?)
…. I wonder if you could …. (move your suitcase a little.)

Responding to questions
You ask for something, then the person you have asked needs more information. He or she asks you a question. If you haven't expected this, you can "play for time" - say something to give you time to think. Say something like "Oh", "Ah", "Um", or "Er" to give you a second or two to formulate an answer. Remember, complete silence makes the other person feel uneasy!

You: "Two tickets to Glasgow, please."
Clerk: "Single or return?"
You: "Um, return please. We're coming back tomorrow."

(You are at the bureau de change)
Clerk: How would you like your money?
You: Oh, er, three tens and a five, please.

You: "Hello. Can I have a leaflet about London museums, please."
Clerk: "Sure. Anything else?"
You: "Um, do you have any information about musicals?"

Tips
When you ask someone for something, or you ask them to do something for you, it is essential to be as polite as possible. Here are some ways that you can be polite.

Say hello

A "hello" and a smile go a long way! Say "hello" at the beginning of your request.

"Hello. (I'd like) a travel card, please."

In more formal situations, you can say "Good morning", "Good afternoon" or "Good evening". (Remember, we only say "Good night" if we're saying "Good bye" at the end of the day.)

"Good evening. We've booked a table for four."

Remember "please" and "thank you"

"Please" normally goes at the end of the sentence:

"Two tickets please."
"Can you give me directions to Oxford Street, please."

Say "thank you" after you have received something:

"Here's your change."
"Thank you."

You can use "Yes, please" or "No, thank you" in response to a question:

"Would you like salad with your pizza?"
"Yes, please" or "No, thank you."

Say "excuse me"

If you ask someone who is doing something else, remember to say "excuse me":

"Excuse me, do yo have this dress in a smaller size?" (In a shop)
"Excuse me, do you know where the nearest bank is?" (On the street)

Structure of an example conversation
1. Clerk greets you

(Good morning.) How can I help you?
What can I do for you?

2. You ask for something

Hello. I'd like some information about…
Can I have….
Three stamps for Europe, please.

3. Clerk asks you a question

Single or return?
Air-mail or surface mail?

4. You answer

Oh, er, single thanks.
Um, let me see. Air-mail please.

5. Clerk asks you if you need anything else

Will that be all?
(Is there) anything else?

6. You answer

Ah, actually I'd also like…
No, that's it thanks / thank you.

See also "Making requests" in the Speaking section

How to make a booking in English

Making a booking in English does not have to be complicated. In fact, if you keep the information concise, you will find it easy!


Starting the conversation
I'd like to…..

…. book a double room (for two nights from Monday 2 August to…)

…. book a table (for two at 9 pm tomorrow night)

…. book a flight (from London to Paris on Tuesday 10 November)

…. book seats (tonight for "Phantom of the Opera")

You can also reserve a room, a table or seats.

Responding to questions
How many people is the booking for?
… It's for two people.

How would you like to pay?
… Can I pay by credit card?

Can you spell your surname?
… Yes, it's B - R - O - W - N.

Can you give me your credit card number and expiry date?
…Yes, it's …….

Travel bookings

What time do you want to leave / arrive / check-out?

… I'd like to arrive in London by 6 pm.

Would you like to take advantage of our special insurance / extra facilities?

… No thank you / Could you give me extra information?

Asking for more information
Does this price include all taxes? (for hotels and flights)

Is there a booking fee? (for flights, theatre tickets)

How much is the baggage allowance? (for flights)

Could you confirm my booking?

What time should I arrive? (for theatres, restaurants)

What time do I have to check in / do I have to check out? (for flights, hotels)

Is there an ensuite bathroom? (for hotels)

Tips
Remember the essential information:
- how many nights (at a hotel)
- how many people (at a restaurant or the theatre)
- what time (for a flight or at a restaurant)
- how much does it cost (for a flight, theatre tickets or a hotel room)

Research the vocabulary you need before you make a call:
- what type of theatre seat you need
- what type of hotel room you want
- where you want to sit on the plane

Remember to pronounce numbers and letters clearly.

