Friendship and Dating: Your HKDSE English Study Notes

Hey everyone! Welcome to your study notes for "Friendship and Dating". This is a topic everyone can relate to, right? In this chapter, we're not just going to talk about friends and relationships, we're going to learn the English skills you need to express yourself clearly and understand others better. This is super important, not just for your HKDSE exams, but for everyday life too. We'll cover key vocabulary, communication skills, and how to talk about these topics in your speaking and writing. Let's get started!


Section 1: The Language of Relationships (Key Vocabulary)

To talk about friendship and dating, you need the right words! Using interesting vocabulary will make your English sound more natural and impressive. Let's break it down.

Describing People's Personalities

What makes a good friend? Here are some useful adjectives to describe someone's character:

  • Loyal: Someone who always supports you. e.g., "He is a loyal friend who has always stood by me."
  • Supportive: Someone who gives you help and encouragement. e.g., "My parents are very supportive of my dream to be an artist."
  • Trustworthy / Reliable: Someone you can count on and trust with your secrets. e.g., "She is a trustworthy person; I can tell her anything."
  • Considerate: Someone who thinks about other people's feelings. e.g., "It was very considerate of you to ask how I was feeling."
  • Easy-going: Someone who is relaxed and doesn't worry easily. e.g., "He's very easy-going, so he gets along with everyone."

Phrasal Verbs for Relationships

Phrasal verbs are super common in spoken English. Using them correctly will boost your speaking and writing scores!

  • get along with: to have a good, friendly relationship with someone.
    e.g., "I get along well with my classmates."
  • fall out with: to have an argument with someone and stop being friends.
    e.g., "They fell out with each other over a silly misunderstanding."
  • make up: to become friends again after an argument.
    e.g., "After not speaking for a week, they finally made up."
  • count on: to trust someone to help you; to rely on someone.
    e.g., "You can always count on me if you need help."
  • stand by: to support someone, especially in a difficult situation.
    e.g., "A true friend will stand by you through thick and thin."

Helpful Idioms

Idioms are expressions where the meaning isn't obvious from the individual words. They add colour to your language.

  • see eye to eye: to agree with someone.
    e.g., "We don't always see eye to eye, but we respect each other's opinions."
  • a shoulder to cry on: a person who listens to your problems and offers sympathy.
    e.g., "When I was upset, my best friend was a shoulder to cry on."
  • through thick and thin: through good times and bad times.
    e.g., "They have been friends for years and have supported each other through thick and thin."

Don't worry if this seems like a lot to remember at first! Try learning one or two new phrases each day and use them in a sentence.

Key Takeaway for Section 1

Building a strong vocabulary with adjectives, phrasal verbs, and idioms is the first step to talking about relationships confidently. These words help you describe people and situations with more detail and emotion.


Section 2: How We Communicate (Language Functions)

Friendships and relationships are all about communication. Knowing how to express your feelings, give advice, and handle disagreements politely is a key skill. Let's look at the phrases you can use.

Expressing Feelings and Emotions

Being able to talk about your feelings is vital. Instead of just saying "I'm happy" or "I'm sad," try these alternatives:

  • To express happiness: "I'm over the moon!", "I'm on cloud nine!", "That's fantastic news!"
  • To express sadness or sympathy: "I'm so sorry to hear that.", "I was gutted to learn that...", "My heart goes out to you."
  • To express disappointment: "I feel a bit let down.", "It was a real shame that..."

Giving Advice and Making Suggestions

Your friends will often ask you for advice. Here's how to offer it helpfully and politely.

Step-by-step: How to Give Good Advice

  1. Listen carefully to the problem first.
  2. Show sympathy: Start with a phrase like "That sounds difficult" or "I understand why you're upset."
  3. Offer your suggestion using phrases like:
    • "If I were you, I would..." (Great for giving strong but personal advice)
    • "Have you thought about...?" (A gentle way to offer an idea)
    • "Why don't you...?" (A common, friendly suggestion)
    • "Perhaps you could..." (A polite and less direct option)

Example Scenario: Your friend is worried about an exam.
You could say: "That sounds stressful. If I were you, I would make a study schedule. Have you thought about forming a study group with classmates?"

Common Mistake to Avoid!

Avoid using "You must...". It sounds too strong, like an order, not friendly advice. Use "You should..." or "You could..." instead.

