Table of Contents

   Introduction

 After “suggest and recommend” we use,

either: a verb + ing, e.g.,

"I suggest visiting the National Museum."

(We should all go).

 Or: that + statement  e.g.,

"I suggest that you visit the Aquarium."

(I'm not going)

 Or: a noun   e.g.,

"I recommend the macaroni."

(It’s a very good dish to order in this restaurant)

 Use the following expressions to suggest or recommend something:

 Ahmed: It’s difficult to translate this passage.
Hassan: Why don’t you use a dictionary?
                                            --------------
• Your friend looks a little bit fat. He’d like to lose some weight.           ( Suggest )
- Have you ever thought of joining a health club? / I suggest that you join a health club

Use the following expressions to give advice to someone:

• "You should……….”
• "You shouldn't……….”
• "You ought to………….”
• “You’d better………….”
• "If I were you, I'd………….”
• "I advise you to……….”
• “My advice is to……….”
• “It’s advisable to…………”
• “The best thing for you to do is to…”
• “Your best bet is to………….”
• “Always………….”
• “Remember to…………….”

Use the following expressions to ask someone for advice:

- “Advise” is a verb.

                          "I advise you to buy a good dictionary."

                  - “Advice” is an uncountable noun. This means that it is wrong to say an advice or advices. Instead, you say advice, some advice or a piece of advice.

                          "Let me give you some advice."

                          "She gave me a very useful piece of advice."

                          "She advised me to buy a good dictionary."

Ahmed: I usually have a headache when I watch TV for a long time.
Hassan: You’d better see a doctor.
                                                    --------------
• Your brother finds a Math problem difficult to solve.           ( Advise him )
- The best thing for you to do is to ask your teacher.

 Ahmed: It seems that you are late for school.
Hassan: What would you do if you were me?
                                                   --------------
• You want to join a good university after finishing the secondary school. (Ask for advice)
- I'd like to join a good university. Could you advise me on this matter?

Use the following expressions to warn someone:

 Ahmed: I’m going swimming next Friday.
Hassan: Don’t swim in deep water.
                                 --------------
• A friend is driving fast as it is raining heavily. (Warn him)
- Slow down. It’s dangerous to drive fast when the

   streets are wet.

Use the following expressions to express preference:

 Ahmed: How about going to the cinema?
Hassan: OK. But I'd better do my homework first.
                                 --------------
• Your friend wants to know if you like reading magazines.

                                               (Express preference)
- I like reading stories more than reading magazines.

    Improving your English vocabulary is not as difficult as you think. You just need to become familiar with useful English words, phrases and expressions.
    This page will help you with telling someone that you agree or disagree with their opinion. What you say reflects to what extent you agree or disagree.

     Approval and agreement usually have common expressions. But, there is a slight difference between both in terms of speaker's involvement in the relevant action.

When you agree on something, it is either you agree to do it by yourself for others or you agree on it to be done by others. e.g.,

- Can I use your mobile, please?

- Ok.              (you agreed on something to be done by someone, i.e.  you are involved)

- Why don't you join a summer English school to improve your English?

- That's a great idea.      (you agreed to do something, i.e.  you are involved )

When you approve of something, it does not necessarily mean that you are involved in the relevant action. e.g.,

- The government is planning to build a new hospital in our area.

- That's a great idea. (You approved of the news though you are not involved in the action)

Strong agreement

Ordinary agreement

Agreeing in part

 Ahmed: Islam is really a great religion.
Hassan: You are absolutely right.
                                       --------------
• Someone says that it’s easy to be a doctor. ( Agree in part )
- I agree with you in principle, but you have to study and work hard.

Disagreeing strongly

Ordinary disagreement

Disagreeing politely

 Ahmed: I think people will live on the moon in the future.
Hassan: I’m afraid I don’t share your opinion.
--------------
• Life in a city is better than life in a village. ( Show your strong disagreement)
- I don’t agree with you at all.

     When you ask someone to do something, or ask someone if you can do something, it's important to be polite in your request.

   Here are some of the common ways that you can do this.

Ahmed: I have bought a new mobile.
Hassan: Can you let me see it, please?           (Persuasion)
             Do you mind if I see it?                    (Permission)
                                                --------------
• You want to use your friend’s camera.   1-(Persuade him) 2-(Ask for his permission)
1- I wonder if you could let me use your camera.
2- May I use your camera, please?

