It is said quite often that you should practice talking in English or you will not learn. However, this has a “very bad” effect if you do not have sufficient input of English. If you do not have sufficient input, the sentences you form will be wrong. If these sentences formed are wrong, and no one corrects you, you will start to think that what you have said is correct. Because of this, your mind will be filled with wrong English sentences. Everything you say, all the sentences you form will be incorrect. So, if you want to practice talking in English, you “must” make sure that the people around you will be in a position to correct you as soon as you make the mistake. If you want to practice speaking in English, you have to speak English correctly. If you speak incorrectly you “must know” that you have spoken incorrectly. Unfortunately, most English learners do not have native English speakers around them who will always correct them when they go wrong. In this case, it is wise to first get enough input of the language before you “utter even the first word.”
What is input?
Input is basically any correct English that you may hear or read. If you listen to an English radio station, that is input. If you read a book, then that is input. If you hear to fluent English speakers talking then that is input. If a fluent English speaker is talking to you in English then that is input. Reading this article is input!
Why is input necessary?
All languages are learnt mainly by input. It is the fastest and the best way of learning a language! When you were a baby you naturally learnt your mother tongue because of all the input of the language from you parents and surroundings. The human brain learns by imitation. When you hear a sentence it gets stored in your brain. When you want to say the same thing or some thing that is similar, you imitate the sentence that is stored in your brain. Consider the sentence: Ram runs much faster than Sham. Assume that this sentence is given as input. Later when you want to say a similar thing, your brain pulls this sentence out of your memory and comes up with: Hari runs much faster than Sham.
OR
Sameer runs much slower than Ajit. etc.Basically, learning is done by imitation! Input is what is fed into the brain so that there is something available for imitation. The more the input, more sentences are available for the brain to imitate. So the fastest way of learning how to speak the language fluently would be to get as much as possible input of the language. The more input of the language you get the more correct sentences you will be able to form when you try to speak the language. You must try to get “as much as possible” input of correct English. The more input you get the more sentences you will be able to form correctly. The more sentences you can form correctly the more your confidence of speaking English will increase and the more you will learn!
Useful Phrases
There are 5 phrases in each subcategory. Each subcategory is separated by weeks. We recommend that you study one a day. We will continue to add useful phrases on a regular basis.
If you have questions or want to request a phrase you want to learn, let us know by posting a question or suggestion on the phrases board.
1. Bored to death
2. You've got to be kidding
3. Sick and Tired
4. Call it a day
5. Get on one's nerves
Bored to death
"I have nothing to do. I’m bored to death."
"I hate it when I’m bored to death."
"Would you rather be super busy or bored to death?"
A: "Hey Seth, what are you doing?"
B: "I’m reading book. What are you doing?"
A: "I’m bored to death. Let’s do something."
B: "Sure. Come over and we can play some games."
Other Common Sentences
"I’m so bored, I could die."
"I’m dying of boredom."
You've got to be kidding
A: "Hey Jared. Mom told me to tell you that you shouldn’t stay out too late."
B: "You’ve got to be kidding me. I’m 30 years old."
A: "Patrick won the school election by two votes."
B: "He’s not that popular how did this happen?"
A: "Nobody voted because they expected Jason to win."
B: "You’ve got to be kidding me."
Other Common Sentences
"I really hope you’re wrong."
"Please tell me it ain’t so."
Read one's mind
You read my mind."
"I was going to suggest that. You must have read my mind."
A: "Do you want to go play pool?"
B: "You read my mind. That’s exactly what I was thinking too.
Feel blue
"What a gloomy day. It makes me feel blue."
"Whenever I feel blue, I like to listen to upbeat music."
"Matt’s feeling a little blue right now. Let’s go cheer him up."
A: "Where is Matt these days? I haven’t seen him in a while."
B: "He feels a little blue because he can’t find a girlfriend."
A: "Let’s go cheer him up."
Other Common Sentences
"I feel a little depressed right now."
"I don’t know why, but I just feel sad."
"Even though it’s a nice day, I feel gloomy inside."
Fender bender
"I got into a small accident. It was just a fender-bender."
"I got into a fender bender in the parking lot."
"I can’t believe the damage is going to cost me 800 bucks. It was just a fender bender."
