English

Verb ask someone out ask around add up to something back something up back someone up blow up blow something
up break down break down
Meaning invite on a date ask many people the same question equal reverse support explode add air stop functioning (vehicle, machine) get upset
Example Brian asked Judy out to dinner and a movie. I asked around but nobody has seen my wallet. Your purchases add up to $205.32. You'll have to back up your car so that I can get out. My wife backed me up over my decision to quit my job. The racing car blew up after it crashed into the fence. We have to blow 50 balloons up for the party. Our car broke down at the side of the highway in the snowstorm. The woman broke down when the police told her that her son had died. Our teacher broke the final project down into three separate parts. Somebody broke in last night and stole our stereo. The firemen had to break into the room to rescue the children. I need to break these shoes in before we run next week. The TV station broke in to report the news of the president's death.
break something down
divide into smaller parts
break in break into something break something in break in
force entry to a building enter forcibly wear something a few times so that it doesn't look/feel new interrupt
break up break up break out break out in something bring someone down bring someone up bring something up bring something up
end a relationship start laughing (informal) escape develop a skin condition make unhappy raise a child start talking about a subject vomit
My boyfriend and I broke up before I moved to America. The kids just broke up as soon as the clown started talking. The prisoners broke out of jail when the guards weren't looking. I broke out in a rash after our camping trip. This sad music is bringing me down. My grandparents brought me up after my parents died. My mother walks out of the room when my father brings up sports. He drank so much that he brought his dinner up in the toilet. We called around but we weren't able to find the car part we needed. I called the company back but the offices were closed for the weekend. Jason called the wedding off because he wasn't in love with his fianc. The professor called on me for question 1. We called on you last night but you weren't home. Give me your phone number and I will call you up when we are in town.
call around
phone many different places/people return a phone call
call someone back
call something off
cancel
call on someone call on someone call someone up
ask for an answer or opinion visit someone phone
calm down
relax after being angry
You are still mad. You need to calm down before you drive the car. I don't care for his behaviour. You'll have to run faster than that if you want to catch up with Marty. We will get the hotel keys when we check in. You have to check out of the hotel before 11:00 AM. The company checks out all new employees. Check out the crazy hair on that guy! She cheered up when she heard the good news. I brought you some flowers to cheer you up. If everyone chips in we can get the kitchen painted by noon. Please clean up your bedroom before you go outside. I came across these old photos when I was tidying the closet. The top and bottom come apart if you pull hard enough. My nephew came down with chicken pox this weekend. The woman came forward with her husband's finger prints.
not care for someone/something catch up
not like (formal) get to the same point as someone else arrive and register at a hotel or airport leave a hotel look at carefully, investigate look at (informal) become happier make happier help tidy, clean find unexpectedly separate become sick volunteer for a task or to give evidence
check in check out check someone/something out check out someone/something cheer up cheer someone up chip in clean something up come across something come apart come down with something come forward
come from somewhere count on someone/something cross something out cut back on something cut something down cut in cut in cut in cut something off cut something off
originate in rely on draw a line through consume less make something fall to the ground interrupt pull in too closely in front of another vehicle start operating (of an engine or electrical device) remove with something sharp stop providing
The art of origami comes from Asia. I am counting on you to make dinner while I am out. Please cross out your old address and write your new one. My doctor wants me to cut back on sweets and fatty foods. We had to cut the old tree in our yard down after the storm. Your father cut in while I was dancing with your uncle. The bus driver got angry when that car cut in. The air conditioner cuts in when the temperature gets to 22C. The doctors cut off his leg because it was severely injured. The phone company cut off our phone because we didn't pay the bill. My grandparents cut my father off when he remarried. I cut this ad out of the newspaper. He's lucky to be alive. His shop was done over by a street gang. My teacher wants me to do my essay over because she doesn't like my topic. It's time to do away with all of these old tax records.
cut someone off cut something out
take out of a will remove part of something (usually with scissors and paper) beat up, ransack (Br.E., informal) do again (N.Amer.)
do someone/something over do something over
do away with something
discard
do something up dress up drop back drop in/by/over drop someone/something off drop out eat out end up fall apart fall down fall out fall out figure something out
fasten, close wear nice clothing move back in a position/group come without an appointment take someone/something somewhere and leave them/it there quit a class, school etc eat at a restaurant eventually reach/do/decide break into pieces fall to the ground separate from an interior (of hair, teeth) become loose and unattached understand, find the answer
Do your coat up before you go outside. It's snowing! It's a fancy restaurant so we have to dress up. Andrea dropped back to third place when she fell off her bike. I might drop in/by/over for tea some time this week. I have to drop my sister off at work before I come over. I dropped out of Science because it was too difficult. I don't feel like cooking tonight. Let's eat out. We ended up renting a movie instead of going to the theatre. My new dress fell apart in the washing machine. The picture that you hung up last night fell down this morning. The money must have fallen out of my pocket. His hair started to fall out when he was only 35. I need to figure out how to fit the piano and the bookshelf in this room. Please fill in the form with your name, address, and phone number. The form must be filled out in capital letters.
fill something in
to write information in blanks (Br.E.) to write information in blanks (N.Amer.)
fill something out
fill something up find out find something out
fill to the top discover discover
I always fill the water jug up when it is empty. We don't know where he lives. How can we find out? We tried to keep the time of the party a secret, but Samantha found it out. I tried to get my point across/over to the judge but she wouldn't listen. I was surprised how well my new girlfriend and my sister got along/on. My grandfather can get around fine in his new wheelchair. We worked so hard this year that we had to get away for a week. Jason always gets away with cheating in his maths tests. We got back from our vacation last week. Liz finally got her Science notes back from my room-mate. My sister got back at me for stealing her shoes. She stole my favourite hat. I finally got back into my novel and finished it. We're going to freeze out here if you don't let us get on the bus. I just got over the flu and now my sister has it. The company will have to close if
get something across/over get along/on
communicate, make understandable like each other
get around get away get away with something get back get something back get back at someone
have mobility go on a vacation do without being noticed or punished return receive something you had before retaliate, take revenge
get back into something get on something get over something get over something
become interested in something again step onto a vehicle recover from an illness, loss, difficulty overcome a problem
it can't get over the new regulations. get round to something finally find time to do (N.Amer.: get around to something) meet (usually for social reasons) get out of bed stand reveal hidden information about someone take the bride to the altar ruin a secret give something to someone for free return a borrowed item reluctantly stop fighting or arguing give to many people (usually at no cost) quit a habit stop trying follow someone I don't know when I am going to get round to writing the thank you cards. Let's get together for a BBQ this weekend. I got up early today to study for my exam. You should get up and give the elderly man your seat. His wife gave him away to the police. My father gave me away at my wedding. My little sister gave the surprise party away by accident. The library was giving away old books on Friday. I have to give these skates back to Franz before his hockey game. My boyfriend didn't want to go to the ballet, but he finally gave in. They were giving out free perfume samples at the department store. I am giving up smoking as of January 1st. My maths homework was too difficult so I gave up. My brother tried to go after the thief in his car.
get together get up get up give someone away give someone away give something away give something away give something back give in give something out
give something up give up go after someone
go after something go against someone go ahead go back go out go out with someone go over something go over
try to achieve something compete, oppose start, proceed return to a place leave home to go on a social event date review visit someone nearby
I went after my dream and now I am a published writer. We are going against the best soccer team in the city tonight. Please go ahead and eat before the food gets cold. I have to go back home and get my lunch. We're going out for dinner tonight. Jesse has been going out with Luke since they met last winter. Please go over your answers before you submit your test. I haven't seen Tina for a long time. I think I'll go over for an hour or two. When I was young, we went without winter boots. My best friend and I grew apart after she changed schools. My roses grew back this summer. When Jack grows up he wants to be a fireman. Elizabeth needs a new pair of shoes because she has grown out of her old ones. This bike is too big for him now, but he should grow into it by next year. I handed my old comic books down to my little cousin.
go without something grow apart grow back grow up grow out of something
suffer lack or deprivation stop being friends over time regrow become an adult get too big for
grow into something
grow big enough to fit
hand something down
give something used to someone else
hand something in hand something out hand something over hang in hang on hang out
submit to distribute to a group of people give (usually unwillingly) stay positive (N.Amer., informal) wait a short time (informal) spend time relaxing (informal)
I have to hand in my essay by Friday. We will hand out the invitations at the door. The police asked the man to hand over his wallet and his weapons. Hang in there. I'm sure you'll find a job very soon. Hang on while I grab my coat and shoes! Instead of going to the party we are just going to hang out at my place. He didn't say goodbye before he hung up. I had to hold my dog back because there was a cat in the park. Jamie held back his tears at his grandfather's funeral. Please hold on while I transfer you to the Sales Department. Hold onto your hat because it's very windy outside. A man in a black mask held the bank up this morning. Keep on stirring until the liquid comes to a boil. We kept our relationship from our parents for two years. Try to keep the wet dog out of the living room.
hang up hold someone/something back hold something back hold on hold onto someone/something hold someone/somethingup keep on doing something keep something from someone keep someone/something out
end a phone call prevent from doing/going
hide an emotion wait a short time hold firmly using your hands or arms rob continue doing not tell stop from entering
keep something up let someone down let someone in look after someone/something look down on someone
continue at the same rate fail to support or help, disappoint allow to enter take care of think less of, consider inferior
If you keep those results up you will get into a great college. I need you to be on time. Don't let me down this time. Can you let the cat in before you go to school? I have to look after my sick grandmother. Ever since we stole that chocolate bar your dad has looked down on me. I'm looking for a red dress for the wedding. I'm looking forward to the Christmas break. We are going to look into the price of snowboards today. Look out! That car's going to hit you! Don't forget to look out for snakes on the hiking trail. Can you look over my essay for spelling mistakes? We can look her phone number up on the Internet. My little sister has always looked up to me. Josie made up a story about about why we were late. We were angry last night, but we made up at breakfast. My sisters made me up for my
look for someone/something look forward to something look into something look out look out for someone/something look something over look something up look up to someone make something up make up make someone up
try to find be excited about the future investigate be careful, vigilant, and take notice be especially vigilant for check, examine search and find information in a reference book or database have a lot of respect for invent, lie about something forgive each other apply cosmetics to
graduation party. mix something up pass away pass out pass something out pass something up pay someone back pay for something pick something out point someone/something out put something down put someone down confuse two or more things die faint give the same thing to many people decline (usually something good) return owed money be punished for doing something bad choose indicate with your finger put what you are holding on a surface or floor insult, make someone feel stupid postpone extinguish assemble tolerate I mixed up the twins' names again! His uncle passed away last night after a long illness. It was so hot in the church that an elderly lady passed out. The professor passed the textbooks out before class. I passed up the job because I am afraid of change. Thanks for buying my ticket. I'll pay you back on Friday. That bully will pay for being mean to my little brother. I picked out three sweaters for you to try on. I'll point my boyfriend out when he runs by. You can put the groceries down on the kitchen counter. The students put the substitute teacher down because his pants were too short. We are putting off our trip until January because of the hurricane. The neighbours put the fire out before the firemen arrived. I have to put the crib together before the baby arrives. I don't think I can put up with three small children in the car.
put something off put something out put something together put up with someone/something
put something on run into someone/something run over someone/something run over/through something run away
put clothing/accessories on your body meet unexpectedly drive a vehicle over a person or thing rehearse, review
Don't forget to put on your new earrings for the party. I ran into an old school-friend at the mall. I accidentally ran over your bicycle in the driveway. Let's run over/through these lines one more time before the show. The child ran away from home and has been missing for three days. We ran out of shampoo so I had to wash my hair with soap. My letter got sent back to me because I used the wrong stamp. Our boss set a meeting up with the president of the company. The police set up the car thief by using a hidden camera. I want to shop around a little before I decide on these boots. He always shows off on his skateboard You should sleep over tonight if the weather is too bad to drive home. We need to sort the bills out before the first of the month. You will lose weight if you stick to the diet. The light's too bright. Could you switch it off.
leave unexpectedly, escape
run out send something back set something up set someone up shop around show off sleep over
have none left return (usually by mail) arrange, organize trick, trap compare prices act extra special for people watching (usually boastfully) stay somewhere for the night (informal) organize, resolve a problem continue doing something, limit yourself to one particular thing stop the energy flow, turn off
sort something out stick to something switch something off
switch something on take after someone take something apart take something back take off take something off take something out take someone out tear something up
start the energy flow, turn on resemble a family member purposely break into pieces return an item start to fly remove something (usually clothing) remove from a place or thing pay for someone to go somewhere with you rip into pieces
We heard the news as soon as we switched on the car radio. I take after my mother. We are both impatient. He took the car brakes apart and found the problem. I have to take our new TV back because it doesn't work. My plane takes off in five minutes. Take off your socks and shoes and come in the lake! Can you take the garbage out to the street for me? My grandparents took us out for dinner and a movie. I tore up my ex-boyfriend's letters and gave them back to him. When I think back on my youth, I wish I had studied harder. I'll have to think this job offer over before I make my final decision. We threw our old furniture away when we won the lottery. Please turn the TV down while the guests are here. I turned the job down because I don't want to move. Your mother wants you to turn the TV off and come for dinner.
think back think something over
remember (often + to, sometimes + on) consider
throw something away turn something down turn something down turn something off
dispose of decrease the volume or strength (heat, light etc) refuse stop the energy flow, switch off
turn something on turn something up turn up
start the energy, switch on increase the volume or strength (heat, light etc) appear suddenly
It's too dark in here. Let's turn some lights on. Can you turn the music up? This is my favourite song. Our cat turned up after we put posters up all over the neighbourhood. I'm going to try these jeans on, but I don't think they will fit. I am going to try this new brand of detergent out. The kids used all of the toothpaste up so we need to buy some more. We have to wake up early for work on Monday. You can warm your feet up in front of the fireplace. I always warm up by doing situps before I go for a run. Most of my make-up wore off before I got to the party. I work out at the gym three times a week. Our plan worked out fine. We have to work out the total cost before we buy the house.
try something on try something out use something up
sample clothing test finish the supply
wake up warm someone/something up warm up wear off work out work out work something out
stop sleeping increase the temperature prepare body for exercise fade away exercise be successful make a calculation
Br.E.: British English; N.Amer.: North American
Understanding Syllables
To understand word stress, it helps to understand syllables. Every word is made from syllables. Each word has one, two, three or more syllables. word dog green quite quiet orange table expensive interesting realistic unexceptional dog green quite qui-et or-ange ta-ble ex-pen-sive in-ter-est-ing re-al-is-tic un-ex-cep-tion-al number of syllables 1 1 1 2 2 2 3 4 4 5
Notice that (with a few rare exceptions) every syllable contains at least one vowel (a, e, i, o or u) or vowel sound. What is Word Stress? >
What is Word Stress?

In English, we do not say each syllable with the same force or strength. In one word, we accentuate ONE syllable. We say one syllable very loudly (big, strong, important) and all the other syllables very quietly. Let's take 3 words: photograph, photographer and photographic. Do they sound the same when spoken? No. Because we accentuate (stress) ONE syllable in each word. And it is not always the same syllable. So the shape of each word is different. total syllables stressed syllable
click word to hear
shape
PHO TO GRAPH PHO TO GRAPH ER PHO TO GRAPH IC
3 4 4
#1 #2 #3
This happens in ALL words with 2 or more syllables: TEACHer, JaPAN, CHINa, aBOVE, converSAtion, INteresting, imPORtant, deMAND, etCETera, etCETera, etCETera The syllables that are not stressed are weak or small or quiet. Native speakers of English listen for the STRESSED syllables, not the weak syllables. If you use word stress in your speech, you will instantly and automatically improve your pronunciation and your comprehension. Try to hear the stress in individual words each time you listen to English - on the radio, or in films for example. Your first step is to HEAR and recognise it. After that, you can USE it! There are two very important rules about word stress: 1. One word, one stress. (One word cannot have two stresses. So if you hear two stresses, you have heard two words, not one word.) 2. The stress is always on a vowel. Why is Word Stress Important? >
Why is Word Stress Important?

Word stress is not used in all languages. Some languages, Japanese or French for example, pronounce each syllable with eq-ual em-pha-sis. Other languages, English for example, use word stress. Word stress is not an optional extra that you can add to the English language if you want. It is part of the language! English speakers use word stress to communicate rapidly and accurately, even in difficult conditions. If, for example, you do not hear a word clearly, you can still understand the word because of the position of the stress. Think again about the two words photograph and photographer. Now imagine that you are speaking to somebody by telephone over a very bad line. You cannot hear clearly. In fact, you hear only the first two syllables of one of these words, photo... Which word is it, photograph or photographer? Of course, with word stress you will know immediately which word it is because in reality you will hear either PHOto... or phoTO... So without hearing the whole word, you
probably know what the word is ( PHOto...graph or phoTO...grapher). It's magic! (Of course, you also have the 'context' of your conversation to help you.) This is a simple example of how word stress helps us understand English. There are many, many other examples, because we use word stress all the time, without thinking about it. Where do I Put the Word Stress? >
Where do I Put Word Stress?

