1.

Basic usage of 'I'm'

2.Variations of 'I'm in/at/on'
3.I'm good at
4.I'm + (verb)
5.I'm getting
6.I'm trying + (verb)
7.I'm gonna + (verb)
8.I have + (noun)
9.I have + (past participle)
10.I used to + (verb)
11.I have to + (verb)
12.I wanna + (verb)
13.I gotta + (verb)
14.I would like to + (verb)
15.I plan to + (verb)
16.I've decided to + (verb)
17.I was about to + (verb)
18.I didn't mean to + (verb)
19.I don't have time to + (verb)
20.I promise not to + (verb)
21.I'd rather + (verb)
22.I feel like + (verb-ing)
23.I can't help + (verb-ing)
24.I was busy + (verb-ing)
25.I'm not used to + (verb-ing)
26.I want you to + (verb)
27.I'm here to + (verb)
28.I have something + (verb)
29.I'm looking forward to

1.I'm calling to + (verb)

2.I'm working on + (noun)
3.I'm sorry to + (verb)
4.I'm thinking of + (verb-ing)
5.I'll help you + (verb)
6.I'm dying to + (verb)
7.It's my turn to + (verb)
8.It's hard for me to + (verb)
9.I'm having a hard time + (verb-ing)
10.I think I should + (verb)
11.I've heard that + (subject + verb)
12.It occurred to me that (subject + verb)
13.Let me + (verb)
14.Thank you for
15.Can I + (verb)
16.Can I get + (noun)
17.I'm not sure if (subject + verb)
18.Do you mind if I + (verb)
19.I don't know what to + (verb)
20.I should have + (past participle)
21.I wish I could + (verb)
22.You should + (verb)
23.You're supposed to + (verb)
24.You seem + (adjective)
25.You'd better + (verb)
26.Are you into + (noun)
27.Are you trying to + (verb)
28.Please + (verb)
29.Don't + (verb)
30.Do you like

1.How often do you

2.Do you want me to + (verb)
3.What do you think about (verb-ing)
4.Why don't we + (verb)
5.It's too bad that
6.You could have + (past participle)
7.If I were you, I would + (verb)
8.It's gonna be + (adjective)
9.It looks like + (noun)
10.That's why + (subject + verb)
11.It's time to + (verb)
12.The point is that + (subject + verb)
13.How was + (noun)
14.How about + (verb-ing)
15.What if + (subject + verb)
16.How much does it cost to + (verb)
17.How come + (subject + verb)
18.What are the chances of + (verb-ing)
19.There is something wrong with + (noun)
20.Let's not + (verb)
21.Let's say that + (subject + verb)
22.There's no need to + (verb)
23.It takes + (time) + to + (verb)
24.Please make sure that + (subject + verb)
25.Here's to + (noun)
26.It's no use + (verb-ing)
27.There's no way + (subject + verb)
28.It's very kind of you to + (verb)
29.There's nothing + (subject) + can + (verb)
30.Rumor has it that + (subject + verb)

English phrases and expressions from this article worth memo

For years on end year after year, for a good number of years.
If put in simple terms if said in a simplified way.
Closely related often followed by words topic or subject; this is how native speakers describe very

Brought to my attention when someone points something out to you, its said that its been broug
attention.

Each to their own this American English idiom means that everybody has their own preferences, b
person likes something different.

A whole new ballgame this sports related idiom means that the subject youre touching upon is so
completely different from what you were talking about previously.
When it comes to just another way of saying in relation to or speaking of
More often than not another way of saying normally or most commonly.

Hands down an English idiom meaning that something was done very, very easily or that the conce
discussing, for example, is by far the most effective way of doing the particular thing.

Im so pleased to meet you have you just been introduced to a new person and you wan
tell them how nice it is meeting them? Well, this is just the right phrase to use on such an occ

Ive heard so much about you in case the person youre being introduced to is well know
is just the right English small talk phrase to tell them during the introduction!

Its good to have you here! sometimes you may want to make the new person feel welco
the party or event, so this is what you tell them to make them feel included.

Id like you to meet someone! this is a typical way of introducing a new person to one or
people.

I am indeed! And you must be when someone else approaches you and calls you by yo
name, and youre pretty sure who that person is, this is the right English small talk phrase to
Hello, is it Mark? I am indeed! And you must be James!?

Ill leave you two to get acquainted! if you have to leave two people you just introduced
each other, this is the perfect phrase for such a situation.

