300+ Idioms Course
“I’m all for it.”
= if you are all for something, it means you completely support it, you are 100% in favor of it
“There was dirt all over the floor.”
= if something is all over, it is in every place; everywhere
“He keeps saying he’ll write a book one day, but he’s all talk.”
= if someone is all talk, it means they talk about something but don’t do it. This expression can also be he’s all talk and no action.
“Skinny jeans are all the rage right now.”
= something that is all the rage is extremely popular
“I tried to keep a secret from my parents, but they knew the truth all along.”
= all along means “the entire time” or “from the beginning.”
“When they opened the doors to the store, everyone rushed in and it was a free-for-all.”
= a free-for-all is a crazy, chaotic situation with no organization and no respect for rules or order. It can also describe a fight.
“They pulled out all the stops for their daughter’s 16th birthday party.”
= use all the resources available, use 100% of your effort, do everything possible. Another way to say this is They went all out.
“This church is attended by people from all walks of life.”
= people from many different backgrounds, social classes, life experiences, etc.
“Winning the competition isn’t the be-all and end-all. You’ll learn a lot from the experience, too.”
= the best or most important thing, compared to which other things don’t matter
“When all is said and done, nothing will have changed.”
= at the end, after the current situation is concluded
“When all is said and done, nothing will have changed.” Image source
Unfortunately, there’s no way around it: the intricate rules of subject-verb agreement can be difficult. Whether you are a native speaker or someone learning English as a second language, subject-verb agreement is likely an area in which you may face some challenges. For example, words like “all” often leave people asking: should I say “all is” or “all are?”
“All are” is correct in most cases. If the word “all” is singular, referring to a single, unified group, you should say “all is.” When using “all” in plural form, you should say “all are.”
Though this rule can be fairly tricky, you should have no problem mastering subject-verb agreement with pronouns like “all” with some time and patience. In this article, we’ll discuss everything you need to know about the subject “all” and how to pair this word with its appropriate verb.
When using “all” in singular form, it’s correct to say “all is,” but when using “all” on its own, which is in plural form, you should say “all are.” An easy hack to remember: if you can replace the word with “it,” then the form is singular. If you can replace “all” with “they,” then it is plural.
Check out a few examples below to see if you are using the appropriate verb with this pronoun:
- All the cats are meowing at your door for food.
- When all the students are running to class, the hallways can feel dangerous.
- All our parents are getting older.
- All the milk is sour, so we need to throw it out.
- She said that all the rice is for sharing among needy families.
- Because we do chores together, all the money is shared for our allowance.
In the examples above, “cats,” “students,” and “parents” are all plural, countable nouns. Since they are clearly plural, you would say “all are.” In the final three examples, “all” works as a determiner for singular, uncountable nouns, meaning that it would be best to say “all is.”
“All Is” or “All Are” in Common Phrases
The old adage says that “practice makes perfect,” and the more you practice using specific words in context, the more likely you are to learn them successfully. Let’s look at some common uses of the word “all” and how to match them to their appropriate verb.
“All of Us Is” or “All of Us Are”
In this instance, there is little nuance. Because “us” is a plural pronoun, it’s always appropriate to say “all of us are.” For example, you could say, “All of us are going to attend the Christmas festival at the end of the year.”
Below are some common phrases using “all” where we can use “is” or “are” depending on whether “all” is replacing a singular or plural subject.
“All Is Welcome” or “All Are Welcome”
When “all” represents a single group, it’s appropriate to say “all is welcome.” However, it’s much more common to hear “all” in the plural form, meaning you are more likely to say, “all are welcome.”
- All the advice is welcome as I travel through this difficult time of my life.
- All the guests are welcome to bring a gift for the happy couple.
In the first example, “all” refers to “advice,” a singular, uncountable noun. In the second example, since “all” refers to the plural “guests,” you would say, “All the guests are welcome.”
“All Is Well” or “All Are Well”
When you are using the word “all” in reference to “everything in my life,” then it’s appropriate to say “all is well.” However, if “all” instead represents multiple, specific people or things, you should say “all are well.”
- All the family members are well after their long time battling the stomach virus.
- All is currently going well in my life.
However, it would be better to say “Everything is currently going well in my life” instead.
“Hope All Is Well” or “Hope All Are Well”
This phrase follows much the same rule as the previous. You should only say “I hope all is well” when using this phrase in reference to “all” that is occurring in your friend’s life. If you mean to say that you hope “all” the people in their family are doing well, you should use the plural sense of the verb.
- I hope all are well in your family!
- I hope all is going well with the online class you are taking.
“All Is Mine” or “All Are Mine”
In this instance, you are far more likely to hear the phrase “all are mine.” The only instance you might hear the phrase “all is mine” would occur when “all” represents an uncountable noun.
For instance, you would say, “all the kids are mine” at the playground, but when looking for bottled drinks afterward, you’d say, “all the water is mine.”
“All Is Right” or “All Are Right”
Generally speaking, you are more likely to hear “all are right,” but, once again, if “all” represents a larger, uncountable noun, you may say, “all is right.”
- All the students are right in attending the mandatory “back to school” seminar.
- All is right with the world.
As you can see, there’s a wide variety of ways we use “all is” or “all are,” and our choice always depends on the context of the sentence. To learn more about this word in context, check out our other article: “All is Correct” or “All are Correct.”
“All” Parts of Speech
We can use “all” as an adjective, adverb, noun, or pronoun, depending on where we place it within a sentence (source). Consider the examples below:
- Adjective: All men are created equal.
- Adverb: I have all mahogany furniture within my home.
- Noun: I gave my all on that test, and the scores reflected that effort.
- Pronoun: All of the students tried their hardest on the test.
As you can see, the word “all” is a bit of a chameleon, changing shape as needed to fit the requirements of the sentence it calls home.
However, for today’s lesson, we’re focusing on “all” as a pronoun or determiner before a noun and learning how to pair that subject with its appropriate verb. Pronouns are words we use to replace specific nouns within a sentence, while determiners specify something about a noun phrase.
