English Conversation

4
Most common words in English
(cont’d)
end enterprise especially evening examination
enemy entertainment essay event examine
energy entire essential eventually example
enforcement entirely essentially ever exceed
engage entrance establish every excellent
engine entry establishment everybody except
engineer environment estate everyday exception
engineering environmental estimate everyone exchange
English episode etc. everything exciting
enhance equal ethics everywhere executive
enjoy equally ethnic evidence exercise
enormous equipment European evolution exhibit
enough era evaluate evolve exhibition
ensure error evaluation exact exist
enter escape even exactly existence
existing
expand
expose
exposure F fall
false
fault
favor
expansion express fabric familiar favorite
expect expression face family fear
expectation extend facility famous feature
expense extension fact fan federal
expensive extensive factor fantasy fee
experience extent factory far feed
experiment external faculty farm feel
expert extra fade farmer feeling
explain extraordinary fail fashion fellow
explanation extreme failure fast female
explode extremely fair fat fence
explore eye fairly fate few
explosion faith father fewer
fiber finance fix follow formula
fiction financial flag following forth
field find flame food fortune
fifteen finding flat foot forward
fifth fine flavor football found
fifty finger flee for foundation
fight finish flesh force founder
fighter fire flight foreign four
fighting firm float forest fourth
figure first floor forever frame
file fish flow forget framework
fill fishing flower form free
film fit fly formal freedom
final fitness focus formation freeze
finally five folk former French
frequency fund gap generation glad
frequent fundamental garage genetic glance
frequently funding garden gentleman glass
fresh funeral garlic gently global
friend funny
gas German glove
friendly furniture
gate gesture go
friendship furthermore
gather get goal
from future
gay ghost God
front
fruit
frustration
G gaze
gear
giant
gift
gold
golden
gain gender gifted golf
fuel
full galaxy gene girl good
fully gallery general girlfriend government
fun game generally give governor
function gang generate given grab
Basic English parts of speech
Part I.
Nouns
Pronouns
Verbs

Part II.
Adjectives
Adverbs
Prepositions
Articles
Conjunctions
Adjectives
Adjectives are used to describe a noun.
There are two categories of adjectives:
- attributive and
- predicative.

 Attributive adjectives are located directly next to a noun in a sentence, e.g.,

“I like that blue car”
(with the adjective “blue” describing the noun “car”) or
“Those blueberry pancakes were delicious”
(with the adjective “blueberry” describing the noun “pancakes”).

 Predicative adjectives are separated from the noun they describe by a verb.
For example, in the sentence
“I thought the girl was pretty,”
the adjective “pretty” describes the noun “girl.”
Types of adjectives with examples
There are 8 types of adjectives:

1. Proper adjectives are words that modify nouns and pronouns and proper adjective are
formed from proper nouns.
The English language is widely spoken in the world.

2. Descriptive Adjective are words that describe nouns and pronouns such as smell, taste,
texture, appearance and shape.
The brave soldier returned from battle a hero.

3. Quantitative Adjective are words that qualify a noun and pronoun by quantity. These words
answer the question “how much”?” (e.g., no, little, much, sufficient, enough)
How much bread did you eat for breakfast.

4. Numeral Adjective are words that describe the number of nouns or the order of nouns being
described.
She gave six lollipops to the students.
5. Demonstrative Adjective are words used to express the relative position of a noun in time or
space,
(e.g., this, that, these, those).
I love those photographs of the mountains.

6. Distributive Adjective are words used to refer to members of a group as individuals.

There are only 4 distributive adjective : each, every, either, neither.
Each soldier had his own rifle.

7. Interrogative Adjective are words used to modify nouns by asking questions.

There are 3 interrogative adjective: what, whose, which.
What type of music should I play at the wedding?

NB: Don’t confuse interrogative adjectives with interrogative pronouns.

Pronouns take place of nouns and stand alone.
Adjective modify nouns.

8. Possessive Adjective are words that sit before nouns to show ownership.
Their belongings were stolen from the motel room.
Adverbs
Adverbs describe or modify verbs, adjectives, or even other adverbs.
For example, in the sentence:
“I quickly walked to the park,”
the adverb “quickly” modifies the verb “walked” to show that the speaker walked fast instead of
slowly.
In the sentence
“The child was very small,”
the adverb “very” modifies the adjective “small.”

There are 6 types of adverbs:

Conjunctive Adverbs
Sentence Adverbs
Adverbs of Time/Frequency (When?)
Adverbs of Place/Direction (Where?)
Adverbs of Degree (How Much?)
Adverbs of Manner (How?)
Types of Adverbs:
 Conjunctive Adverb (also called connector) connects phrases or independent clauses. It
provides transitions between ideas and shows relationships.
It rained last night. Nonetheless, the final match has not been canceled.

