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More common expressions

Here are some more common English expressions which will be useful in many different situations.


OK
of course
of course not
 
that's fine
that's right
 
sure
certainly
definitely
absolutely
 
as soon as possible
 
that's enough
 
it doesn't matter
it's not important
it's not serious
it's not worth it
 
I'm in a hurry
I've got to go
I'm going out
 
sleep well
same to you!
 
me too
not bad
 
I like ...
him
her
it
 
I don't like ...
him
her
it

Thanks and apologies

thanks for your ...
help
hospitality
email
 
I'm sorry
I'm really sorry
 
sorry I'm late
sorry to keep you waiting
sorry for the delay

Exclamations

look!
great!
come on!
only joking! or just kidding!
bless you! (after a sneeze)
that's funny!
that's funny, ...
that's life!
damn it!

Common questions

where are you?
 
what's this?
what's that?
what's this called?
 
is anything wrong?
what's the matter?
is everything OK?
 
have you got a minute?
 
have you got a pen I could borrow?
 
really?
are you sure?
 
why?
why not?
 
what's going on?
what's happening?
what happened?
 
what?
where?
when?
who?
how?

Instructions

come in!
please sit down
could I have your attention, please?
 
let's go!
hurry up!
get a move on!
 
calm down
steady on!
 
hang on a second
hang on a minute
one moment, please
just a minute
take your time
 
please be quiet
shut up!
stop it!
 
don't worry
don't forget
 
help yourself
go ahead
let me know!

If you would like to let someone pass through a door in front of you, it is polite to say:

after you!
sound

Sound is available for all the English phrases on this page — simply click on any phrase to hear it.

Congratulations and commiserations

congratulations!
well done!
good luck!
 
bad luck!
never mind!
what a pity! or what a shame!
 
happy birthday!
happy New Year!
happy Easter!
happy Christmas! or merry Christmas!
happy Valentine's Day!
 
glad to hear it
sorry to hear that

Languages and communication

what languages can you speak?
 
I speak ...
French, Spanish, and a little Russian
fluent German
 
I can get by in ...
Italian
 
I'm learning ...
Chinese
 
where did you learn your English?
at school
at university
I took a course
I taught myself
 
do you understand?
did you understand?
 
yes, I understood
sorry, I didn't understand
 
how do you say ... in English?
how do you spell that?
how do you pronounce this word?
 
you speak very good English
your English is very good
 
I'm a little out of practice
I'd like to practise my ...
Portuguese
 
let's speak in ...
English
Italian

If you don't hear what someone has said, the most polite way to reply is simply to say:

sorry? or excuse me?

Expressing needs and feelings

I'm tired
I'm exhausted
 
I'm hungry
I'm thirsty
 
I'm bored
I'm worried
 
I'm looking forward to it
 
I'm in a good mood
I'm in a bad mood
 
I can't be bothered

More ways to greet or say goodbye to someone

welcome!
welcome to ...
England
 
long time no see!
 
all the best!
see you tomorrow!

Asking and expressing opinions

what do you think?
 
I think that ...
I hope that ...
I'm afraid that ...
in my opinion, ...
 
I agree
I disagree or I don't agree
 
that's true
that's not true
 
I think so
I hope so
 
you're right
you're wrong
 
I don't mind
it's up to you
that depends
 
that's interesting