Daily speaking expressions English Expressions in Speaking & Writing & How to Use Them

Contd.

• 7 and 8 are common problems for drivers. 7 means that it was difficult to park.
• We use 8 to say the roads were full of traffic, like when there is a traffic jam.
• 9 and 10 are used when you are visiting a place for the first time and don't know the way.

Giving an opinion

• We follow all the phrases with a sentence or clause that shows the speaker's opinion.
• Phrases 1 - 3 are really quite informal. You can use these phrases when you are discussing something with friends or people who you know well.
• In phrase 1, 'reckon' is a very common word in the UK today. It means 'I think' but British people use the word 'reckon' much more often than 'think'.
• Phrases 5, 6 and 7 are all quite polite and show clearly that the statement is only an opinion.

Contd.

• Phrase 8 is more polite because it says to the other speaker that they might not agree with what you are saying.
• Phrase 9 shows a very strong opinion. The speaker has no doubt at all that it is true.
• Phrase 10 is the most polite expression of the ten. It is often written on the Internet as the abbreviatoin 'IMHO' or 'imho'.

Making small talk

• Phrase 1 is used to introduce yourself to someone, when you think you know who the person is.
• Phrase 2 is used to ask the person you are talking to for information about someone close to them.
• Phrase 3 is used when you can't think of anything else to talk about. If the weather is bad, you could say 'Rotten weather, isn't it?' instead.
• Phrases 4 and 6 are general enquiries, asking for news about a person.

Contd.

• Phrases 7 and 8 are more specific than 4 and 6, but are still enquiries for information.
• Phrase 5 has a similar meaning to 4 and 6, but is expressed as a statement rather than a question.
• Phrases 9 and 10 are used to express surprise when you meet someone you weren't expecting to meet.