English Conversation
English Conversation
4
Most common words in English
(cont’d)
end enterprise especially evening examination
enemy entertainment essay event examine
energy entire essential eventually example
enforcement entirely essentially ever exceed
engage entrance establish every excellent
engine entry establishment everybody except
engineer environment estate everyday exception
engineering environmental estimate everyone exchange
English episode etc. everything exciting
enhance equal ethics everywhere executive
enjoy equally ethnic evidence exercise
enormous equipment European evolution exhibit
enough era evaluate evolve exhibition
ensure error evaluation exact exist
enter escape even exactly existence
existing
expand
expose
exposure F fall
false
fault
favor
expansion express fabric familiar favorite
expect expression face family fear
expectation extend facility famous feature
expense extension fact fan federal
expensive extensive factor fantasy fee
experience extent factory far feed
experiment external faculty farm feel
expert extra fade farmer feeling
explain extraordinary fail fashion fellow
explanation extreme failure fast female
explode extremely fair fat fence
explore eye fairly fate few
explosion faith father fewer
fiber finance fix follow formula
fiction financial flag following forth
field find flame food fortune
fifteen finding flat foot forward
fifth fine flavor football found
fifty finger flee for foundation
fight finish flesh force founder
fighter fire flight foreign four
fighting firm float forest fourth
figure first floor forever frame
file fish flow forget framework
fill fishing flower form free
film fit fly formal freedom
final fitness focus formation freeze
finally five folk former French
frequency fund gap generation glad
frequent fundamental garage genetic glance
frequently funding garden gentleman glass
fresh funeral garlic gently global
friend funny
gas German glove
friendly furniture
gate gesture go
friendship furthermore
gather get goal
from future
gay ghost God
front
fruit
frustration
G gaze
gear
giant
gift
gold
golden
gain gender gifted golf
fuel
full galaxy gene girl good
fully gallery general girlfriend government
fun game generally give governor
function gang generate given grab
Adjectives
Adjectives are used to describe a noun.
There are two categories of adjectives:
- attributive and
- predicative.
Predicative adjectives are separated from the noun they describe by a verb.
For example, in the sentence
“I thought the girl was pretty,”
the adjective “pretty” describes the noun “girl.”
Types of adjectives with examples
There are 8 types of adjectives:
1. Proper adjectives are words that modify nouns and pronouns and proper adjective are
formed from proper nouns.
The English language is widely spoken in the world.
2. Descriptive Adjective are words that describe nouns and pronouns such as smell, taste,
texture, appearance and shape.
The brave soldier returned from battle a hero.
3. Quantitative Adjective are words that qualify a noun and pronoun by quantity. These words
answer the question “how much”?” (e.g., no, little, much, sufficient, enough)
How much bread did you eat for breakfast.
4. Numeral Adjective are words that describe the number of nouns or the order of nouns being
described.
She gave six lollipops to the students.
5. Demonstrative Adjective are words used to express the relative position of a noun in time or
space,
(e.g., this, that, these, those).
I love those photographs of the mountains.
8. Possessive Adjective are words that sit before nouns to show ownership.
Their belongings were stolen from the motel room.
Adverbs
Adverbs describe or modify verbs, adjectives, or even other adverbs.
For example, in the sentence:
“I quickly walked to the park,”
the adverb “quickly” modifies the verb “walked” to show that the speaker walked fast instead of
slowly.
In the sentence
“The child was very small,”
the adverb “very” modifies the adjective “small.”
Sentence Adverb starts the sentence and modifies the whole sentence.
Hopefully, we will win the match.
“ She spoke as if she was the head of the team.” (in the manner of the head)
“He acts like there is no other option.” (in a manner that there is no other option)
“They traveled on foot. ” (they walked)
“I have worked as a teacher & counselor.” (in the capacity of a teacher & counselor)
The sentences with the preposition “by”, “with”, “as if”, “like”, “on” and “as” show what was
used to make something happen or show the method with which something was done
(manner)/(method).
The definite article is the word “the,” which indicates one specific thing, e.g.,
“Go get the car.”
In that example, we are referring to one specific car.
The article “an” is used before words that begin with a vowel sound.
Conjunctions
Conjunctions link words or parts of sentences.
There are two types of conjunctions:
- coordinate and
- subordinate.
The coordinate conjunctions are
“and,”
“but,”
“either … or,” and
“neither … nor.”
These conjunctions link words or groups of words that have equal significance in a sentence,
e.g.,
“red and blue balls” or
“I went to the store, but I didn’t buy anything.”
In the second example, both parts of the sentence
(“I went to the store” and “I didn’t buy anything”)
could stand on their own as complete sentences.
Subordinate conjunctions link more important words or groups of words to words that are
considered less important.