 Sentence Adverb starts the sentence and modifies the whole sentence.
Hopefully, we will win the match.

 Adverbs of Time/Frequency (When?) indicate time or frequency of the action in the

sentence. They answer the question ‘when/how frequently is the action performed?’.
Always, never, often, eventually, now, frequently, occasionally, once, forever, seldom,
before, Sunday, Monday, 10 AM, 12 PM, etc. are common adverbs of time/frequency.
He always gets a good result.

 Adverbs of Place/Direction (Where?) indicate place/direction of the action in the sentence.

They answer the question ‘ where is the action performed?’.
Across, over, under, in, out, through, backward, there, around, here, sideways, upstairs, in
the park, in the field, in that place, etc. are some common adverbs of place/direction.
I went through the jungle.
 Adverbs of Degree (How Much?) express the importance/degree/level of the action in the
sentence are called adverbs of degree. They answer the question ‘how much is the action
performed?’.
Completely, nearly, entirely, less, mildly, most, thoroughly, somewhat, excessively, much,
etc. are common adverbs of degree.
She completely forgot about her anniversary.

 Adverbs of Manner (How?) express the manner/approach/process of the action in the

sentence are called adverbs of manner. They answer the question ‘how is the action
performed?’.
Beautifully, equally, thankfully, carefully, handily, quickly, coldly, hotly, resentfully,
earnestly, nicely, tirelessly, etc. are common adverbs of manner. These adverbs usually end
in -ly.
Let's divide the prizes equally.
Prepositions
Prepositions link nouns and pronouns to other words within a sentence.
Prepositions precede words to link them to nearby words.
Most of the time, prepositions indicate where a noun or pronoun is with regard to space & time.
There are also preposition of agent, preposition of instrument, preposition of manner/method.
Examples:
“I put my hat on the rack.”
The preposition “on” shows where the speaker placed his or her hat (space).

“I made dinner after I went to the grocery store.”

The preposition “after” tells when the speaker made dinner (time).

“The poem Odyssey was written by Homer.”

The sentence with the preposition “by” states that a person did a doings (agent).

“Timmy is going to England next week with his girlfriend.”

The sentence with the preposition “with” states that the doing was done with someone or
something (instrument).
 “He will die by the sword.” (the sword will be the manner of his death)
“He faces danger with courage.” (he is courageous when faced with danger)

“ She spoke as if she was the head of the team.” (in the manner of the head)
“He acts like there is no other option.” (in a manner that there is no other option)
“They traveled on foot. ” (they walked)
“I have worked as a teacher & counselor.” (in the capacity of a teacher & counselor)
The sentences with the preposition “by”, “with”, “as if”, “like”, “on” and “as” show what was
used to make something happen or show the method with which something was done
(manner)/(method).

Here is a list of common prepositions:

above, about, across, against, along, among, around, at, before, behind, below, beneath,
beside, between, beyond, by, down, during, except, for, from, in, inside, into, like, near, of,
off, on, since, to, toward, through, under, until, up, upon, with, within, as if ...
Articles
There are two types of articles:
- definite and
- indefinite.

 The definite article is the word “the,” which indicates one specific thing, e.g.,
“Go get the car.”
In that example, we are referring to one specific car.

 There are two indefinite articles: “a” and “an.”

These are used to refer to something that is not as specific, e.g.
“Go read a book” or
“Go eat an apple.”
In these examples, we are telling the listener to:
- read any book or
- eat any apple.