When talking about general likes or dislikes, the following pattern should be followed: like/dislike something, or like/dislike doing something, i.e., always remember to use the (-ing) form when talking about likes of doing something.

“Fond of” is normally used to talk about food or people.

  Common mistake:

               Be careful where you put 'very much' or 'a lot'. They should go after the thing that you like or dislike.

•  Don’t say :  "I like very much reading."          (X)
         Say  :   "I like reading very much."            (√)

•  Don’t say :  "I hate very much our enemies."   (X)
         Say  :   "I hate our enemies very much."    (√)

• “No.”
• “I refuse………..”
• “No, thanks.”
• “I object to...........”
• "I'm against………."

      When talking about prohibited or forbidden doings remember that you should start your sentence with the (-ing) form of the verb.

• “...............is prohibited.”
• “...............is forbidden.”
• “............is not permitted / not allowed.”
• “It’s prohibited / forbidden to..........”
• “It's not permitted / not allowed to.......”
• “You are not allowed to.................”
• “You can’t .....................”
• “No Exit!” / “No approach!” / “No photo!”/ “No smoking!” / ............

           There are many ways to give your opinion in English. What you say depends on how strong your opinion is.

Use the following expressions to:

• "I think…."
• “I believe….”
• "I feel that…."
• “I’m convinced that….”
• "In my opinion…."
• "As far as I'm concerned…."
• "As I see it…."
• “To me ………..”
• "In my view……….."
• “My view is that………..”

• "I'm absolutely convinced that…."
• "I'm sure that….."
• "I strongly believe that…."
• "I have no doubt that…"

         Also, there are many ways in which you can ask someone for his opinion.

Use the following expressions to ask someone for their opinion:

• "What do you think…?"
• "What's your opinion / view?"
• "How do you see the situation?"
• "Do you think that…………….."

Use the following expressions to express blame someone for something:

• “I blame you for (-ing).................”
• “You are to blame.”
• “You must take the blame.”
• “It is your fault.”
• “You are responsible.”
• “You shouldn’t have done that.”
• “You have got only yourself to blame.”
• “Look at what have you done!”
• “How could you...............”

Use the following expressions to release someone from blame

• “You are not to blame.”
• “You must not take the blame.”
• “You are not responsible.”
• “It is not your fault.”
• “Never mind.”
• “Don’t worry.”
• “Forget it.”
• “It doesn’t matter.”
• “No problem.”
• “It is not the end of the world.”
• “Take it easy.”

       When people apologize, they normally say "sorry" and sometimes offer to put the situation right. Anyhow, there are many ways to apologize. Here are some.

• “Sorry.”
• "I'm sorry."
• “I am absolutely / so / very sorry.”
• “I apologize for.........”
• “I don’t / didn’t mean that.”
• “How can I make it up for you?”
• “What should I say / do ..........”
• “I’m afraid, I can’t…..”

Use the following expressions to congratulate someone on a happy occasion

• “Congratulations!”
• “I congratulate you!”
• “Well done!”
• “I feel great!”
• “That’s wonderful!”
• “Fantastic!”
• "I'm proud of you"

Use the following expressions for Guessing

• “Perhaps……………….”
• “Maybe………………….”
• “It can/could be …….”
• “It might be...............”
• “It’s possible that.…………”
• “It’s probable that.........
• “Possibly………………”
• “Probably…………….”
• “I’m not sure that .................................”
• “I’m uncertain that ...............................”
• “I guess that...............”
• “............may/might ................................”

Use the following expressions to show surprise

• “I don’t think so!”
• “I can’t believe it!”
• “Oh, really? Are you sure?”
• “Extraordinary! Unbelievable! Good Heavens!”
• “Oh, my God!”
• “I am surprised / amazed to hear that!”
• “Surprising / Amazing!”
• “I have never seen anything like this!”

        When you complain you have to be careful to be polite. You can use expressions such as: “I’m afraid.....”, “Excuse me...”