When you spell something or give a number, speak slowly and emphasise the important information

Vocabulary for English language course

Many people go to the UK in summer to study English. Typically, they enrol in a language school for a fortnight (=two weeks) or even longer, and attend language classes in the morning. In the afternoon, there is often a choice between supplementary (= extra) lessons, or social activities, such as trips to museums or places of local interest, or sport activities. The school will probably also book your accommodation.

Maybe you will stay with a local family on a full-board (= accommodation and all meals included) or half-board (= accommodation plus breakfast and dinner) basis, or perhaps you will stay in student accommodation, such as a hall of residence (= specially-built accommodation for students attending English universities).

Before you start your English course, you'll probably need to do a placement test, which will assess your language level. If you're attending a business English course, you'll probably also do a needs analysis, which pinpoints the areas of business English that you need to work on.

Most language schools offer a range of courses. For instance, you might decide to have your lessons in a small group, or you might prefer a one-to-one or individual course. Schools also offer exam-preparation courses (for the Cambridge or TOEFL exams) as well as YL (young learner = children) courses and ESP (English for Specific Purposes) courses.

Your teacher should be TEFL-qualified, which means that he or she has undergone specific training to teach English as a foreign language. He or she should be sensitive to your problems or needs, as well as able to manage the classroom effectively and to provide a range of learning activities.

However, it's also true to say that you "get out what you put in": the harder you study, and the more you take advantage of being in an English-speaking country, the faster you will improve your English.

House vocabulary

Unless you live in a block of flats or a bungalow (one-storey house with or without an attic), British houses normally have two or three floors or stories. On the ground floor you're likely to find the living room, kitchen and dining room, while on the first floor you'll probably find bedrooms and a bathroom.

On the second or top floor is the attic, or loft. On the roof of many houses you can still see a chimney and chimney pot - even if the house now benefits from central heating.

The floors of a house are connected by stairs, with a landing (area) on the upper floor which leads to the upstairs rooms.

Most British houses are made of brick and cement. In a row of terrace houses (houses joined together), the interconnecting walls are cavity walls: they have a space between them to allow air to circulate. On the interiors, the walls are covered in plaster, and then either painted or decorated with wallpaper. The internal walls of a house fall into two categories: load-bearing walls (those that are structural and support the weight of the floors) and partition walls (those walls that divide rooms, but can be knocked down.) Floors and roofs are supported by strong>beams, which are long, heavy pieces of wood or metal.

Floors can be covered in a variety of materials, such as parquet (wooden squares), laminate flooring (a type of thin wooden plank), or tiles (either ceramic or vinyl). In living rooms and bedrooms, the floors are generally covered with carpets.

Houses are normally connected to local utilities, such as mains water, electricity and gas supply. In the countryside, not everyone is connected to mains gas, and some houses have gas tanks in their gardens. The vast majority of people are connected to the local sewage system (for waste water), but some people have their own septic tanks in their gardens to treat waste water. Houses that are connected to utilities have separate meters to show how much they consume. Representatives of these utility companies visit houses regularly to take meter readings - with which they can then bill their customers.

Some electrical jobs (such as wiring or rewiring = installing the electrical cables) should only be done by professional electricians, although you can still change a plug, or change a socket (the hole in the wall where you put the plug in to connect to the electricity supply). For safety reasons, the wiring in the house is on more than one circuit: lighting usually is on one circuit, and the sockets are on another circuit.

Some plumbing (water piping) jobs should also be done by professional plumbers. For example, although you can change taps, you should get a professional to install a gas boiler.

Some building work can be done without supervision. Many people enjoy doing DIY, such as putting up shelves, fitting cupboards and doors, assembling furniture and so on. However, for the big jobs, such as loft conversions and building extensions, you need to first apply for and obtain planning and building permission (from the local authorities) then employ a firm of builders.