The article “an” is used before words that begin with a vowel sound.
Conjunctions
Conjunctions link words or parts of sentences.
There are two types of conjunctions:
- coordinate and
- subordinate.
 The coordinate conjunctions are
“and,”
“but,”
“either … or,” and
“neither … nor.”
These conjunctions link words or groups of words that have equal significance in a sentence,
e.g.,
“red and blue balls” or
“I went to the store, but I didn’t buy anything.”
In the second example, both parts of the sentence
(“I went to the store” and “I didn’t buy anything”)
could stand on their own as complete sentences.
 Subordinate conjunctions link more important words or groups of words to words that are
considered less important.
The subordinate conjunctions are
“that,”
“as,”
“after,”
“before,”
“since,”
“when,”
“where,”
“unless,” and
“if.”
In the sentence:
“After I went to the store, I came home and made dinner,”
the phrase “After I went to the store” cannot stand on its own as a complete sentence.
Therefore, it depends on the second part of the sentence to make sense.
Practice 4
Conversation Questions & Answers
 Following are 5 topics conversation questions & answers, that you will face very
often in your daily life.
16. A foreign country
17. Parties
18. A teacher
19. A friend
20. A hotel
 Within your group of 12 students practice and take turns working on these topics.
- First practice the same dialogue
- Then modify the dialogue as you wish to adapt it to YOUR daily life
16. A FOREIGN COUNTRY
 Have you ever travelled abroad? If yes, what country was it?
 Yes, I have. I traveled to the USA last year with my family.
 Where is that country located?
 The USA is located in North America.
 What is it famous for?
 The USA is known for its cultural achievements and landmarks (=monuments).
 What are the special food and drinks of that country?
 There are many. They are known for fast food, dairy (=produits laitiers), and many beverages.
 What do you like about that country?
 I like the fast pace of life and the various sub-cultures.
 How many citizens are there in that country?
 The current population of the United States of America was over 332 million in 2022, which
accounts for 4.3% of the total world population.
 What language do people there speak?
 The national language is English, but many people also speak Spanish, French, German, and
Chinese.
 Do you want to go back there again?
 Sure.
 Why do people like to travel abroad?
 They just want to discover new places, learn new cultures and maybe speak new languages.
17. PARTIES
 On what occasions do people in your country celebrate parties?
 There are many occasions when people throw parties such as New Year’s eve, wedding
engagements, family reunions, birthdays, etc., but sometimes people hold parties just when
they meet up and want to have something fun to do.
 Are you a party animal?
 Yes, I am. I’m crazy about going to parties. I love meeting friends, drinking, and talking.
 When do parties often start and finish?
 It depends on what kind of party it is. I believe the perfect time to have a party is in the
evening, from 8-11 pm.
 Where are the parties thrown?
 They are held inside or outside. Some formal events like weddings/housewarmings are
organized inside while others like family reunions and birthdays may be held outside.
 What do you usually wear when you come to a party?
 I often wear casual clothes like a T-shirt and jeans if I go to informal parties, and a dress for
formal ones.
 What do people do in the parties you attended?
 At the party, people talk, eat and drink together. Some go there to find business
opportunities and new partners.
 Do you enjoy drinking alcohol at the parties?
 Yes, a little beer can cheer me up.
 Do people have to bring anything to the party?
 It’s not required, but sometimes visitors bring some gifts to show their love for the host.
 Why do people, especially the youth, love going to parties?
 It’s just a good way for them to chill out after a long day.
18. A TEACHER
 Who is your favorite teacher?
 I like Mr. Tom the most, he is my English teacher.
 Is he a foreign teacher?
 Yes, he’s from the US.
 What do you like about his lessons?
 I have fallen in love with his American accent and he always shows us something new about
the world outside of textbooks.
 What’s he like?
 He’s not only knowledgeable but also very friendly. He always treats us like friends, not
students.
 What does he usually wear when coming to class?
 He usually wears a gray suit when he comes to class.
 Do you love his subject?
 Yes, I enjoy English a lot.
 Do students in your class like him?
 Yes, all of us admire him.
 Do you want to be a teacher like him?
 No, although I like him, my dream is not to become a teacher. I would like to be a chef.
 Have you ever been punished by him?
 No, he rarely punishes anyone.
 Do you want to see him again?
 Of course, he’s a great mentor.
19. A FRIEND
 Who’s your best friend?
 It’s Jenny. She’s my best friend.
 What does she look like?
 She has shoulder-length brown hair. I just love her lovely smile.
 How and when did you meet?
 I first met her when we were in high school.
 How often do you see this friend?
 I see her every day. We’re in the same class.
 What’s she like?
 She’s not only thoughtful but also very understanding. She’s always by my side to cheer me
up whenever I’m in trouble.
 Do you and her share anything in common?
 Yes, a lot. We both love shopping and playing sports.
 What do you and her do together?
 We usually do homework and read books together.
 Have you and her ever quarreled?
 Yes, but we seldom quarrel. When we do argue, afterwards we seem to understand more
about each other.
 Does she know how to cook?
 Yes, but she’s not a great cook.
 Do your parents like her?
 Yes, a lot. They always ask Jenny to come over for dinner.
 Why is a friend important in life?
 A good friend can make your life better in many ways. I don’t think anyone can stand
loneliness.
20. A HOTEL
 What is your favorite hotel? Where is it located?
 It’s the Sheraton, a five-star hotel located in Saigon, Vietnam.
 How do you know that hotel?
 Before coming to Vietnam for traveling, I searched on the Internet. It’s one of the best hotels
in Vietnam.
 Why do you choose to stay in that particular hotel?
 I like the architecture there, and online all the reviews about the hotel are positive.
 Is it by the beach?
 No, Saigon is not a beach-side city.
 Does it attract many tourists?
 Yes, I guess. When I stayed there, it was completely booked.
 What type of room did you stay in and what facilities did you get from the hotel?
 I stayed in a double-bed room. The room is equipped with air-conditioner, a flat-screen TV,
wardrobe, etc.
 What do you like about that hotel?
 A gymnasium, swimming pool, and BBQ area are available. I also love the green space
surrounding the hotel.
 Are all the staff friendly and helpful?
 Yes, definitely. They all are professional.
 How much does it cost a night?
 It costs me around $250/night.
 Do you recommend that hotel to friends?
 Yes, if they come to Vietnam. I love everything there.
Set (4) - Fed up with cutting corners
DIALOGUE
Mary : The New Year is just around the corner. It’s time to shop around for bargains.
Suzan : Yeah, you’re right. Everything is sky-high nowadays and I’m fed up with cutting corners
just to make ends meet.
Mary : Why don’t you cut down on smoking then?
Suzan : You may say I’m making excuses. But it does give me some solace.
Mary : Get out of here!
VOCABULARY
Around the corner: very near.
Shop around: to go to several shops before you decide what to buy.
Sky-high: very high.
To be fed up with: annoyed, unhappy, or bored, especially with a situation that has existed for a
long time.
Cut corners: do something perfunctorily so as to save time or money.
Make ends meet: to have enough money to buy what you need to live.
Cut down on: to do or use less of something.
Make an excuse: to give a reason for doing something you shouldn't do.
Give solace: to help and comfort when you are feeling sad or worried.
Get out of here!: used to express disbelief.
Phrases for Being Rich & Poor
He’s short on cash (not having enough money)
He’s broke (he has no money)
He’s just scraping by (he is just barely surviving on little money)
He makes minimum wage (he earns the minimum salary)
He’s pinching pennies (be thrifty or miserly, spend as little money as possible)
He’s scrimping and saving (manage to live on very little money in order to pay for something)
His bank account is overdrawn (you have spent more money than you have in your account,
and so you are in debt to the bank)
She’s very wealthy (rich, having a lot of money, possessions,...)
She’s quite well-off (having sufficient money for comfortable living)
She’s loaded (rich, having a great deal of money)
She’s filthy rich (extremely rich, imply that a person's wealth is excessive or offensive)
She inherited a fortune (to receive money, property, or assets from someone who has died)
She’s making a killing (earn a lot of money in a short time and with little effort)
She’s raking in the cash (making a lot of money very easily)
She’s rolling in dough (rich, very prosperous)
Phrases for Expressing Emotions
Flying high: very happy.
She’s flying high after the successful product launch.