Handling Disagreements and Apologising

Even the best of friends argue sometimes. The important thing is how you handle it.

  • Disagreeing Politely:
    • "I see your point, but have you considered...?"
    • "I understand where you're coming from, however, I feel that..."
    • "I'm not so sure about that. In my opinion..."
  • Apologising Sincerely:
    • "I'm really sorry for what I said/did."
    • "I apologise. It was my fault."
    • "Please forgive me. I didn't mean to hurt your feelings."
Key Takeaway for Section 2

Using the right phrases for different situations (giving advice, disagreeing, apologising) is crucial for effective social interaction. This is a core part of the Interpersonal Strand in your syllabus. Practice these functions to become a better communicator.


Section 3: Exploring Relationships in Texts (Reading & Listening)

As the syllabus suggests, we can learn a lot about relationships by looking at stories, poems, and especially songs! This helps you understand different perspectives and analyse how language is used to create emotion.

Understanding Themes in Song Lyrics

Songs about friendship and love are everywhere! When you listen to a song, try to think about these things:

  • Theme: What is the main idea or message of the song? Is it about a new friendship, a breakup, or supporting a friend?
  • Tone / Mood: What is the feeling of the song? Is it joyful, angry, nostalgic, or sad? The music and the singer's voice can give you clues.
  • Figurative Language: Songwriters often use literary devices to make their lyrics more powerful. Look out for:
    • Simile: A comparison using 'like' or 'as'. e.g., "My friend is as brave as a lion."
    • Metaphor: A comparison where one thing is said to be another thing. e.g., "You are my sunshine."
Did you know?

Listening to songs in English is a fantastic and fun way to improve your vocabulary and listening skills. You can learn new expressions and practice hearing how words are pronounced naturally.

Analysing Characters in Stories and Scripts

When you read a story or a script from a play or movie, you need to understand the characters and their relationships. To do this, pay attention to:

  • What they say (Dialogue): Their words reveal their personality, feelings, and intentions.
  • What they do (Actions): Actions often speak louder than words! A character's behaviour shows you who they really are.
  • Their relationships: How do they interact with other characters? Are they friendly, hostile, supportive? This helps you understand their motivations.

Try this: Read a short dialogue between two friends. Ask yourself: "What does this conversation tell me about their friendship? Is it strong or is there a problem?" This is a great way to practice making inferences.

Key Takeaway for Section 3

Analysing texts like songs and stories helps you develop critical thinking skills. It connects to the Experience Strand of the syllabus, where you respond to imaginative texts and understand characters, events, and themes.


Section 4: Expressing Your Own Ideas (Writing & Speaking)

Now it's time to use everything you've learned! In your exams, you will need to write and speak about topics like friendship.

Writing About Relationships

You might be asked to write different text types. Here are a couple of common ones related to this topic:

1. A Letter to an Advice Column

This is a popular task. You write a letter describing a problem with a friend or in a relationship and ask for advice.

  • Structure:
    1. Greeting: Dear [Name of columnist],
    2. Introduction: State your problem briefly. e.g., "I am writing to you because I have a problem with my best friend."
    3. Body Paragraphs: Explain the situation in detail. What happened? How do you feel?
    4. Conclusion: Ask for advice directly. e.g., "What should I do? Please help."
    5. Sign-off: Use a pseudonym. e.g., "Yours truly, Worried Student"

2. A Diary Entry

This is a personal piece of writing where you can express your true feelings about an event, like an argument with a friend or a happy memory.

  • Key Features: Use an informal tone, write in the first person (I, me, my), and focus on your thoughts and emotions. Start with "Dear Diary," and the date.

Speaking About Relationships

In your speaking exam (e.g., group discussion), you might discuss a topic related to friendship.

Quick Review: Useful Phrases for Discussion

Starting your point:
"In my opinion..."
"I believe that..."

Agreeing:
"I completely agree with [Name]."
"That's a great point."

Disagreeing politely:
"I see what you mean, but..."
"I have a slightly different perspective."

Adding a point:
"To add to what [Name] said..."
"Another important point is..."

Example Discussion Topics:

  • What are the most important qualities of a good friend?
  • Is it better to have many friends or just one or two close friends?
  • How has social media changed friendships?
Key Takeaway for Section 4

Practice is key! Try writing a short diary entry or planning your ideas for a discussion topic. The more you practice using the language and structures from this chapter, the more confident you will become in your exams and in real life.