You likely already associate the word “pronoun” with “she,” “he,” “it,” and “they,” but when we use it to replace a noun, we can consider “all” as a pronoun as well.
Still, before finding out this word’s proper subject-verb agreement, you must first identify whether the word “all” is plural or singular.
Is “All” Singular or Plural?
Just as the word “all” can function as different parts of speech, “all” can also be singular or plural, depending on how we use it within a sentence. To identify whether the word “all” is singular or plural, you must figure out what noun this pronoun stands in the place of.
Plural “All”
When we use it to take the place of a countable noun, “all” is plural. Because most nouns in the English language are countable, we will most often use “all” with a plural verb.
Countable nouns, in simplest terms, are nouns that we can count. This means that we can consider most common, tangible nouns as countable nouns. Because the pronoun “all” references tangible, countable nouns, you can easily see that it references plural nouns.
When the word “all” functions as a determiner for one of these common nouns, it works with a plural verb.
“All” as a Determiner
A determiner plays a vital role in the English language. It clarifies which noun a speaker refers to within the sentence, making the overall context and message easier to understand.
When you use “all” as a determiner, you specify that you are referencing every noun available within that noun phrase rather than just one or two (source).
For example:
- All the animals at the barnyard are for sale.
- All the students ate their lunches outside to enjoy the beautiful weather.
- When all the kids were done with homework, they packed up their bags.
- All the desks were lined up neatly around the classroom.
- I hate when all my papers become scattered and disorganized.
In each of the above sentences, “all” functions as a determiner, pointing out each of the countable nouns and making it clear that every single noun is participating in the action.
Look at the same examples if you were to use “all” to replace the subjects rather than as a determiner:
- All are for sale.
- All ate their lunches outside to enjoy the beautiful weather.
- When all were done with homework, they packed up their bags.
- All were lined up neatly around the classroom.
- I hate when all become scattered and disorganized.
As you can see, while the sentences still technically make grammatical sense, the meaning becomes far less clear. By including the full subjects and using “all” as a determiner, it’s much easier to see that “all” is enhancing plural, countable nouns and that we should treat “all” as plural.
Singular “All”
When “all” functions as a determiner for an uncountable noun, “all” becomes singular. While countable nouns are easy to understand, uncountable nouns can be trickier and take a deeper level of understanding to grasp fully. Read on to learn more about uncountable nouns.
Uncountable Nouns
As the name would indicate, uncountable nouns are nouns that are impossible to count. Grammatically, we consider these nouns as generally singular in American English, which means that when “all” is a determiner with an uncountable noun, we should treat “all” as singular.
Though the list of uncountable nouns is long and ever-growing, familiar uncountable nouns include words like “water,” “sand,” “music,” “anger,” and “news.” Look below to see a few examples of these uncountable nouns in a sentence.
- All the water is dirty and shouldn’t be used for drinking.
- I hate when all the sand from the beach seems to end up coming home with us.
- I enjoy all the music that our high school band plays.
- All her anger ends up directed towards the wrong people.
- All news is considered good news.
When “all” is a determiner for any of these nouns, we should consider “all” as singular.
Subject-Verb Agreement
The basic rules of subject-verb agreement state that a subject and verb must agree with one another in number. If a subject is singular, its verb must be as well. The only trick here is that, unlike singular nouns, singular verbs commonly end in “s” (source).
Look at a brief example below:
- The student loves English more than any other class.
- The students love English more than any other class.
Because the subject “student” references a single person, the writer should pair this subject with the singular verb “loves.” In a similar way, when the subject changes to become the plural “students,” the verb changes as well, turning from “loves” to “love.”
As we’ve previously discussed, countable nouns can be singular or plural, depending on how someone uses them. For example, if there is an “s” at the end of a countable noun, we consider it plural and pair it with a plural verb.
Uncountable nouns are almost always singular, meaning that you should pair them with singular verbs.
When determining whether subject-verb agreement within a sentence is correct or incorrect, you must look only at the subject and the verb. This means that you must ignore all distracting words or prepositional phrases that may occur in between.
Example:
- All the animals on the ranch the girl bought last week are busy eating right now.
Although this sentence is fairly long and meandering, there are only two words you need to examine: “all” and “are.” Because the word “all” as it appears here is plural, it is correct to say “all are.” This article was written for strategiesforparents.com.
To learn more about how to properly match tricky nouns to their appropriate verb, check out this more thorough, in-depth article on the topic: “My Family Is or Are: Subject-Verb Agreement.”
Final Thoughts
“All” is both a fascinating word with a rich history and a vital one to our collective language. It increases clarity and has the power to function as almost every part of speech, all depending on how you apply it! With the word “all,” context is key.
Though you should typically say “all are,” there are instances where “all” is singular rather than plural. By looking at the greater context, you should be able to determine whether you should say “all is” or “all are.”
The words “all”, “whole” and “entire” are quantifiers. This means they indicate aspects of quantity.
Their usage depends on the type of noun they describe, i.e. singular or plural, countable or uncountable.
ALL
“All (of the)” can generally be used with all types of noun, e.g.:
Singular countable nouns
The lessor has leased all of the building.
I waited all morning for a call from London.
Plural countable nouns
They have plans to sell all or a significant portion of the assets.
Have they paid all the invoices from 2015 yet?
Uncountable nouns
Please send us all the documentation you have on the matter.
They have not sent us all the information we asked for.
WHOLE
“Whole (of the)” can be used with singular countable nouns, e.g.:
The lessor has leased the whole building.
We’ve rented the whole of the 5th floor as we’re planning to take on more staff.
“Whole” cannot be used with plural countable nouns or uncountable nouns, e.g.:
Plural countable nouns
They have plans to sell the whole or a significant portion of the assets.
Have they paid the whole of the invoices from 2015 yet?
In the Contractor’s opinion the whole snags were rectified before handover of the building. => all the snags
Uncountable nouns
Please send us the whole documentation you have on the matter.
They have not sent us the whole information we asked for.