Please, call me a few minutes into the conversation with a new person you may want to
lighten up the mood by giving the other person a permission to call you by your name or a mo
friendly version of your name: And by the way Michael Please, call me Mike!

I almost didnt recognize you! sometimes we get to see people we havent seen for a lo
long time and this English small talk phrase is the typical way of expressing your excitemen
seeing them again.

Have we met before? in case you really dont recognize the person saying hello to you, yo
use this phrase to ask them if youve met before. Yes, its a bit awkward, but theres really no
way of putting it!
Its good to see you again! this is how you recognize the presence of an old friend or
acquaintance when you meet them after a while.

Conversation Starters & Greetings

How are you getting on? just another way of saying how are you?

You doing OK? asked when the person has had some tough experience recently and you w
ask politely if theyre OK.

Hi, ! Whats new? this is a very informal way of greeting a close friend or anyone who yo
on a regular basis and you want to ask has anything happened since you last met.

Hi, ! Whats up? the same as above with a difference that youre probably not that inter
in what news the other person might have.

Hi, ! Long time no see! used when you havent seen the person for a long period of tim
you want to state that fact in the greeting.

Hi, ! Have you been keeping busy? just a standard enquiry with little or no direct mea

Do you mind me asking? a typical way of asking something that might be a slightly per
question.

OK, heres the thing a very handy way to start making your point if youre not sure how
begin the sentence.

Typical Responses

Thanks, Ive been keeping busy just a standard response to a standard greeting with litt
no direct meaning.

Thanks for asking, Im fine, how are you? a typical response and counter-question to a
greeting phrase how are you?

Hi, how areyou doing? Its good to see you! a typical response to a greeting from som
you havent seen for a while.

Cant complain a response to a standard greeting like How are you? Its not as exciting p
as Thanks, Im great! but it doesnt mean youre having some problems in your life.

Can you say it again, please? a request to repeat the question if you didnt understand w
was said. This can also be used when the native speaking person speaks a bit too fast they
get the hint and slow down a bit. But if they dont, you can ask a more direct question:

Can you slow it down a bit, please?

And how about you? a typical response when youre not sure what to ask next so youre a
the other person the same think they asked you. You can respond with this counter-greeting o
nearly all standard greetings.

To the best of my knowledge when youre 99% sure about the statement youre maki
Also a good start of a response you want to take a bit more time to consider what youre goin
say.
As far as I know the same as above.

Good for you! a response to someone telling you about their success in something or som
news that theyre happy about.

Cant argue with that used when you agree with the statement of the other person.

How do you know? a counter-question you can ask when someone surprises you with a qu
about something theyre not really expected to know.

Thats a good one! a surprise response to funny or surprising news from your chat partne

Really? Tell me more about it! used when you want your chat partner to tell me about w
he/she just said.

Frankly speaking, just a way to start your response. It indicates that youre about to op
and be very honest with your chat partner. A great way of establishing an immediate trust.

Well, to be honest with you, the same as above.

No problem a typical response to a small request youre happy to do. This one is especially
when responding to superiors requests and it sounds more enthusiastic than if you simply sa
sure or OK.

Never mind, its fine! this phrase is used when the person offers to do a favour for you bu
not really necessary.

Never mind, forget what I just said this phrase is to be used when you said something t
wasnt important at all but your chat partner wants you to repeat it. You can also use this phr
you feel that he/she might be slightly annoyed or offended by your question or comment so y
want to end it there.

You got me there this can be said instead of I dont know it will sound more casual and
as defensive as the old I dont know!

Youve got to be kidding me!saidwhensomeonetellsyousomethingthatbordersontheunbelievab

youwanttoexpressyoursurprise.

Thats a good question.aphraseusedwhenyouwanttotakeyourtimetothinkoverthequestion.Th

idealphrasetousewhenyourestuckbutinsteadofremainingsilentyoucanstartyourresponsewiththis
Well, how to put it in the right words.thesameasabove.
That would be great!aresponsetoanofferthatyourereallyhappyabout.

you know what I mean?thisisquiteanoverusedphrasebutyoucandefinitelyuseitattheendofa

sentenceifyouwanttoemphasizewhatyoujustsaid.

