Useful Expressions in English

Useful Expressions in English

Useful language – Photos

Describing photos

This picture shows…
There seems to be…
It’s probably...
On the left/right…
It looks like there’s…

This photo was probably taken in/at…
He is obviously…
She might/could be…
From what I can see…
She must be…
He looks as if he…
It’s difficult to say, but I’d guess that…

Comparing and contrasting photos

Both photos are on the subject of…
Both photos show…
The photos show different…
In comparison to photo A, photo B is…
In this picture… while in the other picture…
They are both photos of…
Both photos are connected to…

In this photo…., whereas in the other one…
The biggest difference between the two photos is…
Picture B is very different because…
They look same…
It is as impressing as…
There is /absolutely/ no comparison between…
Comparing…

The first one is /completely/ different from…
It is /slightly, far, rather, quite/ better/worse etc. than…
There’s no way … is better/worse etc. than…
… is less interesting/valuable than…
I don´t consider… to be /in any way/more/less attractive/interesting etc. than…

Useful language – Functions

Giving advice

You should/You ought to...
If I were you, I’d...
What you ought to do is...
What you need is...
Make sure that you...
The best thing is to...
Why don’t you…?

Have you thought about…/+ -ing/?
The best thing to do is…
You could try …./+ -ing/
What about …./+ -ing/
Perhaps you could…
It might be an idea…
I would…

My advice would be…
If…follow my advice, … ´ll…
I would advise/recommend…
It might not be a bad idea…

Asking for advice

What do you think I should do?
Can I ask your advice/opinion about something?
Do you think I should...?
I’m thinking of...What do you think?
Could I have a word with your?
What would you advise?
What should I do?

Complaining

I don’t understand why…
Why don’t people understand…?
I can’t see why…
I get fed up with…
I want to make a complaint…

I’m afraid; I’ve got a complaint about…
Would you mind not…
Would you please not…
I wish to complain…
I’m not at all satisfied with…
Can you do anything about…?
I’m sorry to say this, but…
Do you mind…?

Making suggestions

I think the best thing to do would be to…
It would be a good idea to…
Do you think it would be a good idea to…?
Why don’t we…?
We could…
Let’s…

I’ve got a good idea…
What about…? /+ -ing/
Shall we…?
We might as well…
Would it be an idea to…?
May/Might I suggest…?

If I may/might make a suggestion…
Would you care to…?
Have you considered…?
I suggest/propose…
I´d like to suggest/propose…
I should like to put forward a suggestion /proposal…

Agreeing and disagreeing with suggestions

That’s a great idea!
OK, let’s do that…
Yes, that’s nice/good…
I’ve got a better idea…
That sounds a bit boring…
I don’t think that’s such a good idea because

Asking for opinions

What do you think about…?
What’s your opinion of…?
What about you?
Don’t you think…?

Expressing opinions

In my opinion/view…
It seems to me…
As I see it…
I personally believe…
As I see it…

Personally, I believe/feel…
Well, I must say…
I’d just like to say…
From my point of view, …
As far as I’m concerned…
Well, to my mind…

The way I see it…
If you ask me…
I’m convinced that…
I consider---
It’s my opinion/feeling/view…
Personally, I consider…
To be quite/perfectly/frank/honest/open…

Agreeing

I feel the same way as you.
I agree with you.
I think you’re right.
I /absolutely/entirely/ agree.
That’s very true.
True enough.

That’s quite right/true.
I can’t help thinking the same.
That’s what I was thinking.
I’m of exactly the same opinion /as/…
I think I’d accept…

I don’t think anyone could/would disagree /with/…
How true.
/Dead/ right.
I’d go along with you there/with that.
I’m with you there.
Partly.
I see your point, but…
I see what you mean…

To a certain extent, yes, but….
There’s a lot in what you say, but…
Yes, that’s one way of looking at it, but…
Yes, but on the other hand…
Yes, but don’t you think….?
That’s all very well, but…

Disagreeing /politely/

I see what you mean, but …
You could be right, but …
Yes, but don’t you think…?
I don’t agree that…
That’s true, but what about…?

You have a point, but on the other hand…
I disagree, I’m afraid.
I can’t help thinking…
But isn’t it more a matter/question of…?
I think that’s nonsense.
I don’t see why.
I can’t go along with…
Rubbish!
Nonsense!
No way!

You can’t mean that!
You can’t be serious!
You must be joking!
I entirely disagree /with/…
I’m afraid I can’t accept…
I can’t say that I share that/ your opinion/assessment /of/…
I’m not at all convinced…
I see things rather differently myself.

Likes

I don’t mind…
I like/love… /+ -ing/
I’m very keen on…
I’m fond of…
I /really/quite/ enjoy…
I’ve always liked/loved…
There’s nothing I like/enjoy more than…
I adore…
I’m /absolutely/ crazy/mad/nuts/wild about…
… is /really/ terrific/great/marvellous/hilarious/great/…

Dislikes

I’ve never liked… I’m afraid.
…is not one of my favourite…
I /really/ hate…
I think… is pretty awful/really unpleasant/ disgusting.
I’m not /really/ very keen on…
I can’t work any enthusiasm for…
There’s nothing I like les than…
I find it difficult to get on with…./for people/
I can=t stick/bear/stand…
I never could put up with….

I can’t say I’m not too/particularly fond of…
I especially dislike…
I have a particular dislike of…
I have a particular aversion to…
I’m not over /enthusiastic about…
I don’t think…is particularly /really/ very pleasant /enjoyable.
I find…particularly/distinctly etc. unpleasant/unattractive…

Preference

I’d prefer…
I’d rather…
I like….more/better than…
I /tend to/ prefer…

/On the whole/, I find … more interesting/enjoyable etc. than…
/As far as I’m concerned/ …is more pleasant/fun etc. than…
My choice/preference would always be---
Give…every time.

If it was up to me I’d …
I’d rather….any time.
/I must say/ I have a strong preference for…
I would /usually/generally/ choose…in preference to…
Rather than…, I’d /much/really/ prefer to…

Persuading

Why don’t you…
I really think you’d do well to.
Are you really sure you can’t/couldn’t…
Surely the most sensible thing would be to…
I really think it would be a pity if…

How can I persuade you to…?
Could/Couldn’t you be persuaded…?
Can’t I persuade you…?
Are you quite sure you won’t reconsider…?
Are you quite sure you’ve taken everything into account?
But surely it’s in…own interests to…

Giving reasons

Well, because…
Well, you see…
The reason was that…
Let me explain. You see…
The point is…

The simple reason was that…
Well, the thing is…
It’s like this…
If I could explain…
The main/basic reason is that…
I think…is right/ justified for the following reasons…

Encouraging

Well done!
You’re doing fine/ very well.
That’s fine/good/lovely/all right.
I wish I could do as well.
That’s better than I could do.

Don’t worry, I’m sure you’ll do better this/next time.
You can do it!
Come on!
Go on!
Stick to it!
Keep it up!
Keep at it!
Don’t give up!
Nearly there!
Great! /Terrific! /Lovely!
I’m right behind you!

You have your whole/hearted support.
You have our backing…
We feel you should go ahead!
That’s most encouraging.
There’s no reason to feel/be discouraged.
There’s nothing to be/feel discouraged about.