The Operator does not guarantee the off-take of the whole electric energy generated at the wind farm. => all the electric energy
ENTIRE
“Entire” and “whole (of the)” are synonyms and usually interchangeable. “Entire” is more formal.
“Entire” can be used with singular countable nouns, e.g.:
The lessor has leased the entire building.
We’ve rented the entire 5th floor as we’re planning to take on more staff.
Like “whole”, “entire” cannot be used with plural countable nouns or with most uncountable nouns.
“Entire of” is wrong, but “the entirety of (the)” is correct, although it’s wordy and over formal, so I don’t recommend it.
If you need to use “of” or “of the”, you cannot use “entire”, e.g.:
WRONG
The unemployment rate for entire Poland was 18%.
RIGHT
The unemployment rate for the whole of Poland was 18%.
The unemployment rate for all of Poland was 18%.
WRONG
You do not have to pay them a bonus for entire 2015.
RIGHT
You do not have to pay them a bonus for the whole of 2015.
You do not have to pay them a bonus for all of 2015.
In the video lesson we learned the 80 most common phrases in English.
Common phrases to ask how someone is:
- What’s up?
- What’s new?
- What have you been up to lately?
- How’s it going?
- How are things?
- How’s life?
Common phrases to say how you are:
- I’m fine, thanks. How about you?
- Pretty good.
- Same as always
- Not so great.
- Could be better
- cant complain
Common phrases to say thank you:
- I really appreciate it.
- I’m really grateful
- That’s so kind of you.
- I owe you one. (this means you want/need to do a favor for the other person in the future)
Common phrases to respond to thank you:
- No problem.
- No worries
- Don’t mention it.
- My pleasure.
- Anytime.
Common phrases to end a conversation politely:
- It was nice chatting with you.
- Anyway, I should get going.
Common phrases to ask for information:
- Do you have any idea…?
- Would you happen to know…? (when you’re not sure if the other person has the information.)
- I don’t suppose you (would) know…? (when you’re not sure if the other person has the information.)
Common phrases to say I don’t know:
- I have no idea/clue.
- I can’t help you there.
- (informal) Beats me.
- I’m not really sure.
- I’ve been wondering that, too.
Common phrases for not having an opinion:
- I’ve never given it much thought.
- I don’t have strong feelings either way.
- It doesn’t make any difference to me.
- I have no opinion on the matter.
Common phrases for agreeing:
- Exactly.
- Absolutely.
- That’s so true.
- That’s for sure.
- I agree 100%
- I couldn’t agree with you more.
- (informal) Tell me about it! / You’re telling me!
- (informal) I’ll say!
- I suppose so. (use this phrase for weak agreement – you agree, but reluctantly)
Common phrases for disagreeing:
- I’m not so sure about that.
- That’s not how I see it.
- Not necessarily
Common phrases to respond to great news:
- That’s great!
- How wonderful!
- Awesome!
Common phrases to respond to bad news:
- Oh no…
- That’s terrible.
- Poor you. (Use this to respond to bad situations that are not too serious)
- I’m so sorry to hear that.
Common phrases to invite someone somewhere:
- Are you free… [Saturday night?]
- Are you doing anything… [Saturday night?]
- . (informal) Do you wanna… [see a movie?]
- (formal)Would you like to… [join me for dinner?]
Common phrases for food:
- I’m starving! (= I’m very hungry)
- Let’s grab a bite to eat.
- How about eating out tonight? (eat out = eat at a restaurant)
- I’ll have… (use this phrase for ordering in a restaurant)
Common phrases for price:
- It cost a fortune.
- It cost an arm and a leg.
- That’s a rip-off. (= overpriced; far more expensive than it should be)
- That’s a bit pricey.
- That’s quite reasonable. (= it’s a good price)
- That’s a good deal. (= a good value for the amount of money)
- It was a real bargain.
- It was dirt cheap. (= extremely inexpensive)
Common phrases for weather:
- It’s a little chilly.
- It’s freezing. (= extremely cold)
- Make sure to bundle up. (bundle up = put on warm clothes for protection against the cold)
Common phrases for hot weather:
- It’s absolutely boiling! (boiling = extremely hot)
- it scorching hot outside
Common phrases for being tired:
- I’m exhausted.
- I’m dead tired.
- I’m beat
- I can hardly keep my eyes open
- I’m gonna hit the sack. (hit the sack = go to bed)
Fun & Easy Way to Learn English
Learn 400 common English phrases and sentences that are commonly used in more advanced conversations! Enhance your communication skills and master advanced techniques to speak with confidence!
It can be difficult to communicate effectively with a new language like English. There are a lot of new terms that you need to learn, grammar rules to be aware of, and little nuances that are learned by years of practicing and growing. In particular, for those who are shy and scared of failing using these brand new phrases and words can trigger an anxiety attack!
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But where do you begin?
If you’re looking to begin speaking English now and begin your experience with the language of everyday life You’re at the right place.
Below are 400 most common English phrases and sentences that can help you expand your English vocabulary and help you sound like a native speakers.
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80 Essential Advanced English Phrases to Learn.
When you learn to speak a new language, it is important to pay attention to the most common phrases that are used in that language. Besides vocabulary, common phrases are one of the most important factors that decide whether or not you are capable of speaking a new language well enough in just a short period of time.
So, why are common phrases so important to your success?
A Common phrase is a group of words put together in order. It has a meaning different from the meaning of all individual words put together. Therefore, you have to learn and remember the whole phrase.
Common phrases are used in virtually every daily conversation that native English speakers have. If you want to improve your English speaking quickly, you must learn the way native speakers speak by learning the common phrases that always use the most
Simplifying Linking Words for Successful Writing. A comprehensive list and explanation
In addition, it is easier to memorize and recall a long phrase or sentence than it is a single word. This is especially true when developing listening skills because when you are a part of a conversation with native speakers, you will be more likely to recognize and understand a long phrase than a single word.
The same thing happens when you speak. If you use common phrases when you speak, native speakers will be more likely to understand what you are trying to say even if your pronunciation may not be that good.
