33 Natural Phrases for Better Everyday Conversations [521]

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In this episode, you’ll hear 33 natural English phrases that make conversations flow more smoothly. These are expressions fluent speakers use to respond, agree, disagree, and keep discussions moving. I explain how and when to use them so you can speak more confidently in everyday situations.

If you’re preparing for an English exam like IELTS, TOEFL, or CAE, these phrases will also help you speak English more naturally and show a higher level of fluency. The more you practise, the more confident you’ll feel using them in real-life situations.

By the end of this episode, you’ll know how to express yourself clearly, react naturally when plans change, and sound more like a native speaker in both professional and casual situations.

If you often hesitate, make mistakes, or feel unsure when speaking English, book a trial lesson. We assess your level, correct you clearly, and give you a focused plan so you know exactly what to improve.

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Transcript

0:08

Hi there, this is Harry. Welcome back to Advanced English Lessons with Harry, where I try to help you to get a better understanding of the English language, to help you with your conversational skills, your business English skills, interview skills, whatever your goals are, we're here to help. And for those of you and your friends or family who want one-to-one lessons, well, you know what to do. Just get in touch, www.englishlessonviaskype.com and you can apply for a free trial lesson and we'll be very happy to hear from you and very happy to help you. Okay, let's get back to this advanced lesson. And this advanced lesson are essential phrases that you can use or you need for daily conversation. So we're going to split them into different sections. So I'll give you the heading of each section. I'll give you the examples and try to help you to show you how to work them into your conversation. Okay, let's get started. And the first section is about changing plans. Okay, we all have plans. We have a schedule or we set out a to-do list of plans, things that we want to achieve, that we want to get done. Okay, so this is the whole backdrop of the setting. But unfortunately, some things change. We have to change them because something urgent comes up. Somebody else has to change our plans because they run into some difficulty or one of the kids gets sick. Whatever it happens to be, there are situations arising all of the time when plans need or have to be changed. Let's give you some expressions as to how you can do that. The first one, I'm afraid I can't make it. So you make a call to your friend, you've got lunch organized, he's an old school friend or university colleague, and you're going to meet him on Tuesday or Wednesday for lunch, but your boss has just told you that there's a big presentation taking place that day and you're going to have to cancel your arrangements. So you send an email or text message to your friends, say, look, I'm afraid I can't make it on Wednesday. Can we put it back by a week? Can we meet the following week or the next week? Okay, so I'm afraid I can't make it. So it's quite informal, particularly used when we're talking to people that we know very, very well. Or you can also say, look, something has come up. You don't have to be explicit to explain what has come up because they don't really need to know. They just need to know that the lunch, the meeting, the game of tennis or squash, you have to postpone because something has come up. Something has come up urgently, as in the presentation. Something has come up. You have to take one of the kids to the dentist. Something has come up. You have to be out of town because there's a client you have to go and visit. So whatever the reason is, something has come up will cover all of those particular situations and will allow you to postpone or to change the plans that you had originally fixed. Your friend rings you or texts you and said, yeah, can we meet this afternoon about four o'clock? Oh, I'm tied up all afternoon. So this is a really well-used expression when somebody asks you for a meeting and say, no, I'm sorry, I'm tied up all afternoon. How about tomorrow? Or how about the same time on Thursday or the same time next week? I'm tied up all afternoon means I've got meetings back to back. I'll be here at lunchtime and then from two o'clock till five or six o'clock, I'm tied up all afternoon. I have meetings one after the other, back to back. You might ask somebody to change the time of a meeting to allow you to get to another meeting. So you might ask them, can we bring the meeting forward? So can we bring it forward means instead of two o'clock, can we have it at 12 o'clock? Instead of one o'clock, can we have it at 11 o'clock? So to bring it forward means to have it earlier. Now, if you want the opposite, you say, can we push it out a little bit or can we push the meeting back? So if you want to delay the meeting, so instead of two o'clock, you want it at three or four o'clock or five o'clock. And you say, can we push the meeting back or can we push it out too? So to bring it forward means earlier. Push back or push out means to postpone or to have the meeting a little later. Both of them you can use in relation to changing the plans. Or you might just simply say, look, I have to call off the meeting today. So you tell all of your team, look, I'm really sorry, guys, something's come up. I've got to be out of town. So I have to call off tomorrow's meeting. We'll reschedule it for Wednesday or Thursday, but come back and let me know if you're available. So I have to call off. I have to postpone or cancel that particular meeting. Or just simply ask the question, can we do it on Tuesday instead? So this would be a question that you would just send as a quick text to your friend. Sorry about this. I can't make it tomorrow. Can we do it on Tuesday instead? Or I'm sorry, I can't make it tomorrow. Can we do it on Thursday instead or next week instead? So you're postponing, delaying, putting off the meeting for a day, a few days, or indeed a week. Okay, so just different ways in which you can ask or request or advise that you need to change the plans, need to change the arrangements. Okay, so if we look at the other way then, when someone tells you about changing the plans, so you're the recipient, you're the person receiving the news. So someone tells you about changing the plans. So when somebody tells you about changing the plans, you might just react like this. Oh, that's a pity. I was looking forward to meeting you. So