The subordinate conjunctions are
“that,”
“as,”
“after,”
“before,”
“since,”
“when,”
“where,”
“unless,” and
“if.”
In the sentence:
“After I went to the store, I came home and made dinner,”
the phrase “After I went to the store” cannot stand on its own as a complete sentence.
Therefore, it depends on the second part of the sentence to make sense.
Practice 4
Conversation Questions & Answers
Following are 5 topics conversation questions & answers, that you will face very
often in your daily life.
16. A foreign country
17. Parties
18. A teacher
19. A friend
20. A hotel
16. A FOREIGN COUNTRY
Have you ever travelled abroad? If yes, what country was it?
Yes, I have. I traveled to the USA last year with my family.
Where is that country located?
The USA is located in North America.
What is it famous for?
The USA is known for its cultural achievements and landmarks (=monuments).
What are the special food and drinks of that country?
There are many. They are known for fast food, dairy (=produits laitiers), and many beverages.
What do you like about that country?
I like the fast pace of life and the various sub-cultures.
How many citizens are there in that country?
The current population of the United States of America was over 332 million in 2022, which
accounts for 4.3% of the total world population.
What language do people there speak?
The national language is English, but many people also speak Spanish, French, German, and
Chinese.
Do you want to go back there again?
Sure.
Why do people like to travel abroad?
They just want to discover new places, learn new cultures and maybe speak new languages.
Air Travel VOCABULARY & SAMPLE SENTENCES
Airport: I went to the airport to catch a flight to San Francisco.
Check in: Make sure to get to the airport two hours early to check in.
Fly: I like to fly on the same airline to get mileage points.
Land: The airplane will land in two hours.
Landing: The landing took place during a storm. It was very scary!
Plane: The plane is packed with 300 passengers.
Take off: The airplane is scheduled to take off at 3:30 p.m.
Vacation Travel
Camp: Do you like to camp in the woods?
Destination: What is your final destination?
Excursion: I'd like to take an excursion to the wine country while we're in Tuscany.
Go camping: Let's go to the beach and go camping next weekend.
Go sightseeing: Did you go sightseeing while you were in France?
Hostel: Staying in a youth hostel is a great way to save money on vacation.
Hotel: I'll book a hotel for two nights.
Journey: The journey will take four weeks and we'll visit four countries.
Luggage: Can you carry the luggage upstairs?
Motel: We stayed in a convenient motel on our way to Chicago.
Package holiday: I prefer to buy package holidays, so I don't have to worry about anything.
Passenger: The passenger felt ill during the voyage.
Route: Our route will take us through Germany and on to Poland.
Sightseeing: The sightseeing in this town is rather boring. Let's go shopping.
Suitcase: Let me unpack my suitcase and then we can go swimming.
Tour: Peter went on a tour of the vineyard.
Tourism: Tourism is becoming an important industry in almost every country.
Tourist: Every May, many tourists from around the world come to see the flower festival.
Travel: Travel is one of his favorite free time activities.
Travel agent: The travel agent found us a great deal.
Trip: The trip to New York was lovely and interesting.
Vacation: I'd love to take a nice long vacation on the beach.
Overland Travel
Bicycle: One of the best ways to see the countryside is to ride a bicycle.
Bike: We rode a bike from shop to shop.
Bus: You can catch a bus for Seattle at the bus station.
Bus station: The bus station is three blocks from here.
Car: You might want to rent a car when you go on vacation.
Lane: Make sure to get into the left lane when you want to pass.
Motorcycle: Riding a motorcycle can be fun and exciting, but it's also dangerous.
Freeway: We'll have to take the freeway to Los Angeles.
Highway: The highway between the two cities is quite lovely.
Rail: Have you ever traveled by rail?
Go by rail: Going by rail offers the opportunity to get up and walk around as you travel.
Railway: The railway station is down this street.
Road: There are three roads to Denver.
Main road: Take the main road into town and turn left at 5th Street.
Taxi: I got in a taxi and went to the train station.
Traffic: There's a lot of traffic today on the road!
Train: I like riding on trains. It's a very relaxing way to travel.
Tube: You can take the tube in London.
Underground: You can take the underground in many cities throughout Europe.
Subway: You can take the subway in New York.
Sea / Ocean Travel
Boat: Have you ever piloted a boat?
Cruise: We will stop at three destinations during our cruise through the Mediterranean.
Cruise ship: It's the most elegant cruise ship in the world!
Ferry: Ferries allow passengers to take their cars with them to their destination.
Ocean: The Atlantic Ocean takes four days to cross.
Port: There are all kinds of commercial ships in the port.
Sailboat: The sailboat requires nothing but the wind.
Sea: The sea is very calm today.
Set sail: We set sail for the exotic island.