Pumped up: very excited about something.

He’s pumped up for his first half-marathon race this weekend.

On cloud nine: to be extremely happy

He’s been on cloud nine ever since he got the job.

Be/feel down in the dumps: to feel unhappy or without hope.

I always feel down in the dumps when I go back to work after a long weekend.

Be at the end of your rope (AmE); Be at the end of your tether (BrE): to feel very upset because
you’re no longer able to deal with a difficult situation.
Helen is at the end of her rope after looking for a job for months without any luck.
Grief-stricken: extremely sad.
After his partner died in a car accident, he was left grief-stricken.

Bite someone’s head off: to respond with anger to someone.

I just asked one question to confirm his request, and my boss bit my head off.

In a foul mood: to be irritable, angry or depressed.

She’s scared to ask for a day off as her boss is in a foul mood today.

Drive up the wall: to annoy or irritate someone.

His constant whining drove me up the wall, so I left.

Have/get/feel butterflies in your stomach: to feel very nervous or excited about something that
you have to do, especially something important.
I’m going to have the first meeting with a big client tomorrow, and I’m feeling
butterflies in my stomach.
Afraid of your own shadow: very easily frightened.
After reading “Dracula,” she became afraid of her own shadow.

Petrified of: extremely frightened, especially so that you cannot move or decide what to do.
In the “Harry Potter” series, Ron Weasley is petrified of spiders.

Feel out of it: to not feel in a state of one’s normal mind.

He just woke up from a night of heavy drinking and felt so out of it.

Puzzle over: to think carefully about someone or something for a long time and try to
understand them.
I puzzled over the assignment for a few days before I decided to ask my professor for
clarification.

Ambivalent about: feeling two different things about someone or something at the same time,
for example, that you like them and dislike them.
He’s ambivalent about quitting his job to start his own business; he wants his
freedom, but there are risks.
Feedback about you English Club [What have you done so far?]
 Why did you start your English Club?
Use what you learn
Make English-speaking friends
 How did you start your English Club?
Post a sign-up sheet
Seek help
Hold an introductory meeting
Create rules & routines
 Who did join your English Club? ITU Informatics/Design/Semesters 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6?
 Where did you hold your English Club?
At ITUniversity / In members' homes / Outdoors, ...
 When and how often did you meet for your English Club?
About once a week / The best time of day / Stop and begin again
 What did you do in your English Club?
Establish a warm-up routine / Themes or Skills / Have backup ideas on hand /
Use a suggestion box