the planned lunch for tomorrow with your friend, the planned game of squash is cancelled. So you just send back a text. Oh, that's a pity. I was looking forward to meeting you, but perhaps we can do it again soon. Or it's just simply, oh, don't worry about it. I do it myself all the time. Just let me know when you're free next and we can rearrange. So don't worry about it. So you're just telling them not to be stressed. Don't worry about it. Or simply, ah, no worries. These things happen, which they do. Yeah, things happen all the time. No worries. Or simply, no problem. Yeah. So I often get students telling me, look, I'm sorry, I can't make the lesson tomorrow. Something's come up. I have to work late or the kids are sick or I'm out of town. And I just send it back a simple message. No problem. Tell me when you're free. Tell me when you're available. And we can organize the next lesson, the next meeting. So no problem. Or just simply, yeah, things happen. Things happen all the time. Things get in the way. Kids, partners, work, family, whatever the problem is, things happen and they change or spoil or make sure that we have to rearrange or reorganize our plan. So simple ways in which you can reply or respond when somebody tells you that the arrangements have been changed. So, oh, that's a pity. Don't worry about it. No worries, no problem. Things happen. Now, let's look at situations and expressions and essential expressions that you'll need if you're asking for opinions or asking for an opinion. So you can just simply say, how do you feel about? How do you feel about going away for the weekend this weekend? We haven't had a holiday for a long time. How do you feel about redecorating the bedroom? It's a long time since we put a lick of paint or a coat of paint on those walls so we could do it next weekend. So how do you feel about something? What do you think of? What do you think of going away for Christmas instead of staying at home? Every year it's the same. What do you think of going away for a couple of days? We can just go for two nights and see what it's like. And if we like it, well, we can do the same next year. So what do you think of? Or something really informal. What do you reckon? So when we ask somebody, what do you reckon? We mean we ask, what do you think of? What's your opinion? What do you reckon? Should I take the job? What do you reckon? Would you change your car at this time? So you're asking friends for their opinion and you're asking it in a very informal way. So what do you reckon? So reckon means what do you think or what do you feel or what's your opinion? Okay, so just simple ways to ask for somebody's opinion. How do you feel about something? What do you think of this idea? And what do you reckon about this? Now, next is to give an explanation. Or when you're giving an explanation about anything, simple job you've assigned to somebody, you want them to do something. So you're giving an explanation as to exactly what it is you want done. So you can start your explanation in some of the following ways. What I mean is. So there's a little bit of doubt in the eyes of the person you're talking to, and you can see on their face that they're not quite clear about what you want. So you just try to clarify it a little bit. What I mean is. So you need to be very, very precise. What I mean is. The reason for this is. So you've changed something. Okay. You want to explain to your team why things have changed. So you give them the explanation. The reason is the boss has to be out of town for a couple of days. So there's no point doing it without him. The reason for this is. The main problem is. So there might be quite a few little issues, but the main problem, the main reason why we are changing is the following. The main problem is. Or you just want to clarify something. Well, look, just let me explain what I mean. So give me five minutes and I'll explain to you what I mean. Just let me explain. So you've cancelled something. Perhaps you've cancelled holidays for the month of July because there's a really, really difficult time in the business. So you want to explain to people why they cannot take the holidays in July. So just let me explain what we're trying to do. Or something a little bit more informal. Well, the thing is, I really don't like those people and I don't want to go to the party and I really prefer not to. If you want to go, of course, yeah. But if you're asking me for my opinion, well, the thing is, I just don't want to go. Okay, so here you are giving an explanation. So using these expressions. So quickly again, what I mean is the reason for this is simply the following. The main problem is that there's no end. If we do it once, we have to do it twice. Just let me explain. And then finally, well, the thing is, I just don't really like those people. Well, the thing is. Now, if you're having difficult conversations with people, and we always have to have some difficult conversations with people, it could be usually people we work with, or could be with the kids, could be with the teachers at school. But there are many situations when we have to have difficult conversations. Not everything is so easy. So here are some expressions that we could use in those type of situations. Simply when you want to introduce the fact or let somebody know that you want to talk to them, so you can say, I have something important I'd like to discuss with you. I have something important I would like to discuss with you. So immediately they're on notice that it's not just a, how did you get on the weekend or what you're doing next weekend? I have something important I would like to discuss with you. So they know that there's something coming up. Perhaps they've been expecting it. Or I would like to talk to you about the holiday roster or I would like to talk to you about that new contract or I'd like to talk to you about your school report. I'd like to talk to you about your grades. I'd like to talk to you about the exams that are coming up. So lots and lots of ways in which you could use that. They're all difficult decisions, particularly if you're trying to find out why son or daughter didn't quite do as you expected them to do. Or you're looking for somebody to help in some way. I need your help with something. I need your help with this report. I need your help with the budgeting process. I need your help with the new launch. I can't do it on my own. There's some things I can do, but there's others where you have the particular skills and you have that knowledge at your fingertips. So can you help me? Now, when it's really, really difficult, we might have an expression like, I think