There are some rules about which syllable to stress. But...the rules are rather complicated! Probably the best way to learn is from experience. Listen carefully to spoken English and try to develop a feeling for the "music" of the language. When you learn a new word, you should also learn its stress pattern. If you keep a vocabulary book, make a note to show which syllable is stressed. If you do not know, you can look in a dictionary. All dictionaries give the phonetic spelling of a word. This is where they show which syllable is stressed, usually with an apostrophe (') just before or just after the stressed syllable. (The notes at the front of the dictionary will explain the system used.) Look at (and listen to) this example for the word plastic. There are 2 syllables. Syllable #1 is stressed. phonetic spelling: phonetic spelling: dictionary A dictionary B
example
PLAS TIC /pls'tIk/ Rules for Word Stress > /'pls tIk/
Rules of Word Stress in English

There are two very simple rules about word stress: 1. One word has only one stress. (One word cannot have two stresses. If you hear two stresses, you hear two words. Two stresses cannot be one word. It is true that there can be a "secondary" stress in some words. But a secondary stress is much smaller than the main [primary] stress, and is only used in long words.) 2. We can only stress vowels, not consonants.
Here are some more, rather complicated, rules that can help you understand where to put the stress. But do not rely on them too much, because there are many exceptions. It is better to try to "feel" the music of the language and to add the stress naturally. 1 Stress on first syllable rule Most 2-syllable nouns Most 2-syllable adjectives 2 Stress on last syllable rule Most 2-syllable verbs example to preSENT, to exPORT, to deCIDE, to beGIN example PRESent, EXport, CHIna, TAble PRESent, SLENder, CLEVer, HAPpy
There are many two-syllable words in English whose meaning and class change with a change in stress. The word present, for example is a two-syllable word. If we stress the first syllable, it is a noun (gift) or an adjective (opposite of absent). But if we stress the second syllable, it becomes a verb (to offer). More examples: the words export, import, contract and object can all be nouns or verbs depending on whether the stress is on the first or second syllable.
3 Stress on penultimate syllable (penultimate = second from end) rule Words ending in -ic Words ending in -sion and -tion example GRAPHic, geoGRAPHic, geoLOGic teleVIsion, reveLAtion
For a few words, native English speakers don't always "agree" on where to put the stress. For example, some people say teleVIsion and others say TELevision. Another example is: CONtroversy and conTROversy.
4 Stress on ante-penultimate syllable (ante-penultimate = third from end)
rule Words ending in -cy, -ty, -phy and -gy Words ending in -al
example deMOcracy, dependaBIlity, phoTOgraphy, geOLogy CRItical, geoLOGical
5 Compound words (words with two parts) rule For compound nouns, the stress is on the first part example BLACKbird, GREENhouse
For compound adjectives, the stress is on the second part bad-TEMpered, old-FASHioned For compound verbs, the stress is on the second part Now check your understanding > to underSTAND, to overFLOW
Word Stress Quiz

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Can you pass me a plastic I want to take a photography China knife? class.
Click for answ er Click for answ er
is the place where I was born. before you go out.
Click for answ er
Please turn off the television I can't decide Do you understand Sparky is a very happy It is critical
Click for answ er
which book to borrow. this lesson? puppy. that you finish your essay. coat.
Click for answ er
Click for answ er
Click for answ er
Click for answ er
My Grandfather wears an old-fashioned There is a lot of traffic
Click for answ er
on the highway today.
Click for answ er
Reset
Sentence Stress in English

Sentence stress is the music of spoken English. Like word stress, sentence stress can help you to understand spoken English, especially when spoken fast. Sentence stress is what gives English its rhythm or "beat". You remember that word stress is accent on one syllable within a word. Sentence stress is accent on certain words within a sentence. Most sentences have two types of word:

content words structure words
Content words are the key words of a sentence. They are the important words that carry the meaning or sense. Structure words are not very important words. They are small, simple words that make the sentence correct grammatically. They give the sentence its correct form or "structure". If you remove the structure words from a sentence, you will probably still understand the sentence. If you remove the content words from a sentence, you will not understand the sentence. The sentence has no sense or meaning. Imagine that you receive this telegram message:
Will you SELL me CAR because I'm GONE to FRANCE Click here to hear
This sentence is not complete. It is not a "grammatically correct" sentence. But you probably understand it. These 4 words communicate very well. Somebody wants you to sell their car for them because they have gone to France. We can add a few words:
Will you SELL my CAR because I've GONE to FRANCE
Click here to hear
The new words do not really add any more information. But they make the message more correct grammatically. We can add even more words to make one complete, grammatically correct sentence. But the information is basically the same:
Content Words Will you SELL my CAR because I've GONE to FRANCE. Structure Words Click here to hear
In our sentence, the 4 key words (sell, car, gone, France) are accentuated or stressed. Why is this important for pronunciation? It is important because it adds "music" to the language. It is the rhythm of the English language. It changes the speed at which we speak (and listen to) the language. The time between each stressed word is the same. In our sentence, there is 1 syllable between SELL and CAR and 3 syllables between CAR and GONE. But the time (t) between SELL and CAR and between CAR and GONE is the same. We maintain a constant beat on the stressed words. To do this, we say "my" more slowly, and "because I've" more quickly. We change the speed of the small structure words so that the rhythm of the key content words stays the same.
syllables 2 1 CAR 3 1
Will you SELL my
because I've GONE to FRANCE.
t1
beat
t1
beat
t1
beat
t1
beat
Sentence Stress Rules >
See also: Word Stress I am a proFESsional phoTOgrapher whose MAIN INterest is to TAKE SPEcial, BLACK and WHITE PHOtographs that exHIBit ABstract MEANings in their photoGRAPHic STRUCture.
Rules for Sentence Stress in English

The basic rules of sentence stress are:
1. content words are stressed 2. structure words are unstressed 3. the time between stressed words is always the same
The following tables can help you decide which words are content words and which words are structure words:
Content words - stressed Words carrying the meaning main verbs nouns adjectives adverbs negative auxiliaries Example SELL, GIVE, EMPLOY CAR, MUSIC, MARY RED, BIG, INTERESTING QUICKLY, LOUDLY, NEVER DON'T, AREN'T, CAN'T
Structure words - unstressed Words for correct grammar pronouns prepositions Example he, we, they on, at, into
articles conjunctions auxiliary verbs
a, an, the and, but, because do, be, have, can, must
Exceptions
The above rules are for for what is called "neutral" or normal stress. But sometimes we can stress a word that would normally be only a structure word, for example to correct information. Look at the following dialogue: "They've been to Mongolia, haven't they?" "No, THEY haven't, but WE have. Note also that when "be" is used as a main verb, it is usually unstressed (even though in this case it is a content word).
Linking in English
When we say a sentence in English, we join or "link" words to each other. Because of this linking, the words in a sentence do not always sound the same as when we say them individually. Linking is very important in English. If you recognize and use linking, two things will happen: 1. you will understand other people more easily 2. other people will understand you more easily There are basically two types of linking:

consonant > vowel We link words ending with a consonant sound to words beginning with a vowel sound vowel > vowel We link words ending with a vowel sound to words beginning with a vowel sound
In this lesson we look at:

Understanding Vowels and Consonants Linking Consonant to Vowel Linking Vowel to Vowel
Understanding Vowels & Consonants for Linking

To understand linking, it is important to know the difference between vowel sounds and consonant sounds. Here is a table of English vowels and consonants: vowels consonants a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z
The table shows the letters that are vowels and consonants. But the important thing in linking is the sound, not the letter. Often the letter and the sound are the same, but not always. For example, the word "pay" ends with:

the consonant letter "y" the vowel sound "a"
Here are some more examples: though know ends with the letter ends with the sound h o w o
uniform begins with the letter begins with the sound u y
honest h o
Linking Consonant to Vowel >
Linking Consonant to Vowel

When a word ends in a consonant sound, we often move the consonant sound to the beginning of the next word if it starts with a vowel sound. For example, in the phrase "turn off":
We write it like this: turn We say it like this: tur
off noff
Remember that it's the sound that matters. In the next example, "have" ends with:

the letter "e" (vowel) the sound "v" (consonant)
So we link "have" to the next word "a" which begins with a vowel sound: We write it like this: Can I have a bit of egg? We say it like this: Ca-nI-ha-va-bi-to-fegg?
Linking Vowel to Vowel >
Linking Vowel to Vowel

When one word ends with a vowel sound and the next word begins with a vowel sound, we link the words with a sort of W or Y sound. If our lips are round at the end of the first word, we insert a W sound: oo We write it like this: | o We say it like this: too often who is so I do all
tooWoften whoWis
soWI doWall
If our lips are wide at the end of the first word, we insert a Y sound: oo We write it like this: | -- We say it like this: Kay is KayYis I am IYam the end theYend she asked sheYasked
How to Pronounce -ed in English

The past simple tense and past participle of all regular verbs end in -ed. For example: base verb (v1) past simple (v2) past participle (v3)
work
worked
worked
In addition, many adjectives are made from the past participle and so end in -ed. For example:
I like painted furniture.
The question is: How do we pronounce the -ed? The answer is: In 3 ways - / Id/ or / t/ or / d/ example with ed: wanted / Id/ voiced /d/ /p/ /f/ /s/ unvoiced /S/ /tS/ /k/ wash watch like play voiced all other sounds, for example... allow beg washed watched liked played allowed begged / d/ no end hope laugh fax ended hoped laughed faxed / t/ yes
If the base verb ends in one of these sounds: unvoiced /t/
example base verb*: want
pronounce the -ed:
extra syllable?
* note that it is the sound that is important, not the letter or spelling. For example, "fax" ends in the letter "x" but the sound /s/; "like" ends in the letter "e" but the sound /k/. Exceptions The following -ed words used as adjectives are pronounced with /Id/:

aged blessed
dogged learned
ragged wicked
crooked
naked
wretched
Proverbs
A "proverb" is a short, traditional saying in general use. It usually expresses some obvious truth or familiar experience. Here are some proverbs that are well known in English, though some of them come from other languages. Click here for their meanings.
"The best things in life are free." "A stitch in time saves nine." "Still waters run deep." "He teaches ill, who teaches all." "You can't take it with you when you die." "Better untaught than ill taught." "Don't cross your bridges before you come to them." "Soon learnt, soon forgotten." "Even a worm will turn." "It was the last straw that broke the camel's back." "The way to a man's heart is through his stomach." "If the stone fall upon the egg, alas for the egg! If the egg fall upon the stone, alas for the egg!" "Where there's a will there's a way." "Marry in haste, and repent at leisure." "One tongue is enough for a woman." "If you wish good advice, consult an old man." "The best advice is found on the pillow."
"All clouds bring not rain." "You can't tell a book by its cover." "Bad news travels fast." "No news is good news." "Live and let live." "Birds of a feather flock together." "Tell me who you go with and I'll tell you who you are."
See also: Sayings and proverbs
26 Sayings beginning with A

Click on any saying for more information and notes.
Sayings A bad penny always turns up Nasty or bad people have a habit of showing up or returning. A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush It's better to have one of something for certain than to run after two of the same thing and not be sure of getting them. A chain is only as strong as its weakest link If one link in a chain is weak, and all the other links are strong, the whole chain is weak. A fool and his money are soon parted Stupid people spend their money carelessly and soon become poor. A good husband makes a good wife If a woman is happy with her husband, she will be a good mate for him. A good man is hard to find This saying talks about the difficulties for women in finding a suitable male partner. A good name is better than riches Your good reputation is worth more than money.
A good payer is master of another's purse Someone who is known to always pay exactly as promised can borrow money from other people at any time. A good paymaster never wants workmen An employer who pays well is never short of staff. A just war is better than an unjust peace Fighting between countries for a fair and good cause is better than no fighting in a situation that is unfair. A little learning is a dangerous thing It may be safer not to learn something at all than to half-learn it. A man is as old as he feels, and a woman as old as she looks This somewhat sexist saying suggests that men age better than women. A nod is as good as a wink to a blind horse A very small hint is enough to convey our meaning. It is not always necessary to say what we want explicitly. A short prayer penetrates heaven The implication is that brevity is effective in winning the ear of Heaven, and, by extension, any one from whom we seek help. A still tongue makes a wise head Someone who does not talk much, but listens to other people, probably has experience, knowledge and good judgement. A stitch in time saves nine Repair something as soon as it is damaged. That's a small repair job. If not, you will have a much bigger and more expensive repair job later. Do it now and you'll need one stitch. Do it later and you'll need 9 stitches! A watched pot never boils If you want to heat water until it boils, and you watch it while you wait, then it seems to take a very long time. In the same way, anything that we wait for with eager attention seems to take a very long time: like waiting for someone to arrive, waiting for the phone to ring, waiting for a letter to come. A word to the wise is enough A very brief warning or explanation is enough for an intelligent person. All cats are grey in the dark The implication is that beauty, or physical appearance, is unimportant.
All clouds bring not rain We can rephrase this: "Not every cloud brings rain." And that's true. Sometimes there are many clouds in the sky, but it doesn't rain. Don't judge things by appearances. All that glitters is not gold The attractive exterior of something is not a good indicator of its real nature. It may look valuable, but not be valuable. All things are difficult before they are easy The implication is that we should be patient with learning, and with learners. It take time to learn to do things. What seems easy to us now may have been difficult at first. All truths are not to be told Some truths are better left unspoken. It is not always necessary to repeat something even though it be true. Any port in a storm In times of danger, any shelter is better than none. In an emergency, we have to accept whatever solution presents itself (for the time being). Appearances are deceptive The way something or someone looks from outside may give us the wrong impression. As soon as man is born he begins to die The process of dying starts at birth. This saying reminds us of our own mortality, whatever our age.
13 Sayings beginning with B

Sayings Bad news travels fast "Bad news" means news about "bad" things like accidents, death, illness etc. People tend to tell this type of news quickly. But "good news" (passing an exam, winning some money, getting a job etc) travels more slowly.
Barking dogs seldom bite Don't be afraid of dogs that bark or people that threaten you (say they will do something bad to you) - in both cases they rarely take action. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder Different people see beauty in different ways. What one person finds beautiful may not appeal to another person. Beauty is only skin deep Physical beauty is superficial. A pleasing exterior is no guide to a person's interior or character. Behind every successful man is a woman Many men owe their achievements in life to women. Better safe than sorry We should be careful in a dangerous situation. It is better to stay safe than to have an accident (and be sorry about it). The full "grammatical" sentence would be: "It is better to be safe than to be sorry." Better the foot slip than the tongue It is better to take a bad step in walking than to say the wrong thing in talking. We can do a lot of damage when we say something by mistake. The elliptical nature of this saying may make it difficult to understand. The full version might be something like: "It is better that your foot should slip than that your tongue should slip." Better untaught than ill taught This proverb drops the verb "to be" (It is better to be untaught than ill taught). We understand: "It is better not to be taught at all than to be taught badly." It's better not to learn something than to learn it badly. Beware of a silent man and still water A large expanse of water that is still and does not move is often deep and dangerous. We should be careful of it. In the same way, we should be careful with a person who does not talk much. Beware the fury of a patient man The implication is that the anger of people who are normally slow to anger is, when it eventually comes, terrible. Birds of a feather flock together "Birds of a feather" means "birds of the same type". The whole proverb means that people of the same type or sort stay together. They don't mix with people of another type. Boys will be boys This somewhat humorous saying is often used to excuse male behaviour (of both boys and adult men). Brevity is the soul of wit The real art of speaking (especially when speaking humorously) is to use as few words as possible.
6 Sayings beginning with C

Sayings Charity begins at home Our first responsibility is to our own family and friends. Cleanliness is next to godliness This (humorous) saying suggests that being clean is nearly as good as being godly or very holy. Cold hands, warm heart A cool, reserved exterior may hide a kind heart. Comparisons are odious Comparison (especially of people) is not productive and can have unpleasant consequences. People should be judged on their own merits. Count your blessings Instead of worrying about the problems that we may have, we should think about the good things that we have. We should be grateful for what we have. Crime doesn't pay If you engage in illegal activities, you will not make money in the long run.
11 Sayings beginning with D

Sayings Dead men tell no tales People who are no longer living cannot give evidence. Death is a remedy for all ills When we die, all our problems are solved. Death keeps no calendar In this saying, "Death" is personified as a spiritual being who may call upon us at any time - he has no appointment book. We never know when we will die. Death pays all debts Dying cancels everything, including anything that we owe to other people.
Discretion is the better part of valour It may sometimes be better to avoid a dangerous situation than to confront it. Don't bite the hand that feeds you It is not be a good idea to hurt the person (or company) that pays you or takes care of you. Don't cross your bridges before you come to them Don't worry about problems before they arrive. Don't put all your eggs in one basket If all your eggs are in one basket and you drop the basket, you lose everything. Don't put all your money in one bank. Don't put all your faith in one person. Don't rock the boat This saying advises people not to upset the status quo (or try to change a comfortable, existing situation). Dumb dogs are dangerous People who say little or nothing are more dangerous than people who speak a lot. Dying men speak true When people are about to die, they usually tell the truth.
8 Sayings beginning with E

Sayings Early to bed and early to rise makes a man healthy, wealthy, and wise It is good for us to sleep early in the evening and wake early in the morning. Easy come, easy go If we get something (like money) easily and without effort, we can lose it easily too. Empty vessels make the most noise Stupid people speak loudest. Even a worm will turn Everybody will revolt if driven too far. Even the lowest of people, or animals, will revolt and hit back at some stage. Even a worm, the simplest of animals, will defend itself. Even the prayers of an ant reach to Heaven God hears all living beings.
Every dog has his day 1) Even the lowest of us at some time has a chance to get revenge on an oppressor, no matter how powerful that oppressor may be. 2) We will all have good luck or success at some point in our lives. Every man has his price According to this saying, all people can be bribed if you pay enough. Everything comes to him who waits Patient people eventually receive all things.
8 Sayings beginning with F

Sayings Facts are stubborn things We cannot avoid the truth, even when it is not what we want to hear or express. Faint heart never won fair lady We should have the courage to pursue what we want if we wish to succeed in life. Fair exchange is no robbery Swapping one thing fairly in return for another is not the same as stealing. Familiarity breeds contempt When we know someone or something very well, we lose respect for them or it. First things first 1) Be patient: do things in the logical order. 2) Do the most important things before the less important things. Forewarned is forearmed If we know about a possible danger in advance, we have an important advantage. Fortune favours the bold Successful people are often those who are prepared to take risks. Fortune knocks once at every man's door We all get at least one good opportunity in life; everybody has the opportunity to be successful in life.
11 Sayings beginning with G

Sayings Garbage in, garbage out | GIGO Incorrect or bad input results in incorrect or bad output. Give a thief enough rope and he'll hang himself A bad person will sooner or later be the cause of his own downfall. Give credit where credit is due The implication is that even if we are reluctant to praise someone, we should do so if the praise is deserved. Give the devil his due We should admit the good qualities of even a bad or undeserving person. Give, and ye shall receive This idea from the Bible suggests that when we freely give something (money, love etc) to other people, we will receive the same or more back. God helps them that help themselves This semi-humorous saying suggests that we should not rely entirely on God to help us. God will help us if we make an effort. God moves in a mysterious way The implication is that God's plan is beyond human understanding. God has a reason for everything, however strange it may seem to us. Good wine needs no bush Something of good quality does not need to be advertised. Graves are of all sizes People die at all ages; no one is too young to die. Great minds think alike This saying suggests that very intelligent people think like each other. It is often said as a joke when two people think of the same thing. Great oaks from little acorns grow The normal order of words would be "Great oaks grow from little acorns." We understand: sometimes small and modest things can become very large and impressive things with time.
14 Sayings beginning with H

Sayings Handsome is as handsome does Good character and behaviour are more important than good looks. He teaches ill, who teaches all The unusual structure of this proverb may make it difficult to understand. It becomes easier if we change the structure to "He who teaches all teaches ill." The word "ill" here means "badly". So it means that the teacher who teaches students everything, does not teach well. A good teacher lets students discover some things for themselves. He that complies against his will, is of his own opinion still If you force someone to do something or agree with something, it doesn't mean that they really agree. He that lives by the sword shall die by the sword The way that you treat others is the way that others will treat you. People who commit violence must expect to receive violence. He that will learn to pray, let him go to sea The sea is supremely powerful, and can be a terrifying and awe-inspiring place. He that wills the end wills the means If you are determined to do something you will find the way to do it. He who hesitates is lost The person who waits too long loses the opportunity; or, more seriously, delay or indecision may have disastrous results. He who laughs last laughs longest This saying advises against anticipating success, or thinking that you have won before you are sure. He who pays the piper calls the tune The person who pays a musician can decide what music he wants to hear. And the person who pays for any service has the right to say exactly what he wants. He who sups with the devil should have a long spoon If you eat with the devil, you need a (very) long spoon so that you can keep your distance. If you mix with bad people, you should be careful not to be influenced by them. A warning not to get too close when dealing with evil people. Health is better than wealth Being free from illness is better than being rich. Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned A woman rejected in love can be very angry and dangerous.
Honesty is the best policy Both in the short term and in the long term, honesty will repay you better than dishonesty. It is best to be truthful at all times. Hope springs eternal in the human breast The normal interpretation of this saying is that people will always be optimistic and think that something better is coming.
11 Sayings beginning with I

