Writing I believe that...

Making statements
We could... It is clear that...
Letters objecting to someone's plans Simultaneous events It is a fact that, which means that... On the whole, it appears / seems that...
I am writing to express my concern / disappointment / alarm at Meanwhile / In the meantime, If we were to, it would... We must take into account the fact that...
hearing... While all this was going on, I suggest w e .... We would then be able to... It goes w ithout saying that...
I was extremely alarmed / sorry / distressed to hear about your In the middle of all th is ,... I feel strongly that we should... It is im portant to remember that...
plans to... During all this tim e ,... I trust you will give my proposal your full consideration.
As I think you know...
Explaining / Expanding ideas and giving
May I point out that... Sudden or unexpected events Reviews examples
I feel I really must object to... Suddenly / All of a sudden,... X has much to recommend it. This means that...
I am extremely concerned at the thought that... All at once,... X is, at heart, a(n) love / spy / adventure story. This is largely due to...
It must be very clear that... Out of the b lu e ,... It is based on a book by... For example / For instance,...
I dread to imagine what damage this will cause. W ithout any w arn ing ,... It is set in the countryside / the future. In other w ords,...
May I respectfully suggest that you... Just when I was least expecting i t , ... The film has a quality cast. Take, for example, the situation in...
I was wondering if you had considered this alternative. The next thing I knew was... The film was directed by...
Would it not be possible to... ? The film score is enchanting / evocative / scary. Listing arguments
Rapid events The film captures the spirit of... Firstly I In the first place / To begin w ith ,...
Letters of complaint As quick as a fla sh ,... The hero / heroine / villain is... Secondly I A second area to consider is...
I am writing to complain about... In the wink of an eye,... I felt I thought it was... Another point to remember is...
I am writing to tell you how disappointed / annoyed I feel In a matter of seconds / m inutes,...4 I was impressed by... Finally,... 5
about... In no time at a ll,... What struck me most was... In conclusion,...
I was amazed / distressed / horrified to find that... What I liked most / didn't like was... Last but not least,...
As you must realise,... Looking back The plot was gripping.
I am sure you know / you can imagine / you will appreciate In retrospect,... The characters were very convincing / very well drawn. Evaluating ideas, dismissing contrary
that... When I think back to what happened th e n ,... On reflection, I think it was...
It goes w ithout saying that...
arguments
It struck me as being...
At the very least, I look forward to receiving... Introductory comments I think it is true that...
What I didn't understand was how...
I recently visited (the new Leisure Centre) and have prepared
I totally disagree / agree with the point that...
In spite of these few criticisms, I think...
Letters of recommendation the following report for your consideration.
It is questionable whether...
I would have no hesitation in recommending...
I am writing to you on behalf of... Further to my visit to ..., I have prepared the following report.
I am sure / 1 doubt whether...
It is true that... On the other hand,...
I have known X for... years. The following report relates to my recent visit to... Expressing and supporting opinions
She I He has shown herself / himself to be extremely...
While nobody can deny th a t..., I would like to point out that...
I believe / do not believe that... (because) ...
X would seem to fit the requirements of this job perfectly. General comments I agree that... However,...
Personally I feel that...
I have no hesitation in recommending X as a... On the whole, I found that...
Although it is true that, we must remember that...
Let me explain why.
A lthough..., I should point out that...
It could be argued that... However, I would like to point out that...
In my o pin io n ,...
Letters to the editor It is a fact that...
Despite all the arguments, I still feel that...
Just consider...
I am writing about the article on..., which appeared (in last
Notwithstanding the claim th a t..., I would argue that...
As I see i t , ...
night's paper). Concluding comments It may be true th a t..., but all too often...
The reason is...
I am writing with reference to the article you published (in last All things considered, I believe that...
In no way can I agree that...
It seems to me that...
month's issue). Taking all these points into consideration, I would recommend...
Surely it is completely unacceptable that...
This is because...
I have just read your article on... and I feel I must... I recommend that we look into the possibility of... I would argue that for the following reasons...
You raised some issues which I feel strongly about.
Persuading
I feel very strongly that...
At the start of your article, you appear to claim that... Comparing places or facilities I would urge you to consider...
I am convinced that...
I am afraid I totally disagree. One of the main differences between X and Y is that...
I am sure you will agree that...
I am of the opinion that...
I am completely in agreement. X is completely / entirely / totally different from Y in that...
Surely you must agree that...
I am very much in favour of / against...
I am sure readers will agree with me when I say that... Unlike X, Y is...
I would urge you very strongly to...
I am completely opposed to...
While I Whereas / Although X is..., Y is...
When you hear the arguments, I am sure you will agree that...
The reasons why I believe that... are as follows.
Sequencing X is a little / slightly / somewhat / a great deal (bigger / more
Evaluating
At first I To start with / In the beginning,... elegant than Y). Opening phrases
Then I Next / After th a t,... X is not quite / nearly as (comfortable / expensive / convenient)
I was extremely impressed by...
People (sometimes) claim that... but I feel that...
The next thing that happened was ... as Y because...
I was rather disappointed by...
It is often said / argued that... However, it seems to me that...
The next thing I knew was ... X is virtually / exactly the same as Y when it comes to...
The problem could easily be solved if...
It is a fact that...
Seconds I Minutes later,
I would like to praise the...
Over the past few months / years, it seems that...
Late on / Some time later, Proposals Another area for complaint is...
Recently, we have all become concerned that...
It wasn't until much later that... As requested, I am submitting the following proposal on...
My overall impression was that...
Nowadays, we are all realising that...
After some time / After what seemed like years,... I recommend that we...
I am sure that visitors / readers / holidaymakers will thoroughly
In the past, people used to..., but now...
Finally I In the e n d ,... I propose that we...
enjoy...
These days, it seems that...
At la st,... We should also...
While some people will love..., others may feel less happy.
A major problem is that...
I was less happy with...