we have different interpretation or we have a different perception about this. So if your opinion, your view differs very, very significantly from that of your partner, from that of your friend, from that of your work colleague, then you have a difficult discussion. I think we have very different perceptions about that. Okay, so your view is very different from mine. Your view is polar opposites to mine. So we're going to really find it difficult to reach a compromise because we're nowhere near each other's point of view. So it's going to be a difficult conversation. So I think we have different perceptions about this. It could be about the person suitable for a job. It could be about promotion for somebody that you feel merits it, but somebody else doesn't. It could be about how to handle a new client. So we have different perceptions about it. And then finally, I'd like to see if we could reach a better understanding. Now, this is quite formal. So really what you're doing is reaching out to somebody to say, look, let's give it one more shot. Let's give it one more go to try and come to a compromise. I know your point of view and I respect it, but you know mine and you have to respect that. But we have to move on. So we're going to have to find some way to compromise. I'd like to see if we might reach a better understanding about this. It could be a difficult situation, about a breakup in a marriage. It could be about how to look after the kids, a divorce. All of these sort of things can be very, very sensitive. Okay, so I have something I'd like to discuss with you or something very important I would like to discuss with you. I'd like to talk to you about that now. I'd like to talk to you about that later. I need your help with something. I really could do with some support. I need your help with something. I think we have different perceptions about it. So we see things differently. We're coming at it from different angles. But that's not the worst thing, but we need to look at it. And then finally, I'd like to see if we might reach a better understanding. I'd like to see if we might reach a better understanding about this particular problem, because if we don't solve this problem, we simply will not be able to move on. Okay, so if you're feeling a little bit nervous or you're feeling a little bit worried, then these are the sort of expressions we use to express that. Okay, so, oh, I'm really nervous about the job interview. I'm really nervous about meeting my girlfriend's parents. There's a lot of expectation and I hope they like me and it's just difficult situation. So I'm really nervous about it. Or if you're looking for just a few minutes, seconds, just to get your thoughts, look, just give me a moment. I'll just gather my thoughts and then I'll be ready to go into the presentation. So just give me a moment. Or if you want somebody just to have a little bit of patience, we use this expression, bear with me for a little while while I explain my point of view. So it's a great expression to have at a meeting. So you've got lots of people asking questions. What about this? What about that? And you're trying to get your point across, trying to clarify some things. So you say, okay, guys, look, just bear with me for a few minutes. Let me finish. Let me finish what I have to say. And then I'll answer any questions you have. But if you keep interrupting, I'm never going to get to the end of it. And it'll just be chaotic. Okay, so just bear with me for a few minutes. Or if you're really, really nervous about something, you're talking to your friend, you would use an expression like, oh, this keeps me up all night or this keeps me awake all night. It's on my mind constantly. I'd be really, really glad when this interview is over. I'd be really, really glad when that meeting is over. This keeps me up at night. This keeps me awake all night. I just don't feel as if I get any rest or any sleep. And finally, I just can't stop thinking about it. I mean, it's been on my mind since she mentioned it last week. What are we going to do? So perhaps your partner has lost her job or he has lost his job and you've just moved home and you've got a mortgage and you've got issues and you say, oh, I just can't stop thinking about the problems. What if, what if, what if? Well, of course, if that's all you think about, well, you won't get a solution. So you have to look at the solutions and look at ways around that particular problem. But in the immediate aftermath of getting that sort of bad news, of course, obviously, it's something on your mind. I can't stop thinking about. So very quickly again. I'm really nervous about the job interview. I'm really nervous about the game. Give me a moment. I'll just get my thoughts together. Give me a moment. Bear with me and let me finish and then you can ask questions later. This keeps me awake at night or this keeps me up at night. And finally, I can't stop thinking about those poor people. I can't stop thinking about it. Okay, and then the last section, phrases that mean the same as don't worry. So alternative phrases that you can use. Because often when we are talking about a problem or somebody is talking to us about a problem, we say, well, look, don't worry about it. Things will work out. Yeah, so we use that expression all the time. Don't worry about this. So we might use an expression like, well, how can I help? So if you've got a problem, you need some help. How can I help you? I'm here to help if you want. How can I help? I know exactly what you're going through. I've been there myself. I know exactly what you're going through. So can I help you? I know exactly what I'm going through. Or if you just want to show some sympathy or empathize with somebody, ah, that really sucks. That really sucks. It's really bad news, bad luck. But come on, I'll help you. You'll get through it. So how can I help? I know what you're going through. I know exactly what you're going through. Oh, that really sucks. That really sucks. Okay, so hopefully those particular expressions will help you get through some conversations. They're really good for you to have, really good for you to use and practice them. You can see all different situations, particularly from the working environment or with the kids or the family where arrangements have been made and have to be changed. So you can practice using those. And if you have any problems, come back to me, www.englishlessonviaskype.com. I'll happily give you some further examples and situations in particular where you can use those. Okay, this is Harry. Thanking you for listening. Thanking you for watching. And remember to join me for the next lesson.