For example, if you greet a native English speaker: “Is your health good?”, he would most likely not understand the question due to the fact that this is not a question that is commonly associated with a greeting. But if you were to ask them «Hi, how are you today?» then they are guaranteed to understand your meaning.
In conclusion, learning the most common phrases that native English speakers use is one of the fastest ways to learn Spoken English.
ADVANCED ENGLISH: Tips for Becoming a Confident Communicator.
Below are 80 of the most common Advanced level phrases which will help you to better understand, and be understood when having conversations with native speakers in English.
Good luck and good studying
Phrases to ask how someone is:
- What’s up?
- What’s new?
- What have you been up to lately?
- How’s it going?
- How are things?
- How’s life?
Phrases to say how you are:
- I’m fine, thanks. How about you?
- Pretty good.
- Same as always
- Not so great.
- Could be better
- can’t complain
Phrases to respond to good news:
- That’s great!
- How wonderful!
- Awesome!
ADVANCED VOCABULARY: The 100 Most Important Words for Achieving a B2 to C2 Level of English.
Phrases to respond to bad news:
- Oh no…
- That’s terrible.
- Poor you. (Use this to respond to people in bad situations that are not too serious)
- I’m so sorry to hear that.
Phrases to say thank you:
- I really appreciate it.
- I’m really grateful
- That’s so kind of you.
- I owe you one. (this means you want/need to do a favor for the other person in the future)
Phrases to respond to thank you:
- No problem.
- No worries
- Don’t mention it.
- My pleasure.
- Anytime.
Phrases for weather:
- It’s a little chilly.
- It’s freezing. (It’s extremely cold)
- Make sure to bundle up. (To put on warm clothes to protect against the cold)
Phrases for hot weather:
- It’s absolutely boiling! (Extremely hot)
- it scorching hot outside
Phrases to end a conversation politely:
- It was nice chatting with you.
- Anyway, I should get going.
Phrases to ask for information:
- Do you have any idea…?
- Would you happen to know…? (When you’re not sure if the other person has the information.)
- I don’t suppose you (would) know…? (When you’re not sure if the other person has the information.)
Phrases for price:
- It cost a fortune.
- It cost an arm and a leg.
- That’s a rip-off. (It’s far more expensive than it should be)
- That’s a bit pricey.
- That’s quite reasonable. (It’s a good price)
- That’s a good deal. (A good value for the amount of money)
- It was a real bargain.
- It was dirt cheap. (Extremely inexpensive)
Phrases for not having an opinion:
- I’ve never given it much thought.
- I don’t have strong feelings either way.
- It doesn’t make any difference to me.
- I have no opinion on the matter.
-
Phrases for agreeing:
- Exactly.
- Absolutely.
- That’s so true.
- That’s for sure.
- I agree 100%
- I couldn’t agree with you more.
- (informal) Tell me about it! / You’re telling me!
- (informal) I’ll say!
- I suppose so. (To agree, but reluctantly)
Phrases for disagreeing:
- I’m not so sure about that.
- That’s not how I see it.
- Not necessarily
Phrases to say I don’t know:
- I have no idea/clue.
- I can’t help you there.
- (informal) Beats me.
- I’m not really sure.
- I’ve been wondering that, too.
Phrases to invite someone somewhere:
- Are you free…
- Are you doing anything…
- (informal) Do you wanna…
- (formal)Would you like to…
Phrases for food:
- I’m starving! (Very hungry)
- Let’s grab a bite to eat.
- How about eating out tonight? (To eat out = eat at a restaurant)
- I’ll have… (You use this phrase for ordering in a restaurant)
Phrases for being tired:
- I’m exhausted.
- I’m dead tired.
- I’m beat
- I can hardly keep my eyes open
- I’m gonna hit the sack. (hit the sack = go to bed)
A phrasal verb that combines a normal verb with an adverb or a preposition to create an entirely new verbal phrase is called the phrasal verb. A phrasal verb is a verb like pick up, turn on or get on with.
Common phrasal verbs (with meanings and examples)
back [x] up
Meaning: support or defend someone
Example: Don’t forget to back up your work.
break down
Meaning: stop working, especially when referring to machines
Example: The young man broke down in tears.
Carry on with
Meaning: Continue
Example: I want you to carry on with the work while I am out of the country.
Carry on
Meaning: Continue
Example: Carry on. I didn’t mean to interrupt you.
Carry on about
Meaning: Continue in an annoying way
Example: She kept carrying on about how much money she made.
Carry off
Meaning: Succeed, win
Example: He carried off the first prize in the tennis tournament.
Carry over
Meaning: Continue past a certain point
Example: The meeting carried over into lunchtime.
Carry out
Meaning: Perform a task
Example: I would like to carry out the plan.
Carry on
Meaning: Behave badly
Example: My son annoyed me by carrying on all day.
call around
Meaning: contact multiple people
Example: Roy called around to find a nearby mechanic.
calm down
Meaning: relax after an energetic or irritated state
Example: I need a few minutes to calm down after that match.
call [x] off
Meaning: cancel
Example: We called the party off. / We called off the party.
check [x] out
Meaning: verify a person or thing (can sometimes be flirtatious when used in reference to a person)
Example: I’ll check the contract out. / I’ll check out the contract.
clean up
Meaning: be extremely successful in an endeavor, such as business, sports, or gambling
Example: Our hockey team cleaned up at the tournament and went home undefeated.
come around
Meaning: change an opinion or see a new point of view
Example: I never liked seafood, but came around after trying fried calamari.
come between
Meaning: disturb a relationship
Example: After more than fifty years of marriage, nothing could come between them.
come down on
Meaning: attack or punish harshly
Example: Ever since last month’s accident, police have been coming down on drunk driving.
come down with
Meaning: become sick
Example: After sitting in the rain for hours, Chandra came down with a nasty cold.
come out of
Meaning: happen as a consequence of another event
Example: We missed a day of school, so at least some good came out of our boring class trip.
come up
Meaning: become the topic of discussion or receive attention
Example: Everyone talked about how much they enjoyed the movie, but the run time never came up in the conversation.
come up with
Meaning: think of an idea, especially as the first person to do so, or to produce a solution
Example: Sahar comes up with her best story ideas at night, so she writes them down before she forgets them.
count on
Meaning: rely or depend on
Example: If I’m ever making a mistake, I can count on my friends to warn me.
dive into
Meaning: occupy oneself with something; to pore over quickly or reach into quickly
Example: I’ll dive into that new TV show later tonight.
dress up
Meaning: wear nice clothes or put forth in the best light
Example: Abed dressed up for the award ceremony.
end up
Meaning: eventually reach some conclusion or destination
Example: After thinking for a day, he ended up taking the job.
fall apart
Meaning: break into pieces
Example: My new dress completely fell apart after just two washes.
find out
Meaning: discover or learn
Example: We’ll have to wait until the next TV episode to find out who the killer is.