Sayings If a job's worth doing it's worth doing well Don't start some work and then do it badly. If it ain't broke, don't fix it If something is not faulty or damaged, don't try to repair it. If the stone fall upon the egg, alas for the egg! If the egg fall upon the stone, alas for the egg! Life just isn't fair, and this realistic Arab proverb recognizes that. The stone will always break the egg. Life's like that! If you can't beat 'em, join 'em If you cannot win against someone or something, it may be easier or better to join forces with them. If you pay peanuts, you get monkeys An employer who pays low wages will have bad staff. If you play with fire you get burned If you fool around with something that is potentially dangerous, you must expect to get harmed. If you wish good advice, consult an old man Old people have a lot of experience. If you want to have good advice or recommendations, ask an old person, not a young one. Ignorance of the law is no excuse It is no defence to say that we didn't know that something we did was illegal. It is best to be on the safe side 1) Don't take risks. Be careful and cautious. 2) It's best to be sure. It's best to be absolutely certain. It was the last straw that broke the camel's back There is a limit to everything. We can load the camel with lots of straw, but finally it will be too much and the camel's back will break. And it is only a single straw that breaks its back - the last straw. This can
be applied to many things in life. People often say "That's the last straw!" when they will not accept any more of something. It's a man's world Everything in life is arranged to the advantage of men. Life is tough for women.
1 Saying beginning with J

Sayings Jack of all trades, master of none Suggesting that a person who can do many different types of work is probably not very good at any of them.
2 Sayings beginning with K

Sayings Keep your friends close and your enemies closer You'll be safer if you know more about your enemies than you know about your friends. Look after your enemies better than you look after your friends. Knowledge is power Facts, information and skills give us strength and influence.
8 Sayings beginning with L

Sayings Least said soonest mended When we do or say something bad to someone, a long apology and discussion does not help. In such a case, the less we say the better. Let sleeping dogs lie Don't restart an old argument or conflict.
Let the dead bury the dead This is generally taken to imply that we should spend our time and energy on living people, not on dead people. (But see Origin below.) Life is what you make it It is up to you to make of your life what you want. Lightning never strikes twice in the same place The idea here is that the same misfortune or bad luck will not happen again to the same person. This saying is often shortened, with the same meaning, to: "Lightning never strikes twice." (In reality, it has been proven that lightning often does strike two or more times in the same place.) Live and let live This proverb suggest that we should not interfere in other people's business. We should live our own lives and let others live their lives. Look before you leap This saying advises us to think carefully before any action. Don't jump without looking where you are jumping. Look upon death as a going home We may consider dying to be a kind of returning to house and family.
14 Sayings beginning with M

Sayings Make hay while the sun shines If we want to make hay, we need sunny weather, so when the sun comes we should take the opportunity to make hay. Thus the proverb suggests that we should make good use of any opportunity while it lasts. Make love not war 1) Sex between people is better than fighting between countries. 2) Peace is better than war. Man does not live by bread alone This proverb suggests that people have a spiritual side as well as a physical side. We need to take care of our spirit as much as our body. Man proposes, God disposes Human beings can make any plans they want, but it's God that decides their success or failure.
Many a true word is spoken in jest Something said as a joke may often contain wisdom and truth. Many hands make light work The more people that do a job, the easier the job for each person. Marry in haste, and repent at leisure If we get married quickly, without thinking carefully, we may be sorry later. And we will have plenty of time to be sorry. Mighty oaks from little acorns grow The normal order of words would be "Mighty oaks grow from little acorns." We understand: sometimes small and modest things can become very large and impressive things with time. Money doesn't grow on trees It's not easy to get money. We have to work hard to make money. We can't just walk around and pick it like fruit from the tress. Money is a good servant, but a bad master If you have money, it will serve you and work for you well. But if you owe money to other people, that money will control you in an unpleasant way. Money is the root of all evil According to this saying, all immorality and wickedness is caused by money. This saying is a misquotation, and the original version ("the love of money is the root of all evil") implies that all immorality and wickedness is caused by people loving money, not by money itself. Money isn't everything There are other important things in this world, not just money. Money makes money If you have money, you can use it to get more money through investment. Money talks If you have a lot of money, it gives you power and influence.
15 Sayings beginning with N

Sayings Nature abhors a vacuum Empty spaces become filled very quickly.
Necessity is the mother of invention If we absolutely need to do something that has never been done, we will find a way to do it. It is this need or necessity that forces people to invent things. Neither a borrower nor a lender be Do not borrow things. Do not lend things. Never do evil that good may come of it Do not do something bad to achieve something good. Never speak ill of the dead Show respect to people who have died by not saying anything bad about them. Since dead people can no longer hurt us, or defend themselves, it is better to forget their bad actions and remember only their good ones. Never spur a willing horse Don't urge someone who is already working well to work harder and faster. If you do, he may work less hard or be less eager. No man is an island Human beings do not (or should not) live in isolation. All people are interconnected. A person is not like an island, standing alone and surrounded by sea. No news is good news If we are waiting for news about someone, it's probably good if we hear nothing because "bad news" would arrive quickly. No reply is best It is often advisable not to give any answer. Don't say no. Don't say yes. Say nothing. None so blind as those who will not see Nobody is more blind than the person who decides he does not want to see. Often used in reference to prejudice and intolerance. None so deaf as those who will not hear Nobody is more deaf than the person who decides he does not want to listen. Often used in reference to prejudice and intolerance. Nothing is certain but death and taxes This saying may be seen in three ways: 1) We cannot be 100% sure about anything (except dying and having to pay the taxman - in this case the latter idea being added for humour). 2) We cannot escape taxation (in this case the idea of death serving only to highlight the certainty of taxes). 3) We can be absolutely sure that we will die (in this case the idea of taxes being added for humour). The first interpretation seems to have been the original intent (see Origin below).
Nothing is impossible to a willing heart Someone who is eager, keen and determined can achieve anything. Nothing so certain as death We can be 100% sure that we will die. Nothing ventured, nothing gained We can't expect to achieve anything if we never take any risks.
10 Sayings beginning with O

Sayings Oil and water don't mix If you add oil to water, the oil tries to stay separate. This proverb is a way of saying that certain people or characteristics do not go together. Once bitten, twice shy If an animal (such as a dog) bites you one time, you will be extra careful the next time. This sayings talks about learning from our mistakes. One good turn deserves another If someone helps you, they merit being helped in return. One might as well be hanged for a sheep as for a lamb If you are going to be killed for stealing a lamb, then why not steal a sheep (which is bigger and more valuable)? In general, it means that if you are going to get the same punishment, you may as well commit the greater offence. One tongue is enough for a woman Some people think that women talk too much. If they already talk too much, they don't need another tongue. One tongue is sufficient (but see Origin below). Opportunity only knocks once We should take an opportunity (or chance) when it comes. According to this saying, it will not come again. Opportunity seldom knocks twice Take any opportunity or chance when it comes - it may not come again. Out of debt, out of danger When we no longer owe money to anyone, we are safe and secure. The implication is that it is dangerous to owe anyone.
Out of office, out of danger The implication is that people in high government or official jobs are not safe. They will be safe only when they leave their job. Out of sight, out of mind When we don't see something, we don't think about it. We soon forget people who are no longer present.
10 Sayings beginning with P

Sayings Patience is a virtue The ability to wait for something without getting angry or upset is a valuable quality in a person. Patience surpasses learning 1) The ability to wait for a long time without getting angry is even better than education. 2) the capacity to accept delay without getting upset will achieve more than study in the end Pay beforehand was never well served If you pay for a service before you receive it, you will not get good service. People who live in glass houses shouldn't throw stones This saying warns us against hypocrisy. We should not criticize other people for things we do ourselves. Poor men go to heaven as soon as rich God makes no distinction between people with money and people without money. Possession is nine points of the law This saying suggests that the person who physically has ownership of something is in a stronger legal position than someone who claims to be the owner. Practice makes perfect The more you do something, the better you become at it. Regular exercise of a skill or activity helps you become expert at it. Prevention is better than cure It's better to take care that a problem does not happen than to have to solve the problem afterwards. It's easier to stop something bad from happening in the first place than to fix the damage after it has happened.
Pride comes before a fall If we are too proud about ourselves or something, we will probably meet with failure or disaster. When we are too self-important or conceited, something is sure to happen to make us look foolish. Put the pedal to the metal Go as fast as possible.
1 Saying beginning with Q

Sayings Quietness is a great treasure Silence is valuable.
6 Sayings beginning with R

Sayings Rags to rags in three generations The first generation in a family makes money (goes from rags to riches); the second generation holds or keeps the money; and the third generation squanders or loses the money (and so goes back to rags). Revenge is a dish best served cold This saying suggests that if someone does something bad to us, it is better to pay them back later in time, not immediately. Vengeance may be more satisfying if it is not inflicted immediately. Revenge is sweet When someone does something bad to us, we get a good feeling when we do something bad back to them. Riches have wings Money can disappear easily. Money is like a bird with wings: it can fly away if you are not careful. Rome wasn't built in a day All things take time to create. And great things like the city of Rome take a very long time. So we shouldn't expect to accomplish something or achieve success immediately. Rules are made to be broken This saying implies that there are times when we should think for ourselves and not obey every rule blindly.
12 Sayings beginning with S

Sayings Say well or be still If you cannot speak good of someone or something, then it is better not to speak. Scratch my back and I'll scratch yours I will help you if you will help me. If you do me a favour I'll do one for you in return. Seeing is believing The idea here is that we usually think something is true when we see it with our own eyes. We have to see something before we can accept its real value, or that it exists at all. Share and share alike Give everyone an equal portion. Silence is golden This saying emphasizes the value of saying nothing. Silence means consent The idea here is that if you don't disagree, you automatically agree. Keeping quiet is the same as giving permission. Slow help is no help When people need help they usually need it immediately. If you delay in helping, it is like not helping at all. Soon learnt, soon forgotten Something that is easy and quick to learn is easy to forget. Speech is silver, silence is golden Speaking is good but saying nothing is better. Discretion can be worth more than even eloquent words. Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me A physical attack may injure me but a verbal attack cannot injure me. Still waters run deep Some rivers have rough surfaces with waves. That's usually because the water is shallow and there are rocks near the surface. But deep rivers have no rocks near the surface and the water is smooth and still. "Still waters run deep" means that people who are calm and tranquil on the outside, often have a strong, "deep" personality.
Strike while the iron is hot Seize the opportunity! When we have the chance to do something, we should do it immediately. Otherwise it will be too late.
37 Sayings beginning with T

Sayings Talk of the Devil, and he is bound to appear 1. Speaking about the Devil may invite him to come. 2. We often say "Talk of the devil!" (or "Speak of the devil!") when somebody that we have just been speaking about suddenly appears. Tell me who you go with and I'll tell you who you are This proverb suggests that like minds stick together. If I know who your friends are, I know what your character is. The best advice is found on the pillow If we have a problem, we may find the answer after a good night's sleep. People also often say: "I'll sleep on it." The best things in life are free We don't have to pay for the things that are really valuable, like love, friendship and good health. The darkest hour is always before dawn This proverb says that just before the sun rises the sky is at its blackest, suggesting that when times are at their worst for us they will soon get better. The devil can cite Scripture for his purpose 1) Bad people can appear to be good to achieve their objective. 2) Even good things can be twisted to achieve bad ends. The Devil sometimes speaks the truth 1) Sometimes what Satan says is true, to make us more ready to believe his lies. 2) Don't believe everything at face value. Be aware that liars can use the truth to trick us. The early bird catches the worm Birds that wake early in the morning will find worms to eat, but birds that wake late will find no worms. The saying suggests that the same is true for us in life. If we do something early, before other people, we will be successful. The end justifies the means If our objective is good, then it doesn't matter if the way we achieve it is bad or wrong or evil.
The greater the sinner, the greater the saint 1) If a bad person can become good, a very bad person can become very good. Someone with great energy for doing bad, may, when he chooses, apply it equally to doing good. 2) Converts are the most zealous. In a day-to-day sense, for example, someone who has given up smoking may preach more about the virtues of not smoking than someone who never smoked. The nearer the Church, the farther from God 1) The implication is that those who are most involved in any religious system, its organizers and high priests, are in danger of separating themselves from God. 2) If written as "The nearer the church, the farther from God", the implication might be a warning about placing too much importance on material buildings, and a reminder that God is everywhere. The pen is mightier than the sword This proverb suggests that written material like books or poetry has more influence than fighting or war. We may also understand from it that ideas (as often set down in writing) are more effective than violence. The rich knows not who is his friend When you have money, you don't know if people are friendly with you because they like you, or because they like your money. The structure of this saying is difficult. In normal English it would be something like: "Rich people do not know who their friends are." The road to hell is paved with good intentions 1) People who believe they are doing good can end up doing bad (the law of unintended consequences). 2) There is no value in simply planning to do good if you don't actually do it. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak Even though we may want to say "No" to temptation (doing something bad), our body may be unable to resist it." The squeaking wheel gets the grease The person who makes the most fuss gets all the attention. The tide must be taken when it comes We should use all opportunities when they come, before it's too late. The wages of sin is death If we sin we die. ("Death" here refers not to physical death but to spiritual death or eternal damnation.) The way to a man's heart is through his stomach Many women have won a man's love by cooking delicious meals for him. They fed his stomach and found love in his heart. The wish is father to the thought Our opinions or beliefs are often influenced by our desires and hopes. The phrase "father to" is used in the sense of parentage: the thought is born from the wish.
There are two sides to every question In any dispute or discussion, we should acknowledge that people have different points of view. There is a time to speak and a time to be silent We should know when to say something and when to say nothing. There is safety in numbers You are safer as part of a group of people than as an individual. Being in a group makes people more confident about taking action. There is truth in wine When people are drunk, what they say is often true. People often speak the truth when they lose their self-control. There's no such thing as a free lunch We cannot get something for nothing. We must pay for everything. Nothing in life is free. There's one law for the rich, and another for the poor The legal system treats people with money better than people without money. They also serve who only stand and wait We all have a place in this world and we all perform a function, regardless of our ability or disability. The word order of this sentence may make it more difficult to understand. In normal English it would be something like: "They (those people) who only stand and wait, also serve." They that sow the wind shall reap the whirlwind A warning that we must expect to suffer serious consequences as the result of our own bad actions. We get back what we give out. Things are not always what they seem Things may look like one thing but be another thing. This saying is often applied to situations, not just things or people. Time and tide wait for no man 1) Nobody can stop the progression of time. 2) We should act on favourable opportunities immediately, without delay. Too many cooks spoil the broth Sometimes it is better to have one or a few people do a job than to have many people do it. If too many people are involved, the task will not be done well. Truth has no answer It is difficult to argue against facts. We cannot refute what is true. Truth is stranger than fiction Real life can be more amazing and difficult to believe than made-up stories.
Truth needs no colours Facts are facts. What is true is true, and it does not need decoration. Truth will out In the end, what is true will come to be known. The truth always appears eventually, despite all efforts to hide it. It is impossible to keep something secret forever. Two heads are better than one Two people can usually solve a problem more easily than one person. Two wrongs do not make a right If somebody does something bad to you, it will not make things ok if you do something bad to them in return.
1 Saying beginning with U

Sayings United we stand, divided we fall If we work together we can be successful. If we fight each other we will fail.
2 Sayings beginning with V

Sayings Variety is the spice of life Monotony is bad for us. We need plenty of change. It adds interest to our lives, just as spice adds interest to food. Virtue is its own reward When we do something virtuous or good, we don't need any reward or compensation. The knowledge that we have done good is reward enough.
12 Sayings beginning with W

Sayings Waste not, want not If we do not waste things we will not be short of things. If we use our resources carefully, we shall never be in need. We must learn to walk before we can run We have to be patient when learning. Babies crawl before they walk. And children walk before they run. We cannot do difficult tasks before we can do easy tasks. What you see is what you get 1) There is nothing hidden. What you are looking at is the real thing. 2) In computing, the way something displays on the screen is the way it will display in print (or other media)hence the acronym WYSIWYG. What's sauce for the goose is sauce for the gander In any question, what is appropriate in one case is also appropriate in the other case. When one door shuts, another opens An optimistic view on life, in which a refusal or failure is always followed by another opportunity. When the cat's away the mice will play This famous saying suggests that when a person in authority is not present, the people under his rule will enjoy their freedom. When the devil cannot come, he will send The implication is that the devil is very persistent. He will always find a way to tempt us. If the devil cannot bring temptation to us himself, he will find someone else to bring it. When the going gets tough, the tough get going When a situation is difficult or dangerous, strong people work harder to resolve the problem. This saying relies on a difficult play on words; it could be rephrased word-for-word as: "When the situation becomes hard, strong people start working." Where there's a will there's a way If we have the determination to do something, we can always find the path or method to do it. Where there's muck there's brass There is money to be made in dirt and dirty jobs. For example, many people have made fortunes by processing rubbish or waste materials. Women will have the last word A man cannot win an argument with a woman. Women talk more than men. They can always add something more to what they are saying. Would you buy a used car from this man? Do you trust this man? I don't.
5 Sayings beginning with Y

Sayings You can lead a horse to water, but you can't make it drink You can show people the way to find something or to do something, but you cannot force them to act after that. You can't make an omelette without breaking eggs Sometimes, when we want to create or achieve something, we must sacrifice or destroy another thing to do it. You can't take it with you when you die When we die we leave everything on earth. We don't take anything with us. Even the richest people cannot take their money with them after death. This proverb reminds us that some material or worldly things are not really so valuable as we may think. You can't tell a book by its cover You cannot judge what something or someone is like by looking at the exterior. You don't keep a dog and bark yourself If you pay someone to do a job, or you have servants to do it, it makes no sense to do the job yourself.
2 Sayings beginning with Z

Sayings Zeal without prudence is frenzy If the energy of zeal is not counterbalanced by thought, then it is not zeal but a kind of mental derangement. Zeal, when it is a virtue, is a dangerous one According to this saying, "good zeal" cannot exist. It seems that zeal is inherently dangerous. When zeal is not a virtue, by definition it is not good. When zeal is a virtue, according to this saying it is dangerous, which is also not good. This saying relies heavily on paradox for its effect.
Greetings in Passing
It is polite to greet a person you know. However, you don't always have time to stop and have a conversation. Just remember to smile as you say hello. A small wave is also polite. Sometimes you pass the same person a second time on the same day. You can say "hello again" or just smile.
Tips

Slow down to greet someone you know. You don't have to stop what you are doing (walking, working, shopping). Say an appropriate form of hello. Smile and wave.
Useful phrases
Listen and read:

Hello Hi Good morning Good afternoon Good evening* Hey, John. How's it goin'?**
*Good night is a farewell (goodbye) phrase. It is NOT a greeting to use at night time. **Native speakers often shorten "going" to "goin" in casual greetings.
Slang greetings in passing
Using slang in a greeting is typical between close friends. Teens often use slang when they greet each other. Certain English speaking countries also have their own popular form of "hello". Listen and read:

Howdy Hiya Whazzup? Yo G'day (Australia)
Greetings before a Conversation

Sometimes you stop and talk for a minute as you say hello. This type of greeting is followed by a
conversation. Close friends often hug when they greet each other, especially after a long time without seeing one other. Men sometimes give each other a hand shake or a high-five (touch palms above the head). Tips