A: "I got into a car accident."
B: "That sucks. You didn’t get hurt did you?"
A: "No. It was just a fender bender."
Other Common Sentences
"It was a small accident."
"I rear ended him, but luckily there was no damage."
Get foot in the door
"It’s not a great position, but at least my foot is in the door."
"I need to find a way to get my foot in the door."
"I’m doing an internship for SK Telecom. It’s an opportunity to get my foot in the door."
A: "Did you find a job yet?"
B: "No. I’m still looking."
A: "With the sagging economy, it’s hard to find a job."
B: "Yeah. I’m even considering a lower position. At least I’ll have my foot in the door."
Other Common Sentences
"I’m working in the mail room. But I’m hoping I can change positions now that I’m in the company."
"I hate my position, but it’s the only way I could start in this company."
Chicken
"There’s nothing to be scared of. Don’t be a chicken."
"Everyone thinks I’m a chicken because I didn’t go bungee jumping with them."
"Stop being a chicken and just go."
A: "Did you ask Martha on a date?"
B: "No. I was about to, but I got a little nervous."
A: "You’re such a chicken."
Other Common Sentences
"I didn’t know you were afraid of insects. You’re a scaredy cat."
"He’s a coward. He wouldn’t even go on the rollercoaster ride."
"Jack is scared of everything. He’s such a sissy."
Give somebody a hard time
"Suzie gave him a hard time for not showing up to her recital."
"Stop giving me a hard time. There was nothing I could do about it."
"If you don’t finish your project, the manager is going to give you a hard time."
A: "My mom gave me a hard time for one bad grade on my report card."
B: "That’s a tough situation. My parents never gave me a hard time for bad grades."
Other Common Sentences
"Albert is making it difficult for me."
"He’s getting on my case about my comment."
Make up one's mind
"We don’t got all day, make up your mind."
"Make up your mind, we don’t have much time."
"I can’t make up my mind. Can you help me decide?"
"If you don’t make up your mind, I’ll choose for you."
"Both of them look really good. I can’t make up my mind."
A: "I don’t know which one to get."
B: "They’re both pretty good, so just pick one."
A: "I always regret it when I pick the wrong one."
B: "You’re picking between white chocolate or regular chocolate. There is no wrong answer so hurry up and make up your mind."
Other Common Sentences
"I can’t decide which one to take."
"I don’t know if I should get the Volvo or the Ford."
"I like both of them too much to decide."
Go Dutch
"You don’t have to pay for me. Let’s go dutch today."
"I can’t believe John didn’t pay for me. We ended up going dutch on the whole date."
"I actually prefer going dutch because I don’t want to feel indebt to anyone."
A: "How was your date with Sarah?"
B: "I’m not sure. It was just ok."
A: "Why do you say that?"
B: "She didn’t let me pay for her share. She insisted that we go dutch for everything."
Other Common Sentences
"I’ll pay half of it."
"Let’s pay together."
"I didn’t pay for her. We paid our own share."
Throw in the towel
"I was ready to throw in the towel, but I stayed with it."
"He’s not a quitter, so he’s not going to throw in the towel."
"I saw a fight last almost two hours before one guy threw in the towel."
A: "The boxing match is great."
B: "One guy is really getting beat up."
A: "Do you think he’s going to give up?"
B: "He’s not going to throw in the towel, they rarely do that these days."
Other Common Sentences
"There’s no chance for me to win. I’m calling it quits."
"I don’t think I can win, so I’m going to give up."
"I’d rather surrender than get the hell beaten out of me."
Goose bumps
"I was so touched by the movie that I started getting goose bumps all over my arms."
"When she told me that she loved me, I got goose bumps."
"I get goose bumps anytime I’m scared."
"John told us a story and everyone got goose bumps."
A: "Did you watch the speech?"
B: "No, I missed it. Was it good?"
A: "It was so touching that I got goose bumps everywhere."
Other Common Sentences
"I was so inspired by the speech that I had a tingling sensation run across my body."
"I felt a jolt of excitement when I heard the good news."
"My arms were tingling when I heard that story."
Stay in touch
"Call me more often man. We got to stay in touch."
"I hope you stay in touch with me. I’ll give you my contact information."