Go about sth
Meaning: to deal with something
Example: I want to solve this problem but I don’t know how to go about it.
Go after sth
Meaning: to try to get something
Example: He is planning to go after his friend’s project.
Go after sb
Meaning: to try to catch or stop someone
Example: We should go after her and tell her the truth.
Go against sth/sb
Meaning: to oppose or to disagree with someone or something
Example: The people’s votes went against us.
Go ahead
Meaning: to start or to continue to do something, especially after waiting for permission
Example: Why don’t you go ahead and eat it?
Go ahead with
Meaning: to start or to continue with plans to do something
Example: It is a good idea. We should go ahead with the plan and see what happens.
Get (sth) across
Meaning: to make people understand something
Example: The teacher couldn’t get her ideas across to the students.
Get along / Get on / Get on with
Meaning: If people get along, they like each other and they have a good relationship.
Example: I can’t get along with the neighbours anymore.
Get ahead
Meaning: to be successful in the work
Example: I will get ahead at work with this project.
Get at sth
Meaning: to touch or to reach something
Example: The child can’t get at the books on the high shelf.
Get at sb
Meaning: to criticise someone repeatedly
Example: The boss always gets on me. I don’t know why he behaves like that.
Get away
Meaning: to leave or to escape from a place or a person
Example: She usually gets away from the crowds.
go for
Meaning: try or attempt to achieve something
Example: Carlos trains so hard because he is going for an Olympic gold medal.
go on
Meaning: continue doing something (see keep [x] up)
Example: The boys will go on digging until they hit a water pipe.
go over
Meaning: review or look at it again
Example: Marie went over the study guide one last time before the test.
hand in
Meaning: submit (especially an assignment)
Example: The teacher wants us to hand in our essays through email.
leave [x] out
Meaning: omit or disregard
Example: Orna left the graph out of the presentation. / Orna left out the graph from the presentation.
let [x] down
Meaning: disappoint
Example: Kamal let Marco down when he arrived late. / Kamal let down Marco when he arrived late.
let go of
Meaning: release or free
Example: Don’t let go of the rope until I’m safe.
let [x] in
Meaning: allow to enter
Example: Close the door or you’ll let the flies in!
Let on
Meaning: Make clear, evince
Example: You don’t want to let on how rich you really are.
Let off
Meaning: Cause to explode or release
Example: Stand back when you let off fireworks.
Let down
Meaning: Fail to support or help
Example: My friend, don’t let me down this time.
Let out
Meaning: Make bigger
Example: I need to let out this skirt.
Let down
Meaning: Lengthen
Example: My father is a tailor, so he can let my pants down.
let [x] know
Meaning: tell someone something
Example: Let me know as soon as Leslie texts back.
look after
Meaning: take care of someone or something
Example: Thank you for looking after me when I was sick.
look up to [x]
Meaning: admire or idolize someone
Example: I looked up to this YouTuber until I read about their scandal.
Make off
Meaning: Hurry away, escape
Example: The thieves made off before the police arrived.
Make up
Meaning: Forgive each other
Example: Alex and Mary were angry yesterday, but they made up this morning.
Make for
Meaning: Move towards
Example: He was already made for home when I arrived.
Make of
Meaning: Understand, find a reason
Example: I don’t know what to make of his behaviour.
Make out
Meaning: Decipher
Example: Anybody can’t make out her handwriting.
Make up
Meaning: Invent, lie about something
Example: Mary made up a story about why she was late.
Make up for
Meaning: Compensate for something
Example: I don’t eat dinner but I make up for it at breakfast.
mix up
Meaning: confuse something with something else
Example: It’s easy to mix up Chris Pine and Chris Pratt.
pull [x] up
Meaning: retrieve or bring something nearer
Example: Eugene pulled the document up on his computer. / Eugene pulled up the document on his computer.
put [x] on
Meaning: wear or add something to your person or an object
Example: I always put my backpack on before leaving the house. / I always put on my backpack before leaving the house.
put up with
Meaning: tolerate or condone
Example: Somehow Paz could put up with Janice’s cynical attitude.
run out of
Meaning: use all of or drain the supply of something
Example: Isabella ran out of toilet paper at the worst possible time.
see to
Meaning: make sure something is done
Example: I’ll see to watering the plants while you’re gone.
set [x] up
Meaning: arrange or organize
Example: Since no one invited me to join their study group, I set one up myself.
show off
Meaning: deliberately display abilities or accomplishments in order to impress people
Example: Panya didn’t need to shoot so many three-pointers; she was just showing off.
shut [x] off
Meaning: turn off, especially a machine
Example: Don’t forget to shut the water off after your shower. / Don’t forget to shut off the water after your shower.
Set about sth/doing sth
Meaning: to begin or start doing something
Examples: I don’t know how to set about the work.
Set about sb
Meaning: to attack someone
Example: The crowd began to set about him with stones.
Set forth
Meaning: to begin traveling
Example: We set forth at noon.
Set off
Meaning: to start a journey or trip
Example: We will set off next week.
Set off sth
Meaning: to cause a signal to start something
Example: The loud sound set off the baby’s crying.
Set out
Meaning: to leave a place and begin a journey
Example: We set out on a lonely journey.