Stand near a person and say hello. Express happiness to see a person. Ask a question or begin a conversation.
Useful Phrases:

Nice to see you. Long time no see. (I haven't seen you in a while.) What have you been up to? How are things? It's been a while. (It's been a while since I've seen you.) What's new? Not much. (answer to What's new?)
Pair Practice (casual between friends or coworkers)
Listen and read: A: Hi Corey. B: Hey, Jennifer. Good to see you. (hug) A: You too. How've you been? B: Busy, you? A: Pretty good. How's your new job? B: It's okay. There's a lot to learn. What's new with you? A: Not much. The kids are back at school. Note: Between very close friends it's uncommon to use names in a casual greeting. Sometimes nicknames or short forms are used. (Cor and Jen instead of Corey and Jennifer).
Further Practice for Pairs

Add a third speaker and create your own lines. Add an unexpected interruption (bus arrives, friend comes out of a store, child fusses). Write the next four lines between the two speakers. Write an inappropriate line and explain why it should not be part of the greeting. Create a new dialogue that takes place between people who start up a conversation.
Greetings in the Classroom

It is polite to greet a new student that joins your class. Introductions immediately follow this type of greeting. Tips

Say hello and exchange names. Exchange nationalities. Engage in one line of small talk (weather, surroundings, news).
Useful Phrases

I'm from...(city or country)* I hear it's beautiful/hot/expensive there. How do you like it here? How long have you been here?
*Learners often say "I come from..." instead of "I'm from...". Native speakers use "come from" for things or animals, not people: The toys come from China. Milk comes from cows. Pair Practice
Listen and read: A: Hello. I'm Sasha. B: Hi Sasha. I'm Brent. (hold out hand to shake) A: Nice to meet you Brent. Where are you from? B: Chicago, Illinois. And you? A: I'm from Australia. I live in a small town near Sydney. B: Australia. Wow. I've always wanted to go there. How long have you been in Canada? A: I just arrived this week. It's my first day of school. B: Really? I think you'll love Vancouver. It's not too hot and not too cold.
Further Practice for Pairs

Add a third speaker and create your own lines. Add an unexpected interruption (attendance being called, lesson starting). Write the next four lines between the two speakers. Write an inappropriate line and explain why it should not be part of the greeting. Create a new dialogue that takes place between people in a classroom setting
Greetings in Business
Proper etiquette is important in business greetings. Make sure to use polite language such as "please" and "thank you". Appropriate titles and gestures should also be used. Shaking hands is common in most English speaking countries. It is also important to smile.
Tips

Introduce yourself with name and title. Shake hands. Express happiness to meet the other person. Give or accept directions.
Useful Phrases

Please have a seat. Thanks for agreeing to meet with me. He'll be right with you. Can I offer you something to drink? My pleasure.
Pair Practice
Listen and read:

A: Hello. I'm Mia Conners. B: Hi Mia. I'm David Sinclair, and this is my partner Gina Evans. (hold out hand to shake) A: Nice to meet you Mr. Sinclair and Ms Evans. Thank you for taking the time to meet with me today. B: It's our pleasure. And please, call us David and Gina. Can I take your coat? A: Thank you. B: No problem. Please take a seat and we'll be right with you. I just have to take make a quick phone call.
Greetings at a Party or Social Event

It is polite to greet many people at a social event. This is called "mingling". After you greet people you know look for people you haven't met before. Introduce yourself and start a conversation.
Tips

Say hello and introduce yourself to a person who is not in a conversation. Talk about your relationship to the host. Discuss one party related item (food, theme, length of stay).
Useful Phrases:
Who are you here with? How do you know Jane? (party host) I don't think we've met. Have you been here long? Have you tried the cheese dip/dessert/punch? Where did you get your costume? The food looks great. I can't wait to try the dip. I love your dress/shirt/hat. It really suits you. (looks good on you) These decorations are wonderful. I love the table cloth/balloons/flowers.
Pair Practice
Listen and read: A: I don't think we've met. I'm Stacey. (hold out hand to shake) B: Hi Stacey. I'm Carl. A: Hi Carl. So, how do you know Jane? B: Oh, Jane and I used to work together at a coffee shop. A: Oh, you mean when you were working in Japan? B: That's right. And how do you know her? A: Actually, Jane is my cousin. Our moms are sisters. B: No way! You two don't look anything alike.
Greetings in a Friend's Home

When you go into a friend's home, it is polite to greet other people (relatives/roommates) in the house. Say hello and introduce yourself. A conversation may or may not follow.
Tips

Introduce yourself to people you don't know. Express happiness to meet the other person. Make small talk.
Useful Phrases

You can call me... Thanks for coming. Thanks for having me. I've heard so much about you. It's nice to put a face to a name. You have a beautiful home.
Pair Practice
Listen and read: A: Hi Mike. I've heard all about you. Jesse says you love to play guitar. B: Yes I do, Mrs. Simpson. Nice to meet you. A: We're glad to finally be able to meet you. Dinner will be ready in about twenty minutes. B: Is there anything I can do to help? A: No, everything is pretty much ready. We're just waiting on the roast. I hope you like roast beef. B: Yes, of course. Jesse tells me you are a fabulous cook.
Telephone Terms
Here are some of the words and terms that we use to talk about telephoning. answer answering machine busy signal call caller call back/phone back call display cellular phone/cell phone cordless phone dial dial tone directory/phone book hang up to say "hello" into the phone when it rings something that you can record a message on if the person you are calling isn't home a beeping sound that tells the caller that the other person is already on the phone with someone else a telephone conversation; to telephone the person who telephones to call someone who called you first a screen that shows you who is calling a telephone that you can take with you away from your house; mobile phone a phone that is not attached to the wall (you can walk short distances with it at home or in the garden) to press the buttons on the phone the sound the phone makes when you pick it up a book that alphabetically lists local phone numbers of people and businesses to put the receiver down and end a call
operator pager phone phone booth/pay phone pick up receiver ring ringer
a person who answers telephone-related questions when you dial "0" a small machine you wear that makes a noise (or vibrates) when someone wants you to call them a telephone; to telephone a place where you can pay to use a telephone in public to answer the phone the piece on the phone that you speak into and listen from the sound a phone makes when somebody calls; to make that sound the sound-piece that alerts a person that a call is coming through
Telephone Language
Here are some typical phrases that you can use in a telephone conversation. Answering the phone

Hello? (informal) Thank you for calling Boyz Autobody. Jody speaking. How can I help you? Doctor's office. Hey George. It's Lisa calling. (informal) Hello, this is Julie Madison calling. Hi, it's Gerry from the dentist's office here. This is she.* Speaking.*
Introducing yourself
*The person answering says this if the caller does not recognize their voice.
Asking to speak with someone
Is Fred in? (informal) Is Jackson there, please? (informal) Can I talk to your sister? (informal) May I speak with Mr. Green, please? Would the doctor be in/available? Just a sec. I'll get him. (informal) Hang on one second. (informal) Please hold and I'll put you through to his office.
Connecting someone
One moment please. All of our operators are busy at this time. Please hold for the next available person. Could you please repeat that? Would you mind spelling that for me? Could you speak up a little please? Can you speak a little slower please. My English isn't very strong. Can you call me back? I think we have a bad connection. Can you please hold for a minute? I have another call. Sammy's not in. Who's this? (informal) I'm sorry, Lisa's not here at the moment. Can I ask who's calling? I'm afraid he's stepped out. Would you like to leave a message? He's on lunch right now.Who's calling please? He's busy right now. Can you call again later? I'll let him know you called. I'll make sure she gets the message. Yes, can you tell him his wife called, please. No, that's okay, I'll call back later. Yes, it's James from CompInc. here. When do you expect her back in the office? Thanks, could you ask him to call Brian when he gets in? Do you have a pen handy. I don't think he has my number. Thanks. My number is 222-3456, extension 12. Okay, I've got it all down. Let me repeat that just to make sure. Did you say 555 Charles St.? You said your name was John, right? I'll make sure he gets the message. Hello. You've reached 222-6789. Please leave a detailed message after the beep.Thank you. Hi, this is Elizabeth. I'm sorry I'm not available to take your call at this time. Leave me a message and I'll get back to you as soon as I can. Thank you for calling Dr. Mindin's office. Our hours are 9am5pm, Monday-Friday. Please call back during these hours, or leave a message after the tone. If this is an emergency please call
Making special requests
Taking a message for someone
Leaving a message with someone
Confirming information
Listening to an answering machine
the hospital at 333-7896. Leaving a message on an answering machine

Hey Mikako. It's Yuka. Call me! (informal) Hello, this is Ricardo calling for Luke. Could you please return my call as soon as possible. My number is 334-5689. Thank you. Hello Maxwell. This is Marina from the doctor's office calling. I just wanted to let you know that you're due for a check-up this month. Please give us a ring/buzz whenever it's convenient. Well, I guess I better get going. Talk to you soon. Thanks for calling. Bye for now. I have to let you go now. I have another call coming through. I better run. I'm afraid that's my other line. I'll talk to you again soon. Bye.
Finishing a conversation
Telephone Tips
1. Speak slowly and clearly Listening to someone speaking in a second language over the telephone can be very challenging because you cannot see the person you are trying to hear. However, it may be even more difficult for the person you are talking with to understand you. You may not realize that your pronunciation isn't clear because your teacher and fellow students know and understand you. Pay special attention to your weak areas (such as "r's" and "l's" or "b's" and "v's") when you are on the phone. If you are nervous about using the phone in English, you may notice yourself speaking very quickly. Practise or write down what you are going to say and take a few deep breaths before you make a phone call. 2. Make sure you understand the other speaker Don't pretend to understand everything you hear over the telephone. Even native speakers ask each other to repeat and confirm information from time to time. This is especially important if you are taking a message for someone else. Learn the appropriate expressions that English speakers use when they don't hear something properly. Don't be afraid to remind the person to slow down more than once. Keep your telephone in an area that is away from other noise distractions such as a radio or television. 3. Practise with a friend Ask another student to practise talking on the phone with you. You might choose one night a week and take turns phoning each other at a certain time. Try to talk for at least fifteen minutes. You can talk socially, or role play different scenarios in a business environment. If you don't have access to a telephone, you can practise by setting two chairs up back to back. The most important thing about practising telephone English is that you aren't able to see each other's mouths. It is amazing how much people lip-read without realizing.
4. Use businesses and recordings There are many ways to get free telephone English practice. After business hours, you can call and listen to recorded messages. Write down what you hear the first time, and then call back and check if your notes are accurate. Use the phone in your everyday life. Call for a pizza delivery instead of going out to eat. Call a salon to book a hair appointment. You can even phone the movie theatre to ask for the listings instead of using the newspaper. Some large cities have free recordings you can call for information such as your daily horoscope or the weather. (Make sure that you aren't going to get charged for these numbers first.) Some products have free phone numbers on the packaging that you can call for information. Think of a question you might want to ask and call the free number! For example, call the number on the back of the cereal box and ask for coupons. You will have to give your name and address. Make sure you have a pen handy so that you can repeat the information and check your comprehension. 5. Learn telephone etiquette (manners) The way that you speak to your best friend on the phone is very different to the way you should speak to someone in a business setting. Many ESL speakers make the mistake of being too direct on the telephone. It is possible that the person on the other line will think that you are being rude on purpose if you don't use formal language in certain situations. Sometimes just one word such as "could" or "may" is necessary in order to sound polite. You should use the same modals you would use in a formal "face-to-face" situation. Take the time to learn how to answer the phone and say goodbye in a polite manner, as well as all the various ways one can start and end a conversation casually. 6. Practise dates and numbers It only takes a short time to memorize English Phonetic Spelling, but it is something that you will be able to use in any country. You should also practise saying dates and numbers aloud. You and a friend can write out a list of dates and numbers and take turns reading them over the phone to each other. Record what you hear. Swap papers the next day and check your answers. Click here to learn more about numbers.
7.Practice 1: Making an Appointment

Receptionist: Thank you for phoning Maple Dental Clinic. Sylvia . How can I help you? Thelma: Hi Sylvia. are you today? Thelma Woods calling. How
Receptionist: I'm fine Mrs. Woods. How are you? Thelma: Receptionist: Well, actually, I have a bit of a sore tooth. I was hoping Dr. Morris would have some time to see me this week. I'm he's booked this week. I can put you in for 2pm next Tuesday. How does that sound? That would be great.
Click for answ er
Thelma:
Receptionist: I'll have to give you the address of our new office. Thelma: Oh, that's right, you moved.
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Receptionist: Yes, we moved downtown. Do you have a ? Thelma: Could you hold on a ahead Sylvia. please. ...Okay, go
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Receptionist: Okay, we are at 723 Baltic Avenue. Suite 004. Thelma: spelling that for me?
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Receptionist: Sure. That's seven-twenty-three Baltic--B A as in Alpha, L as in Lima, T as in tango, I as in India, and C as in Charlie. And it's suite zero zero four. Thelma: Receptionist: Thelma: Okay great. I'll see you on Tuesday then. Okay. Thanks. Bye. calling. See you then.
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10. ractice 2: Taking a Message

Leslie: Cameron: Hi, is this Leslie? Leslie: Cameron: Leslie: Yes. ? ?
It's Cameron here. Is Maria No, she just message?
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out for a moment. Can I take a
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Cameron:
Yes, thanks. ask her to meet me at the Capitol 4 movie theatre at 7 pm tonight? Sure. Just let me write that down. Oh Cameron. Could you for a second? I have to take another call.
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Leslie:
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Cameron: No problem.
Leslie:
Hi. Sorry about that. Now could you please that information? I didn't have a pen handy.
Click for answ er
Cameron: Sure. It's the Capitol 4 theatre at 7 o'clock. Leslie: Okay, I've got it. Is there anything else?
Cameron: No, that's great. Leslie: Okay. Uh-oh, there's my other line again. I'd better . Cameron: Okay, thanks again. Bye for now. Leslie:
12.
Reset
14. Practice 3: Ordering a Pizza

Hostess: Customer: Hostess: Pepi's Pizza. How can I Hi. I'd like to order a pizza please. Okay. I'll have to transfer your call to our take-out department. Recorded Message: moment please.
you?
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Thank you for calling Pepi's Pizza. All of our operators are busy available person. . Please hold for the next
Take-out Clerk: Customer: Take-out Clerk: Customer: Take-out Clerk: Customer:
Thank you for waiting. Naoko for take-out or delivery? Delivery please. Can I have your name and address please? My name is... Sorry, it's really busy in here. Could you a little please?
. Is this
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Oh, sure. This is Angie Smith. My address is number
two Front Street. Take-out Clerk: Customer: Take-out Clerk: Customer: Take-out Clerk: Customer: Take-out Clerk: Customer: Take-out Clerk: Customer: Take-out Clerk: Customer: Take-out Clerk: Customer: Take-out Clerk: Customer: Is that an apartment or a house? It's an apartment. Number seventeen. Okay. And what would you like to order today? I'd like a large pepperoni pizza with mushrooms, olives and extra cheese. I'm sorry, my English isn't slow down a little please? No problem. That's a large pizza. Large pizza. Okay. And I'd like it with pepperoni and mushrooms. Pepperoni and mushrooms. Is there anything else? Yes, olives and extra cheese please.
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. Could you
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Okay. I've
Great. And how long will that be? It will be about thirty minutes, Miss Smith. And how much will it cost? Um--could you please the kitchen? while I check with
Click for answ er
Don't worry about it. I have to go. I have another call . Thank you. Bye for now.
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Take-out Clerk:
Reset
Okay. Thanks for calling. Bye.
16.
1 When you pick up the phone to call someone you hear a . 2 If I'm not home leave a message on my machine.
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3 Sally must be talking to her mom because I have been getting a for two hours. 4 5 6 7 8 I never answer my Mark always turns his I'm busy right now. Can you You have to I have a time. "0" for the operator. so I can do the dishes and chat at the same while I'm driving. off when he is studying. later.
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9 You will need a quarter or a phone card if you want to use the . 10 I know it was my boyfriend who called because I have .
Reset
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18.
The Presentation
...say it,
Most presentations are divided into 3 main parts (+ questions):

1 2 INTRODUCTION (Questions) BODY
CONCLUSION Questions
As a general rule in communication, repetition is valuable. In presentations, there is a golden rule about repetition:
1. Say what you are going to say, 2. say it, 3. then say what you have just said.
In other words, use the three parts of your presentation to reinforce your message. In the introduction, you tell your audience what your message is going to be. In the body, you tell your audience your real message. In the conclusion, you summarize what your message was. We will now consider each of these parts in more detail.
Introduction
The introduction is a very important - perhaps the most important - part of your presentation. This is the first impression that your audience have of you. You should concentrate on getting your introduction right. You should use the introduction to:
1. 2. 3. 4. welcome your audience introduce your subject outline the structure of your presentation give instructions about questions
The following table shows examples of language for each of these functions. You may need to modify the language as appropriate.
Function 1 Welcoming your audience Possible language

Good morning, ladies and gentlemen Good morning, gentlemen Good afternoon, ladies and gentleman Good afternoon, everybody
2 Introducing your subject
I am going to talk today about... The purpose of my presentation is to introduce our new range of...
3 Outlining your structure
To start with I'll describe the progress made this year. Then I'll mention some of the problems we've encountered and how we overcame them. After that I'll consider the possibilities for further growth next year. Finally, I'll summarize my presentation (before concluding with some recommendations).
4 Giving instructions about questions
Do feel free to interrupt me if you have any questions. I'll try to answer all of your questions after the presentation. I plan to keep some time for questions after the presentation.
Body
The body is the 'real' presentation. If the introduction was well prepared and delivered, you will now be 'in control'. You will be relaxed and confident. The body should be well structured, divided up logically, with plenty of carefully spaced visuals. Remember these key points while delivering the body of your presentation:

do not hurry be enthusiastic give time on visuals maintain eye contact modulate your voice look friendly keep to your structure use your notes signpost throughout remain polite when dealing with difficult questions
Conclusion
Use the conclusion to:
1. 2. 3. 4. Sum up (Give recommendations if appropriate) Thank your audience Invite questions
The following table shows examples of language for each of these functions. You may need to modify the language as appropriate.
Function 1 Summing up
Possible language

To conclude,... In conclusion,... Now, to sum up... So let me summarise/recap what I've said. Finally, may I remind you of some of the main points we've considered.
2 Giving recommendations 3 Thanking your audience 4 Inviting questions
In conclusion, my recommendations are... I therefore suggest/propose/recommend the following strategy.
Many thanks for your attention. May I thank you all for being such an attentive audience.
Now I'll try to answer any questions you may have. Can I answer any questions? Are there any questions? Do you have any questions? Are there any final questions?
Questions
Questions are a good opportunity for you to interact with your audience. It may be helpful for you to try to predict what questions will be asked so that you can prepare your response in advance. You may wish to accept questions at any time during your presentation, or to keep a time for questions after your presentation. Normally, it's your decision, and you should make it clear during the introduction. Be polite with all questioners, even if they ask difficult questions. They are showing interest in what you have to say and they deserve attention. Sometimes you can reformulate a question. Or answer the question with another question. Or even ask for comment from the rest of the audience.
Language
Say what you are going to say,
Simplicity and Clarity

