When learning a new language in a foreign country, it can be stressful to communicate in your daily interactions. One great way to make your conversations smoother is to memorize a few common English phrases for beginners.  In this article, we’ll teach you 40 basic phrases in English you need to know for day-to-day activities and interactions. You’ll learn phrases for introducing yourself, being polite, shopping & dining, and asking for help.  Ready? Let’s go. Table of Contents Greetings and Self-Introductions Courtesy Phrases and Social Expressions Dining and Shopping Phrases Asking for Help Conclusion 1. Greetings and Self-Introductions Our first set of English beginner phrases consists of those you would... Show more

If you’ve been studying English for a while, you know the positive feelings that come with expanding your knowledge and improving your skills. You probably felt overjoyed the first time you read something in English and understood it. You might have found yourself trying to eavesdrop on native speakers as your listening skills got better. And I’m willing to bet you felt a little bit proud of yourself after having your first English-language conversation.  At this stage in your learning journey, memorizing more advanced English words is going to boost your confidence even further and provide you with a more comprehensive vocabulary base.  In this article, we’ll introduce and show examples of advanced-level English words in the... Show more

You recently moved to the United States. Unfortunately, you get an incredibly painful toothache within your first week of residence. What should you do? Hello. Thank you for calling Bright Smile Dental Clinic. This is Jenny. How may I help you? *silence* Hello? Hello? Language barriers, especially on the phone, can be so inconvenient. Today, you will learn how to overcome such situations with common English phone call phrases. Placing phone calls in English is easier than you think. For starters, phone call phrases are often routine. Therefore, learning the common ones in English will make calls easier to understand and respond to. In this article, you’ll learn how to handle a phone call in English in both professional and... Show more

The professor walks into the lecture hall. “Okay, class. Umm, clear your desks. It is time for your pop quiz. So basically, it’s not as hard as the last test. Well… It could be depending on how hard you studied. Now let’s get started. We, like, don’t have all day.” If you were a student in that lecture hall, could you take the professor seriously? The professor used almost every English filler word on the planet. How often do you listen to your speech? Whether in professional or casual settings, do you pay attention to your spoken words? Or the ones you’re hearing? Chances are that you routinely use filler words too. We all do. You may naturally be aware of filler words in daily conversations, especially if you are the epitome... Show more

The need for companionship runs deep. The desire for a hand to hold even as we grow old alters the way we lead our daily lives. The longing to find a person who embraces us completely—and whom we can embrace completely—burns within our hearts like an illuminated candle…until we meet that person and everything becomes so clear in the light of a roaring fire. But then we find ourselves tongue-tied! What do we say to win this person’s heart? And what about in English? What you need, in this case, are some quick and easy-to-use love phrases in English. Proper communication is key in any relationship. And this can be difficult in an unfamiliar country, speaking a language that’s not your own! If you struggle to find love or keep... Show more

Your friend is offering you cake, but you’re on a strict diet. There’s some creepy guy at the bar trying to ask you out, and you’re a little scared. Your new coworker wants to know about your likes and dislikes, but you don’t know what to say… The world is full of situations that require us to say "no," turn down offers, or negate a response altogether.  In this article, I’ll show you how to properly use negation in English. Learning how to make negative sentences in English will empower you to stick to your goals, keep yourself safe, and express yourself effectively!  → Before you start, you might want to read my article on English Sentence Patterns or look over our vocabulary list of the Top 10 Sentence Patterns for Beginners.... Show more

Learning a language can feel like climbing a huge mountain. It’s not so bad when you start, but the higher up you get, the more difficult the terrain becomes. You’re tired, you’re out of breath, and you don’t know if it’s worth it to keep going. Things aren’t going well, and you’re getting discouraged. When this happens, it can really help to have a more realistic sense of the work involved and the direction you must take. This way, you can prepare yourself for the road ahead and regain your energy. And I have some good news: If you’re reading this article, you’re almost there! You just need to keep pressing forward.  In this article, I’ll talk about how long it takes most people to learn English and give you some advice on how to... Show more

I can’t tell you how many times I’ve heard that "every cloud has a silver lining" when I was sad. Or that "curiosity killed the cat" when I asked too many questions. Or, my least favorite as a child, that I should "never put off until tomorrow what I can do today" when I wanted to play video games instead of finishing my homework.  These are only three of the most commonly used proverbs in English, but I swear I’ve heard these hundreds of times!  I’m sure that you’ve heard similar proverbs and sayings over and over again in your native language. These words of wisdom can give us a new perspective, reinforce good habits, and give us something to say when we’re at a loss for words. And for you, as the avid language-learner you are,... Show more

If you plan on visiting the United States, you can’t pick a more iconic location than New York City.  With a population of over 8 million people, NYC received over 65 million tourists in 2018! Compare this to other major U.S. cities such as Los Angeles, California (50 million tourists) or Seattle, Washington (40.9 million tourists).  So what makes New York City such a desirable tourist destination?  NYC is known for being welcoming to any and all visitors, and the city also has quite a diverse population. NYC is known to have the largest population of Jews outside of Israel and the largest population of native Chinese outside of Asia. In addition, roughly a quarter of all Native Americans in the U.S. reside in New York City.  ... Show more

Why are people drawn to quotes? I think it’s because a quote can do one of two things:  1) Put our existing feelings and opinions into words 2) Help us see things from new perspectives These are things that everyone needs from time to time, and the quotes that resonate with us may stay with us forever. In this article, we’ll show you the best English quotes for students of the language! These are quotes that will inspire you, make you think, or make you smile. We’ll explain each quote in detail, so you can understand their background and meaning. Enjoy! Table of Contents Quotes About Success Quotes About Creativity and Inspiration Life Quotes in English Quotes About Time Love Quotes in English Quotes... Show more