Set out ( to do something )
Meaning: to start an activity or something with a special aim or intend
Example: She set out to protect her kids.
take after
Meaning: resemble, especially with parents and their children
Example: Li takes after his father when it comes to politics.
take [x] out
Meaning: move something outside
Example: Please take the garbage out before dinner. / Please take out the garbage before dinner.
think [x] over
Meaning: consider something
Example: When his parents suggested selling his Pokemon cards, Yosef thought it over.
throw [x] away
Meaning: dispose of something
Example: Could you throw that old burrito away? / Could you throw away that old burrito?
turn [x] down
Meaning: reject or say “no”
Example: My crush turned me down after I asked them out.
top off
Meaning: fill something to the top; to complete something in a special or spectacular way
Example: May I top off your beverage?
wait on
Meaning: serve, especially at a restaurant
Example: Billie eagerly waited at the new table of customers, hoping for a big tip.
Read into
Meaning: to believe that an action, remark, or situation has particular importance or meaning, often when this is not true
Example: Her speech is very clear. Don’t try to read anything else into it.
Read over/through
Meaning: to read something quickly from the beginning to the end
Example: You should read over your exam paper when you have finished.
Warm up
Meaning: Make something warm
Example: I’II warms up some meat for dinner.
Read More…
Phrases by Category
Phrasal Verbs
New English Words And Phrases in 2020
Idioms that came from movies!
How to Ask Someone to Repeat Something in English
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Do you want to say more than “Hi” and “How are you?”
And would you like to sound like a native English speaker now instead of waiting until you reach the advanced level?
You are in the right place!
Below are 40 common English phrases that people use every day. They are useful phrases that will also help your knowledge of English grow.
Contents
- Common English Phrases for Introducing Yourself and Making Friends
-
- 1. Hi! I am [Name]. (And you?)
- 2. Nice to meet you.
- 3. Where are you from?
- 4. What do you do?
- 5. What do you like to do (in your free time)?
- 6. What is your phone number?
- 7. Do you have Facebook?
- Everyday English Phrases for Anywhere
-
- 8. Thanks so much.
- 9. I really appreciate…
- 10. Excuse me.
- 11. I am sorry.
- 12. What do you think?
- 13. How does that sound?
- 14. That sounds great.
- 15. Oh, never mind.
- Common Phrases for Learning English
-
- 16. I am learning English.
- 17. I do not understand.
- 18. Could you repeat that please?
- 19. Could you please talk slower?
- 20. Thank you. That helps a lot.
- 21. What does _____ mean?
- 22. How do you spell that?
- 23. What do you mean?
- Everyday English Phrases for Shopping
-
- 24. Can you help me?
- 25. I am looking for…
- 26. Do you have this [object] in a different color?
- 27. I do not know my size.
- 28. I need this in a size ______.
- 29. Where can I find [item]?
- 30. How much does this/that cost?
- 31. I do not need a bag.
- 32. Can someone help me carry this out?
- 33. Can I have this delivered?
- Common English Phrases for Work
-
- 34. How can I help you?
- 35. I will be with you in a moment.
- 36. What time is our meeting?
- 37. Please call me (back) at…
- 38. Actually, I thought…
- 39. When is the deadline?
- 40. I am (just) about to [verb]…
- How to Learn Common Phrases in English
Download:
This blog post is available as a convenient and portable PDF that you
can take anywhere.
Click here to get a copy. (Download)
Common English Phrases for Introducing Yourself and Making Friends
Here are some phrases for introducing yourself when you meet new people, and questions to learn more about them.
1. Hi! I am [Name]. (And you?)
Here is an informal greeting you can use when you meet new friends. If the person does not tell you their name, you can say your name first. Then ask, “And you?” or “And what is your name?”
Hi! I am Stephen. And you?
2. Nice to meet you.
After you learn each other’s names, it is polite to say this phrase.
A: Hi, Stephen, I am Chad.
B: Nice to meet you, Chad.
A: Nice to meet you, too.
3. Where are you from?
Ask this question to find out which country someone is from. You answer this question with “I am from _______.”
Can you answer this question in English? Say both the question and answer aloud right now.
A: Nice to meet you, Sergio. So, where are you from?
B: I am from Spain.
4. What do you do?
Most adults ask each other this question when they meet. It means what do you do for a living (what is your job).
I think this question is boring, so I ask other questions. But many people will probably ask you this, so it is important to know what it means.
A: What do you do, Cathleen?
B: I work at the university as a financial specialist.
5. What do you like to do (in your free time)?
Instead of asking for someone’s job title, I prefer to ask what they enjoy doing. The responses (answers) are usually much more interesting!
A: So, Cathleen, what do you like to do in your free time?
B: I love to read and to garden. I picked two buckets of tomatoes last week!
6. What is your phone number?
If you want to keep in contact with someone you just met, ask this question to find out their phone number. You can replace “phone number” with “email address” if you want to know their email address.
You might also hear people use the more casual, “Can I get your phone number?“
It would be great to meet up again sometime. What is your phone number?
7. Do you have Facebook?
Many people keep in touch (contact) through Facebook. Use this question to find out if someone has a Facebook account. You might also ask, “Are you on Facebook?”
Let’s keep in touch! Do you have Facebook?
Everyday English Phrases for Anywhere
These eight phrases can be used in many different situations.
8. Thanks so much.
This is a simple sentence you can use to thank someone.
To add detail, say:
Thanks so much + for + [noun] / [-ing verb].
For example:
Thanks so much for the birthday money.
Thanks so much for driving me home.
9. I really appreciate…
You can also use this phrase to thank someone. For example, you might say:
I really appreciate your help.
Or you can combine this phrase with the last one:
Thanks so much for cooking dinner. I really appreciate it.
Thanks so much. I really appreciate your cooking dinner.
10. Excuse me.
When you need to get through but there is someone blocking your way, say “Excuse me.”
You can also say this phrase to politely get someone’s attention. For example:
Excuse me, sir, you dropped your wallet.
Excuse me, do you know what time it is?