In Britain, damp winter weather causes many problems to houses. For example, some houses can suffer from damp (humidity) or dry rot, caused by water seeping into walls and timber (wood). For this reason, houses have gutters (tubes attached just under the roof that run along the length of the house to catch rain water) and some may need regular damp proof treatment (special chemicals to prevent damp from spreading). Window sills (the piece of the wall - internal or external - in which the window is set) and window frames (the wood that goes around the window) should be made waterproof (so that water cannot get in), and most people have central heating via radiators to keep the air inside warm and dry. Special thermostats set on the wall help to regulate the temperature in the room. In addition, most people have insulation in the loft to keep warm air in, and cold air out.

Giving and receiving presents in English

Giving and receiving

What can you say to give and receive presents in English? English families generally open presents together and these are some common phrases.

When you are giving a present to someone you know well, you can say…

This is for you.
I thought you might like this for Christmas…
It's only something small, but I hope you like it.
I thought this might go well with your (new dress / Prada bag..)

Receiving
Thank you so much! It's lovely / fantastic / wonderful.
It's something I've always wanted!
Wow! What a thoughtful present!

If you don't like something
Thank you so much!
How kind of you!
It's lovely, thank you!

What to write on present tags
To (name) with love from (name)
WIshing you a happy birthday, love (name)
With our love to you, (names of givers

Joining a gym

Here are some useful questions you can ask when you join a gym.

Asking about membership options

Can you tell me about…
I'd like some information about…
Do you have any special introductory packages?
What sort of membership options do you have?
How often can I use the gym with this membership?

Asking about cost

How much does a weekly / monthly membership cost?
How much would it cost to pay each time I use the gym?

Saying what your interests are

I'd like to lose weight / get fit / tone up / build stamina / increase muscle strength
What do you suggest for… (weight loss / weight training)?

Asking about classes

Do you run any classes?
How many times a week is there a kick-boxing session?
Is there a waiting list for…
Do I need a medical certificate for these classes?

Asking about the facilities

What sort of facilities do you have?
Can you show me how to use the equipment?
When's the quietest time to come in and use the gym?
How late do you stay open?
Are you open at the weekend as well?

Managing your house in English

If you need to employ someone for a particular service (such as a babysitter, gardener, electrician or plumber) here are some useful phrases.

Asking about availability

Are you (Would you be) available to babysit / do some gardening / come and check our boiler tomorrow?
Do you have any time this week to come round and check…?
I'm afraid I have an urgent problem with the wiring. Can you possibly send someone round?

Defining the work or service

We need someone to come round three times a week to keep the garden tidy.
I'm looking for someone who can look after the children for two evenings a week.
I think there's a problem with the plumbing of the washing machine.
Do you fix boilers?

Asking about pay

How much do you usually charge for an hour's babysitting / work?
How much is the call-out fee?
(Some professionals, like plumbers etc, charge a flat fee to come round to your house, before they do any work)
Do you have an hourly rate?

Saying how much you can pay

Well, I can pay you ….. per evening / per hour.
How does …. sound to you?
Would you be happy with …?
Does …. sound fair to you?

Shopping in the sales

December 26 (or Boxing Day) is traditionally the start of the winter sales in the UK, when items are heavily discounted. In fact, bargain hunters can find some items reduced up to 50% off their pre-sale price.

Shops advertise unbeatable offers, with prices slashed (= cut) or sold at give-away prices. Many shops keep the sales on for a long period of time in order to clear stock ahead of new spring arrivals. You can often see signs saying Clearance Sale and Everything must go!

The best bargains are to be found at the beginning of the sales. Some people queue up overnight before the opening of the sales in order to snap up the best bargains. "Armchair shoppers" start shopping online even before the sales officially start. This year, there have been reports of record numbers of people through the doors, and huge amounts have been rung up on the tills in the first hours of trading. It seems as if the British are spending like there's no tomorrow