If you want your audience to understand your message, your language must be simple and clear. Use short words and short sentences. Do not use jargon, unless you are certain that your audience understands it. In general, talk about concrete facts rather than abstract ideas. Use active verbs instead of passive verbs. Active verbs are much easier to understand. They are much more powerful. Consider these two sentences, which say the same thing:
1. Toyota sold two million cars last year. 2. Two million cars were sold by Toyota last year.
Which is easier to understand? Which is more immediate? Which is more powerful? #1 is active and #2 is passive.
Signposting
When you drive on the roads, you know where you are on those roads. Each road has a name or number. Each town has a name. And each house has a number. If you are at house #100, you can go back to #50 or forward to #150. You can look at the signposts for directions. And you can look at your atlas for the structure of the roads in detail. In other words, it is easy to navigate the roads. You cannot get lost. But when you give a presentation, how can your audience know where they are? How can they know the structure of your presentation? How can they know what is coming next? They know because you tell them. Because you put up signposts for them, at the beginning and all along the route. This technique is called 'signposting' (or 'signalling'). During your introduction, you should tell your audience what the structure of your presentation will be. You might say something like this:
"I'll start by describing the current position in Europe. Then I'll move on to some of the achievements we've made in Asia. After that I'll consider the opportunities we see for further expansion in Africa. Lastly, I'll quickly recap before concluding with some recommendations."
A member of the audience can now visualize your presentation like this:
Introduction

Welcome Explanation of structure (now)
Body
Europe Asia Africa
Conclusion
Summing up Recommendations
He will keep this image in his head during the presentation. He may even write it down. And throughout your presentation, you will put up signposts telling him which point you have reached and where you are going now. When you finish Europe and want to start Asia, you might say:
"That's all I have to say about Europe. Let's turn now to Asia."
When you have finished Africa and want to sum up, you might say:
"Well, we've looked at the three continents Europe, Asia and Africa. I'd like to sum up now."
And when you finish summing up and want to give your recommendations, you might say:
"What does all this mean for us? Well, firstly I recommend..."
The table below lists useful expressions that you can use to signpost the various parts of your presentation.
Signposting Function Introducing the subject Language

I'd like to start by... Let's begin by... First of all, I'll... Starting with... I'll begin by...
Finishing one subject...
Well, I've told you about... That's all I have to say about... We've looked at... So much for...
...and starting another
Now we'll move on to... Let me turn now to... Next... Turning to... I'd like now to discuss... Let's look now at...
Analysing a point and giving recommendations
Where does that lead us? Let's consider this in more detail... What does this mean for ABC? Translated into real terms...
Giving an example
For example,... A good example of this is... As an illustration,... To give you an example,... To illustrate this point...
Dealing with questions
We'll be examining this point in more detail later on... I'd like to deal with this question later, if I may... I'll come back to this question later in my talk... Perhaps you'd like to raise this point at the end... I won't comment on this now...
Summarising and concluding
In conclusion,... Right, let's sum up, shall we? I'd like now to recap... Let's summarise briefly what we've looked at... Finally, let me remind you of some of the issues we've covered... If I can just sum up the main points...
Ordering
Firstly...secondly...thirdly...lastly... First of all...then...next...after that...finally... To start with...later...to finish up...
Weather
English speakers love to talk about the weather. It is a way of breaking the ice (starting a conversation). People talk about the weather on the phone and in person. Friends and family talk
about the weather before they discuss what's new. Co-workers talk about the weather before starting a hard day of work. Even strangers discuss the weather. Learn the proper vocabulary and expressions, and you will find it easy to start a conversation anytime and anywhere with anyone you meet!
Common questions and responses about Weather What's it like out? How's the weather? Do you have rain? What's the temperature there? It's snowing here, what's it doing there? Beautiful day, huh? What's the weather forecast? It's miserable out. It's ten below. (-10 degrees) We haven't had a drop of rain for weeks. It's 22 degrees Celsius. It's pouring outside. (raining heavily) We couldn't ask for a better day than this. They're calling for blue skies all week.
Weather Vocabulary
Word Part of speech airconditioner/airconditioning noun Meaning Example Sentence
an appliance that cools down the air in a home or building
The airconditioner keeps the office nice and comfortable even when it's very hot outside. The skiers were warned about a possible avalanche. It's supposed to go below
avalanche noun below freezing
a dangerous slide of snow down a mountain temperature less than 0 degrees
preposition/adjective
Celsius/(32F)
freezing before the weekend. The airplane couldn't takeoff because of the blizzard. It was boiling hot, so we all jumped into the lake. Don't bother with a hat. There is always a breeze near the ocean. In the summer, the average temperature here is 20 degrees Celsius. It's a bit chilly today, so I think you should wear a coat. On a clear night you can see a lot of stars. It may look cloudy in the morning, but the sun always comes out by afternoon. They're calling for a cold spell, so we put off our camping trip. The days were boiling hot, but the nights were cool and comfortable for sleeping.
blizzard noun boiling hot adjective + noun breeze noun
a storm with lots of snow and wind
common expression for describing a very hot day light wind
Celsius noun
measurement of temperature (0 degrees is freezing/100 is boiling)
chilly adjective
cold
clear adjective cloud/cloudy noun/adjective
when the sky is blue because no clouds are blocking the sun water in the sky that appears as a white or grey mass
cold spell adjective + noun
a period of colder than average weather
cool adjective
temperature in between warm and cold
degrees noun
measurement for temperature
I don't feel the heat until it's about forty degrees Celsius outside. I think I'll take the dog for a walk. It's only drizzling now. Forest fires are a serious danger during a drought. It was 100 degrees Fahrenheit when we got to San Francisco. The flood was so bad, our basement was full of water. There are a few flurries but the snow isn't sticking to the roads. We couldn't see the bridge because there was too much fog. According to the 5 day forecast, it's going to rain on our wedding day. It was a freezing cold day for the Santa Claus parade. Some flowers are so strong they can withstand frost. I lost my hat while I was
drizzling continuous verb drought noun Fahrenheit noun
raining slightly
a long period with no rainfall
measurement of temperature (32 degrees is freezing/212 is boiling)
flood noun flurries noun
overflow of rain water
very light snowfall
fog/foggy noun/adjective
thick water vapor that blocks one's vision
forecast noun/verb
the expected weather for the future
freezing cold adjective + noun frost noun frostbite
common expression used to describe a very cold day ice crystals on a frozen surface
a skin condition caused by over
noun
exposure to the cold (typically reddish skin with white spots) small pieces of ice that fall during a storm
skiing, and I ended up with frostbite on my ears. There was so much hail that some of the trailer homes were destroyed. Bring lots of water and wear a hat to avoid heat stroke in this weather. During the heat-wave we cooled our beds down with ice packs. It feels a lot hotter than it actually is because of the humidity. Half of the buildings on the island were flattened by the hurricane. The roads are icy so please avoid driving down any hills. The outdoor pool always closes when the lifeguards suspect lightning. It's quite mild out so I didn't bother with a hat or mittens. The meteorologist predicted that the cold spell would be
hail noun
heat stroke noun
a flu-like condition one can acquire after spending too long in the sun
heat-wave noun
extremely hot weather that is much higher than average--usually lasts a short time moisture in the air
humid/humidity adjective/noun
hurricane noun
a tropical storm with very strong wind and rain
icy adjective lightning noun
slippery because of ice
electric flash caused by two clouds hitting
mild adjective
temperature that is warmer than average(in a cold season)
meteorologist noun
a person who studies weather patterns
over by now. minus/negative adjective overcast adjective indicates that a temperature is below zero no sun is visible It was minus twenty degrees at the top of the skil hill. The sky is overcast this morning, but the sun is supposed to come out by late afternoon. Tomorrow's forecast is partly cloudy with clear skies by nightfall. There is very little precipitation in the desert. Children love to splash in puddles when they are wearing rubber boots. My hair is all wet and messy from the rain.
partly cloudy adverb + adjective
term often used in a weather forecast to indicate that the skies are sunny and cloudy at the same time rain or snow that falls on an area
precipitation noun puddle noun
collection of rain water
rain/raining/rainy noun/continuous verb/adjective raindrop noun rainbow noun
water that falls to earth
a single measurement of rain
I love catching raindrops on my tongue. According to legend you can find a pot of gold at the end of a rainbow. They cancelled the football game because it was raining cats and dogs.
a band of colours found in the sky after a rainfall
raining cats and dogs idiom
raining heavily
scorching/a scorcher adjective/noun
extremely hot temperature/a very hot day
It was a scorcher, so the whole family slept in the cool basement. My favorite season is Fall, because I love to watch the leaves changing colours.
season noun
time of year characterized by certain weather Winter,Spring,Summer,Fall (or Autumn) quick/light rainstorm
shower noun
They've been calling for showers all week, but so far it's been dry. All-weather-tires are best if you have to drive in sleet. The snow turned to slush as soon as it started to rain. You really notice the smog downtown in this type of humidity. It is already snowing up in the mountains, so the ski season should be great this year. All of the schools were closed because of the snowstorm. We hope to have sunshine on the day of the beach picnic. The bald man got a sunburn
sleet(similar to hail) noun slush/slushy noun/adjective smog noun
rain that freezes as it falls
snow on the ground that has been rained on heavy,dark cloud cover caused by pollution
snow/snowy/snowing noun/adjective/ continuous verb
frozen water that warms slightly as it falls to earth
snowstorm noun
large amounts of wind and snow
sun/sunshine/sunny noun/noun/adjective
the gassy star that warms the earth
sunburn
painful red/pink skin caused by being
noun sunglasses/shades noun suntan/tanned noun(also verb)/adjective(also verb) sunscreen/suntan lotion noun
in the sun too long dark eyewear that protects you from the sun brown/golden skin caused by long periods of sun exposure
on his head. I forgot my shades and I was driving right into the sun. I got a suntan on the cruise, but it has already faded away. Don't forget to reapply your sunscreen when you get out of the lake. Can you check the temperature before we get dressed for our walk? When I checked the temperature this morning, the thermometer said it was already thirty degrees Celsius. Let's close all of the windows. It looks like a thunderstorm is coming. The tornado picked up everything in its path, including animals and cars. I always keep an umbrella in my car in case of rain. Ultra violet rays can cause skin cancer if you don't wear
cream that protects your skin from sun damage
temperature noun
how warm or cold the air is
thermometer noun
instrument for measuring the temperature of the air
thunder/thunderstor m noun tornado/cyclone noun
the crashing of clouds (often followed by a strike of lightning and heavy rain)
violently spinning windstorm
umbrella noun UV (ultra violet) rays noun
held over one's head and body for rain protection the damaging rays from the sun
sunscreen. wind/windy noun/adjective wind chill factor noun blowing air outside It's too windy to play golf today. It's minus two, but with the wind chill factor it's minus fifteen.
when the wind makes the air feel colder than the actual temperature
Weather Vocabulary Quiz >
Weather Vocabulary Quiz

1 I don't think you need to bring an umbrella. It's only now. A I stepped in a is a dangerous tropical storm. and got my pantlegs all wet.
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2 3 4
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There was a in the middle of summer; we didn't have to turn our airconditioner on for weeks.
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5 We had to stop playing baseball because we didn't want to get struck by 6 7 It was too If you let me borrow your better. Don't be surprised if you get a light on that island. When I looked at the . for the pilot to land the plane. I'll be able to see
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every afternoon
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9 10
it said ten degrees.
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will prevent you from getting a burn.
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Weather Reports
Expressions used in a weather report:

a high of twenty degrees a low of -25 20 percent chance of snow mainly sunny sunny with cloudy periods record high/low above/below average temperatures a few flurries 5-day forecast temperatures are going to drop/dip/plunge (go down quickly) temperatures are going to rise/soar/climb (go up quickly) a warm/cold front is moving in (air from another region is arriving)
Listen to the following weather reports. Listen again, and then answer the comprehension questions. Read the transcripts to check your understanding.
Weather Report 1 (easy) Read Text
Which season does this weather report take place in?
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What kind of day is it?
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What is the temperature?
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Tomorrow it will probably
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What does the weather reporter suggest using?
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Weather Report 2 (medium) Read Text
1 Which season would this weather report most likely take place in?
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Where is the weather report taking place?
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3 Which of the following is mentioned as part of tomorrow's forecast?
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It will feel so cold tomorrow because of the
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The weather reporter suggests that skiiers should
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Weather Report 3 (difficult) Read Text
1 Which season would this weather report most likely take place in?
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Where is the weather report taking place?
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3 What type of precipitation is forecasted for the week?
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The air feels so comfortable because there is
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5 What does the weather reporter suggest people do to stay cool?
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Small Talk: Who, What, Where, When, Why?

WHO makes small talk? People with many different relationships use small talk. The most common type of people to use small talk are those who do not know each other at all. Though we often teach children not to talk to strangers, adults are expected to say at least a few words in certain situations (see where). It is also common for people who are only acquaintances, often called a "friend of a friend", to use small talk. Other people who have short casual conversations are office employees who may not be good friends but work in the same department. Customer service representatives, waitresses, hairdressers and receptionists often make small talk with customers. If you happen to be outside when the mailman comes to your door you might make small talk with him too. WHAT do people make small talk about? There are certain "safe" topics that people usually make small talk about. The weather is probably the number one thing that people who do not know each other well discuss. Sometimes even friends and family members discuss the weather when they meet or start a conversation. Another topic that is generally safe is current events. As long as you are not discussing a controversial issue, such as a recent law concerning equal rights, it is usually safe to discuss the news. Sports news is a very common topic, especially if a local team or player is in a tournament or play-off or doing extremely well or badly. Entertainment news, such as a celebrity who is in town, is another good topic. If there is something that you and the other speaker has in common, that may also be acceptable to talk about. For example, if the bus is extremely full and there are no seats available you might talk about reasons why. Similarly, people in an office might casually discuss the new paint or furniture. There are also some subjects that are not considered acceptable when making small talk. Discussing personal information such as salaries or a recent divorce is not done between people who do not know each other well. Compliments on clothing or hair are acceptable; however, you should never say something (good or bad) about a person's body. Negative comments about another person not involved in the conversation are also not acceptable: when you do not know a person well you cannot be sure who their friends are. You do not talk about private issues either, because you do not know if you can trust the other person with your secrets or personal information. Also, it is not safe to discuss subjects that society deems controversial such as religion or politics. Lastly, it is not wise to continue talking about an issue that the other person does not seem comfortable with or interested in. WHERE do people make small talk? People make small talk just about anywhere, but there are certain places where it is very
common. Most often, small talk occurs in places where people are waiting for something. For example, you might chat with another person who is waiting for the bus to arrive, or to the person beside you waiting to get on an aeroplane. People also make small talk in a doctor's or dentist's waiting room, or in queues at the grocery store. At the office, people make small talk in elevators or lunchrooms and even in restrooms, especially if there is a line-up. Some social events (such as a party) require small talk among guests who do not know each other very well. For example, you might talk to someone you do not know at the punch bowl, or at the poolside. It is called "mingling" when people walk around in a social setting and talk to a variety of people. WHEN do people make small talk? The most common time for small talk to occur is the first time you see or meet someone on a given day. For example, if you see a co-worker in the lounge you might say hello and discuss the sports or weather. However, the next time you see each other you might just smile and say nothing. If there is very little noise, that might be an indication that it is the right time to initiate a casual conversation. You should only spark up a conversation after someone smiles and acknowledges you. Do not interrupt two people in order to discuss something unimportant such as the weather. If someone is reading a book or writing a letter at the bus stop it is not appropriate to initiate a conversation either. Another good time to make small talk is during a break in a meeting or presentation when there is nothing important going on. Finally, it is important to recognize the cue when the other person wants the conversation to stop. WHY do people make small talk? There are a few different reasons why people use small talk. The first, and most obvious, is to break an uncomfortable silence. Another reason, however, is simply to fill time. That is why it is so common to make small talk when you are waiting for something. Some people make small talk in order to be polite. You may not feel like chatting with anyone at a party, but it is rude to just sit in a corner by yourself. After someone introduces you to another person, you do not know anything about them, so in order to show a polite interest in getting to know them better, you have to start with some small talk. Conversation Starters >>
Small Talk: Conversation Starters

Talking about the weather

Beautiful day, isn't it? Can you believe all of this rain we've been having? It looks like it's going to snow. It sure would be nice to be in Hawaii right about now. I hear they're calling for thunderstorms all weekend. We couldn't ask for a nicer day, could we? How about this weather? Did you order this sunshine?
Talking about current events
Did you catch the news today? Did you hear about that fire on Fourth St? What do you think about this transit strike? I read in the paper today that the Sears Mall is closing. I heard on the radio today that they are finally going to start building the new bridge. How about those Reds? Do you think they're going to win tonight? Looking forward to the weekend? Have you worked here long? I can't believe how busy/quiet we are today, can you? Has it been a long week? You look like you could use a cup of coffee. What do you think of the new computers? So, how do you know Justin? Have you tried the cabbage rolls that Sandy made? Are you enjoying yourself? It looks like you could use another drink. Pretty nice place, huh? I love your dress. Can I ask where you got it? How old's your baby? What's your puppy's name? The tulips are sure beautiful at this time of year, aren't they. How do you like the new park? Nice day to be outside, isn't it? I didn't think it would be so busy today. You look like you've got your hands full (with children or goods). The bus must be running late today. It looks like we are going to be here a while, huh? I'll have to remember not to come here on Mondays. How long have you been waiting?
At the office
At a social event
Out for a walk
Waiting somewhere
Practice 1: At a Bus Stop >>
Small Talk Practice 1: At a Bus Stop