Use the following expressions to complain about something

• "Excuse me, I think you've………"
• "Sorry, I think………"
• "Excuse me, but there's a problem with………"
• "Sorry to bother you, but I think there's something wrong with………"
• "I'm afraid I have to make a complaint. …………………"
• “I’d like to complain about....................”
• "I'm afraid I have a real problem with………"
• “How long do we have to.....................”

Use the following expressions to express obligation

• “I/you/we/they….have to / have got to……”
• “He/she…………has to / has got to……”
• “I/you/we/they/he/she…had to……”
• “I/you/we/they/he/she………must……”
• “I/you/we/they/he/she……ought to……”
• “I/you/we/they/he/she………should……”
• “It’s obligatory that………”
• “It’s compulsory that………”
• “I’m / He’s...obliged to.................”
• “I feel obliged to...........”
• “I have an obligation.......”

Use the following expressions to express belief in something

• “I believe you.”
• “I believe in……..”
• "I trust in……"
• "I believe that……."

Use the following expressions to express disbelief in something

• “I don’t believe you.”
• “I don’t believe in…….”
• “You can’t be serious”
• “It’s incredible.”
• “You must be joking.”
• “You must be dreaming.”

Use the following expressions to express certainty

• “I’m sure that ..........................................................”
• “There is no doubt in my mind that .......................”
• “My firm belief is that .............................................”
• “Certainly / Sure”
• "I don't doubt it."
• "…….doubtless………"
• "Without doubt."
• "No doubt."
• "Undoubtedly."

Use the following expressions to express uncertainty

• “I’m not sure about that.”
• “I doubt it.”
• “Yes, but..................”
• “I’m uncertain that............”
• "There is some doubt (as to / about) whether………"
• "I have my doubts about……."

         It is highly appreciated to be grateful and thank others when they do something nice for you, offer you something or forgive you for something you have done.

• “Thank you so / very much.”
• “I can’t thank you enough.”
• “I’m (very) grateful to you.”
• “I’m (very) thankful to you.”
• “I owe you so much.”

• “I / He / They..............willing to........................”
• “I’d / He’d like to .................”
• “I / He…………...want to ..............”
• "I / He …………….ready to………….."

Use the following expressions to express intention

• “I intend / propose to................”
• “I'm going / planning to..................”
• "I'm determined to…………………………"
• "I'm thinking of (-ing)…………………."
• “I have decided to.................”
• “I made up my mind to...............”

• “I'm / He's.............worried about...............”
• “.............concerned.............”
• “............. anxious................”
• “I hope nothing goes wrong.”

Use the following expressions to show sympathy

• “Poor.......!”
• “How sad / terrible / awful!”
• “What a pity!”
• “I am sorry to hear that!”
• “I can’t tell you how sorry I am!”
• “I was shocked to hear that!”
• "I sympathize ………………"

Use the following expressions to show indifference

• “I couldn’t care less.”
• “I don’t care.”
• “Who cares?”
• “So what!”
• “It makes no difference.”
• “It is all the same to me.”

Use the following expressions to show pleasure

• "How great / wonderful / fantastic/ marvelous!"
• "I am pleased / delighted / glad / happy to…….."
• "It pleased me to hear that…………………."

• "I can’t stand it."
• "I am displeased / disgusted."
• "It is terrible / horrible / awful / dreadful!"
• "I can’t tell you how horrible it is."

         What can you say if you want to encourage people to keep talking to you?
Try making comments or asking questions. If you do this, you show the other person that you are interested in what they are saying. Here are some examples of what you can say.

Use the following expressions

      To Show surprise:

• "No!”
• "I don't believe it!"
• "Wow!”

       To show admiration and interest:

• “Wow!”
• "That's incredible / amazing / unbelievable!"

       To show sympathy: (especially 

             with someone’s bad news)

• "How awful / terrible!"
• “I’m very sorry to hear that!”
• “That’s terrible!”

Use the following expressions

        To Show surprise

• "Really?"
• "And you?"

          To encourage someone to keep talking and to tell you more:

• “And you?” (When someone asks you “How you are?”)
• “What about you?”
• "Did you?" (To encourage someone to tell their story.)

Ahmed: I heard that you do exercise daily.
Hassan: That's right. What about you?
                                           --------------
• A friend tells you that he applied for the university. (Encourage him to tell you more)
- Really? Did you?