Saying What You Have To Do In English
To tell your friends or colleagues what you have to do, use I have to… I have to make a call. I have to drop my kids at school. I have to pick up...
Category: Speaking
A Raw Deal | English Idioms
You can say that you got a raw deal when you feel that you were not treated fairly. This idiom is often used with the verbs give and get. She quit the job because she felt that she was getting...
Questions You Could Be Asked During An Interview
There is no limit to the range of questions you may be asked and the variation between them. However, there are many questions which come up time and time again. You should have thought...
How To Make A Request Or Question Sound More Polite
Yes/no questions We usually make requests less direct by putting them in the form of yes/no questions. This suggests that the hearer can choose whether to agree or not. Could you lend me your pen, please? (Much...
Saying Please
We use please to make a request more polite. Would you move a bit, please? Could you open the window, please? ‘Would you like some help?’ ‘Yes, please.’ Please do is a rather formal answer to a...
Phrases You Can Use To Ask And Give Directions
Asking directions To ask for directions, use the phrase Could you tell me…? or Do you know …? Make your questions more polite by starting them with Excuse me. Excuse me. Could you tell...
Getting People’s Attention And Offering Apologies In English
British people usually say ‘Excuse me!’ to attract somebody’s attention. In American English, it is more common to use ‘I beg your pardon!’ Excuse me! Can you tell me where John lives? I beg your pardon! Can...
Using Need
Need not + have + past participle If we say that somebody need not have done something, we mean that he or she did it, but it was not necessary. You need not have woken me up. I...
When To Use Surnames And Titles
We use names and titles both when talking about people and when talking to them. Talking about people First name To talk about our friends, relatives and children we use the first name. This is informal....
Must vs. Have To
In British English, both must and have to can be used to talk about necessity and obligation. Americans usually use have to, especially in speech. I must reach home before 6 o’clock. OR I have to reach home before 6 o’clock. Note that must is...