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Making recommendations Describing characters / personalities phrasal verb meaning example
I recommend that we... He tends to be...
I propose that we... She can be... break down stop working or functioning The telephone system broke down during the storm.

We should also... He is inclined to be... break in / into enter a building by force [ Л gong o f robbers broke into the g o lf club.
I believe that we should... She appears / seems to be...
We could... break out a) start suddenly \ A fire broke o u t while we were having lunch.

If we were to ..., we could... Hobbies and interests b) escape \ The prisoner broke o u t o f prison two days ago.

I suggest we... We would then be able to... He is crazy about... -ing. break up i bring a relationship to an end They broke up in 1999 and then she m arried Luke.
She loves... -ing.
bring back make somebody remember something That song brought back a very p a in fu l day.
Summarising His greatest love is...
All in all, I think that... What she loves most in life is... bring out produce or publish something The w riter brought o u t his second novel.
To sum up, I believe that... He spends all his time... -ing.
In conclusion, the facts suggest that... bring up care for and educate a child Caroline brought up four children by herself.

call o ff cancel The m atch was called o f f because o f heavy rain.

carry on continue Even though he was tired, he carried on studying.

come across meet somebody by chance I came across him while I was touring the USA.
Speaking.......................... come round / around , visit somebody for a short tim e You really m ust come round and see us next year.
Giving personal information As I was saying...
i
I forgot to mention... come up with find a solution or have a brilliant idea She came up with a great idea for the new ad.
I'm speaking English for my own satisfaction / my job / in order
to improve my employment prospects. I'm of the opinion that... do w ithout succeed in living w ith o u t something I can't understand how they can do w itho u t TV!
I always loved (the sea). To my mind...
To my way of thinking... drop out q uit school or a course She dropped o u t o f university after only a year
I'd love to visit places untouched by man.
However, there's no place like home. I am convinced that... fa ll out i quarrel w ith somebody Lisa and Dave have fallen o u t again!
That's a big question! I am inclined to believe that...
I'm keen on... Don't get me wrong but shouldn't we... ? fill in i complete a form by w riting inform ation To make an order fill in this form.