11. I am sorry.
Use this phrase to apologize, whether for something big or small. Use “for” to give more detail. For example:
I am sorry for being so late.
I was not expecting anyone today. I am sorry for the mess.
You can use “really” to show you are very sorry for something:
I am really sorry I did not invite you to the party.
In fact, I am sorry has many different uses in English and they are not always that obvious! Because of this, using native content when learning English expressions is very important to ensure you are learning them properly.
In the video below, you will explore the many different ways I am sorry can be used in English in the correct context.
For even more learning content to help you learn English, you can check out the FluentU English channel.
12. What do you think?
When you want to hear someone’s opinion on a topic, use this question.
I am not sure if we should paint the room yellow or blue. What do you think?
13. How does that sound?
If you suggest an idea or plan, use this phrase to find out what others think.
We could have dinner at 6, and then go to a movie. How does that sound?
Let’s hire a band to play music, and Brent can photograph the event. How does that sound?
14. That sounds great.
If you like an idea, you can respond to “How does that sound?” with this phrase. “Great” can be replaced with any synonym (similar word), such as “awesome,” “perfect,” “excellent” or “fantastic.”
A: My mom is baking cookies this afternoon. We could go to my house and eat some. How does that sound?
B: That sounds fantastic!
15. Oh, never mind.
Let’s say someone does not understand an idea you are trying to explain. If you have explained it over and over and want to stop, just say “oh, never mind.” You can now talk about something else!
You can also use “never mind” to mean “it does not matter” or “just forget it.” In these situations, say it with a smile and positive tone, though. When you say this phrase slowly with a falling, low tone, it can mean you are bothered or upset.
A: Are you going to the grocery store today?
B: No, I am not. But why—do you need something?
A: Oh, never mind! It is okay, I will go tomorrow.
Common Phrases for Learning English
As an English learner, you will likely want to tell others that English is not your first language. You will also need to ask native speakers to repeat phrases and words or to speak slower. The following phrases will be useful for these situations.
16. I am learning English.
This simple phrase tells people that English is not your native language. If you are a total beginner, you can add “just started” like this: “I just started learning English.”
My name is Sophie and I am learning English.
17. I do not understand.
Use this phrase when you do not understand what someone means.
Sorry, I do not understand. The U.S. Electoral College seems very confusing!
18. Could you repeat that please?
If you would like someone to say a word, question or phrase again, use this question. Since “to repeat” means “to say again,” you can also ask, “Could you say that again, please?”
We can say “please” either at the end of the question or right after “you,” like this:
Could you please repeat that?
Could you repeat that, please?
19. Could you please talk slower?
Native speakers can talk very fast. Fast English is hard to understand! This is an easy way to ask someone to speak more slowly.
Note: This phrase is not grammatically correct. However, it is used often in every day (casual) speech. The grammatically correct question would be, “Could you please talk more slowly?“
That is because “slowly” is an adverb, so it describes verbs (like “talk”). “Slower” is a comparative adjective, which means it should be used to describe nouns (people, places or things), not verbs. (For example: My car is slower than yours.)
A: You can give us a call any weekday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. at five five five, two five zero eight, extension three three—
B: I am sorry, could you please talk slower?
20. Thank you. That helps a lot.
After someone starts speaking more slowly for you, thank them with this phrase.
You can use it in many other situations, too.
A: Ben, could you please make the font bigger? It is hard for me to read the words.
B: Sure! I will change it from size 10 to 16. How is this?
A: Thank you. That helps a lot.
21. What does _____ mean?
When you hear or see a new word, use this phrase to ask what it means.
A: What does “font” mean?
B: It is the style of letters, numbers and punctuation marks when you type. A common font in the USA is called Times New Roman.
22. How do you spell that?
English spelling can be tricky, so make sure to learn this question. You could also ask someone, “Could you spell that for me?”
A: My name is Robbertah Handkerchief.
B: How do you spell that?
23. What do you mean?
When you understand the words one by one, but not what they mean together, use this question. You can ask it whenever you are confused about what someone is telling you.
A: The Smiths do have a really nice house, but the grass is always greener on the other side.
B: What do you mean?
A: I mean that if we had the Smith’s house, we probably would not be happier. We always think that other people have better lives than us, but other people have problems, too.
Everyday English Phrases for Shopping
Everyone needs to go shopping, whether it is for food, clothing or household items like furniture. These phrases will help you find what you want to buy and how much it costs.
24. Can you help me?
If you need help while you are shopping, this is a simple way to ask.
Can you help me? I cannot find what I want.
Excuse me, can you help me?
25. I am looking for…
If you cannot find what you want in a store, you can ask a salesperson to help you find it. Just add the name of what you want to buy after the phrase “I am looking for…”
Excuse me, I am looking for a winter coat.
I am looking for snow boots.
26. Do you have this [object] in a different color?
If you see something you like, but you do not like the color, you can ask if you can get it in a different color.
Another way to say this is “Does this come in a different color?”
You can also add the name of the object after “this.”
I do not like this shade of red. Do you have this in a different color?
Does this bowl come in a different color? This will not match my kitchen.
27. I do not know my size.
Sizes for clothing and other things differ from country to country, so you might have to look up the correct size for the country where you are shopping.
If you cannot figure out your correct size, it is perfectly fine to ask for help from the sales staff.
I do not know my size. Can you help me?
I want to buy a shirt, but I do not know my size.
28. I need this in a size ______.
This is a simple way to ask for a piece of clothing or a household item in the size you need—if you already happen to know the right size.
I need this in a size 10, please.
This is too large. I need this in a size 5.
29. Where can I find [item]?
Since every supermarket is set up (arranged) a little differently, we all can have trouble finding certain items.
You can ask someone at the store to help you find what you need with this simple phrase: “Where can I find…?” Just add the name of what you want after “find.”
The store clerk might answer you with a phrase like, “It is on aisle eight,” or, “It is in the Produce section, near the lettuce.”
Customer: Where can I find black olives?
Sales clerk: They are on aisle ten, near the pickles.
Customer: Where can I find a bag of almonds?