Read the small talk below and find the 10 mistakes. Then check your answers.
Woman: We could ask for a better day, could we? Man: I know. There isn't a cloud in the sky. I love this time of year. Woman: Me too. The cherry blossoms are beautiful, you think? Man: They sure are. But I heard he is calling for rain all weekend. Woman: Really? Oh well. I have to work all weekend anyway. I'm a doctor. Man: Wow. I'm sure you make good money with that diamond watch you have on. Woman: Ah, this bus seems to be running late. How long of a wait is it already? Man: I've been here for at least fifteen minutes now. Woman: Where are you heading today? Man: Actually, I'm going to the City Hall to cast my vote for mayor. Woman: Oh, what a coincidence. So am I! Who are you voting for? Man: Um, well...I'm still thinking about it. Woman: Here comes a bus now. Man: Oh good. Wait, that's not the bus we want. That bus goes downtown. Woman: Well, it looks like we'll be waiting a little longer. I guess, I'll use this time to catch up on my reading. Man: I love reading. Right now I'm reading a Stephen King book. Do you like Stephen King? Woman: Not really. Man: Oh, here's our bus. Woman: Oh great. I thought it would never come. Well, have a nice day. Man: Say, did you catch the news today?
Now check your answers. Did you find all 10 mistakes?
1. Woman: We could ask for a better day, could we? Correction: We couldn't ask for a better day, could we? 2. Woman: Me too. The cherry blossoms are beautiful, you think? Correction: Me too. The cherry blossoms are beautiful, aren't they? 3. Man: They sure are. But I heard he is calling for rain all weekend. Correction: They sure are. But I heard they are calling for rain all weekend. 4. Woman: Really? Oh well. I have to work all weekend anyway. I'm a doctor. Correction: During small talk with a stranger, it is not common to discuss personal information relating to work. 5. Man: Wow. I'm sure you make good money with that diamond watch you have on. Correction: It is not acceptable to discuss salaries while making small talk. 6. Woman: Ah, this bus seems to be running late. How long of a wait is it already? Correction: Ah, this bus seems to be running late. How long have you been waiting? 7. Woman: Where are you heading today? Correction: Too personal. 8. Woman: Oh, what a coincidence. So am I! Who are you voting for? Correction: Politics is not a "safe" subject to discuss. 9. Man: I love reading. Right now I'm reading a Stephen King book. Do you like Stephen King? Correction: The woman suggested that she wanted to end the conversation. The man did not take the hint. 10. Man: Say, did you catch the news today? Correction: Thanks. You too. This is not an appropriate time to start a new conversation. The bus's arrival indicates that it is time to stop talking.
Small Talk Practice 2: At the Office
Read the small talk below and find the 10 mistakes. Then check your answers. Woman: Hi there. Man: Hi. I haven't seen you around here before. Have you been working long? Woman: No, I've only been here a few months. I work in the Human Resources Department. Man: Oh, you must make more money than I do then. I'm in Sales. Woman: Sales sounds like an interesting job. Man: It's okay. Hey, you look like you could really have a coffee. Woman: Yes, it's been a really hectic week. Man: Tell me about it! At least it's supposing to be a nice weekend. Woman: Yes, I've listened that they are calling for blue skies. Man: Say, did you happen to catch the game last night? Woman: No, I was working late. Man: It was a great game. We won in overtime. Woman: Actually, I don't even know who was playing. I don't really follow sports. Man: The Chiefs! Do you think they're going to make it to the finals this year? Woman: I'm not sure. Well, I better get back to my desk. Man: Speaking of desks, what do you think of the new office furniture? Woman: It's nice, but I would rather get paid for my overtime hours than have new furniture. Man: Oh. Well, I think I'll be heading home early today. It might be snow. Woman: I know. I can't believe all of this cold weather. Hopefully Spring will come soon. Man: I can't wait until Spring. Woman: Me neither! My divorce will finally come through by then!
Now check your answers. Did you find all 10 mistakes? 1. Man: Hi. I haven't seen you around here before. Have you been working long? Correction: I haven't seen you around here before. Have you worked here long? 2. Man: Oh, you must make more money than I do then. I'm in Sales. Correction: Oh, that must be why I haven't seen you around. I'm in Sales. It is inappropriate to discuss how much people make in an office during small talk. 3. Man: It's okay. Hey, you look like you could really have a coffee. Correction: It's okay. Hey, you look like you could really use a coffee. 4. Man: Tell me about it! At least it's supposing to be a nice weekend. Correction: Tell me about it! At least it's supposed to be a nice weekend. 5. Woman: Yes, I've listened that they are calling for blue skies. Correction: Yes, I've heard that they are calling for blue skies. 6. Man: The Chiefs! Do you think they're going to make it to the finals this year? Correction: The man should not continue with this subject because the woman is obviously not interested in it. 7. Man: Speaking of desks, what do you think of the new office furniture? Correction: The man did not take the cue that the woman wants to end the conversation. 8. Woman: It's nice, but I would rather get paid for my overtime hours than have new furniture. Correction: Giving your opinion about a controversial subject is not appropriate when making small talk with someone you don't know or trust. 9. Man: Oh. Well, I think I'll be heading home early today. It might be snow. Correction: Oh. Well, I think I'll be heading home early today. It looks like it might snow. 10. Man: Me neither! My divorce will finally come through by then! Correction: Private information about one's personal life is not acceptable.
Practice 3: At a Party >>
Small Talk Practice 3: At a Party

Read the small talk below and find the 10 mistakes. Then check your answers. Woman 1: (Standing in a corner drinking a glass of wine by herself) Man: Hi there. Why aren't you dancing? Woman 1: (Smiles. No response.) Man: Hello. Have you tried Felicia's punch yet? Woman 2: No, but I was just about to. Man: Don't. It's terrible. Woman 2: Oh. Okay. Man: So, how are you knowing Rick? Woman 2: Oh, Rick and I go way back. We studied nursing together. Man: Nursing. Hmm. I heard on the radio today that all of you nurses are on strike. Are they not paying you enough? Woman 2: Actually it's about working conditions. Man: I see. So, have you had a chance to take a dip in the pool yet? Woman 2: No, not yet. How about you? Man: No, I need to lose some weight before I put on a bathing suit. But you have a great figure. Woman 2: Uh, thanks. Well, I better go and jingle. There are a few people I haven't said hello to yet. Man: Wait! Did you hear that the Pope is coming to town? Woman 2: Ya. I heard that on the news today. I bet it'll be really tough to get to see him. Man: I know. But I'm not Catholic anyway. Are you?
Woman 2: Yes, I am actually. Well, it looks the sun is finally coming out. I think I'll go take that swim. Man: You better hurry. I hear they are asking for thunderstorms this afternoon.
Now check your answers. Did you find all 10 mistakes? 1. Woman 1: (Smiles. No response.) Correction: It is rude not to say anything or answer someone, even if you are shy or don't know the person. 2. Man: Don't. It's terrible. Correction: Keep negative comments out of your small talk. You don't know if the person you are talking about is a close friend of the person you are talking to. 3. Man: So, how are you knowing Rick? Correction: So, how do you know Rick? 4. Man: Nursing. Hmm. I heard on the radio today that all of you nurses are on strike. Are they not paying you enough? Correction: During small talk it is not appropriate to discuss salaries. 5. Man: No, I need to lose some weight before I put on a bathing suit. But you have a great figure. Correction: Even though this is a compliment, it may make someone feel uncomfortable. Complimenting clothing is acceptable for small talk, but bodies are not a "safe" topic. 6. Woman 2: Uh, thanks. Well, I better go and jingle. There are a few people I haven't said hello to yet. Correction: Uh, thanks. Well, I better go and mingle. There are a few people I haven't said hello to yet. 7. Man: Wait! Did you hear that the Pope is coming to town? Correction: The man did not take the cue that the woman wants to end the conversation. "Wait" is a very direct word that should never be used in small talk. You could say, "Oh, before you go..." or "I don't want to keep you, but..." if you have something very important to add or ask.
8. Man: I know. But I'm not Catholic anyway. Are you? Correction: Religion is not a "safe" subject to discuss during small talk. 9. Woman 2: Yes, I am actually. Well, it looks the sun is finally coming out. I think I'll go take that swim. Correction:Yes, I am actually. Well, it looks like the sun is finally coming out. I think I'll go take that swim. 10. Man: You'd better hurry. I hear they are asking for thunderstorms this afternoon. Correction: You'd better hurry. I hear they are calling for thunderstorms this afternoon.
Expressions for Agreeing and Disagreeing

Stating an opinion

In my opinion... The way I see it... If you want my honest opinion.... According to Lisa... As far as I'm concerned... If you ask me... What's your idea? What are your thoughts on all of this? How do you feel about that? Do you have anything to say about this? What do you think? Do you agree? Wouldn't you say? I agree with you 100 percent. I couldn't agree with you more. That's so true. That's for sure. (slang) Tell me about it! You're absolutely right. Absolutely. That's exactly how I feel. Exactly. I'm afraid I agree with James. I have to side with Dad on this one. No doubt about it. (agree with negative statement) Me neither.
Asking for an opinon
Expressing agreement
(weak) I suppose so./I guess so. You have a point there. I was just going to say that. I don't think so. (strong) No way. I'm afraid I disagree. (strong) I totally disagree. I beg to differ. (strong) I'd say the exact opposite. Not necessarily. That's not always true. That's not always the case. No, I'm not so sure about that. Can I add something here? Is it okay if I jump in for a second? If I might add something... Can I throw my two cents in? Sorry to interrupt, but... (after accidentally interrupting someone) Sorry, go ahead. OR Sorry, you were saying... (after being interrupted) You didn't let me finish. Let's just move on, shall we? Let's drop it. I think we're going to have to agree to disagree. (sarcastic) Whatever you say./If you say so.
Expressing disagreement
Interruptions
Settling an argument
Vocabulary | Vocabulary Quiz | Preparation | Negotiation Process | Settlement | Test
Vocabulary
Word Part of speech Meaning Example Sentence
alternatives noun
other options
We can't offer you the raise you requested, but let's discuss some other alternatives.
amplify verb
expand; give more information
Could you amplify on your proposal please.
arbitration noun
conflict that is addressed by using a neutral third party
We're better to settle this between us, because a formal arbitration will cost both of us money.
bargain verb
try to change a person's mind by using various tactics
We bargained on the last issue for over an hour before we agreed to take a break.
bottom-line noun
the lowest one is willing to go
I'll accept a raise of one dollar per hour, but that's my bottom-line.
collective adj
together
This is a collective concern, and it isn't fair to discuss it without Marie present.
compensate verb
make up for a loss
If you are willing to work ten extra hours a week we will compensate you by paying you overtime.
comply verb
agree
I'd be willing to comply if you can offer me my own private office.
compromise verb
changing one's mind/terms slightly in order to find a resolution
We are willing to compromise on this issue because it means so much to you.
concession noun
a thing that is granted or accepted
I think we can offer all of these concessions, but not all at once.
conflict resolution noun
general term for negotiations
It is impossible to engage in conflict resolution when one of the parties refuses to listen.
confront verb
present an issue to someone directly
I confronted my boss about being undervalued, and we're going to talk about things on Monday.
consensus noun
agreement by all
It would be great if we could come to a consensus by 5:00 P.M.
cooperation noun
the working together
I have appreciated your cooperation throughout these negotiations.
counter proposal noun
the offer/request which is presented second in response to the first proposal
In their counter proposal they suggested that we keep their company name rather than creating a new one.
counterattack verb/noun
present other side of an issue
Before we could start our counterattack they suggested we sign a contract.
counterpart noun
person on the other side of the negotiations
I tried to close the discussions at noon, but my counterpart would not stop talking.
cordially verb/noun
politely
In the past I have had little respect for that client, but today she spoke cordially and listened to my point of view.
demands adv
needs/expectations that one side believes it deserves
They had some last minute demands that were entirely unrealistic.
deadlock noun
point where neither party will give in
When the discussions came to a deadlock we wrote up a letter of intent to continue the negotiations next week.
dispute
argument/conflict
I was hoping to avoid discussing last year's dispute, but Monica is still holding
noun
a grudge.
dominate verb
have the most control/stronger presence
Max has such a loud voice, he tends to dominate the conversations.
entitled adj
be deserving of
My contract says that I am entitled to full benefits after six months of employment.
flexible adj
open/willing to change
We have always been flexible in terms of your working hours.
haggling verb
arguing back and forth (often about prices)
We've been haggling over this issue for too long now.
hostility noun
long-term anger towards another
I want you to know that we don't have any hostility towards your company despite last year's mixup.
high-ball verb
make a request that is much higher than you expect to receive
I'm planning to high-ball my expectations when I open the discussion.
impulse noun
quick decision without thought or time
I acted on impulse when I signed that sixmonth contract.
indecisive adj
has difficulty choosing/making a decision
They were so indecisive we finally asked them to take a break and come back next week.
leverage noun
(bargaining power) something that gives one party a greater chance at succeeding over another
We have a little bit of leverage because we are the only stationary company in town.
log-rolling verb
trading one favour for another
After a bit of log-rolling we came to an agreement that pleased both of us.
low-ball verb
offer something much lower than you think the opponent will ask for
I was expecting my boss to low-ball in the initial offer, but he proposed a fair salary increase.
mislead verb
convince by altering or not telling the whole truth about something
They misled us into thinking that everything could be resolved today.
mutual adj
agreed by both or all
The decision to call off the merger was mutual.
objective noun
goal for the outcome
My prime objective is to have my family members added to my benefits plan.
point of view noun
person's ideas/ thoughts
From my point of view it makes more sense to wait another six months.
pressure verb
work hard to convince another of an idea
He pressured me to accept the terms by using intimidation tactics.
proposal noun
argument to present
While I listened to their proposal I noted each of their objectives.
receptive adj
open to/interested in an idea
His positive body language demonstrated that he was receptive to our suggestions.
resentment noun
anger held onto from a previous conflict
Mary's resentment stems from our not choosing her to head the project.
resistance
a display of opposition
We didn't expect so much resistance on
noun
the final issue.
resolve verb
end conflict, come to an agreement
Before you can resolve your differences you'll both need to calm down.
tactics noun
strategies used to get one's goals met
There are certain tactics that all skillful negotiators employ.
tension noun
feeling of stress/anxiety caused by heavy conflict
There was a lot of tension in the room when George threatened to quit.
trade-off noun
terms that are offered in return for something else
Lower payments over a longer period of time sounded like a fair trade-off until we asked about interest charges.
ultimatum noun
a final term that has serious consequences if not met
His ultimatum was that if I didn't agree to give him the raise he asked for, he'd quit today without two week's notice.
unrealistic adj
very unlikely to happen
It's unrealistic to think that we will have all of our demands met.
victory noun
a win
We considered it a victory because they agreed to four of our five terms.
yield verb
to give in to another's requests
The client will only yield to our conditions, if we agree to work over the holiday weekend.
Vocabulary Quiz
Preparing to Negotiate
Lack of preparation in a negotiation almost always sets a person up for failure. First and foremost, each party must clearly define their own goals and objectives. Secondly, each party must anticipate the goals of the opposition. This may require doing some background research. Finally, each party must come up with various alternatives to their main objectives.
Markus Prepares to Negotiate with Louis Markus approaches Louis after his shift on Friday afternoon and asks if he can arrange a meeting to discuss a potential promotion. Louis sighs and reminds Markus that they already had this discussion last year. Markus agrees, but reminds Louis of his loyalty to the company and insists that they speak again on the subject next week. Eventually Louis, who is afraid that Markus might quit on the spot, agrees to meet on Monday during the crew's lunchhour. Over the weekend, Markus thinks about Monday's meeting. Last year, he was unprepared to negotiate and ended up only getting a 50 cent/hour pay raise. This did not satisfy him, and he has continued to feel undervalued ever since. Many times, after a hard day at work, Markus has considered quitting. However, it is difficult to find work in the middle of winter. Markus has a family to support and he can't afford to lose his job. Markus decides to do some research on negotiating. He learns the principles behind collaborative negotiating, and decides that this is the approach he will take this time. After he has understood the concept he can ask himself the preparatory questions above. Finally, he can apply the rules of collaborative negotiating to his own case.
Here are some preparatory questions to ask yourself before beginning talks with the other party:

What is my main objective? What are all of the alternatives I can think of? Why do I deserve to have my goals met? What will my opponent's counter proposal likely consist of? How can I respond to this counter proposal? When would I like to have this issue resolved? What is my bottom-line? What market research/homework do I need to do to back up my cause? What is my bargaining power compared to my opponent's? What do I know about the principles of negotiating?
Markus Answers the Preparatory Questions
My main objective is to be named crew foreman and to earn a salary that is competitive with other foremen in the area. Alternatives include looking for work elsewhere, asking for a dollar more an hour, suggesting that Louis hire someone else to take on extra duties. I deserve this promotion because I have worked with Landscape Labourers for five consecutive years, and have received many compliments from satisfied clients. I am the team member who reports early every morning and leaves last. If we are under a deadline, I work through my lunchhour. All of the other team members come to me with their questions. Louis will likely say that he can't afford to pay me more because business is slow in the winter. He will say that there are plenty of qualified labourers who will do the work for less money. Both of these arguments are probably true. Landscape Labourers lost a lot of money last year due to poor weather. There were a few weeks that we couldn't work, but Louis had to pay us anyway because of our contracts. And, unemployment is at an all time high in our region. However, Louis just signed a contract with a new company that will mean regular work for at least the next two years. Also, the other team members rely on me, and none of them have the experience to take over my position if I quit. It will cost Louis a lot of money to train a new landscaper to do everything that I do. I understand that winter is tough on this business, so I would like to have this issue resolved by spring. I will look into three other local landscaping businesses and inquire about the salary and benefits of its employees. I will also review the classified ads to see if any other companies are hiring or looking for a foreman. My bottom-line is to receive an extra dollar an hour and to be named team manager. I think Louis and I have equal bargaining power right now. None of the other current members of our team are as committed to the job as I am. However, unemployment is high and there are other people he could hire. I have never been a strong negotiator. I need to learn more about negotiationg strategies and tactics.
Collaborative Negotiating
In business, the goal of negotiating parties should always be for mutual gain. This type of winwin negotiation is often called collaborative negotating. The opposite of collaborative negotiating is called competitive negotiating. The goal of competitive negotiating is for one
party to win and the other to lose. Dishonest practices, such as lying, manipulation, intimidation, and bribery are often used in this type of negotiation. Main Principles of Collaborative Negotiating:

Resolve previous conflicts ahead of time Deal with issues, not personalities Commit to listening more than speaking: The more you know about your counterpart, the more likely you will achieve your goals. You cannot convince someone of something when you do not know anything about them, or what their own needs are. A common mistake is to prepare one's next question or point while the opponent is speaking. Establish trust in the onset Develop a common goal Discuss a common enemy Take opponent's views/needs into careful consideration: Not only do you want to win this negotiation, you want your opponent to win as well, so that he or she will negotiate with you again in the future.
Markus Applies the Principles for Collaborative Negotiating

I will not discuss the fact that I was only offered a 50 cent raise last year. It was my fault for not being prepared to negotiate. Even though I think Louis is lazy, and takes too many days off when we are busy, I will not point out his shortcomings. This is about my promotion, not his work ethic. I will first thank Louis for employing me for five consecutive years. I will tell him that the stable work has meant a lot to me and my family, and I appreciate the security, especially with so many people out of work. I will tell Louis that I think his company is one of the most respected landscape companies in the region, and ensure him that my goal is to have a lifelong career at Landscape Labourers. I will say that I hope I will never have to work for a company that does a poor job, such as Powell Designs. I will acknowledge that last year's weather was a problem and note that it is not anyone's fault that the company lost money.
Preparing to Negotiate a Job Offer Negotiating a job offer should mean more than just saying, yes. Though being offered a job is an exciting time, it is also an important time to use your negotiating skills. Here are some issues you may want to raise before you accept:
Salary
Promotion Opportunies Insurance (medical, dental, accident, life) Holidays Vacation time Retirement/pension plans Stock options Overtime Expenses
The Negotiation Process

It's time to negotiate! Here are a few golden rules to successful negotiations: 1) Always try to negotiate for at least 15 minutes. Any less than that and it is unlikely that either party has had enough time to fairly consider the other side. Generally, the size or seriousness of the negotiation determines the amount of time needed to negotiate it. Setting a time limit is a good idea. Approximately 90% of negotiations get settled in the last 10% of the discussion. 2) Always offer to let the other party speak first. This is especially important if you are the one making a request for something such as a raise. The other party may have overestimated what you are going to ask for and may actually offer more than what you were going to request. 3) Always respect and listen to what your opponent has to say. This is important even if he or she does not extend the same courtesy to you. Do your best to remain calm and pleasant even if the other party is displaying frustration or anger. Remember some people will do anything to intimidate you. 4) Acknowledge what the other party says. Everyone likes to know that what they say is important. If the other party opens first, use it to your advantage, by paraphrasing what you have heard. Repeat their important ideas before you introduce your own stronger ones. 5) Pay attention to your own and your counterpartner's body language. Review the chart below to learn how to interpret body language during the negotiations. Make sure that you aren't conveying any negative body language.
Language to use to show understanding/agreement on a point:

I agree with you on that point. That's a fair suggestion. So what you're saying is that you... In other words, you feel that... You have a strong point there.
I think we can both agree that... I don't see any problem with/harm in that.
Language to use for objection on a point or offer:

I understand where you're coming from; however,... I'm prepared to compromise, but... The way I look at it... The way I see things... If you look at it from my point of view... I'm afraid I had something different in mind. That's not exactly how I look at it. From my perspective... I'd have to disagree with you there. I'm afraid that doesn't work for me. Is that your best offer? Possible meaning

Body Language Avoiding Eye Contact
Lying Not interested Not telling the whole truth Trying to intimidate Showing anger Nervousness Lack of confidence Submission Agreeing Willing to compromise Frustrated In disbelief Disagreeing with a point
Serious Eye Contact
Touching the face/fidgeting
Nodding
Shaking the head/turning away
Markus Opens the Negotiations It's finally lunchtime and Markus and Louis meet as planned. Markus offers for Louis to speak first, but Louis declines: Markus: Thanks again for agreeing to meet today. I really appreciate you taking the time during your lunch. Louis: Okay, well, let's get started. I'd like to resolve this as soon as possible so we can get back to work. Markus: Great. Okay, well, if there's anything you'd like to say first, please be my guest. Louis: Oh, no, I insist you go first. After all, you're the one who asked to meet with me. Markus: Very well then. First of all I want you to know that I am fully aware of the challenges you have faced in running this company in the last few years. I understand that the poor weather last year ended up costing you and all of the local landscape companies a lot of money. However, I think you realize that I am unsatisfied with my current salary. I've been with Landscape labourers for 5 years now and there have been many other years that were profitable. Despite how much your business has grown, I'm making less than a dollar more than I was the day I started. Louis: You're lucky to have a job in these times. Markus: Yes, and I'm very thankful that you have employed me all this time, especially during the slow seasons when the company is struggling to make a profit. It means a lot to me to have that stability, which is why I have remained loyal to your company. Louis: You haven't had much choice but to remain loyal, Markus. There are no jobs out there. Markus: Well if you don't mind, I'd like to finish what I have to say and then you can let me know what your position is. As a matter of fact, there are a few companies hiring right now in our area. These are not all necessarily companies that I would be interested in working with. For example, you and I both know that I would never want to work for a company such as Powell Designs. I'd much prefer to be associated with a company like Landscape Labourers because we do a good job. Having said that, I took the liberty of calling a few other local companies to find out what type of salary packages they offer to their foremen. Louis: Foremen? I don't have a foreman. I never have. It's not my style. Don't forget, you're a contract labourer just like the rest of the crew. Markus: Yes, I thank you for bringing that up. Besides deserving a higher salary, one that is competitive
with local companies, I also think that I deserve a new title. You and I both know that the crew looks to me as though I am a foreman, even though I don't have the title. Louis: You don't have the title, but you also don't have the responsibility. It's a lot of work being a foreman. Markus: Exactly. And you can't say that you haven't noticed me coming in earlier than the others and leaving later. I also designate jobs to all of the crew members each morning and call suppliers when needs arise. These are duties of a foreman, am I right? Louis: I suppose. But a foreman also helps solve conflicts that arise within a team, and deals with customer complaints. You always pass those things on to me. Markus: I agree with you on that. However, I would be willing to take on these extra responsiblities, should you offer me a foreman position at a rate of $25.00 per hour.
Coming to a Close or Settlement

There are a number of signals that indicate that negotiations are coming to a close. This may not always mean that an agreement has been reached. In many cases, there are many rounds of negotiations. The preliminary round may uncover the major issues, while subsequent rounds may be needed to discuss and resolve them. Here are some signals of talks coming to a close:

A difference of opinion has been significantly reduced One party suggests signing an agreement. One or both parties indicate that a period of time to pause and reflect is necessary.
Beware of last-minute strong-arm tactics.
Even if you make the decision to treat your negotiating opponent with honesty and kindness, the other party may not extend you the same respect. Be prepared to stand your ground firmly, yet cordially, especially in the last few minutes of the negotiations. This is the time when manipulative parties may employ certain tactics in order to try to fool you into losing focus or lowering goals and standards. Remember that conflicts are generally resolved in the last few minutes. The theory behind last minute tactics is that one party may be more willing to give in out of fear that all of the concessions or progress made up to that point (perhaps hours or weeks of talks) might be lost. People also get tired or have other commitments that need to be met, such as making an important phone call before another business closes, or picking up children from school. Here are some last minutes tricks that negotiators often use at this time:
Walking out of the room Offering a short-term bribe Telling you to take it or leave it Giving an ultimatum Abrupt change in tone (used to shock the other party into submission) Introducing new requests (used at to get you to concede with little thought or consideration) Stating generalizations without evidence (dropped without significant statistics/proof) Adopting the Mr. Nice Guy persona (used to try to make it look like they are doing you a favour in hopes that you will lower your expectations)
Language to use in closing

It sounds like we've found some common ground. I'm willing to leave things there if you are. Let's leave it this way for now. I'm willing to work with that. I think we both agree to these terms. I'm satisfied with this decision. I think we should get this in writing. I'd like to stop and think about this for a little while. You've given me a lot to think about/consider. Would you be willing to sign a contract right now? Let's meet again once we've had some time to think.
Louis Signals an End to the Negotiations and Attempts some Last-minute Tactics Louis: Look, we're running out of time here and I've barely had a bite of my lunch. Markus: I know, and we have a lot of work to get done this afternoon. Louis: Well, I guess we'll have to settle this at another time. Markus: Actually, I'd really like to get this settled today. I know how busy you are, and it's not easy to get you to sit down and talk. Louis: (standing up and getting ready to walk out of the room) Well, we're not getting anywhere. Markus: Please sit down for a few more minutes so we can make a decision. Louis:And what if I don't? Are you going to quit? Markus: I am a loyal employee, and I believe that it is in the best of both of our interests to have this conflict resolved. This should only take a few more minutes. Louis: Fine. You can be the foreman. I'll even change the title on your pay stub. But no raise. Markus: I think you and I both know, that the raise is more important to me than the title itself. Louis: You know, not very many owners would agree to give a person like you the title of foreman. You don't even have your proper certification. Markus:You've said before that experience means more to you than education. Remember that guy Samuel that you hired. He had a four year diploma in landscape design but had never worked a day out on the fields. You let him go before his probation was up. Louis: Oh, don't remind me of that kid. Markus: Look, I'd be willing to accept $24.00/hr, if you agree to review my salary again come spring. Louis Fine. I guess, that's fair. You are my best employee, right now at least. Markus: Great, then, you won't mind changing my status to crew foreman. I won't disappoint you. Remember, I'm willing to take on the extra duties of a foreman, which will give you more time to find new clients.
Louis: Speaking of new clients. I'm expecting an important phone call in ten minutes, so let's wrap this up. Markus: Well, I think we've both agreed on the terms. Can we shake on it? I mean, can I have your word that my new hourly wage will begin at the beginning of next month?(Markus holds out his hand.) Louis: (Louis shakes it.) Okay, Mr. Foreman. Get back to work, would you. And, I'll need you to order all of the supplies for Monday. Markus: Thanks, Louis. I'll get on that right now.
Formalize the agreement/negotiation
In most business negotiations it is a good idea to get something down in writing. Even if a decision has not been made, a letter of intent to continue the negotiations is often used. This is a way for each party to guarantee that talks will continue. A letter of intent often outlines the major issues that will be discussed in future negoatiations. In some cases a confidentiality agreement is also necessary. This is a promise from both parties to keep information private between discussions. When an agreement has been decided, a formal contract may be required. On the other hand, depending on the seriousness of the decision, and the level of trust between the two parties, a simple handshake and verbal agreement may be all that is needed. For example, an employer may offer a promotion and an employee may trust that the new salary will be reflected on the next paycheque. However, even if nothing is put formally in writing, it is wise to send an e-mail or letter that verifies the terms and puts the agreement on record, especially when a specific number is decided on.
Sample E-mail: To: louis@landscapelabourers.com From: markus@landscapelabourers.com Subject: Today's Negotiation Attachment: Site #345 Hi Louis I just wanted to write and thank you for spending your lunch hour with me today. I'm pleased with how our talks went and am excited to take on my new role as crew foreman. Even though my new salary will not be put in place until the first of next month, I will begin my new duties immediately. The supplies for Monday's job (Site #345) have all been ordered, and the total of the invoice will be $349.98, including tax and delivery. The crew has been assigned their tasks for Monday so we will be able to start as soon
as we arrive. You will find a chart attached outlining who will be taking care of what and how long it should take us to have it completed. If you have any concerns, feel free to call me at home over the weekend. Thanks again, Markus
Vocabulary
Word Part of speech absent adj accomplish verb address verb adjourn verb agenda noun AGM noun(abbr.) allocate verb AOB noun(abbr.) apologies noun ballot noun Meaning not present Example Sentence The vice president is absent due to unforeseen circumstances. We have a lot to accomplish today, so let's begin. I hope we do not have to address this matter again in the future. If there are no further comments, we will adjourn the meeting here. Please forward the agenda to anyone who is speaking at the meeting. We always vote for a new chairperson at the AGM. I forgot to allocate someone to bring refreshments. The last item on the agenda is AOB. Everyone is present today, so we can skip the apologies. Please fold your ballot in half before you place it in the box.
succeed in doing deal with; speak on
close a meeting
list of objectives to cover in a meeting Annual (yearly) General Meeting assign roles/tasks to certain people Any Other Business (unspecified item on agenda) item on agenda announcing people who are absent; apologies for absence a type of vote, usually in writing and usually secret
board of directors noun boardroom noun brainstorm verb casting vote noun chairperson/chair noun clarification/verification noun closing remarks noun collaborate verb commence verb comment verb or noun conference noun conference call noun
group of elected members of an organization/company who meet to make decisions a large meeting room, often has one long table and many chairs thinking to gather ideas
The board of directors meets once a month to discuss the budget. The boardroom is reserved for a managers' meeting, so we'll have to meet in the lounge. Let's take a few minutes and brainstorm some ways that we can cut costs. The role of treasurer was decided based on the chairman's casting vote. As chair, it is my pleasure to introduce to you, Mr. Allan Davis. Before we address this matter, I'll need some clarification as to who was involved. I just have a few closing remarks and then you will all be free to go. The board fell apart because the members had difficulty collaborating. We will commence as soon as the last person signs the attendance sheet. If you have a comment, please raise your hand rather than speak out. Before the conference there will be a private meeting for board members only. Please make sure I have no interruptions while I'm on the conference call.
deciding vote (usually by the chairman) when the votes are otherwise equal the person who leads or presides at a meeting explanation/proof that something is true/understood last thoughts spoken in a meeting (i.e. reminders, thank yous) work together as a pair/group
begin
express one's opinions or thoughts
formal meeting for discussion, esp. a regular one held by an organisation telephone meeting between three or more people in different locations
confidential adjective consensus noun deadline noun designate verb formality noun
private; not to be shared
Any financial information shared during this meeting should be kept confidential. If we cannot come to a consensus by the end of the meeting we will put it to a vote. The deadline for buying tickets to the conference is May 25th. If no one volunteers to take the minutes I will be forced to designate someone. Everyone knows who is going to be the next vice president, so this vote is really just a formality. The first item on the agenda relates to a grievance reported by the interns. I am delighted to welcome our guest speaker Holly, who is going to be offering some sales pitch tips. It's not a question of whether or not we're going to use this idea, it's whether or not we know how to implement it. It is mandatory that all supervisors attend Friday's meeting. Before we begin with today's meeting, let's quickly review the minutes from last month. The motion to extend store hours has been passed. I'm pleased that we were able to cover all of the objectives
general agreement
due date for completion assign
a procedure (often unnecessary) that has to be followed due to a rule complaint
grievance noun guest speaker noun
person who joins the group in order to share information or deliver a speech make something happen; follow through
implement verb
mandatory adjective minutes noun motion noun objectives noun
required
a written record of everything said at a meeting a suggestion put to a vote goals to accomplish
today within the designated time. opening remarks noun chairperson or leader's first words at a meeting (i.e. welcome, introductions) machine with a special light that projects a document onto a screen or wall so that all can see person who attends and joins in on an event As I mentioned in my opening remarks, we have to clear this room before the end of the hour. I'm going to put a pie chart on the overhead projector so that everyone can visualize how our profits have declined. Can I have a show of hands of all of those who were participants in last year's conference? There must have been one proxy vote because I count twelve ballots but only eleven attendees. Firstly, I want to thank you all for being punctual despite this early meeting. I recommend that you sit closer to the front if you have trouble hearing. From the show of hands it appears that everyone is in favour of taking a short break. We need to come up with a strategy that will allow us to have meetings less frequently. The vote was unanimous to cut work hours on Fridays. We need to vote for a new vice chairperson now that Jerry is retiring. Let's wrap up here so that we
overhead projector noun
participant noun
proxy vote noun
a vote cast by one person for or in place of another
punctual adjective recommend verb show of hands noun strategy noun unanimous adj vote verb or noun wrap up
on time (not late)
suggest
raised hands to express an opinion in a vote plan to make something work
in complete agreement; united in opinion to express (the expression of) an opinion in a group by voice or hand etc finish
verb
can get back to our desks.
Preparing for a Meeting

Calling a Meeting
There are a number of ways that you may call or be called to a meeting. Some meetings are announced by e-mail, and others are posted on bulletin boards. If a meeting is announced at the end of another meeting, it is important to issue a reminder. A reminder can also come in the form of an e-mail or notice. Verbal announcements or reminders should always be backed up by documented ones. The date, location, time, length, and purpose of the meeting should be included. It is also important to indicate exactly who is expected to attend, and who is not. If you are planning on allocating someone to take on a certain role, make personal contact with that person to inform them of his or her duty. Sample E-mail:
To: jane@paristours.com cc: kana@paristours.com; thomas@paristours.com; nolan@paristours.com From: pierre@paristours.com Subject: Meeting Hi Everyone, We will be having a meeting next Friday from 2:00 PM-4:00 PM in Room 3. All supervisors are expected to attend. The purpose of the meeting is to discuss the upcoming tourist season. As you probably have heard, this could be our busiest season to date. There are already twenty bus tours booked from Japan, and fifteen walking tours booked from North America. We are also expecting Korean and Australian tours in late summer. Please make arrangements to have other staff members cover your duties during the meeting. Thank you, Pierre
Sample Notice:
MEETING LOCATION: Room 3 DATE: Friday, May 5th TIME: 2:00 PM-4:00 P.M. FOR: Supervisors only SUBJECT: Tourist Season ATTENDANCE IS MANDATORY
Writing an Agenda
In order to keep the meeting on task and within the set amount of time, it is important to have an agenda. The agenda should indicate the order of items and an estimated amount of time for each item. If more than one person is going to speak during the meeting, the agenda should indicate whose turn it is to "have the floor". In some cases, it may be useful to forward the agenda to attendees before the meeting. People will be more likely to participate in a meeting, by asking questions or offering feedback, if they know what is going to be covered. Sample Agenda:
1 Welcome, Introduction: Pierre and Stella (5 minutes) 2 Minutes from previous meeting: Jane (10 minutes) 3 Japan Tours: Pierre (15 minutes) 4 N.A. Tours: Pierre (15 minutes) 5 Korean Tours: Pierre (15 minutes) 6 Australian Tours: Pierre (if time allows 10 minutes) 7 Feedback from last year: Everyone (15 minutes) 8 Vote on staff picnic: Everyone (15 minutes) 9 Questions/Closing remarks/Reminders: Everyone (5 minutes) Allocating roles The person in charge of calling and holding a meeting may decide to allocate certain roles to other staff members. Someone may be called upon to take the minutes, someone may be asked to do roll call, and someone may be asked to speak on a certain subject. This should be done either in person, or in an email.
Sample Personal Request: Pierre: Hi Jane, did you get the e-mail about next week's meeting? Jane: Yes, I'll be there. Pierre: Great. I'd like to put you in charge of reviewing the minutes from last meeting for us. Jane: Sure, I can do that. I think there is a copy of the minutes in my file.
Pierre: Thanks, you'll have ten minutes to remind us of what we discussed last meeting. This will be good for Stella to hear. Stella will be our new private tours coordinator. Sample E-mail:
To: jane@paristours.com From: pierre@paristours.com Subject: Minutes Hi Jane, I just wanted to make sure that you would be available to review last month's minutes and present them at Friday's meeting. We have a new staff member joining us, so I'd like to give her a chance to see where things have been going since the last meeting. If you have any concerns about this, let me know. Thanks, Pierre
Opening a Meeting
Small Talk
Whether you are holding the meeting or attending the meeting it is polite to make small talk while you wait for the meeting to start. You should discuss things unrelated to the meeting, such as weather, family, or weekend plans. Sample Dialogue: Pierre: Hi Thomas. How are you? Thomas: Great thanks, and you? Pierre: Well, I'm good now that the warm weather has finally arrived. Thomas: I know what you mean. I thought winter was never going to end. Pierre: Have you dusted off your golf clubs yet? Thomas: Funny you should ask. I'm heading out with my brother-in-law for the first round of the year on Saturday.
Welcome
Once everyone has arrived, the chairperson, or whoever is in charge of the meeting should formally welcome everyone to the meeting and thank the attendees for coming.

Well, since everyone is here, we should get started. Hello, everyone. Thank you for coming today. I think we'll begin now. First I'd like to welcome you all. Thank you all for coming at such short notice. I really appreciate you all for attending today.
We have a lot to cover today, so we really should begin.
Sample Welcome: Pierre: I think we'll begin now. First I'd like to welcome you all and thank everyone for coming, especially at such short notice. I know you are all very busy and it's difficult to take time away from your daily tasks for meetings. Introductions If anyone at the meeting is new to the group, or if there is a guest speaker, this is the time when introductions should be made. The person in charge of the meeting can introduce the new person, or ask the person to introduce him or herself.

I'd like to take a moment to introduce our new tour coordinator. I know most of you, but there are a few unfamiliar faces. Stella, would you like to stand up and introduce yourself? Hi everyone. I'm Judy Strauss. I'll be acting as Amanda's assistant while Nancy is away on maternity leave.
Roll Call/Apologies
If the meeting is a small group, it is probably unecessary to take attendance out loud. The person who is taking the minutes will know everyone personally and can indicate who is present and who is absent. In a larger meeting, it may be necessary to send around an attendance sheet or call out names. If an important figure is absent, it may be necessary for the chairperson to apologize for his or her absence and offer a brief explanation for it.

