Verb Meaning Example Ask Someone Out

Verb
Meaning
Example
ask someone out
invite on a date
Brian asked Judy out to dinner

and a movie.
ask around
ask many people the same

question
I asked around but nobody has

seen my wallet.
add up to something
equal
Your purchases add up to

$205.32.
back something up
reverse
You'll have to back up your car

so that I can get out.
back someone up
support
My wife backed me up over my

decision to quit my job.
blow up
explode
The racing car blew up after it

crashed into the fence.
blow something up
add air
We have to blow 50 balloons up

for the party.
break down
stop functioning (vehicle,

machine)
Our car broke down at the side

of the highway in the
snowstorm.
break down
get upset
The woman broke down when

the police told her that her son
had died.
break something down
divide into smaller parts
Our teacher broke the final

project down into three separate
parts.
break in
force entry to a building
Somebody broke in last night

and stole our stereo.
break into something
enter forcibly
The firemen had to break into

the room to rescue the children.
break something in
wear something a few times so

that it doesn't look/feel new
I need to break these shoes in

before we run next week.
break in
interrupt
The TV station broke in to
report the news of the president's

death.
break up
end a relationship
My boyfriend and I broke up

before I moved to America.
break up
start laughing (informal)
The kids just broke up as soon

as the clown started talking.
break out
escape
The prisoners broke out of jail

when the guards weren't looking.
break out in something
develop a skin condition
I broke out in a rash after our

camping trip.
bring someone down
make unhappy
This sad music is bringing me

down.
bring someone up
raise a child
My grandparents brought me up
after my parents died.
bring something up
start talking about a subject
My mother walks out of the

room when my father brings up
sports.
bring something up
vomit
He drank so much that he

brought his dinner up in the
toilet.
call around
phone many different

places/people
We called around but we

weren't able to find the car part
we needed.
call someone back
return a phone call
I called the company back but

the offices were closed for the
weekend.
call something off
cancel
Jason called the wedding off

because he wasn't in love with
his fianc.
call on someone
ask for an answer or opinion
The professor called on me for

question 1.
call on someone
visit someone
We called on you last night but

you weren't home.
call someone up
phone
Give me your phone number and

I will call you up when we are in
town.
calm down
relax after being angry
You are still mad. You need to

calm down before you drive the
car.
not care for

someone/something
not like (formal)
I don't care for his behaviour.
catch up
get to the same point as

someone else
You'll have to run faster than that

if you want to catch up with
Marty.
check in
arrive and register at a hotel or

airport
We will get the hotel keys when

we check in.
check out
leave a hotel
You have to check out of the

hotel before 11:00 AM.
check
someone/something out
look at carefully, investigate
The company checks out all new

employees.
check out
someone/something
look at (informal)
Check out the crazy hair on that

guy!
cheer up
become happier
She cheered up when she heard

the good news.
cheer someone up
make happier
I brought you some flowers to

cheer you up.
chip in
help
If everyone chips in we can get

the kitchen painted by noon.
clean something up
tidy, clean
Please clean up your bedroom

before you go outside.
come across something
find unexpectedly
I came across these old photos

when I was tidying the closet.
come apart
separate
The top and bottom come apart

if you pull hard enough.
come down with
become sick
My nephew came down with
something
chicken pox this weekend.
come forward
volunteer for a task or to give

evidence
The woman came forward with

her husband's finger prints.
come from somewhere
originate in
The art of origami comes from

Asia.
count on
someone/something
rely on
I am counting on you to make

dinner while I am out.
cross something out
draw a line through
Please cross out your old

address and write your new one.
cut back on something
consume less
My doctor wants me to cut back

on sweets and fatty foods.
cut something down
make something fall to the

ground
We had to cut the old tree in our

yard down after the storm.
cut in
interrupt
Your father cut in while I was

dancing with your uncle.
cut in
pull in too closely in front of

another vehicle
The bus driver got angry when

that car cut in.
cut in
start operating (of an engine or

electrical device)
The air conditioner cuts in when

the temperature gets to 22C.
cut something off
remove with something sharp
The doctors cut off his leg

because it was severely injured.
cut something off
stop providing
The phone company cut off our

phone because we didn't pay the
bill.
cut someone off
take out of a will
My grandparents cut my father

off when he remarried.
cut something out
remove part of something

(usually with scissors and
paper)
I cut this ad out of the

newspaper.
do someone/something
over
beat up, ransack (Br.E.,

informal)
He's lucky to be alive. His shop

was done over by a street gang.
do something over
do again (N.Amer.)
My teacher wants me to do my
essay over because she doesn't
like my topic.
do away with
something
discard
It's time to do away with all of

these old tax records.
do something up
fasten, close
Do your coat up before you go

outside. It's snowing!
dress up
wear nice clothing
It's a fancy restaurant so we have

to dress up.
drop back
move back in a position/group
Andrea dropped back to third

place when she fell off her bike.
drop in/by/over
come without an appointment
I might drop in/by/over for tea

some time this week.
drop
someone/something off
take someone/something
somewhere and leave them/it
there
I have to drop my sister off at

work before I come over.
drop out
quit a class, school etc
I dropped out of Science

because it was too difficult.
eat out
eat at a restaurant
I don't feel like cooking tonight.

Let's eat out.
end up
eventually reach/do/decide
We ended up renting a movie

instead of going to the theatre.
fall apart
break into pieces
My new dress fell apart in the

washing machine.
fall down
fall to the ground
The picture that you hung up last

night fell down this morning.
fall out
separate from an interior
The money must have fallen out

of my pocket.
fall out
(of hair, teeth) become loose

and unattached
His hair started to fall out when

he was only 35.
figure something out
understand, find the answer
I need to figure out how to fit

the piano and the bookshelf in
this room.
fill something in
to write information in blanks

(Br.E.)
Please fill in the form with your

name, address, and phone
number.
fill something out
to write information in blanks

(N.Amer.)
The form must be filled out in

capital letters.
fill something up
fill to the top
I always fill the water jug up

when it is empty.
find out
discover
We don't know where he lives.

How can we find out?
find something out
discover
We tried to keep the time of the

party a secret, but Samantha
found it out.
get something
across/over
communicate, make
understandable
I tried to get my point

across/over to the judge but she
wouldn't listen.
get along/on
like each other
I was surprised how well my

new girlfriend and my sister got
along/on.
get around
have mobility
My grandfather can get around

fine in his new wheelchair.
get away
go on a vacation
We worked so hard this year that

we had to get away for a week.
get away with

something
do without being noticed or

punished
Jason always gets away with

cheating in his maths tests.
get back
return
We got back from our vacation

last week.
get something back
receive something you had

before
Liz finally got her Science notes

back from my room-mate.
get back at someone
retaliate, take revenge
My sister got back at me for

stealing her shoes. She stole my
favourite hat.
get back into

something
become interested in something

again
I finally got back into my novel

and finished it.
get on something
step onto a vehicle
We're going to freeze out here if

you don't let us get on the bus.
get over something
recover from an illness, loss,

difficulty
I just got over the flu and now

my sister has it.
get over something
overcome a problem
The company will have to close

if it can't get over the new
regulations.
get round to something
finally find time to do

(N.Amer.: get around to
something)
I don't know when I am going to

get round to writing the thank
you cards.
get together
meet (usually for social

reasons)
Let's get together for a BBQ this

weekend.
get up
get out of bed
I got up early today to study for

my exam.
get up
stand
You should get up and give the

elderly man your seat.
give someone away
reveal hidden information

about someone
His wife gave him away to the

police.
give someone away
take the bride to the altar
My father gave me away at my

wedding.
give something away
ruin a secret
My little sister gave the surprise

party away by accident.
give something away
give something to someone for

free
The library was giving away old

books on Friday.
give something back
return a borrowed item
I have to give these skates back

to Franz before his hockey game.
give in
reluctantly stop fighting or

arguing
My boyfriend didn't want to go

to the ballet, but he finally gave
in.
give something out
give to many people (usually at
They were giving out free
no cost)
perfume samples at the

department store.
give something up
quit a habit
I am giving up smoking as of
January 1st.
give up
stop trying
My maths homework was too

difficult so I gave up.
go after someone
follow someone
My brother tried to go after the

thief in his car.
go after something
try to achieve something
I went after my dream and now

I am a published writer.
go against someone
compete, oppose
We are going against the best

soccer team in the city tonight.
go ahead
start, proceed
Please go ahead and eat before

the food gets cold.
go back
return to a place
I have to go back home and get

my lunch.
go out
leave home to go on a social

event
We're going out for dinner

tonight.
go out with someone
date
Jesse has been going out with

Luke since they met last winter.
go over something
review
Please go over your answers

before you submit your test.
go over
visit someone nearby
I haven't seen Tina for a long

time. I think I'll go over for an
hour or two.
go without something
suffer lack or deprivation
When I was young, we went

without winter boots.
grow apart
stop being friends over time
My best friend and I grew apart

after she changed schools.
grow back
regrow
My roses grew back this

summer.
grow up
become an adult
When Jack grows up he wants to

be a fireman.
grow out of something
get too big for
Elizabeth needs a new pair of

shoes because she has grown
out of her old ones.
grow into something
grow big enough to fit
This bike is too big for him now,

but he should grow into it by
next year.
hand something down
give something used to

someone else
I handed my old comic books

down to my little cousin.
hand something in
submit
I have to hand in my essay by

Friday.
hand something out
to distribute to a group of
people
We will hand out the invitations

at the door.
hand something over
give (usually unwillingly)
The police asked the man to

hand over his wallet and his
weapons.
hang in
stay positive (N.Amer.,

informal)
Hang in there. I'm sure you'll

find a job very soon.
hang on
wait a short time (informal)
Hang on while I grab my coat

and shoes!
hang out
spend time relaxing (informal)
Instead of going to the party we

are just going to hang out at my
place.
hang up
end a phone call
He didn't say goodbye before he

hung up.
hold
someone/something
back
prevent from doing/going
I had to hold my dog back

because there was a cat in the
park.
hold something back
hide an emotion
Jamie held back his tears at his

grandfather's funeral.
hold on
wait a short time
Please hold on while I transfer

you to the Sales Department.
hold onto
someone/something
hold firmly using your hands or

arms
Hold onto your hat because it's

very windy outside.
hold
someone/somethingup
rob
A man in a black mask held the

bank up this morning.
keep on doing
something
continue doing
Keep on stirring until the liquid

comes to a boil.
keep something from

someone
not tell
We kept our relationship from

our parents for two years.
keep
stop from entering
Try to keep the wet dog out of

the living room.
keep something up
continue at the same rate
If you keep those results up you

will get into a great college.
let someone down
fail to support or help,

disappoint
I need you to be on time. Don't

let me down this time.
let someone in
allow to enter
Can you let the cat in before you

go to school?
look after
someone/something
take care of
I have to look after my sick

grandmother.
look down on someone
think less of, consider inferior
Ever since we stole that

chocolate bar your dad has
looked down on me.
look for
someone/something
try to find
I'm looking for a red dress for

the wedding.
look forward to
something
be excited about the future
I'm looking forward to the

Christmas break.
look into something
investigate
We are going to look into the

price of snowboards today.
look out
be careful, vigilant, and take

notice
Look out! That car's going to hit

you!
look out for

someone/something
be especially vigilant for
Don't forget to look out for

snakes on the hiking trail.
look something over
check, examine
Can you look over my essay for

spelling mistakes?
look something up
search and find information in

a reference book or database
We can look her phone number

up on the Internet.
look up to someone
have a lot of respect for
My little sister has always

looked up to me.
make something up
invent, lie about something
Josie made up a story about

about why we were late.
make up
forgive each other
We were angry last night, but we

made up at breakfast.
make someone up
apply cosmetics to
My sisters made me up for my

graduation party.
mix something up
confuse two or more things
I mixed up the twins' names

again!
pass away
die
His uncle passed away last night

after a long illness.
pass out
faint
It was so hot in the church that

an elderly lady passed out.
pass something out
give the same thing to many

people
The professor passed the

textbooks out before class.
pass something up
decline (usually something

good)
I passed up the job because I am

afraid of change.
pay someone back
return owed money
Thanks for buying my ticket. I'll

pay you back on Friday.
pay for something
be punished for doing

something bad
That bully will pay for being

mean to my little brother.
pick something out
choose
I picked out three sweaters for

you to try on.
point
indicate with your finger
I'll point my boyfriend out when

he runs by.
put something down
put what you are holding on a
You can put the groceries down
surface or floor
on the kitchen counter.
put someone down
insult, make someone feel

stupid
The students put the substitute

teacher down because his pants
were too short.
put something off
postpone
We are putting off our trip until

January because of the hurricane.
put something out
extinguish
The neighbours put the fire out

before the firemen arrived.
put something together
assemble
I have to put the crib together

before the baby arrives.
put up with
someone/something
tolerate
I don't think I can put up with

three small children in the car.
put something on
put clothing/accessories on
your body
Don't forget to put on your new

earrings for the party.
run into
someone/something
meet unexpectedly
I ran into an old school-friend at

the mall.
run over
someone/something
drive a vehicle over a person or

thing
I accidentally ran over your

bicycle in the driveway.
run over/through
something
rehearse, review
Let's run over/through these

lines one more time before the
show.
run away
leave unexpectedly, escape
The child ran away from home

and has been missing for three
days.
run out
have none left
We ran out of shampoo so I had

to wash my hair with soap.
send something back
return (usually by mail)
My letter got sent back to me

because I used the wrong stamp.
set something up
arrange, organize
Our boss set a meeting up with

the president of the company.
set someone up
trick, trap
The police set up the car thief by

using a hidden camera.
shop around
compare prices
I want to shop around a little

before I decide on these boots.
show off
act extra special for people

watching (usually boastfully)
He always shows off on his

skateboard
sleep over
stay somewhere for the night

(informal)
You should sleep over tonight if

the weather is too bad to drive
home.
sort something out
organize, resolve a problem
We need to sort the bills out

before the first of the month.
stick to something
continue doing something,

limit yourself to one particular
thing
You will lose weight if you stick

to the diet.
switch something off
stop the energy flow, turn off
The light's too bright. Could you

switch it off.
switch something on
start the energy flow, turn on
We heard the news as soon as we

switched on the car radio.
take after someone
resemble a family member
I take after my mother. We are

both impatient.
take something apart
purposely break into pieces
He took the car brakes apart

and found the problem.
take something back
return an item
I have to take our new TV back

because it doesn't work.
take off
start to fly
My plane takes off in five

minutes.
take something off
remove something (usually

clothing)
Take off your socks and shoes

and come in the lake!
take something out
remove from a place or thing
Can you take the garbage out to

the street for me?
take someone out
pay for someone to go

somewhere with you
My grandparents took us out for

dinner and a movie.
tear something up
rip into pieces
I tore up my ex-boyfriend's
letters and gave them back to
him.
think back
remember (often + to,

sometimes + on)
When I think back on my youth,

I wish I had studied harder.
think something over
consider
I'll have to think this job offer

over before I make my final
decision.
throw something away
dispose of
We threw our old furniture

away when we won the lottery.
turn something down
decrease the volume or strength

(heat, light etc)
Please turn the TV down while

the guests are here.
turn something down
refuse
I turned the job down because I

don't want to move.
turn something off
stop the energy flow, switch off
Your mother wants you to turn

the TV off and come for dinner.
turn something on
start the energy, switch on
It's too dark in here. Let's turn

some lights on.
turn something up
increase the volume or strength

(heat, light etc)
Can you turn the music up?

This is my favourite song.
turn up
appear suddenly
Our cat turned up after we put

posters up all over the
neighbourhood.
try something on
sample clothing
I'm going to try these jeans on,

but I don't think they will fit.
try something out
test
I am going to try this new brand

of detergent out.
use something up
finish the supply
The kids used all of the

toothpaste up so we need to buy
some more.
wake up
stop sleeping
We have to wake up early for

work on Monday.
warm
someone/something up
increase the temperature
You can warm your feet up in

front of the fireplace.
warm up
prepare body for exercise
I always warm up by doing situps before I go for a run.
wear off
fade away
Most of my make-up wore off

before I got to the party.
work out
exercise
I work out at the gym three

times a week.
work out
be successful
Our plan worked out fine.
work something out
make a calculation
We have to work out the total

cost before we buy the house.
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
number of syllables
dog
dog
green
green
quite
quite
quiet
qui-et
orange
or-ange
table
ta-ble
expensive
ex-pen-sive
interesting
in-ter-est-ing
realistic
re-al-is-tic
unexceptional
un-ex-cep-tion-al
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
PHO TO GRAPH
#1
PHO TO GRAPH ER
#2
PHO TO GRAPH IC
#3
click word to hear
shape
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.
example
phonetic spelling:
dictionary A
phonetic spelling:
dictionary B
PLAS TIC
/pls'tIk/
/'pls tIk/
Rules for Word Stress >
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
example
Most 2-syllable nouns
PRESent, EXport, CHIna, TAble
Most 2-syllable adjectives
PRESent, SLENder, CLEVer, HAPpy
2 Stress on last syllable

rule
example
Most 2-syllable verbs
to preSENT, to exPORT, to deCIDE, to beGIN
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
example
Words ending in -ic
GRAPHic, geoGRAPHic, geoLOGic
Words ending in -sion and -tion
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
example
Words ending in -cy, -ty, -phy and -gy
deMOcracy, dependaBIlity, phoTOgraphy, geOLogy
Words ending in -al
CRItical, geoLOGical
5 Compound words (words with two parts)

rule
example
For compound nouns, the stress is on the first part
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
to underSTAND, to overFLOW
Now check your understanding >
Word Stress Quiz
1 Can you pass me a plastic
knife?
2 I want to take a photography

3 China
Click for answ er
class.
Click for answ er
is the place where I was born.
4 Please turn off the television

5 I can't decide
before you go out.
which book to borrow.
6 Do you understand
Click for answ er
puppy.
Click for answ er
that you finish your essay.
9 My Grandfather wears an old-fashioned

10 There is a lot of traffic
Click for answ er
Click for answ er
this lesson?
7 Sparky is a very happy

8 It is critical
Click for answ er
Click for answ er
coat.
on the highway today.
Click for answ er
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
Will
1
you
t1
SELL
my
CAR
because
beat
t1
beat
t1
1
I've
GONE
to
FRANCE.
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
Example
main verbs
SELL, GIVE, EMPLOY
nouns
CAR, MUSIC, MARY
adjectives
RED, BIG, INTERESTING
adverbs
QUICKLY, LOUDLY, NEVER
negative auxiliaries
DON'T, AREN'T, CAN'T
Structure words - unstressed

Words for correct grammar
Example
pronouns
he, we, they
prepositions
on, at, into
articles
a, an, the
conjunctions
and, but, because
auxiliary verbs
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
e
b c d
i
f g h
o
j k l m n
u
p q r s t
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
uniform
honest
begins with the letter
begins with the sound
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
off
We say it like this:
tur
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:
Can I have a bit of egg?
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
|
o
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
|
--
Kay is
I am
the end
she asked
KayYis
IYam
theYend
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/
If the base verb ends in one of
example base
example
pronounc
extra
these sounds:
verb*:
with
-ed:
unvoiced
/t/
want
wanted
voiced
/d/
end
ended
/p/
hope
hoped
/f/
laugh
laughed
/s/
fax
faxed
unvoiced
syllable?
/ Id/
yes
/ t/
/S/
wash
washed
/tS/
watch
watched
/k/
like
liked
play
played
allow
allowed
beg
begged
all other sounds,

for example...
voiced
e
the -ed:
no
/ d/
* 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
dogged
ragged
blessed
learned
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 wordfor-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
to say "hello" into the phone when it rings
answering machine
something that you can record a message on if the person you are
calling isn't home
busy signal
a beeping sound that tells the caller that the other person is already on
the phone with someone else
call
a telephone conversation; to telephone
caller
the person who telephones
call back/phone back
to call someone who called you first
call display
a screen that shows you who is calling
cellular phone/cell
phone
a telephone that you can take with you away from your house; mobile
phone
cordless phone
a phone that is not attached to the wall (you can walk short distances
with it at home or in the garden)
dial
to press the buttons on the phone
dial tone
the sound the phone makes when you pick it up
directory/phone book a book that alphabetically lists local phone numbers of people and
businesses
hang up
to put the receiver down and end a call
operator
a person who answers telephone-related questions when you dial "0"
pager
a small machine you wear that makes a noise (or vibrates) when
someone wants you to call them
phone
a telephone; to telephone
phone booth/pay
phone
a place where you can pay to use a telephone in public
pick up
to answer the phone
receiver
the piece on the phone that you speak into and listen from
ring
the sound a phone makes when somebody calls; to make that sound
ringer
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)
Introducing
yourself
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.*
*The person answering says this if the caller does not recognize their voice.
Asking to speak
with someone
Connecting
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.
One moment please.
Making special
requests
Taking a message
for someone
Leaving a message
with someone
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?
Confirming
information
Listening to an
answering machine
Leaving a message
on an answering
machine
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 the hospital at 333-7896.
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.
Finishing a
conversation
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.
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.
Receptionist
:
Practice 1: Making an Appointment

Thank you for phoning Maple Dental Clinic. Sylvia
. How can I help you?
Click for answ er
Thelma:
Hi Sylvia.
Thelma Woods calling. How
Click for answ er
are you today?

Receptionist
:
I'm fine Mrs. Woods. How are you?
Thelma:
Well, actually, I have a bit of a sore tooth. I was hoping

Dr. Morris would have some time to see me this week.
Receptionist
:
I'm
he's booked this week. I can put you
Click for answ er
in for 2pm next Tuesday. How does that sound?

Thelma:
That would be great.
Receptionist
:
I'll have to give you the address of our new office.
Thelma:
Oh, that's right, you moved.
Receptionist
:
Yes, we moved downtown. Do you have a

?
Click for answ er
Thelma:
Could you hold on a
Click for answ er
please. ...Okay, go
ahead Sylvia.
Receptionist
:
Okay, we are at 723 Baltic Avenue. Suite 004.
Thelma:
Receptionist
:
spelling that for me?

Sure. That's seven-twenty-three Baltic--B
A as in Alpha, L as in Lima, T as in
Click for answ er
Click for answ er
tango, I as in India, and C as in Charlie. And it's suite

zero zero four.
Thelma:
Okay great. I'll see you on Tuesday then.
Receptionist
:
Okay.
Thelma:
Thanks. Bye.
calling. See you then.
Click for answ er
10.
ractice 2: Taking a Message
Leslie:
Click for answ er
Cameron
:
Hi, is this Leslie?
Leslie:
Yes.
Cameron
:
It's Cameron here. Is Maria
Leslie:
No, she just
Click for answ er
Click for answ er
out for a moment. Can I take a
Click for answ er
message?
Cameron
:
Yes, thanks.
ask her to meet me at the
Click for answ er
Capitol 4 movie theatre at 7 pm tonight?

Leslie:
Cameron
:
Leslie:
Sure. Just let me write that down. Oh Cameron. Could you

for a second? I have to take another call.
Click for answ er
No problem.
Hi. Sorry about that. Now could you please
that information? I didn't have a pen
Click for answ er
handy.
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:
Cameron
:
Okay. Uh-oh, there's my other line again. I'd better

.
Okay, thanks again. Bye for now.
Click for answ er
Leslie:
Click for answ er
12.
Reset
14.
Practice 3: Ordering a Pizza
Hostess:
Pepi's Pizza. How can I
you?
Customer:
Hi. I'd like to order a pizza please.
Hostess:
Okay. I'll have to transfer your call to our take-out

department.
moment please.
Click for answ er
Recorded
Message:
Thank you for calling Pepi's Pizza. All of our operators

are busy
. Please hold for the next
Click for answ er
Click for answ er
available person.
Take-out
Clerk:
Thank you for waiting. Naoko
. Is this
Click for answ er
for take-out or delivery?

Customer:
Delivery please.
Take-out
Clerk:
Can I have your name and address please?
Customer:
My name is...
Take-out
Clerk:
Sorry, it's really busy in here. Could you

a little please?
Customer:
Oh, sure. This is Angie Smith. My address is number

two Front Street.
Take-out
Clerk:
Is that an apartment or a house?
Customer:
It's an apartment. Number seventeen.
Take-out
Okay. And what would you like to order today?
Click for answ er
Clerk:
Customer:
I'd like a large pepperoni pizza with mushrooms,

olives and extra cheese.
Take-out
Clerk:
I'm sorry, my English isn't
. Could
Click for answ er
you slow down a little please?

Customer:
No problem. That's a large pizza.
Take-out
Clerk:
Large pizza. Okay.
Customer:
And I'd like it with pepperoni and mushrooms.
Take-out
Clerk:
Pepperoni and mushrooms. Is there anything else?
Customer:
Yes, olives and extra cheese please.
Take-out
Clerk:
Okay. I've
Customer:
Great. And how long will that be?
Take-out
Clerk:
It will be about thirty minutes, Miss Smith.
Customer:
And how much will it cost?
Take-out
Clerk:
Um--could you please
Click for answ er
while I check
Click for answ er
with the kitchen?

Customer:
Take-out
Clerk:
Don't worry about it. I have to go. I have another call

. Thank you. Bye for now.
Click for answ er
Okay. Thanks for calling. Bye.
16.
Reset
1 When you pick up the phone to call someone you hear a
Click for answ er
.
2 If I'm not home leave a message on my
machine.
Click for answ er
3 Sally must be talking to her mom because I have been getting a

for two hours.
Click for answ er
4 I never answer my
Click for answ er
while I'm driving.
5 Mark always turns his
off when he is studying.
6 I'm busy right now. Can you
later.
Click for answ er
Click for answ er
7 You have to
"0" for the operator.
Click for answ er
8 I have a
so I can do the dishes and chat at the
Click for answ er
same time.
9 You will need a quarter or a phone card if you want to use the
.
Click for answ er
1 I know it was my boyfriend who called because I have

0
.
Click for answ er
18.
Reset
The Presentation
...say it,
Most presentations are divided into 3 main parts (+ questions):

1
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. welcome your audience
2. introduce your subject
3. outline the structure of your presentation
4. 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
Possible language
1
Welcoming
your
audience
2
Introducing
your
subject
3 Outlining
your
structure
4 Giving
instructions
about
questions
Good morning, ladies and gentlemen
Good morning, gentlemen
Good afternoon, ladies and gentleman
Good afternoon, everybody
I am going to talk today about...
The purpose of my presentation is to introduce our new

range of...
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).
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. Sum up
2. (Give recommendations if appropriate)
3. Thank your audience
4. Invite questions
The following table shows examples of language for each of these functions. You may need to
modify the language as appropriate.
Function
Possible language
1 Summing up
To conclude,...
In conclusion,...
Now, to sum up...
So let me summarise/recap what I've said.
2 Giving
recommendations
3 Thanking your
audience
4 Inviting
questions
Finally, may I remind you of some of the main points

we've considered.
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)
Europe
Asia
Africa
Summing up
Recommendations
Body
Conclusion
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
Language
Introducing the subject
I'd like to start by...
Let's begin by...
First of all, I'll...
Starting with...
I'll begin by...
Well, I've told you about...
That's all I have to say about...
We've looked at...
So much for...
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...
Where does that lead us?
Let's consider this in more detail...
What does this mean for ABC?
Translated into real terms...
Finishing one subject...
...and starting another
Analysing a point and giving

recommendations
Giving an example
For example,...
A good example of this is...
As an illustration,...
To give you an example,...
To illustrate this point...
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...
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...
Firstly...secondly...thirdly...lastly...
Dealing with questions
Summarising and
concluding
Ordering
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?
It's miserable out.
How's the weather?
It's ten below. (-10 degrees)
Do you have rain?
We haven't had a drop of rain for

weeks.
What's the temperature there?
It's 22 degrees Celsius.
It's snowing here, what's it doing

there?
It's pouring outside. (raining heavily)
Beautiful day, huh?
We couldn't ask for a better day than

this.
What's the weather forecast?
They're calling for blue skies all week.
Weather Vocabulary
Word
Part of speech
Meaning
Example Sentence
airconditioner/aircond
itioning
noun
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.
avalanche
noun
a dangerous slide of snow

down a mountain
The skiers were

warned about a
possible avalanche.
below freezing
preposition/adjective
temperature less than 0

degrees Celsius/(32F)
It's supposed to go
below freezing
before the weekend.
blizzard
noun
a storm with lots of snow and

wind
The airplane couldn't

take-off because of
the blizzard.
boiling hot
adjective + noun
common expression for

describing a very hot day
It was boiling hot, so

we all jumped into the
lake.
breeze
noun
light wind
Don't bother with a

hat. There is always a
breeze near the
ocean.
Celsius
noun
measurement of temperature
(0 degrees is freezing/100 is
boiling)
In the summer, the

average temperature
here is 20 degrees
Celsius.
chilly
adjective
cold
It's a bit chilly today,

so I think you should
wear a coat.
clear
adjective
when the sky is blue because

no clouds are blocking the
sun
On a clear night you

can see a lot of stars.
cloud/cloudy
noun/adjective
water in the sky that appears

as a white or grey mass
It may look cloudy in

the morning, but the
sun always comes out
by afternoon.
cold spell
adjective + noun
a period of colder than

average weather
They're calling for a

cold spell, so we put
off our camping trip.
cool
adjective
temperature in between warm

and cold
The days were boiling

hot, but the nights
were cool and
comfortable for
sleeping.
degrees
noun
measurement for temperature
I don't feel the heat

until it's about forty
degrees Celsius
outside.
drizzling
continuous verb
raining slightly
I think I'll take the dog

for a walk. It's only
drizzling now.
drought
noun
a long period with no rainfall
Forest fires are a

serious danger during
a drought.
Fahrenheit
noun
measurement of temperature
(32 degrees is freezing/212 is
boiling)
It was 100 degrees

Fahrenheit when we
got to San Francisco.
flood
noun
overflow of rain water
The flood was so bad,

our basement was full
of water.
flurries
noun
very light snowfall
There are a few

flurries but the snow
isn't sticking to the
roads.
fog/foggy
noun/adjective
thick water vapor that blocks

one's vision
We couldn't see the

bridge because there
was too much fog.
forecast
noun/verb
the expected weather for the

future
According to the 5 day

forecast, it's going to
rain on our wedding
day.
freezing cold
adjective + noun
common expression used to

describe a very cold day
It was a freezing
cold day for the Santa
Claus parade.
frost
noun
ice crystals on a frozen

surface
Some flowers are so

strong they can
withstand frost.
frostbite
noun
a skin condition caused by

over exposure to the cold
(typically reddish skin with
white spots)
I lost my hat while I

was skiing, and I
ended up with
frostbite on my ears.
hail
noun
small pieces of ice that fall

during a storm
There was so much

hail that some of the
trailer homes were
destroyed.
heat stroke
noun
a flu-like condition one can

acquire after spending too
long in the sun
Bring lots of water

and wear a hat to
avoid heat stroke in
this weather.
heat-wave
noun
extremely hot weather that is

much higher than average-usually lasts a short time
During the heatwave we cooled our

beds down with ice
packs.
humid/humidity
adjective/noun
moisture in the air
It feels a lot hotter

than it actually is
because of the
humidity.
hurricane
noun
a tropical storm with very

strong wind and rain
Half of the buildings

on the island were
flattened by the
hurricane.
icy
adjective
slippery because of ice
The roads are icy so

please avoid driving
down any hills.
lightning
noun
electric flash caused by two

clouds hitting
The outdoor pool

always closes when
the lifeguards suspect
lightning.
mild
adjective
temperature that is warmer

than average(in a cold
season)
It's quite mild out so I

didn't bother with a
hat or mittens.
meteorologist
noun
a person who studies weather

patterns
The meteorologist
predicted that the
cold spell would be
over by now.
minus/negative
adjective
indicates that a temperature

is below zero
It was minus twenty

degrees at the top of
the skil hill.
overcast
adjective
no sun is visible
The sky is overcast

this morning, but the
sun is supposed to
come out by late
afternoon.
partly cloudy
adverb + adjective
term often used in a weather

forecast to indicate that the
skies are sunny and cloudy at
the same time
Tomorrow's forecast is
partly cloudy with
clear skies by
nightfall.
precipitation
noun
rain or snow that falls on an

area
There is very little

precipitation in the
desert.
puddle
noun
collection of rain water
Children love to
splash in puddles
when they are
wearing rubber boots.
rain/raining/rainy
noun/continuous
verb/adjective
water that falls to earth
My hair is all wet and

messy from the rain.
raindrop
noun
a single measurement of rain
I love catching
raindrops on my
tongue.
rainbow
noun
a band of colours found in the

sky after a rainfall
According to legend
you can find a pot of
gold at the end of a
rainbow.
raining cats and dogs

idiom
raining heavily
They cancelled the

football game
because it was
raining cats and
dogs.
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.

season
noun
time of year characterized by

certain weather
Winter,Spring,Summer,Fall (or
Autumn)
My favorite season is
Fall, because I love to
watch the leaves
changing colours.
shower
noun
quick/light rainstorm
They've been calling

for showers all week,
but so far it's been
dry.
sleet(similar to hail)
noun
rain that freezes as it falls
All-weather-tires are
best if you have to
drive in sleet.
slush/slushy
noun/adjective
snow on the ground that has

been rained on
The snow turned to

slush as soon as it
started to rain.
smog
noun
heavy,dark cloud cover

caused by pollution
You really notice the

smog downtown in
this type of humidity.
snow/snowy/snowing
noun/adjective/
continuous verb
frozen water that warms

slightly as it falls to earth
It is already snowing
up in the mountains,
so the ski season
should be great this
year.
snowstorm
noun
large amounts of wind and

snow
All of the schools were

closed because of the
snowstorm.
sun/sunshine/sunny
the gassy star that warms the

earth
We hope to have
sunshine on the day
of the beach picnic.
noun/noun/adjective
sunburn
noun
painful red/pink skin caused

by being in the sun too long
The bald man got a

sunburn on his head.
sunglasses/shades
noun
dark eyewear that protects

you from the sun
I forgot my shades
and I was driving right
into the sun.
suntan/tanned
noun(also
verb)/adjective(also
verb)
brown/golden skin caused by

long periods of sun exposure
I got a suntan on the

cruise, but it has
already faded away.
sunscreen/suntan
lotion
noun
cream that protects your skin

from sun damage
Don't forget to reapply

your sunscreen when
you get out of the
lake.
temperature
noun
how warm or cold the air is
Can you check the

temperature before
we get dressed for our
walk?
thermometer
noun
instrument for measuring the

temperature of the air
When I checked the

temperature this
morning, the
thermometer said it
was already thirty
degrees Celsius.
thunder/thunderstor
m
noun
the crashing of clouds (often

followed by a strike of
lightning and heavy rain)
Let's close all of the

windows. It looks like
a thunderstorm is
coming.
tornado/cyclone
noun
violently spinning windstorm
The tornado picked

up everything in its
path, including
animals and cars.
umbrella
noun
held over one's head and

body for rain protection
I always keep an
umbrella in my car in
case of rain.
UV (ultra violet) rays

noun
the damaging rays from the

sun
Ultra violet rays can

cause skin cancer if
you don't wear
sunscreen.
wind/windy
noun/adjective
blowing air outside
It's too windy to play

golf today.
wind chill factor

noun
when the wind makes the air

feel colder than the actual
temperature
It's minus two, but

with the wind chill
factor it's minus
fifteen.
Weather Vocabulary Quiz >
Weather Vocabulary Quiz

1 I don't think you need to bring an umbrella. It's only
now.
Click for answ er
2 A
Click for answ er
3 I stepped in a
4 There was a
is a dangerous tropical storm.

and got my pantlegs all wet.
in the middle of summer; we didn't
Click for answ er
Click for answ er
have to turn our airconditioner on for weeks.

5 We had to stop playing baseball because we didn't want to get
struck by
.
Click for answ er
6 It was too
Click for answ er
for the pilot to land the plane.
7 If you let me borrow your
I'll be able to see
Click for answ er
better.
8 Don't be surprised if you get a light
every afternoon
Click for answ er
on that island.
9 When I looked at the
1
0
it said ten degrees.
will prevent you from getting a burn.
Click for answ er
Click for answ er
Reset
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
1 Which season does this weather report take place in?
Click for answ er
2 What kind of day is it?
Click for answ er
3 What is the temperature?
Click for answ er
4 Tomorrow it will probably
5 What does the weather reporter suggest using?
Click for answ er
Click for answ er
Reset
Weather Report 2 (medium)

Read Text
1 Which season would this weather report most likely take

place in?
Click for answ er
2 Where is the weather report taking place?
Click for answ er
3 Which of the following is mentioned as part of tomorrow's
Click for answ er
forecast?
4 It will feel so cold tomorrow because of the
Click for answ er
5 The weather reporter suggests that skiiers should
Click for answ er
Reset
Weather Report 3 (difficult)

Read Text
1 Which season would this weather report most likely take
Click for answ er
place in?
2 Where is the weather report taking place?
Click for answ er
3 What type of precipitation is forecasted for the week?
Click for answ er
4 The air feels so comfortable because there is
Click for answ er
5 What does the weather reporter suggest people do to stay
Click for answ er
cool?
Reset
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
Talking about
current events
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?
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.
At the office
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 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
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!

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

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.

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...
Asking for an
opinon
Expressing
agreement
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.
Expressing
disagreement
Interruptions
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.
(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?
Settling an argument
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.
Vocabulary | Vocabulary Quiz | Preparation | Negotiation Process | Settlement | Test

Vocabulary
Word
Part of
speech
Meaning
Example Sentence
alternativ
es
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.
arbitratio
n
conflict that is addressed by
We're better to settle this

between us, because a formal
noun
using a neutral third party
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.
bottomline
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.
compensa
te
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.
compromi
se
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.
concessio
n
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.
cooperati
on
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.
counteratt
ack
verb/noun
present other side of an issue
Before we could start our

counterattack they suggested
we sign a contract.
counterpa
rt
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
point where neither party will
When the discussions came to a
noun
give in
deadlock we wrote up a letter

of intent to continue the
negotiations next week.
dispute
noun
argument/conflict
I was hoping to avoid discussing

last year's dispute, but Monica
is still holding 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 six-month contract.
indecisive
has difficulty choosing/making
They were so indecisive we
adj
a decision
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 lowball 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.
resentme
nt
noun
anger held onto from a

previous conflict
Mary's resentment stems from

our not choosing her to head
the project.
resistance
noun
a display of opposition
We didn't expect so much

resistance on 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-of
noun
terms that are offered in

return for something else
Lower payments over a longer

period of time sounded like a
fair trade-of 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 Ofer

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 ofer:
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?
Body Language
Possible meaning
Avoiding Eye Contact
Lying
Not interested
Not telling the whole truth
Trying to intimidate
Serious Eye Contact
Showing anger
Nervousness
Lack of confidence
Submission
Agreeing
Willing to compromise
Frustrated
In disbelief
Disagreeing with a point
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
Meaning
Example Sentence
absent
adj
not present
The vice president is absent

due to unforeseen
circumstances.
accomplish
verb
succeed in doing
We have a lot to accomplish

today, so let's begin.
address
verb
deal with; speak on
I hope we do not have to

address this matter again in
the future.
adjourn
verb
close a meeting
If there are no further

comments, we will adjourn
the meeting here.
agenda
noun
list of objectives to cover in a

meeting
Please forward the agenda to

anyone who is speaking at the
meeting.
AGM
noun(abbr.)
Annual (yearly) General Meeting
We always vote for a new

chairperson at the AGM.
allocate
verb
assign roles/tasks to certain

people
I forgot to allocate someone to

bring refreshments.
AOB
noun(abbr.)
Any Other Business (unspecified

item on agenda)
The last item on the agenda is

AOB.
apologies
noun
item on agenda announcing

people who are absent; apologies
for absence
Everyone is present today, so

we can skip the apologies.
ballot
noun
a type of vote, usually in writing

and usually secret
Please fold your ballot in half

before you place it in the box.
board of directors
noun
group of elected members of an

organization/company who meet
to make decisions
The board of directors meets

once a month to discuss the
budget.
boardroom
noun
a large meeting room, often has

one long table and many chairs
The boardroom is reserved

for a managers' meeting, so
we'll have to meet in the
lounge.
brainstorm
verb
thinking to gather ideas
Let's take a few minutes and

brainstorm some ways that
we can cut costs.
casting vote
noun
deciding vote (usually by the

chairman) when the votes are
otherwise equal
The role of treasurer was

decided based on the
chairman's casting vote.
chairperson/chair
noun
the person who leads or presides

at a meeting
As chair, it is my pleasure to
introduce to you, Mr. Allan
Davis.
clarification/verificatio
n
noun
explanation/proof that something

is true/understood
Before we address this matter,

I'll need some clarification as
to who was involved.
closing remarks
noun
last thoughts spoken in a meeting

(i.e. reminders, thank yous)
I just have a few closing

remarks and then you will all
be free to go.
collaborate
verb
work together as a pair/group
The board fell apart because

the members had difficulty
collaborating.
commence
verb
begin
We will commence as soon as

the last person signs the
attendance sheet.
comment
verb or noun
express one's opinions or

thoughts
If you have a comment, please

raise your hand rather than
speak out.
conference
noun
formal meeting for discussion,

esp. a regular one held by an
organisation
Before the conference there

will be a private meeting for
board members only.
conference call
noun
telephone meeting between three

or more people in different
locations
Please make sure I have no

interruptions while I'm on the
conference call.
confidential
adjective
private; not to be shared
Any financial information

shared during this meeting
should be kept confidential.
consensus
noun
general agreement
If we cannot come to a
consensus by the end of the
meeting we will put it to a
vote.
deadline
noun
due date for completion
The deadline for buying

tickets to the conference is
May 25th.
designate
verb
assign
If no one volunteers to take the

minutes I will be forced to
designate someone.
formality
noun
a procedure (often unnecessary)

that has to be followed due to a
rule
Everyone knows who is going

to be the next vice president,
so this vote is really just a
formality.
grievance
noun
complaint
The first item on the agenda

relates to a grievance reported
by the interns.
guest speaker
noun
person who joins the group in

order to share information or
deliver a speech
I am delighted to welcome our

guest speaker Holly, who is
going to be offering some sales
pitch tips.
implement
verb
make something happen; follow

through
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.
mandatory
adjective
required
It is mandatory that all

supervisors attend Friday's
meeting.
minutes
noun
a written record of everything

said at a meeting
Before we begin with today's

meeting, let's quickly review
the minutes from last month.
motion
noun
a suggestion put to a vote
The motion to extend store

hours has been passed.
objectives
noun
goals to accomplish
I'm pleased that we were able

to cover all of the objectives
today within the designated
time.
opening remarks
noun
chairperson or leader's first

words at a meeting (i.e.
welcome, introductions)
As I mentioned in my opening
remarks, we have to clear this
room before the end of the
hour.
overhead projector
noun
machine with a special light that

projects a document onto a
screen or wall so that all can see
I'm going to put a pie chart on

the overhead projector so that
everyone can visualize how
our profits have declined.
participant
noun
person who attends and joins in

on an event
Can I have a show of hands of

all of those who were
participants in last year's
conference?
proxy vote
noun
a vote cast by one person for or

in place of another
There must have been one

proxy vote because I count
twelve ballots but only eleven
attendees.
punctual
adjective
on time (not late)
Firstly, I want to thank you all

for being punctual despite this
early meeting.
recommend
verb
suggest
I recommend that you sit

closer to the front if you have
trouble hearing.
show of hands
raised hands to express an
From the show of hands it
noun
opinion in a vote
appears that everyone is in

favour of taking a short break.
strategy
noun
plan to make something work
We need to come up with a

strategy that will allow us to
have meetings less frequently.
unanimous
adj
in complete agreement; united in

opinion
The vote was unanimous to

cut work hours on Fridays.
vote
verb or noun
to express (the expression of) an

opinion in a group by voice or
hand etc
We need to vote for a new vice

chairperson now that Jerry is
retiring.
wrap up
verb
finish
Let's wrap up here so that we

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)
Minutes from previous meeting: Jane (10 minutes)
Japan Tours: Pierre (15 minutes)
N.A. Tours: Pierre (15 minutes)
Korean Tours: Pierre (15 minutes)
Australian Tours: Pierre (if time allows 10 minutes)
Feedback from last year: Everyone (15 minutes)
Vote on staff picnic: Everyone (15 minutes)
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 e-mail.
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?
What are your

main
weaknesses?
Is there anything
you would like to
ask?
What areas do
you most need to
improve on?
No, I think youve

told me
everything I need
to know thanks.
I am naturally a
bit impatient, but
since I took up
yoga I am much
calmer at work.
Yes, I have 20 or
so questions for
you, if that is
okay.
I often get angry.
I think most
people would say
I am quite
serious at work
but also good fun
when we go out.
I am quite
stressed when I
am at work, so
maybe my
colleagues dont
see my real
personality
How would your

colleagues
describe you?
Tell us something
about your
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
Can you give us

one example of
In my previous
position I helped
I single-randomly
forced my
accomplishment?
What do you
know about our
company?
Why should we
choose you for
this job?
What are your

professional
ambitions?
Please give us an
example of
overcoming
difficulties at
work
Would you say

you are a natural
leader?
How is your
something you
have achieved?
Is there anything
about this
company that
made you choose
us?
What do you
have to offer this
company?
my team double
sales.
company to
install a new
computer
system.
Ive been reading

a lot about your
industry, and you
seems to have
some original
ideas.
My wife wants
me to work for a
big, well-known
company.
As I havent
worked in this
sector, I can
bring in ideas
from other
industries I know.
I know several
secret marketing
plans from my
company I can
let you know
Where do you
see yourself in
five years time?
Maybe
management,
but the important
thing is to keep
developing
I think I could be
a good CEO.
Can you think of

any problems
you have had to
solve in your job?
My new
colleague was
completely
incompetent, but
I trained him up
and it was days.
I undertook some
cross-cultural
training that
really helped
working with a
foreign boss.
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.
Its basically
Although it
seems different,
the skills of
Does leadership
come naturally to
you?
Do you think
experience
relevant to this
job?
Can you work

under strict
deadlines?
How do you feel

about moving
abroad for you
job?
What skills have

you learnt in your
present job?
What experience
do you have of
ISO certification?
When can you

start?
your previous
jobs are good
preparation for
this one?
Do you have the

ability to stay
calm under
pressure?
Does working
abroad appeal to
you?
How have your

skills developed
over the last few
years?
exactly the same

job as what I will
be doing with
you.
Yes. I am a very
calm person.
Its not
something Ive
really thought
about, but it
sounds like a
great challenge.
Nothing special.
Ive always found
my present job
quite easy.
teamwork and
detailed planning
are very similar
I believe so. I
have shown that
ability over
several big
projects in the
last 12 months.
That is my
childhood
ambition. I would
really love to do
that.
Computers were
totally new, so
though Ive still
got lots learn
that has
improved
Have you been

involved in ISO
certification
before?
None, Im afraid.
I dont have any

experience of
exactly that, but
my previous job
was quite similar.
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?
Do you want a beer?
Do you wanna beer?
D'you wanna beer?
D'ya wanna beer?
Ya wanna beer?
or
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?
:
Custom
Yes. Just a few items today.
er:
Cashier
Did you find everything you were looking for?
:
Custom
Yes, thank you.
er:
Cashier Okay. Your total comes to $8.70. (say "eight seventy" or "eight dollars
: and seventy cents")
Custom
Can you break a fifty? I'm afraid I don't have anything smaller.
er:
Cashier No problem. From fifty..$41.30 is your change. (say "forty-one thirty" or
: "forty-one dollars and thirty cents")
Custom
Thank you.
er:
Cashier
Thank you. See you again.
:
Sample Credit Card transaction
Cashier: Here is your order, sir. Two pepperoni pizzas. Will there be anything
else?
Custome
No, that's great thanks.
r:
Cashier: Okay. Will that be cash or charge today?
Custome
Charge.
r:
Cashier: Okay. Please swipe your card in the machine...Sorry, can you try again
please.
Custome
Is there a problem with my card?
r:
Cashier: No, it's going through fine this time. I'll just need you to sign here,
please.
Custome
There you go.
r:
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
2.
Cashier response:
Click for answ er
--
3.
Cashier response:
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."
V
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
AHD
EXAMPLES
AH
D
pat
boot
pay
out
ou
pop
care
father
roar
bib
sauce
church
ch
ship, dish
sh
deed, milled
tight, stopped
pet
thin
th
bee
this
th
fife, phase, rough
cut
gag
urge, term, firm, word, heard
hat
valve
which
hw
with
pit
yes
pie, by
zebra, xylem
z
zh
pier
vision, pleasure, garage
judge
about, item, edible, gallop,

circus
kick, cat, pique
butter
lid, needle*
l (n d'l)
mum
no, sudden*
n (s
d'n)
thing
ng
pot
FOREIGN
toe
French feu, German schn
caught, paw, for, horrid,

hoarse**
French tu, German ber
noise
oi
German ich, Scottish loch
took
AH
D
French bon (b )***
*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.

Verb Meaning Example Ask Someone Out

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Verb Meaning Example Ask Someone Out

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Verb

ask someone out

Brian asked Judy out to dinner

ask many people the same

I asked around but nobody has

Your purchases add up to

You'll have to back up your car

My wife backed me up over my

The racing car blew up after it

We have to blow 50 balloons up

stop functioning (vehicle,

Our car broke down at the side

The woman broke down when

break something down

divide into smaller parts

Our teacher broke the final

force entry to a building

Somebody broke in last night

break into something

The firemen had to break into

wear something a few times so

I need to break these shoes in

The TV station broke in to

report the news of the president's

My boyfriend and I broke up

start laughing (informal)

The kids just broke up as soon

The prisoners broke out of jail

break out in something

develop a skin condition

I broke out in a rash after our

bring someone down

This sad music is bringing me

start talking about a subject

My mother walks out of the

He drank so much that he

phone many different

We called around but we

call someone back

return a phone call

I called the company back but

call something off

Jason called the wedding off

ask for an answer or opinion

The professor called on me for

We called on you last night but

Give me your phone number and

relax after being angry

You are still mad. You need to

not care for

not like (formal)

I don't care for his behaviour.

get to the same point as

You'll have to run faster than that

arrive and register at a hotel or

We will get the hotel keys when

You have to check out of the

look at carefully, investigate

The company checks out all new

Check out the crazy hair on that

She cheered up when she heard

I brought you some flowers to

If everyone chips in we can get