Sales clerk: They are in the baking section, on aisle seven.
30. How much does this/that cost?
If you are holding something you want to buy, or it is right near you, you can say “How much does this cost?” to find out (learn) the price.
You can also put the name of the object you want to buy after “this.”
How much does this shirt cost?
If you can see what you want to buy, but it is not right near you, you can point to it and say, “How much does that cost?” or “How much is that [item]?”
How much is that lamp over there?
31. I do not need a bag.
Let us say you just bought something small. You can easily carry it. You might tell the sales clerk or cashier that you do not need a shopping bag.
You might also say this if you have a shopping bag with you and do not need to get one from the store.
No, thank you. I do not need a bag. I can just carry it.
I do not need a bag. I brought my own with me.
32. Can someone help me carry this out?
If you buy something really large and hard to carry, like a table or a huge order of groceries, you are going to need help.
Most stores that sell large and heavy items offer assistance (help) from a member of staff. The staff member can help you carry your purchase (what you have bought) out of the store. They might even help you place it in your vehicle.
This is too heavy for me. Can someone help me carry this out?
Can someone help me carry this out? I have eighteen bags of groceries here!
33. Can I have this delivered?
Sometimes, you need to buy something so large—and so heavy—that there is no way you could bring it home from the store yourself.
That is when you will want to ask, “Can I have this delivered?”
This refrigerator is perfect! Can I have this delivered?
Can I have this delivered next Tuesday?
Common English Phrases for Work
Finally, here are seven English phrases you might use at a job.
34. How can I help you?
If you work in customer service, you will use this phrase a lot. It is also a common phrase when answering the phone.
[On the phone]: Hello, this is Rebecca speaking. How can I help you?
35. I will be with you in a moment.
When someone wants to see you, you might not be ready to talk to them. Use this phrase if you need a minute to finish something first. If a client is waiting for help, you can also use this phrase to show that their turn is next.
You can replace “moment” with “minute” and even add in the word “just”: “I will be with you in just a minute.”
Another common phrase for this situation is “I will be right with you.”
Good morning! I will be with you in a moment.
36. What time is our meeting?
You can use this question’s structure to ask the time of any event: “What time is [event]?”
If you want to ask about a meeting on a certain day, add “on [day].” For example:
What time is our meeting on Thursday?
37. Please call me (back) at…
When you want someone to call you or to call you back (to return your call), use this phrase to give your phone number.
Hi, this is Stephen from the financial office.
I am wondering if you found those missing receipts.
Please call me back at 555-5555. Thanks!
38. Actually, I thought…
When you disagree with someone, “Actually, I thought…” will make you sound kinder and more polite than saying “No” or “You are wrong.” This phrase is useful when you have a different idea than someone else.
You can use “Actually, I…” with many different verbs: “heard,” “learned,” “am,” “can,” “cannot,” etc.
A: So Sam is coming in tonight at 8, right?
B: Actually, I thought he was not working at all this week.
A: Oh, ok. I will have to look at the schedule again.
39. When is the deadline?
When someone gives you a task or project to complete, you need to know how long you have to finish it.
A deadline is a date or time when something must be completely done.
You can ask “When is the deadline?” to find out when you need to be done with your task or project.
“When is it due?” is another way to ask for this information.
A: I need you to write a sales report.
B: When is the deadline?
A: I need it by next Tuesday.
C: Please send the customer an estimate.
D: When is it due?
C: They want it tomorrow morning, before 9.
40. I am (just) about to [verb]…
When you are going to start something very soon, you are “just about to” do something.
I am just about to send those faxes.
I am about to go and pick up some coffee. Do you want anything?
How to Learn Common Phrases in English
Try saying each phrase aloud four times. Yes, four times!
Then, print this list of phrases.
If you have a conversation partner, ask your exchange partner to say the phrases while you record them on a smartphone, computer or recording device. That way you can listen to the recording and practice the pronunciation by yourself at home.
Then, choose two phrases each day to focus on. Here is what you could do every day to learn each phrase:
- Picture a situation in your mind where you could use the phrase. Imagine the other people in the scene and what they are saying. See yourself saying the phrase.
- Listen and/or look for the phrase while you watch TV, listen to the radio, read blogs, etc.
- Then, once you have looked up the phrase, use it in casual writing. Write a tweet (on Twitter), a Facebook post or an email to a friend.
- Finally, use the phrase in 2-5 real conversations.
Write on your printed list and check off each phrase as you learn it.
Native English media like TV shows and podcasts can give you lots of English phrases, as well as ways to hear a variety of common phrases used in context.
The only issue with learning through authentic media is that it’s not designed for language learning. So you’ll come across words and phrases you’ve never heard before, and they may go by too fast for you to figure out what’s being said.
If you want a more streamlined way to use media like this to pick up English phrases, a program like FluentU could be helpful. This language learning website and app teaches English using authentic videos like TV clips, movie trailers and music videos.
Every FluentU video comes with interactive subtitles. Just click or tap on any unfamiliar word or phrase in the captions to get an instant definition, example sentences and native pronunciation audio.
You can search the FluentU video library for any words or phrases to instantly find authentic English videos that use them. Videos can be sorted by subject, format and difficulty level, so you can discover phrases that fit your learning needs and interests.
FluentU comes with built-in learning tools like vocabulary lists and personalized quizzes. There are also multimedia flashcards with video clips, audio and images to help you remember words.
You can access FluentU on your browser or by downloading the iOS or Android app.
By combining engaging clips with tools to help you understand them, you’ll remember the context phrases are used in and the terms will stick better in your mind.
So, practice just two of the 40 phrases above each day—in 20 days, you will know the whole list!
Of course, these 40+ phrases are just the beginning. There are many other common English phrases you can learn as a beginner. Check out these posts for more:
- Phrases for beginner conversation
- Phrases for being positive
- Phrases for ordering drinks at restaurants
- Phrases for traveling
Happy learning!
Download:
This blog post is available as a convenient and portable PDF that you
can take anywhere.
Click here to get a copy. (Download)