"Let’s stay in touch. I’ll email you whenever I can."
"Are you staying in touch with her, or are you guys not talking any more?"
A: "Since you are moving to England, I’m really going to miss you."
B: "Yeah. I’m going to miss you a lot too."
A: "You promise that you’ll stay in touch?"
B: "Of course. We’ll always keep in touch."
Other Common Sentences
"Keep in touch. I’ll want to know how you’re doing."
"Julie told me that she would keep in touch with me."
Have the guts
"I don’t have the guts to go bungee jumping."
"He doesn’t have the guts to ask her on a date."
"He has a lot of guts to be hunting by himself."
A: "I heard you went to Sky Mountain Park. How was it."
B: "It was pretty fun."
A: "Did you go on the monster ride?"
B: "No. I didn’t have the guts to go on that ride. It was too scary."
Other Common Sentences
"He’s very courageous."
"He’s got balls to be doing that."
"He isn’t afraid of anything."
Rain or Shine
"We’re going camping this weekend rain or shine."
"Rain or shine, the protesters are out there every day."
"I don’t care about the weather. I’m going golfing rain or shine."
A: "I’m going hiking this Saturday. Do you want to come?"
B: "That sounds good. Rain or shine, count me in."
A: "If it’s raining, looks like you’re going by yourself, because I’m staying home."
Other Common Sentences
"I’m going to go even if it’s a downpour."
"Are you still going to go even if it’s raining cats and dogs?"
"Unless it’s pouring out, let’s meet at seven in the morning."
I’m beat
"I had a tough day today. I’m totally beat."
"I don’t want to go out tonight. I’m beat."
"I’m beat so I’m going to sleep early today."
A: "Hey Steve, we’re going to go to a club tonight. Wanna come?"
B: "I worked a 12 hour shift today. I’m beat so I’m going to just stay home tonight."
Other Common Sentences
"I’m very tired."
"I’m exhausted."
Easier said than done
"That’s easier said than done."
"It’s a lot tougher than that. It’s one of those things that are easier said than done."
"Michael thinks everything is so easy. He doesn’t realize it’s easier said than done."
A: "Do you do any stock trading?"
B: "No, but how hard could it be. Just buy when it goes down and sell when it goes up."
A: "It’s easier said than done."
Other Common Sentences
"It’s harder than you think."
"It’s not as easy as you think."
"If you think it’s that easy, why don’t you do it?"
It's about time
"It’s about time."
"It’s about time. I waited two hours for you."
"It’s about time I got a chance to play."
A: "I’ve been waiting for 3 weeks to try out the new laptop. Isn’t it my turn yet?"
B: "Yes. It’s your turn. I’ll get it for you."
A: "It’s about time."
Jump to conclusions
"I incorrectly blamed Jeff for breaking my phone. I shouldn’t have jumped to conclusions."
"I thought you took my book. I shouldn’t have accused you. I jumped to conclusions."
"Will you stop jumping to conclusions. You should get all the facts before you make any decisions."
A: "I’m so mad at Jake. I think he told my girlfriend that I was on a date."
B: "What makes you think Jake told her?"
A: "Because he’s like that."
B: "He sometimes does stupid things, but you shouldn’t jump to conclusions."
Keep an eye on
"Can you keep an eye on my daughter while I go get the car?"
"Don’t worry about your luggage. I’ll keep an eye on it."
"My mom will keep an eye on our equipment while we go get the truck."
A: "Excuse me sir."
B: "Yes."
A: "I have to go to the bathroom. Can you keep an eye on my suitcase for a minute?"
B: "No problem."
Other Common Sentences
"Can you watch my bag for me?"
"Can you watch my suitcase while I go to the bathroom."
Out of the blue
"He’s pretty funny because he will crack a funny joke out of the blue."
"Grace started crying for no reason. It was totally out of the blue."
"I don’t know why he started getting mad. It was out of the blue."
A: "Did you hear what happened with Tiffany?"
B: "She broke up with her boyfriend last night."
A: "What? I thought they had a great relationship."
B: "So did I. It was totally out of the blue."
Other Common Sentences
"She showed up out of no where."
"He pulled a rabbit out of nowhere. That’s why it was so impressive."