It looks like everyone is here today. If you notice anyone missing, please let Jane know so that she can make a note of it. Unfortunately, Ken cannot join us today. He has been called away on business Mike will be standing in to take the minutes today, as Lisa is home with the flu.
Objectives
Some people who hold meetings prefer to pass around copies of the agenda, and others will post a large copy on a wall, or use an overhead projector. No matter which format is used, attendees should be able to follow the agenda as the meeting progresses. Before beginning the first main item on the agenda, the speaker should provide a brief verbal outline the objectives. Sample Introduction to the Agenda: Pierre: As you can all see here on the agenda we will be mainly talking about the upcoming tourist season. First we'll discuss the groups that will be coming in from Japan. After that we'll discuss the North American Tours, followed by the Korean tours. If time allows we will also discuss the Australian tours which are booked for early September. Next, I'm going to request
some feedback from all of you concerning last year's tours and where you think we can improve. And finally, we'll be voting on where and when to have this year's staff picnic.
Following the Agenda

Taking the Minutes
Anyone, including you, may be assigned to take the minutes at a meeting. Often someone who is not participating in the meeting will be called upon to be the minute-taker. Before a meeting the minute-taker should review the following:

The minutes from previous meeting All of the names of the attendees (if possible) The items on the agenda
It also helps to create an outline before going to the meeting. An outline should include the following:

A title for the meeting The location of the meeting A blank spot to write the time the meeting started and ended The name of the chairperson A list of attendees that can be checked off(or a blank list for attendees to sign) A blank spot for any attendees who arrive late or leave early
Sample Minutes Outline: Supervisor's Meeting Friday, May 5 Room 3 Start: ________ Finish: ________ Chair: Pierre Attendees: 1._________ 2._________ 3._________ 4._________ 5._________ Late to arrive:_________ Early to depart:________ The minute-taker can use a pen and paper or a laptop computer and does not need to include every word that is spoken. It is necessary to include important points and any votes and results. Indicating who said what is also necessary, which is why the minute-taker should make sure to
know the names of the attendees. If you cannot remember someone's name, take a brief note of their seating position and find out their name after the meeting. A minute-taker should type out the minutes immediately after the meeting so that nothing is forgotten.
Watching the Time
One of the most difficult things about holding an effective meeting is staying within the time limits. A good agenda will outline how long each item should take. A good chairperson will do his or her best to stay within the limits. Here are some expressions that can be used to keep the meeting flowing at the appropriate pace.

I think we've spent enough time on this topic. We're running short on time, so let's move on. We're running behind schedule, so we'll have to skip the next item. We only have fifteen minutes remaining and there's a lot left to cover. If we don't move on, we'll run right into lunch. We've spent too long on this issue, so we'll leave it for now. We'll have to come back to this at a later time. We could spend all day discussing this, but we have to get to the next item.
Regaining Focus
It is easy to get off topic when you get a number of people in the same room. It is the chairperson's responsiblity to keep the discussion focused. Here are some expressions to keep the meeting centred on the items as they appear on the agenda.

Let's stick to the task at hand, shall we? I think we're steering off topic a bit with this. I'm afraid we've strayed from the matter at hand. You can discuss this among yourselves at another time. We've lost sight of the point here. This matter is not on today's agenda. Let's save this for another meeting. Getting back to item number 5... Now where were we? Oh yes, let's vote.
Voting
When issues cannot be resolved or decisions cannot be easily made, they are often put to a vote. Most votes occur during meetings. Votes can be open, where people raise their hands in favour or in opposition of the issue. In an open vote, the results are evident immediately. Other votes, such as who should be elected to take on a certain role, are private or closed. During private votes, attendees fill out ballots and place them in a box to be counted. The results may not be counted until after the meeting. Here are some specific expressions used during open voting:
All in favour? (Those who agree raise their hands or say "Aye".) All opposed? Motion to hire more tour guides, moved by Thomas. (Suggestions or ideas that are put to a vote are called motions. When a person makes a suggestion, the term to use both during the meeting and in the minutes is moved.) Motion to hire more tour guides seconded by Nolan. (When another person agrees with the motion, it is seconded.)
When a motion is voted and agreed upon it is carried. When it is voted and disagreed upon it is failed. Most often votes are put to a majority. If there is a tie vote, the chairperson will often cast the deciding vote. Sample Voting Session: Pierre: Okay, now that we've covered most of the business, it's time to vote on the staff picnic. Jane and I have come up with two different ideas. I'll give Jane the floor now, and she'll outline these two options. After that we'll vote. I don't think there is any reason to have a private vote, so I'll just ask to see a show of hands. Jane, would you do the honours? Jane: Thanks Pierre. Okay, so, as you all probably assumed, we are going to wait until most of the tours have passed through before we have the staff picnic. That way most of you should be able to attend. So we've chosen the last Sunday of September. I hope that works out for all of you. Now, the first option is to have a BBQ at Mariposa Beach. We would do this on the last Sunday of September. The second option is to have a potluck dinner/pool party in Pierre's backyard. The only problem with this is if it rains, there isn't much in the way of shelter there. I don't think Pierre and his wife will want all of us dashing inside in a thunderstorm. Pierre: Well, if we had to we could probably squeeze everyone in the basement. Anyhow, those are the options, so let's put it to a vote. All in favour of option number one? Raise your hands please...okay, one vote. And, all in favour of option number two? That's four. Okay, so it looks like a pool party at my house. Jane: Great. I'll put up a sign up sheet and everyone can write down what they plan to bring.
Comments and Feedback
During the meeting, participants will comment, provide feedback, or ask questions. Here are some ways to do so politely:

If I could just come in here... I'm afraid I'd have to disagree about that. Could I just say one thing? I'm really glad you brought that up, Kana. I couldn't agree with you more. (I agree) Jane, could you please speak up. We can't hear you at the back. If I could have the floor (chance to speak) for a moment... We don't seem to be getting anywhere with this. Perhaps we should come back to this at another time?
Closing a Meeting
Wrapping Up
There are different reasons why a meeting comes to an end. Time may run out, or all of the items in the agenda may be checked off. Some meetings will end earlier than expected and others will run late. The odd time, a meeting may be cut short due to an unexpected problem or circumstance. Here are a variety of ways to adjourn a meeting:

It looks like we've run out of time, so I guess we'll finish here. I think we've covered everything on the list. I guess that will be all for today. Well, look at that...we've finished ahead of schedule for once. If no one has anything else to add, then I think we'll wrap this up. I'm afraid we're going to have to cut this meeting short. I've just been informed of a problem that needs my immediate attention.
Reminders
There is almost always one last thing to say, even after the closing remarks. A chairperson might close the meeting and then make a last-minute reminder. Instructions for tidying up the room may also be mentioned.

Oh, before you leave, please make sure to sign the attendance sheet. I almost forgot to mention that we're planning a staff banquet next month. Don't forget to put your ballot in the box on your way out. If I didn't already say this, please remember to introduce yourself to the new trainees. Could I have your attention again? I neglected to mention that anyone who wants to take home some of this leftover food is welcome to. If you could all return your chair to Room 7 that would be appreciated. Please take all of your papers with you and throw out any garbage on your way out.
Thank You's and Congratulations
The end of the meeting is also the time to thank anyone who has not been thanked at the beginning of the meeting, or anyone who deserves a second thank you. Congratulations or Goodluck can also be offered here to someone who has experienced something new, such as receiving a promotion, getting married, or having a baby.

Before I let you go let's all give a big thank you (everyone claps) to Thomas for baking these delicious cookies. Again, I want to thank you all for taking time out of your busy schedules to be here today. Most of you probably already know this, but Nolan's wife just gave birth to a baby boy.
As you leave today, don't forget to wish Stella luck on the weekend.The next time you see her she will be happily married.
Follow Up
In the closing remarks, the chairperson, or participants may want to discuss the date and time for the next meeting, when the minutes will be available, or when a decision should be made by. This is also the time to give contact information, such as how to send a question by e-mail or who to call regarding a certain issue.

We'll meet again on the first of next month. Next time we meet I'll be sure to have those contacts for you. If anyone has any questions about anything we discussed today, feel free to send me an e-mail. The minutes from today's meeting will be posted as of tomorrow afternoon. I'll send out a group e-mail with the voting results. ABOUT | BLOG | ARTICLES | WORKSHEETS | REVIEWS | JAPAN | LINKS
English job interviews match questions and answers

Job applications match the questions and answers Cut up the worksheet below into a pack of cards. Mix up the cards and try to find two questions that mean the same thing. Then find two possible answers to those two questions.
Do you have any questions for us?
Is there anything you would like to ask?
No, I think youve told me everything I need to know thanks.
Yes, I have 20 or so questions for you, if that is okay.
What are your main weaknesses?
What areas do you most need to improve on?
I am naturally a bit impatient, but since I took up yoga I am much calmer at work. I think most people would say I am quite serious at
I often get angry. I am quite stressed when I am at work, so maybe my
How would your colleagues describe
Tell us something about your
you?
personality.
work but also good fun when we go out.
colleagues dont see my real personality
Why did you decide to leave your last job/ present job?
Is there any special reason why youve decided to move on now?
My boss is very aggressive.
I have learnt a lot in my company, but I am ready for a new challenge.
What was your greatest accomplishment?
Can you give us one example of something you have achieved?
In my previous position I helped my team double sales. Ive been reading a lot about your industry, and you seems to have some original ideas. As I havent worked in this sector, I can bring in ideas from other industries I know.
I single-randomly forced my company to install a new computer system. My wife wants me to work for a big, well-known company.
What do you know about our company?
Is there anything about this company that made you choose us?
Why should we choose you for this job?
What do you have to offer this company?
I know several secret marketing plans from my company I can let you know
What are your professional ambitions?
Where do you see yourself in five years time?
Maybe management, but the important thing is to keep developing My new colleague was completely incompetent, but I trained him up
I think I could be a good CEO.
Please give us an example of
Can you think of any problems you
I undertook some cross-cultural training that really helped
overcoming difficulties at work
have had to solve in your job?
and it was days.
working with a foreign boss.
Would you say you are a natural leader?
Does leadership come naturally to you?
I dont think I would say that, but I have learnt a lot about leadership in the last 5 years.
Yes, I think so. Ive always thought that about myself.
How is your experience relevant to this job?
Do you think your previous jobs are good preparation for this one?
Its basically exactly the same job as what I will be doing with you.
Although it seems different, the skills of teamwork and detailed planning are very similar
Can you work under strict deadlines?
Do you have the ability to stay calm under pressure?
Yes. I am a very calm person.
I believe so. I have shown that ability over several big projects in the last 12 months.
How do you feel about moving abroad for you job?
Does working abroad appeal to you?
Its not something Ive really thought about, but it sounds like a great challenge.
That is my childhood ambition. I would really love to do that.
What skills have you learnt in your present job?
How have your skills developed over the last few years?
Nothing special. Ive always found my present job quite easy.
Computers were totally new, so though Ive still got lots learn that has improved
I dont have any
What experience do you have of ISO certification?
Have you been involved in ISO certification before?
None, Im afraid.
experience of exactly that, but my previous job was quite similar.
When can you start?
When are you available to take up the position if it is offered to you?
Im supposed to give them 2 weeks notice, but I could phone in sick if you want me sooner
If you could let me know by next week, I could start at the beginning of the new year.
In each pair of answers there is one good answer and one bad one, which one is which?
Informal Contractions
Informal contractions are short forms of other words that people use when speaking casually. They are not exactly slang, but they are a little like slang. For example, "gonna" is a short form of "going to". If you say "going to" very fast, without carefully pronouncing each word, it can sound like "gonna". Please remember that these are informal contractions. That means that we do not use them in "correct" speech, and we almost never use them in writing. (If you see them in writing, for example in a comic strip, that is because the written words represent the spoken words or dialogue.) We normally use them only when speaking fast and casually, for example with friends. Some people never use them, even in informal speech. It is probably true to say that informal contractions are more common in American English. Also note that, unlike normal contractions, we do not usually use apostrophes (') with informal contractions when written. On the right are some common informal contractions, with example sentences. Note that the example sentences may be a little artificial because when we use a contraction we may also use other contractions in the same sentence, or even drop some words completely. For example:

What are you going to do? >> Whatcha going to do? >> Whatcha gonna do?
or

Do you want a beer? Do you wanna beer? D'you wanna beer? D'ya wanna beer? Ya wanna beer? Wanna beer?
These informal contractions are not "correct" English. Do not use them in a written exam, for example, except in appropriate situations.
ain't = am not/are not/is not I ain't sure. You ain't my boss. ain't = has not/have not I ain't done it. She ain't finished yet. gimme = give me Gimme your money. Don't gimme that rubbish. Can you gimme a hand? gonna = going to Nothing's gonna change my love for you. I'm not gonna tell you. What are you gonna do? gotta = (have) got a I've gotta gun. I gotta gun. She hasn't gotta penny. Have you gotta car? gotta = (have) got to I've gotta go now. I gotta go now. We haven't gotta do that. Have they gotta work? kinda = kind of She's kinda cute. lemme = let me Lemme go!
wanna = want to I wanna go home. wanna = want a I wanna coffee. whatcha = what are you Whatcha going to do? whatcha = what have you Whatcha got there? ya = you Who saw ya?
Cashier Transactions
Dealing with money can be stressful. It is easier to make mistakes when transactions are not in your native language. Take your time. Making mistakes can be costly. Many customers will not tell you if you make a mistake. Some companies will make you pay for shortages. Customers will be more patient if you are honest. Tell them you are training. They will also appreciate your effort to learn their language. Say, "Please bear with me. I'm still learning." As you become comfortable with the currency and the payment system your service in English will speed up.
Cashier Transactions: Language

Here are some expressions to use on the job. Practise them with a friend or family member. Refer to the vocabulary list if you don't know a word.

Do you have a discount card today? Are you using any coupons today? I will need to see some ID to sell you a lottery ticket. (for age restricted items) I'm sorry but your card has been declined. Would you like to use another form of payment? (when a credit or debit card has insufficient funds.) Will there be anything else for you today? Is this everything today? And how was everything today? (service industry) Will that be cash or charge? How will you be paying today? Your total comes to $16.50. From twenty...and here's $3.50 change. Please swipe your card. I just need to see some photo ID to verify your check. Would you like your receipt in the bag?
Sample Transactions: Speaking Practice

Find an English friend to practise with. Take turns being cashier and customer.
Sample Cash transaction Cashier: Hello. Is this everything for you today? Customer: Yes. Just a few items today. Cashier: Did you find everything you were looking for? Customer: Yes, thank you. Cashier: Okay. Your total comes to $8.70. (say "eight seventy" or "eight dollars and seventy cents") Customer: Can you break a fifty? I'm afraid I don't have anything smaller. Cashier: No problem. From fifty..$41.30 is your change. (say "forty-one thirty" or "forty-one dollars and thirty cents") Customer: Thank you. Cashier: Thank you. See you again. Sample Credit Card transaction Cashier: Here is your order, sir. Two pepperoni pizzas. Will there be anything else? Customer: No, that's great thanks. Cashier: Okay. Will that be cash or charge today? Customer: Charge. Cashier: Okay. Please swipe your card in the machine...Sorry, can you try again please. Customer: Is there a problem with my card?
Cashier: No, it's going through fine this time. I'll just need you to sign here, please. Customer: There you go. Cashier: Thank you Mr. Bates. Enjoy your pizza!
Cashier Transactions: Listening Practice

Listen to the customer enquiries below that take place at a checkout area. Read the three possible cashier responses for each enquiry. Which is the correct response? Check your answers.
1. Cashier response:
-Click for answ er
-Click for answ er
-Click for answ er
Listening Transcripts 1. "I'm only buying a chocolate bar today. Can I use my debit card?" 2. "I'm new in town and I'll be coming to this store often. Do you have shopper discount cards?" 3. "Can I please have a pack of cigarettes? I'll take the small red pack on the top right hand side, please."
A list of the pronunciation symbols used in this Dictionary is given below in the column headed AHD. The column headed EXAMPLES contains words chosen to illustrate how the AHD symbols are pronounced. The letters that correspond in sound to the AHD symbols are shown in boldface. Although similar, the AHD and IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) symbols are not precisely the same because they were conceived for different purposes.
EXAMPLES pat pay care father b ib church deed, milled pet bee fife, phase, rough gag hat which pit f g h
AHD boot out r b ch d pop roar sauce
EXAMPLES
AHD
ou p r s sh t th th
ship, dish tight, stopped thin this cut urge, term, firm, word, heard valve with yes
r v w y
hw
pie, by pier judge kick, cat, pique lid, needle* mum no, sudden* thing pot toe caught, paw, for, horrid, hoarse** noise took oi r j k l (n d'l) m n (s d'n) ng
zebra, xylem vision, pleasure, garage about, item, edible, gallop, circus butter
z zh
FOREIGN French feu, German schn French tu, German ber German ich, Scottish loch French bon (b )***
AHD
*In English the consonants l and n often constitute complete syllables by themselves. **Regional pronunciations of -or- vary. In pairs such as for, four; horse, hoarse; and morning, mourning, the vowel varies between () and ( ). In this Dictionary these vowels are represented as follows: for (fr), four (fr, f r); horse (hrs), hoarse (hrs, h rs); and morning (mr ning), mourning (mr ning, m r -). Other words for which both forms are shown include more, glory, and borne. A similar variant occurs in words such as coral, forest, and horrid, where the pronunciation of o before r varies between () and ( ). In these words the (r) pronunciation is given first: forest (fr ist, f r -).
***The Dictionary uses
to reflect that the preceding vowel is nasalized.

English

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Verb ask someone out ask around add up to something back something up back someone up blow up blow something

up break down break down

break something down

divide into smaller parts

break in break into something break something in break in

phone many different places/people return a phone call

call someone back

call something off

call on someone call on someone call someone up

ask for an answer or opinion visit someone phone

relax after being angry

not care for someone/something catch up

cut someone off cut something out

do someone/something over do something over

do away with something

to write information in blanks (Br.E.) to write information in blanks (N.Amer.)

fill something out

fill something up find out find something out

fill to the top discover discover

get something across/over get along/on

communicate, make understandable like each other

give something up give up go after someone

grow into something

grow big enough to fit

hand something down

give something used to someone else

end a phone call prevent from doing/going

leave unexpectedly, escape

sort something out stick to something switch something off

think back think something over

remember (often + to, sometimes + on) consider

turn something on turn something up turn up

try something on try something out use something up

sample clothing test finish the supply

Br.E.: British English; N.Amer.: North American

What is Word Stress?

click word to hear

PHO TO GRAPH PHO TO GRAPH ER PHO TO GRAPH IC

Why is Word Stress Important?

Where do I Put Word Stress?

Rules of Word Stress in English

4 Stress on ante-penultimate syllable (ante-penultimate = third from end)

example deMOcracy, dependaBIlity, phoTOgraphy, geOLogy CRItical, geoLOGical

Word Stress Quiz

is the place where I was born. before you go out.

Click for answ er

Click for answ er

Click for answ er

Click for answ er

Click for answ er

Click for answ er

My Grandfather wears an old-fashioned There is a lot of traffic

Click for answ er

on the highway today.

Click for answ er

Sentence Stress in English

content words structure words

Click here to hear

Will you SELL my

because I've GONE to FRANCE.

Sentence Stress Rules >

Rules for Sentence Stress in English

articles conjunctions auxiliary verbs

In this lesson we look at: