How to say 'no' politely (like a Brit)
When saying 'no' politely, don't be too direct. Then, follow these steps to structure your apology:
1) Start by saying 'how bad it is', or 'apologise'.
• Unfortunately….
• I'm afraid….
• Sorry, but….
2) Now they know that you don't want to do it, tell them why you have to say 'no'.
• Unfortunately, I can't make it to you party tonight.
• I'm afraid I can't do that.
• Sorry, but I think that's a bad idea.
3) Suggest an alternative.
• Unfortunately, I can't make it to you party tonight. Can we meet up next week?
• I'm afraid I can't do that. Why don't you ask your mother if she has some money?
• Sorry, but I think that's a bad idea. Why don't we look at alternatives?
@Englishteacherideas1
When saying 'no' politely, don't be too direct. Then, follow these steps to structure your apology:
1) Start by saying 'how bad it is', or 'apologise'.
• Unfortunately….
• I'm afraid….
• Sorry, but….
2) Now they know that you don't want to do it, tell them why you have to say 'no'.
• Unfortunately, I can't make it to you party tonight.
• I'm afraid I can't do that.
• Sorry, but I think that's a bad idea.
3) Suggest an alternative.
• Unfortunately, I can't make it to you party tonight. Can we meet up next week?
• I'm afraid I can't do that. Why don't you ask your mother if she has some money?
• Sorry, but I think that's a bad idea. Why don't we look at alternatives?
@Englishteacherideas1
Expression
Flatten the curve
Meaning
Flatten the curve has been used a lot during the coronavirus crisis. It means to reduce the peak of a graph or chart. It's about the rate of infection in the UK. It's really important to flatten the curve of the infection to avoid our healthcare service being overwhelmed with too many patients at one time.
Example
The government have introduced social distancing measures to try and flatten the curve.
We need to flatten the curve to prevent too many admissions into hospital.
Flattening the curve is vital to help save lives.
@Englishteacherideas1
Flatten the curve
Meaning
Flatten the curve has been used a lot during the coronavirus crisis. It means to reduce the peak of a graph or chart. It's about the rate of infection in the UK. It's really important to flatten the curve of the infection to avoid our healthcare service being overwhelmed with too many patients at one time.
Example
The government have introduced social distancing measures to try and flatten the curve.
We need to flatten the curve to prevent too many admissions into hospital.
Flattening the curve is vital to help save lives.
@Englishteacherideas1
Verb Patterns
In English, when two verbs are used together, the first verb dictates which form the second verb should take regardless of the tense of the first verb or the subject of the sentence.
Some verbs can have more than one corresponding verb pattern and this can change the meaning of the second verb. There are three basic forms:
• a bare infinitive: play
• a full infinitive: to play
• an ING form: playing
Bare infinitive
Some verbs, such as modal verbs like can and must, are followed by a bare infinitive verb form.
• I can swim faster than you.
• He must come home as soon as possible.
Full infinitive
Some verbs, such as verbs like intend and would like, are followed by a full infinitive verb form.
• I wouldn't like to live there.
• She intends to study at university.
ING form
Some verbs, such as verbs like enjoy and can't help, are followed by a bare infinitive verb form.
• I've always enjoyed walking in the rain.
• He couldn't help playing one more game before he left.
After adjectives
We tend to use a full infinitive after adjectives such as wonderful, happy and terrible.
• It's wonderful to see you.
• It was terrible to see him fail like that.
• I'm so happy to be here!
After prepositions
We tend to use an ING form after prepositions such as without, before and of.
• He walked without knowing where he was going.
• I've got to clean the house before cooking lunch.
• I want to go with you instead of going with her.
@Englishteacherideas1
In English, when two verbs are used together, the first verb dictates which form the second verb should take regardless of the tense of the first verb or the subject of the sentence.
Some verbs can have more than one corresponding verb pattern and this can change the meaning of the second verb. There are three basic forms:
• a bare infinitive: play
• a full infinitive: to play
• an ING form: playing
Bare infinitive
Some verbs, such as modal verbs like can and must, are followed by a bare infinitive verb form.
• I can swim faster than you.
• He must come home as soon as possible.
Full infinitive
Some verbs, such as verbs like intend and would like, are followed by a full infinitive verb form.
• I wouldn't like to live there.
• She intends to study at university.
ING form
Some verbs, such as verbs like enjoy and can't help, are followed by a bare infinitive verb form.
• I've always enjoyed walking in the rain.
• He couldn't help playing one more game before he left.
After adjectives
We tend to use a full infinitive after adjectives such as wonderful, happy and terrible.
• It's wonderful to see you.
• It was terrible to see him fail like that.
• I'm so happy to be here!
After prepositions
We tend to use an ING form after prepositions such as without, before and of.
• He walked without knowing where he was going.
• I've got to clean the house before cooking lunch.
• I want to go with you instead of going with her.
@Englishteacherideas1
Vocabulary
trustworthiness
quality of being able to be trusted as honest and reliable
gullible
easy to deceive because you trust and believe people too easily
trust to luck
believe that things will happen for the best
indiscriminately
done is a random way that does not show care or judgement, usually with harmful results
competence
the ability to do something well, in a satisfactory or effective way
reliability
quality to being trusted to do what you say you will, all the time
@Englishteacherideas1
trustworthiness
quality of being able to be trusted as honest and reliable
gullible
easy to deceive because you trust and believe people too easily
trust to luck
believe that things will happen for the best
indiscriminately
done is a random way that does not show care or judgement, usually with harmful results
competence
the ability to do something well, in a satisfactory or effective way
reliability
quality to being trusted to do what you say you will, all the time
@Englishteacherideas1
Assimilation of /d/
When the /d/ sound comes between two other consonants, English speakers often drop the /d/ sound completely.
Some examples of phrases where this might happen include:
• I prefer boiled potatoes.
• My friend let me borrow his car.
• Don't hold back.
@Englishteacherideas1
When the /d/ sound comes between two other consonants, English speakers often drop the /d/ sound completely.
Some examples of phrases where this might happen include:
• I prefer boiled potatoes.
• My friend let me borrow his car.
• Don't hold back.
@Englishteacherideas1
Expression
Living in a bubble
Meaning
If you say someone is living in a bubble, it means they don't really accept new ideas and all their friends have the same way of thinking.
Example
Bob and his friends think that climate change isn't real. They live in a bubble.
Nelson lives in a bubble. He never tries new food or goes out with new people.
Geraldine doesn't want to meet my new friends - she thinks they live in a bubble.
@Englishteacherideas1
Living in a bubble
Meaning
If you say someone is living in a bubble, it means they don't really accept new ideas and all their friends have the same way of thinking.
Example
Bob and his friends think that climate change isn't real. They live in a bubble.
Nelson lives in a bubble. He never tries new food or goes out with new people.
Geraldine doesn't want to meet my new friends - she thinks they live in a bubble.
@Englishteacherideas1
Expression
Cancelled
Meaning
When you cancel someone, you don't agree with what they do or say, and you stop supporting or promoting them. This particularly relates to celebrities.
Example
I was a big supporter of our local mayor until he agreed to build the by-pass. I've cancelled him now.
My favourite singer started singing anti-climate change songs. She's cancelled as far as I'm concerned!
Cancel culture means we can shame celebrities on social media when they have controversial opinions.
@Englishteacherideas1
Cancelled
Meaning
When you cancel someone, you don't agree with what they do or say, and you stop supporting or promoting them. This particularly relates to celebrities.
Example
I was a big supporter of our local mayor until he agreed to build the by-pass. I've cancelled him now.
My favourite singer started singing anti-climate change songs. She's cancelled as far as I'm concerned!
Cancel culture means we can shame celebrities on social media when they have controversial opinions.
@Englishteacherideas1
Expression
New normal
Meaning
The phrase 'new normal' describes the way people will live their lives during and after this coronavirus outbreak.
Examples
After lockdown, things won't be the same - we'll have to get used to a new normal.
Getting up at 6am and going for a run every day is my new normal - and it feels good.
The new normal means working from home more and not going into the office.
@Englishteacherideas1
New normal
Meaning
The phrase 'new normal' describes the way people will live their lives during and after this coronavirus outbreak.
Examples
After lockdown, things won't be the same - we'll have to get used to a new normal.
Getting up at 6am and going for a run every day is my new normal - and it feels good.
The new normal means working from home more and not going into the office.
@Englishteacherideas1
Phrasal verbs
Phrasal verbs, or as they're sometimes known, multi-word verbs, are very common in English.
They're formed of a main verb and a particle - a preposition or an adverb - or sometimes a main verb and two particles.
There are a number of basic ideas to consider in understanding phrasal verb grammar.
Transitive or intransitive?
A transitive verb needs an object, an intransitive one does not need an object. Some phrasal verbs are transitive, some are not and some can be both.
• Transitive = I broke up with him.
• Intransitive = My car broke down.
Separable?
If it takes an object, can the object go between the verb and preposition, or not? An object pronoun must go between the verb and particle. Some phrasal verbs are inseparable.
• Can you switch the TV off?
• Can you switch off the TV?
• Can you switch it off?
• I broke up with him. (Inseparable)
Context
Phrasal verbs can have more than one meaning, so pay attention to the context:
• To take off (remove) your shirt.
• The plane took off (flew into the sky).
• I need to take off (leave) or I will miss my train.
• I'm tired. I need to take time off (take a holiday).
From this episode:
• Catch someone out: put someone in a difficult situation
• Caught out: put in a difficult situation
• He got caught out by the sudden rainstorm. He got very wet. (passive)
• The teacher caught her out by her a question when she wasn't paying attention.
• Let someone down: disappoint someone by not meeting expectations
• Let down: disappoint by not meeting expectations
• We were let down by the weather when we wanted to go to the beach. (passive)
• He doesn't mean to arrive late, but somehow he always lets me down.
• Come out with: suddenly and unexpectedly speak or say something
• He came out with the truth at the last moment.
• I thought they weren't listening, but they suddenly came out with the correct answer!
• Slip up: make a mistake. Also: mess up, foul up and screw up.
• I slipped up by mentioning the surprise birthday party.
• She really messed up when she locked herself out of her car.
• Clown around: behave in a silly or foolish way. Also: muck around, mess about, monkey around and goof off.
• Stop clowning around and get to work.
• If you spent less time monkeying around and more time studying, you'd pass your exam!
• Catch on: understand or comprehend
• Just keep explaining and he'll catch on eventually.
• I don't speak French, but I think I caught on to what they were saying to me.
• Plug away: try hard to do something difficult
• He kept plugging away until he learned to drive.
• She's been plugging away at her PhD for years.
@Englishteacherideas1
Phrasal verbs, or as they're sometimes known, multi-word verbs, are very common in English.
They're formed of a main verb and a particle - a preposition or an adverb - or sometimes a main verb and two particles.
There are a number of basic ideas to consider in understanding phrasal verb grammar.
Transitive or intransitive?
A transitive verb needs an object, an intransitive one does not need an object. Some phrasal verbs are transitive, some are not and some can be both.
• Transitive = I broke up with him.
• Intransitive = My car broke down.
Separable?
If it takes an object, can the object go between the verb and preposition, or not? An object pronoun must go between the verb and particle. Some phrasal verbs are inseparable.
• Can you switch the TV off?
• Can you switch off the TV?
• Can you switch it off?
• I broke up with him. (Inseparable)
Context
Phrasal verbs can have more than one meaning, so pay attention to the context:
• To take off (remove) your shirt.
• The plane took off (flew into the sky).
• I need to take off (leave) or I will miss my train.
• I'm tired. I need to take time off (take a holiday).
From this episode:
• Catch someone out: put someone in a difficult situation
• Caught out: put in a difficult situation
• He got caught out by the sudden rainstorm. He got very wet. (passive)
• The teacher caught her out by her a question when she wasn't paying attention.
• Let someone down: disappoint someone by not meeting expectations
• Let down: disappoint by not meeting expectations
• We were let down by the weather when we wanted to go to the beach. (passive)
• He doesn't mean to arrive late, but somehow he always lets me down.
• Come out with: suddenly and unexpectedly speak or say something
• He came out with the truth at the last moment.
• I thought they weren't listening, but they suddenly came out with the correct answer!
• Slip up: make a mistake. Also: mess up, foul up and screw up.
• I slipped up by mentioning the surprise birthday party.
• She really messed up when she locked herself out of her car.
• Clown around: behave in a silly or foolish way. Also: muck around, mess about, monkey around and goof off.
• Stop clowning around and get to work.
• If you spent less time monkeying around and more time studying, you'd pass your exam!
• Catch on: understand or comprehend
• Just keep explaining and he'll catch on eventually.
• I don't speak French, but I think I caught on to what they were saying to me.
• Plug away: try hard to do something difficult
• He kept plugging away until he learned to drive.
• She's been plugging away at her PhD for years.
@Englishteacherideas1