Life events

Use these words to talk about life events.

Verb Noun
be born be born birth birth
graduate graduate graduation gradua
marry marry marriage marria
get promoted get promoted promotion promo
retire retire retirement retirem
die die death death

Graduate can also be used as a noun, meaning someone who has just graduated from university or college.

Three of these words have adjective forms.

Adjective
married married
retired retired
dead dead

You may get promote promotion promoted to manager soon.

My parents are celebrating 25 years of marriage marry married .

He's going to graduate graduation graduating from Yale University next year.

The retire retired retirement couple are selling their house.

I'm very sorry about the death die dead of your grandmother.

My grandfather was birth birthing born in 1934.

You may get promote promotion promoted to manager soon.

My parents are celebrating 25 years of marriage marry married .

He's going to graduate graduation graduating from Yale University next year.

The retire retired retirement couple are selling their house.

I'm very sorry about the death die dead of your grandmother.

My grandfather was birth birthing born in 1934.

Past tense verbs for life events

Use these regular -ed past tense verbs to talk about life events.

graduate - graduated graduate - graduated

retire - retired retire - retired
die - died die - died

Here are some irregular past tense verbs you can use.

be born - was/were born be born - was/were born

say my first word - said my first word say my first word - said my first word
grow up - grew up grow up - grew up
become an adult - became an adult become an adult - became an adult
get a job - got a job get a job - got a job

Use was/were + not + base verb, or did + not + base verb, to make negative past tense statements.

I wasn't born in a hospital. I wasn't born in a hospital.

I didn't get promoted. I didn't get promoted.

Use was/were + subject + base verb, or did + subject + base verb, to make past tense questions.

A: Where were you born? Where were you born?

B: I was born in Seoul. I was born in Seoul.

A: Where did you grow up? Where did you grow up?
B: I grew up in Belgium. I grew up in Belgium.

She (say) her first word at 7 months old.

Emile (graduate) from a really good university.
I was married in 1983. That's when I (become) an adult.
My husband (retire) from a career in design.
Poor girl. Her grandfather (die) yesterday.
My parents (grow up) in Denmark.
Listening for details

When you are listening to people talk about their lives, concentrate on details such as dates and places. By listening for
these key details, you can understand what people are saying even if you don't hear every word.

In the following sentence, for example, you only need three words - born, Chicago and 1968 - to understand what the
speaker is saying.

Harry was born in Chicago in 1968.

In this sentence, you only need two words: graduate and June.

I'm going to graduate in June.

Train yourself to listen for the key details. It will allow you to keep up with most basic conversations, even
if you don't understand every word.

JAMES: So, Hailey, let's start with some basic information. Where were you born?

HAILEY: I was born in Amman, Jordan.

JAMES: And when were you born?

HAILEY: I was born on April 22nd. The first day of spring.

JAMES: That's lucky. And, uh, where did you grow up?

HAILEY: I grew up with my family in Al Karak, Jordan. Near the Dead Sea.

JAMES: Beautiful. And now a question about your high school, or university. Where did

you graduate from ?

HAILEY: I graduated from the University of Chicago in 2009.

JAMES: Uh-huh? Now let's talk about your work experience. Where are you working?

HAILEY: I'm working at Carter and Lindsey, in Chicago, as the creative director.

JAMES: And when did you start working there?

HAILEY: I got my job there in May 2011.

'Get' for life events

Use get with these words to talk about relationship milestones.

get married get married

get pregnant get pregnant
get divorced get divorced
get over a relationship get over a relationship
Use get with these words to talk about life and career milestones.

get a degree get a degree

get a job get a job
get promoted get promoted
get fired get fired
get a driver's license get a driver's license
get old get old
Clauses with 'when'

Clauses with when add information about time to a sentence.

When I was young, we didn't sit around all day texting. When I was young, we didn't sit around all da
Do you remember when we bought that house on Oak Street? Do you remember when we bought that hous
She spent a lot of time in her car when she first got her driver's She spent a lot of time in her car when she fi
license. license.

If the when clause begins a sentence, separate it from the rest of the sentence with a comma (,). If the when clause
finishes a sentence, don't use a comma.

More life events

Life is filled with important milestones. Think about these events in your own life. Have they already happened? When?
If not, when do you think they will happen?

I first traveled abroad when I was 15. I first traveled abroad w

I got my first car when I was 17. I got my first car when I

I moved out of my parents' house when I was 18. I moved out of my paren

I moved away from home when I was 18. I moved away from hom

I got my first apartment with my best friend. I got my first apartment

I met the love of my life when I was 22. I met the love of my life when I was 22.

We fell in love and got married.

We had our first child when I was 25.

We had our first grandchild when I was 46.

I first traveled abroad when I was 16. I went to Paris with my family. It was fantastic. The
next year, I got my first car. It was red! I moved out of my parents' house when I was 18, to
go to university. I got my first apartment with a friend near the university. My second year of
university, Imet the love of my life . We fell in love and got married one year later. We had
our first child after we graduated from university. I was only 22! We didn't have a lot of
money, but we were happy.

Clauses with 'after'

Like clauses with when, clauses with after add information about time to a sentence.

After I moved out of my parents' house, I got my first After I moved out of my parents' house,
apartment. apartment.
I got my first apartment after I moved out of my parents' house. I got my first apartment after I moved ou

Like clauses with when, if the after clause begins a sentence, separate it from the rest of the sentence with a
comma (,). If the after clause finishes a sentence, don't use a comma.

I was born in 1975. I got my first car when I was 16 years old. After I graduated from high school, I
moved out of my parents' house. After I got an apartment, I got a good job. I met a girl at work, and
we fell in love. After I got a promotion, we got married. When our first child was born, I really became
an adult.
Write a paragraph about some of the milestones in your life. When were you born? When did you
get your first car? Your first job? What did you do after you graduated? Use the vocabulary you have
learned and clauses with when and after.
Type in the input box. Write 40-60 words.
Vocabulary for interviews
Here are some useful words to talk about job interviews.
Can you send me your resume?
There are many candidates for this job.
I'm very interested in the position.
I have an appointment to talk to the manager.
I have an interview on Thursday.
This is a really good opportunity for me.
Here are some things you might be asked about during an interview.
Do you have any teaching experience?
Could you talk about your education?
What are your strengths?
What is your greatest weakness?
Tell me about your work background.
Here are some things you might hear at the end of an interview.
Could you come back for a second interview?
I'd like to introduce you to the other people on the team.
How is February 1st as a start date?
Can you send me your resume?
There are many candidates for this job.
I'm very interested in the position.
I have an appointment to talk to the manager.
I have an interview on Thursday.
This is a really good opportunity for me.
Do you have any teaching experience?
Could you talk about your education?
What are your strengths?
What is your greatest weakness?
Tell me about your work background.
Could you come back for a second interview?
I'd like to introduce you to the other people on
How is February 1st as a start date?
I can see from your opportunity resume appointment that you have a good education.

You have lots of good experience resume interview for the position.

I think you are a strong resume candidate interview for the job.

This position is a great opportunity interview team for the right person.

I'd like to know more about your strengths and interviews resumes weaknesses .

I want you to speak with some other people on the background team appointment .

Thank you very much for this opportunity to speak with you. I think I am a very strong
candidate for this position . As you can see on myresume , I have a lot of work experience ,
and my university education was excellent. I want to talk to you about both
my strengths and weaknesses. I know I can do great work on your team .

Interview expressions

When you first arrive for an interview, announce why you are there. Then thank the interviewer for seeing you.

I have
I have a 3 o'clock job interview with Ken Smith.
intervi
Thank
Thank you for seeing me, Mr. Smith.
Smith.
Thank
Thank you for the opportunity to meet with you.
to mee

The interviewer will ask some follow-up questions regarding your resume. Answer accordingly.

I see th
Interviewer: I see that you got your MBA from The Wharton School.
from T
Yes, it
Candidate: Yes, it was a wonderful program.
progra

I see th
workin
Interviewer: I see that you're currently working at DBX Systems. Why are you thinking of leaving?
Why a
leaving
Well, t
Candidate: Well, to be honest, the work isn't very challenging.
isn't ve
When talking about your weaknesses, one strategy is to take something positive, like working too much, and turn it into
a false weakness.

Interviewer: What do you think are some of your strengths and weaknesses?
What do you think are some of your strengths and weaknesses?

Candidate: Well, I am a very hard worker, but sometimes I work too much.
Well, I am a very hard worker, but sometimes I work too much.

If the interviewer thinks you are a promising candidate, he or she might outline the next steps or even ask you about
a start date.

Interviewer: I'd like you to talk with some other members of the team. Also, are you OK with the start date?
I'd like you to talk with some other members of the team. Also, are you OK with the start date?

Candidate: That sounds great and, yes, the start date works for me. Thank you again for meeting with me.
That sounds great and, yes, the start date works for me. Thank you again for meeting with me.
INTERVIEWER: Good afternoon. I'm Carol Higgins, director of Human Resources. Please

have a seat .

CANDIDATE: Thank you. And thank you very much for speaking with me today.

INTERVIEWER: My pleasure. Your resume is impressive . I think you are a

strong candidate for the position of IT manager. I just have one question about your

resume. Who was your supervisor at Data Systems?

CANDIDATE: Oh, that was Trisha Chambers. She left the company last month.

INTERVIEWER: Why is that, and why do you want to leave?

CANDIDATE: Well, I don't think the work is challenging . Business isn't good, and people

are worried.

INTERVIEWER: I see. And you like a good challenge?

CANDIDATE: I do. The more challenging, the better.

INTERVIEWER: Good. How about weaknesses ? Where do you think you need to improve?

CANDIDATE: Well, sometimes I try to do too much. I need to work on one thing at a time.