You see, the thing is that thisishowyoubeginasentencewhenyoureaskedtoexplainsomething

Industry Small-talk

Another day! this is just a short phrase you can use to start your working day with. It does
necessarily mean your job is boring; it merely states the fact that you all have a brand new w
day ahead.
Nose to the grindstone! this one is a typical English idiom, and it means to start working
and be 100% focused on what youre doing. Typically youd use this one at the end of a
conversation as a way of indicating youre going back to your work-related duties.

How was your weekend? you can use this small-talk greeting to inquire about the person
weekend and its a typical small-talk phrase youd hear on a Monday morning.

Anything new going on? again, a typical phrase to be used when coming into work espe
after a weekend or a few days off.

The boss is in a mood you can use this small-talk phrase to let your colleagues know yo
boss is in a bad mood and its best to steer clear to avoid trouble. Please note you dont even
to say in a BAD mood; the word mood says it all just on its own.
All work and no play! this is another English idiom and you can use it when having a
conversation about going out and taking some rest. Heres a typical sentence: Hey Jim, why
out tonight, weve been working so hard all work and no play!

Better keep the head down today thisEnglish idiomatic expressioncomes in handy whe
need to advise someone to stay quiet and avoid problems. Maybe its because that persons b
out drinking the night before, maybe its because theyve been giving others hard time and th
boss is after them there are many situations when this small-talk phrase can be used!

Thank heavens its Friday quite obviously youll be using this English small talk phrase w
greeting your work colleagues on a Friday morning as we all know, Fridays are the most awa
days of the week, and everybodys looking forward to the weekend ahead!
You working the weekend? in case youre doing shift work, this is a handy phrase to use
asking your colleague if she or he is going to work during the weekend.

Are you working hours in? lets say, for arguments sake, you notice someone staying at
longer than normally, so you want to inquire for the reason theyre doing this. Your best guess
that the person in question has taken some extra time off work, so you want to ask them if th
working those hours in now. Well, this is the perfect phrase for the occasion!

Im tired I got no sleep last night I guess this phrase is pretty self-explanatory, isnt it?

Had a few drinks so Im flying under the radar! if you went out the night before, its to
understandable youll want to stay put and keep a low profile in case someone from the
management realizes youre not fully capable of fulfilling your work related duties!
Can you cover me? this is a typical way of asking someone if they can work in your place
youre taking a couple of hours off work to deal with your personal stuff.
Its so boring! this is quite a self-explanatory phrase to be used whenever youre bored. It
be used as a handy conversation starter if theres another person nearby doing the same job
they also look bored you can simply exclaim Its so boring! and see if they respond to that.

Wish I had her job! if someone elses job looks better than yours, you can use this English
talk phrase to either start a conversation or respond to someone else making a remark about
easy it is for that person compared to the situation that youre in.

Were not paid enough! if you think youre not remunerated adequately (show me an em
who thinks hes getting paid enough!), heres a phrase to be used when youre having a smal
with some colleague of yours and you have to express your opinion in relation to the small wa

Thats one job I wouldnt do! this is how you refer to a job you definitely wouldnt be will
do no matter who asks you to do it. But then again everything has a price, isnt that right?

Thats a cushy number! English idiomatic expression cushy number means a very
comfortable and easy job. So when youre seeing someone sitting around all day doing nothin
can tell your friend Thats a cushy number! meaning that the job in question is really easy.

I dont know how he got that job! theres always someone in the company who doesnt
what theyre doing and you often wonder how they got the job in the first place, right? So, ne
around when you make a comment about such a person when having a small talk with someo
you can use this phrase.

Departure Phrases

Id better be going followed by a simple phrase like its too late, or have lots to do an
indicator youd like to walk off and finish the conversation.

I really gotta go this is the least formal way of telling someone that you definitely have to
now. This is the best way of two friends, for example, finishing a conversation and personally
this phrase quite often!

OK, Im sorry but I have to leave now! used when your chat partner has clear intention
continuing the conversation but you just need to go so youre making it clear that you need to
See you later! used when you know that youll be seeing each other again sometime.

See you around! the same as above

See you in a couple of minutes! this phrase is typically used when youre leaving the oth
person for a short while during an event, for example.

Keep in touch! a good-bye phrase meaning you want the other person to get in touch with
every now and then and that youve the same intentions.

It was nice seeing you, take care! a good-bye phrase used when you know that you won
the person for a while.

Its been good talking to you! the same as above phrase.

Hope to see you again! you can use this phrase when finishing a conversation with some
youve just met.

Say hello to ! a short and handy way of saying to remind someone from you.