Ship: Have you ever been a passenger on a ship?
Voyage: The voyage to the Bahamas took three days.
17. PARTIES
On what occasions do people in your country celebrate parties?
There are many occasions when people throw parties such as New Year’s eve, wedding
engagements, family reunions, birthdays, etc., but sometimes people hold parties just when
they meet up and want to have something fun to do.
Are you a party animal?
Yes, I am. I’m crazy about going to parties. I love meeting friends, drinking, and talking.
When do parties often start and finish?
It depends on what kind of party it is. I believe the perfect time to have a party is in the
evening, from 8-11 pm.
Where are the parties thrown?
They are held inside or outside. Some formal events like weddings/housewarmings are
organized inside while others like family reunions and birthdays may be held outside.
What do you usually wear when you come to a party?
I often wear casual clothes like a T-shirt and jeans if I go to informal parties, and a dress for
formal ones.
What do people do in the parties you attended?
At the party, people talk, eat and drink together. Some go there to find business
opportunities and new partners.
Do you enjoy drinking alcohol at the parties?
Yes, a little beer can cheer me up.
Do people have to bring anything to the party?
It’s not required, but sometimes visitors bring some gifts to show their love for the host.
Why do people, especially the youth, love going to parties?
It’s just a good way for them to chill out after a long day.
PARTY IDIOMS
People who love parties
The life and soul of the party = the person who’s at the center of all parties!
She’s the life and soul of the party.
let your hair down = forget all your inhibitions:
Go on! Let your hair down for once and have a good time.
have a whale of a time = have a great time: We had a whale of a time at Sonia’s birthday.
paint the town red = have a wild time: They painted the town red all weekend.
a party animal = a person who loves going to parties:
John is a real party animal. He’s never at home.
a wild child = a young adult who goes to lots of parties: Emma is a bit of a wild child.
large it up (UK slang) = have a good time: She larges it up at the weekend.
a social butterfly = a person with lots of friends and acquaintances:
She’s a bit of a social butterfly.”
be a laugh = be good company: Eric’s a bit of a laugh.
throw a party = have a party: We’re throwing a party next Saturday.
People who hate parties
party-pooper = someone who doesn’t like parties: Don’t be such a party-pooper!
a wet blanket = someone who doesn’t want to have fun: He’s such a wet blanket.
Billy no-mates (UK slang) = a man with no friends:
He doesn’t want to go alone to the restaurant and look like Billy no-mates.
Norma no-mates (UK slang) = a woman with no friends:
She doesn’t want to look like Norma no-mates.
pour cold water on = someone who turns the atmosphere cold:
So then he had to go and pour cold water on everything by refusing to sing Happy Birthday.
a wallflower = someone who stands on his own at parties: Who’s the wallflower over there?
piss on someone’s fireworks (UK slang) = ruin the happy mood:
Don’t go & piss on his fireworks by turning down the music. Let him have some fun.
find someone in the kitchen at parties = refer to someone who doesn’t like mixing socially:
You’ll always find Kevin in the kitchen at parties.
Dancing
a slow dance = a slow, romantic dance: She had a slow dance with Tony.
burn up the dance floor = dance a lot: They like burning up the dance floor.
dance the night away = dance all night long: Those two danced the night away.
dance cheek to cheek = dance very close to someone:
Everyone was looking at them dance cheek to cheek.
have a boogie = have a dance: Fancy a boogie?
put on your dancing shoes = get ready for dancing:
Come on Sarah! Put on your dancing shoes – we’re going clubbing tonight!
strut your stuff = enjoy dancing:
Look at him strut his stuff. Who does he think he is? John Travolta?
Adjectives to describe a party:
If you had a good time, the party was: If you had a bad time, the party was:
wonderful dreary (=morne)
amazing boring
awesome dull (=émoussé)
fantastic lackluster (=terne)
marvelous depressing
energizing awful
entertaining unpleasant
terrific dreadful
stupendous (=prodigieux). murky (=sombre)
horrible
18. A TEACHER
Who is your favorite teacher?
I like Mr. Tom the most, he is my English teacher.
Is he a foreign teacher?
Yes, he’s from the US.
What do you like about his lessons?
I have fallen in love with his American accent and he always shows us something new about
the world outside of textbooks.
What’s he like?
He’s not only knowledgeable but also very friendly. He always treats us like friends, not
students.
What does he usually wear when coming to class?
He usually wears a gray suit when he comes to class.
Do you love his subject?
Yes, I enjoy English a lot.
Do students in your class like him?
Yes, all of us admire him.
Do you want to be a teacher like him?
No, although I like him, my dream is not to become a teacher. I would like to be a chef.
Have you ever been punished by him?
No, he rarely punishes anyone.
Do you want to see him again?
Of course, he’s a great mentor.
My Favorite Teacher Essay
I like all my teachers, but Mrs. Rasoa is my favorite among all.
She is our class teacher. She takes our attendance daily in the morning.
She teaches us Mathematics.
I used to dislike Mathematics earlier. But Mrs. Rasoa teaches it in an interesting
way. Now, I love the subject.
She is the best teacher and is the favorite of most of my classmates too.
She is a very sweet and kind person.
She explains everything in an easy and fun way.
Whenever we are not able to understand anything, she patiently teaches it again
and again.
She is very disciplined, punctual and sometimes strict too.
She teaches us good habits and moral values. She is an ideal teacher.
My Best Teacher Essay
I respect and admire all my teachers, but my favorite is Teacher Mr. Tiana. He is a
science teacher. He’s been my favorite teacher for more than 10 years, and even
now, I still love him and speak to him a lot. I really like him because he's such a good
role model for me, for students, and even for other teachers. He's such an amazing
person with a music personality. He spends the lectures explaining everything to
students with passion, care, and patience. To be honest, he treats all students
equally without any discrimination or stereotyping. I think that all students in my
school really like him. Not only students, but other teachers also respect and
admire him a lot.
Unfortunately, He passed away about 3 years ago. We were all sad about this, but
his love, his care, his teaching, everything he did for us will remain with us forever.
And I wish him to rest in peace.
Favorite Teacher Characteristics In control
Enthusiastic Punctual
Attentive Strict
Fair (=équitable ) Severe
Sense of Humor Serious
Sets expectations Friendly
Concerned Inspiring
Prepared Dedicated
Dedicated Knowledgeable
Passionate Challenging
Patient Encouraging
Firm Ignited
Appropriate Motivating
Polite Empathetic
Supportive Awe-inspiring (=impressionnant)
Humble Good-natured
Provides help Crafty (=rusé)
Effective Student-focused.
19. A FRIEND
Who’s your best friend?
It’s Jenny. She’s my best friend.
What does she look like?
She has shoulder-length brown hair. I just love her lovely smile.
How and when did you meet?
I first met her when we were in high school.
How often do you see this friend?
I see her every day. We’re in the same class.
What’s she like?
She’s not only thoughtful but also very understanding. She’s always by my side to cheer me
up whenever I’m in trouble.
Do you and her share anything in common?
Yes, a lot. We both love shopping and playing sports.
What do you and her do together?
We usually do homework and read books together.
Have you and her ever quarreled?
Yes, but we seldom quarrel. When we do argue, afterwards we seem to understand more
about each other.
Does she know how to cook?
Yes, but she’s not a great cook.
Do your parents like her?
Yes, a lot. They always ask Jenny to come over for dinner.
Why is a friend important in life?
A good friend can make your life better in many ways. I don’t think anyone can stand
loneliness.
FRIEND VOCABULARY
besties / best buddies = best friends
We’ve been besties since we were little and we do everything together.
to make friends (with someone) = to form a friendship with someone
I’m quite a shy person so I don’t make friends easily.
a close friend = a very good friend who you know very well
We’ve been close friends ever since we went to university together.
a close-knit group = a group of people who are very good friends / act very friendly
I formed a very close-knit group with the people on my course.
a circle (of friends)= a group or network of people that you consider to be your friends
I have quiet a small circle of friends, but we are all very close.
a toxic friend(ship) = a so-called ‘friend’ who has a negative impact on your life
We shouldn’t spend time together anymore because our friendship has turned toxic.
to go (our/your/their) separate ways= to go in different directions / lead separate lives
After we graduated we all went our separate ways and got jobs in different places.
to lose touch (with s.o.) = when you don’t see or speak to someone for a long time
I lost touch with most of my school friends when I moved abroad.
to get back in touch (with s.o.)= to make contact with someone after a long time apart
When I started using Facebook, I got back in touch with a lot of my old school friends.
Have/get/feel butterflies in your stomach: to feel very nervous or excited about something that
you have to do, especially something important.
I’m going to have the first meeting with a big client tomorrow, and I’m feeling
butterflies in my stomach.
Afraid of your own shadow: very easily frightened.
After reading “Dracula,” she became afraid of her own shadow.
Petrified of: extremely frightened, especially so that you cannot move or decide what to do.
In the “Harry Potter” series, Ron Weasley is petrified of spiders.
Puzzle over: to think carefully about someone or something for a long time and try to
understand them.
I puzzled over the assignment for a few days before I decided to ask my professor for
clarification.
Ambivalent about: feeling two different things about someone or something at the same time,
for example, that you like them and dislike them.
He’s ambivalent about quitting his job to start his own business; he wants his
freedom, but there are risks.