I haven't given it much thought until now. Judging by... they must be... get o ff \ a) leave a train, bus, plane Can you tell me where I have to get off?
... is a separate issue. t b) start a journey I think it's better to get o ff early in the morning.
Describing pictures Moving on to...
I couldn't agree more. \ get on / along with like each other and have a good relation She gets on very well with her sister.
What strikes me about the first picture is the fact that...
This picture reminds me of... I agree up to a point. i get over overcome a problem and start feeling well I'm sure she will get over the shock she had.
Judging from the photograph, the children... I think I see what you mean, but...
I'm in two minds about it. / I'm ambivalent about... \ get through to I contact somebody by telephone I tried m any times, but I couldn't get through to him.
The man appears to be...
From what we can see here, he must... That's true in a way, I suppose, but... i give in i adm it you have been defeated The police forced the rebels to give in.
There are many similarities... I don't feel convinced...
That's one way of looking at it. On the other hand... \ give out i distribute Why are you giving ou t these leaflets?
Both pictures depict...
Both pictures are quite similar in that they show... It brings us to the question / idea / problem o f ...
\ give up i stop doing or having something You should give up working and relax a bit more.
When you give it a closer look it reveals... Perhaps we should put... first? What do you think?
A strong point in favour of... is that... go o ff i a) explode The bomb went o ff in the market square.
The first picture... whereas the other picture...
What do you think should go next? b) become bad (about food) W hat a terrible smell! The m ilk m ust have gone off.
Another important difference is...
Picture... doesn't show... as clearly as... Are you happy with this order then? ! go on i continue I don t w ant to go on talking about the same things!
Picture... attempts to... but I think picture... does this more Do you go along with that?
i go out \ stop burning Suddenly the lights went out.
effectively...
All the pictures are interesting, but... gives a stronger idea of... Expressing and justifying opinions, ! go out with have a romantic relationship Cindy is going o u t with an Italian boy.
It's d ifficu lt to tell from a photograph but this picture could agreeing and / or disagreeing
Yes, I completely agree. : go over revise or examine carefully Go over the test before you hand it in.
have been taken in...
I m ight be wrong, but I'd say that this picture... Yes, that's what I think too. \ hold on : w ait to talk to somebody (on the phone) Can you hold on? Let me see i f Tim is here.
I would imagine / guess that this picture comes from... Do you really think so?
Picture... is by far the best to show because... That's an interesting idea, but... \ keep away i avoid going near somebody or something Keep away from the pier! It's dangerous.

To me, picture... is essential for this kind of publication. I'm not sure about that. \ keep in s restrain Don't keep your anger in!
I'm surprised there is no picture showing... Just following from what X was saying, I also feel...
A picture of... would get the message across more effectively. While generally agreeing with X, I must say that... ! keep on i continue The snow kept on falling for three days.
The name for this escapes me at present, but it's for / it's like... Adding to what X has just said, I think...
I keep up with learn about the latest news or events She always keeps up with the latest fashion trends.
I can sympathise with what X said but...
Sustaining an interaction One thing X didn't mention is... live through survive after an unpleasant situation M r Sword has lived through the Second World War.
It's my belief... Perhaps it should be also emphasised th a t... / it should be
look after take care o f Laurie, can you look after m y daughter tomorrow?
For my part... pointed out that...
As I see it...

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phrasal verb meaning example

look forward to w ait for something pleasant I'm looking forward to seeing her ogoin.

look into examine deeply and carefully A special committee will look into the matter.

look out be careful Look o u t! A bee is flying around you.

look up look for inform ation in a reference book \ 1 had to look these words up in the dictionary.

make into change into something or somebody else \ This poem was made into a song after m any years.

make o f f hurry away to escape The pickpockets made o f f on foot.

make out manage to see or hear clearly She could make o u t a person in the darkness.

make up invent a story 1 often make up funny stories for m y niece.

make up with become friendly again after an argum ent D on't w orry he'll make up w ith her by tonight.

pick up go and collect someone in a car I'll pick you up a t 8 p.m., OK?

p u t o ff postpone The match will be p u t o ff i f it rains.

p u t on a) gain (usually weight) 1 think he has p u t on about three kilos. It's very cold.
b) wear clothes Why don't you p u t your coat on?

p u t out stop something from burning Excuse me, can you p u t your cigarette out, please?

p u t through connect by telephone Could you p u t me through to the headmaster, please?

p u t up let somebody stay at your home I'm sorry, but 1 can't p u t you up for the night.

run across / into meet somebody by chance I've ju s t run across Dave! He's here for a few days.

run out o f finish a supply o f something The car stopped because it had run o u t o f fuel.

run over a) knock somebody down (with a vehicle) An old lady was run over by a truck yesterday.
b) read something quickly You had better run over your notes again.

set o f f begin a journey What time are you going to set o ff for Madrid?

talk over discuss a problem You should talk your problem over with an expert.

take after look like a member o f your fam ily Your niece really takes after you.

take down w rite something down The secretary quickly took the message down.

take o f f leave the ground and fly (plane) The plane couldn't take o ff due to thick fog.

take up start doing something regularly He decided to take up playing the guitar.

throw o u t/ away get rid o f something you no longer need Why don't you throw o u t / away th a t old sweater?

try on put on clothes to see how they fit Try these trousers on before buying them.

turn down refuse an offer or a proposal 1 think he'll turn your invitation down.

turn down / up reduce / increase (volume or heating) Can you turn the volume o f the radio down / up? \

turn on / o f f start / stop a machine (pressing a button) He didn't w ant to turn the TV on / off.

turn out a) happen in a particular way The p arty turned ou t very well.
b) prove to be The book turned o ut to be really exciting.

turn up arrive Your friends haven't turned up yet. |

work out find a solution or an answer | The President is trying to work o u t a compromise.

221