English as a Second Language | General Expressions and Phrases

Study Notes: General Expressions and Phrases (English as a Second Language)

Hello future fluent English speakers! Welcome to one of the most practical chapters in your vocabulary section: General Expressions and Phrases.

Don't worry if learning English feels like building a giant puzzle. These phrases are like the small, super-strong pieces that hold everything together! Knowing them helps you sound natural, polite, and confident in any conversation, interview, or writing task. Let's make English communication easy!

Section 1: The Foundation of Conversation – Greetings and Farewells

Every interaction begins and ends with certain key phrases. Choosing the right phrase depends on the time of day and how formal the situation is.

A. Greetings (Meeting Someone)

The most common mistake is using a greeting at the wrong time (e.g., saying Good evening at 9 AM).

• Time-Specific Greetings:

Good morning (Dawn until 12:00 PM)
Good afternoon (12:00 PM until 5:00 PM)
Good evening (5:00 PM onwards, often used as a greeting)

• General Greetings:

Hello / Hi (General and safe)
How are you? (Standard response: I’m fine, thank you. And you?)
How’s everything? / How are things going? (Slightly more casual)

Memory Tip (The Check-In): Think of "How are you?" as a formal, quick check-in. The listener expects a short, positive answer, even if your day isn’t perfect!

B. Farewells (Leaving Someone)

These expressions ensure you end the conversation politely.

• Standard Farewells:

Goodbye / Bye
Have a good day / Have a nice evening
See you later / Talk to you soon (Implies you will meet or communicate again)

Key Takeaway for Section 1: Master the four time-based greetings and always use a polite, reciprocal response (asking "And you?" or "You too!") when ending a conversation.

Section 2: The Magic Words – Essential Politeness and Manners

In English, politeness is shown through specific words and phrases. Using these correctly will instantly improve your relationship with examiners, teachers, and native speakers.

A. Requests and Obligations

Always use softening words like Could and Would when asking for something. These are much softer than using Can or simply giving an order.

• The Golden Request Forms:
Could you please pass me the book?
Would you mind helping me with this? (Requires a 'Yes, I wouldn’t mind' or 'No, not at all' response.)
I would like to order the fish, please. (More polite than 'I want...')

Did You Know? Using Please and Thank you are non-negotiable in English communication. If you forget them, you can sound very demanding!

B. Apologies and Interruptions

We use different phrases for different kinds of apologies or to get someone's attention.

• For small, necessary interruptions:

Use Excuse me when you need to walk past someone, interrupt a conversation, or get a waiter's attention. (Excuse me, is this seat taken?)

• For apologies (mistakes or small accidents):

I’m sorry (Standard, general apology)
I apologise for... (More formal, used for bigger mistakes)
My mistake. (Used for small, immediate errors)

Common Mistake to Avoid: Don't say I'm excuse me. You must say either I'm sorry OR Excuse me. They are used for different situations!

Section 3: Expressing Views – Agreement, Disagreement, and Certainty

In exams, especially in speaking tasks or essays, you need to show your opinion clearly. You must learn to agree or disagree politely (often called 'softening' disagreement).

A. Showing Agreement (You think the same)

• Strong Agreement:
I agree completely.
Exactly!
That is absolutely true.
You’ve hit the nail on the head. (Informal idiom meaning you are perfectly correct)

B. Showing Disagreement (You think differently)

It is crucial to use a softening phrase before stating your different opinion. This makes you sound thoughtful, not aggressive.

• Soft Disagreement (Recommended for exams):
I see your point, but...
I'm not sure I agree with that.
That’s an interesting idea, however...
Perhaps, but we also need to consider...

C. Certainty and Doubt

These phrases show how confident you are about a piece of information.

• Certainty (Sure):

Definitely / Absolutely
I am 100% sure.

• Doubt (Unsure):

Maybe / Perhaps
I doubt it. (Meaning: I think it probably won’t happen.)
I’m not certain.

Key Takeaway for Section 3: When disagreeing, always start with an acknowledgment (I see your point...) before using words like but or however.

Section 4: Asking for Help and Clarification

Don't worry if you don't understand something! Asking for clarification is a sign of intelligence, not weakness. These phrases are vital for classroom settings.

A. Asking for Repetition

When someone speaks too fast or quietly.

• Phrases for Repetition:
Could you repeat that, please?
Sorry, I didn’t quite catch that. (Catch that means understand or hear)
Pardon? (Short and polite, especially if you missed just one word)

B. Asking for Meaning or Spelling

When you encounter a new word or phrase.

• Phrases for Clarification:
What does [word] mean?
How do you spell that?
Could you explain that in a different way?
I don't understand the assignment. (Be specific if possible!)

Analogy: Think of clarification phrases as hitting the 'Rewind' button on a video. They let you go back and hear the important information again.

Section 5: Common Reactions and Exclamations

Using simple exclamations shows interest, surprise, or sympathy, making your speech sound much more human and engaging.

• Surprise or Amazement:
Wow!
That’s incredible!
Are you serious?

• Showing Sympathy or Concern:
Oh dear.
That’s a shame.
I’m so sorry to hear that.

• Encouragement or Good Wishes:
Good luck!
Well done!
That’s great news!

• Dismissing a Problem (It's okay):
Never mind. (Used when something small goes wrong or when you want to drop a topic.)
It doesn’t matter.

Don't worry if this seems tricky at first! Practice saying these phrases out loud. Your tongue needs to get used to the sounds. The more you use them, the more natural they will become.

Summary Checklist: Using Phrases in Context

To succeed in the exam, practice combining these phrases. If you are asked to roleplay a situation (like buying something or asking directions), make sure your language is always appropriate.

Example Scenario: Asking a Librarian for a book
"Excuse me, could you please tell me where the history section is? I would like to borrow a book on Ancient Rome. Thank you very much."

Remember: In English, the politest path is always the safest path!