We offer here a case study lesson tailored to each person's needs, with More than 10 cases of self-expression in English.
Self-Expression when you talk while watching TV
We all watch a lot of TV - now you can talk about it too!. Here are some phrases:
- What's on tonight?
- What's on the other side?
- It's starting!
- Where's the remote?
- It's a repeat.
- This is a load of rubbish.
- Quiet! I'm trying to watch this.
- Are you watching or can I turn over?
- I've set the video.
- My programme's on in a minute.
Self-Expression when talking about the weather
It can be very cold, here are some useful phrases to talk about the weather:
- It's freezing outside!
- It's a bit chilly.
- It's cold.
- It's Arctic out there.
- It's quite fresh.
- You can see your breath in the air.
- It's below zero.
- It must be minus five or more.
- It's pretty frosty today.
- My car's iced up, it's that cold.
Self-Expression when telling people about your work
When people ask you "What do you do?", there are different ways you can answer it, in all the examples below the speaker is the sales person.
- I'm a sales man.
- I'm in the sales.
- I work as a sales man.
- I'm a professional sales man.
- I do a bit of sales man.
- I'm in the sales man business.
- I sell for a living.
- I work for sales.
- My day job is Sales man.
- I earn my living as a Sales man.
Self-Expression when asked about last night
It's normal to meet your friends and colleagues, and ask them what they did the night before, unless of course you're with them!
Here are some phrases:
- What did you do last night?
- Did you do anything last night?
- What did you get up to last night?
- Did you go out last night?
- How was last night? Do anything?
- How was your night last night?
- Do anything special last night?
- Was last night a good one?
- Did you have fun last night?
- Did you have a fun time last night?
Self-Expression when expressing a desire
We often talk about what we want to eat or drink, sometimes it's in response to an offer.
Sometimes we just say what's on our mind using coffee as an example:
- Coffee - just what I need.
- A coffee would be nice.
- I could do with a coffee.
- I'd love a cup of coffee.
- I'm dying for a coffee.
- I could kill for a cup of coffee.
- I feel like a cup of coffee.
- A coffee would go down well now.
- I really need a cup of coffee.
- A coffee would really hit the spot.
Self-Expression while driving
You probably know how to drive, but do you know all the English phrases to describe the different things you usually do in the car?
Here are some phrases:
- Indicate: Flashing light to show you are turning left or right.
- Pull out: It means getting the car off a side road or parking space and starting driving.
- Drive off: It means to drive a car away from any person or place.
- Pull over: It means parking the car on the side of the road.
- Speed up: It means making the car faster.
- Slow down: It means making the car slower.
- Step on it: This means putting your foot firmly on the accelerator pedal and making the car move very fast.
- Slam the brakes on: It means putting your foot firmly on the brakes and making the car slow down too much or come to a stop.
- Have a near miss: It's almost when you get into another car accident.
- Get pulled over: The police stopped your car because you made a mistake.
Express yourself when ordering things
In English it's not really polite to say "I want" so we have many different ways of saying we want something.
Here are the ways:
- I'd really like/I'd love a day off.
- I wouldn't mind a...
- I could (really) do with a...
- I could use a...
- What I'd really like is a...
- All we need is a day off.
- Ideally, what I'd like is a day off.
- A _____ would be appreciated.
- A _____ would go down well.
- I'm dying for / longing for..."
Self-Expression when you are okay
When someone asks you "How are you?" There are many different ways to say you feel good.
Here are the ways:
- I'm fine thank you.
- I feel great / marvellous / fine.
- Couldn't be better.
- Fit as a fiddle. Idiom
- Very well, thanks.
- Okay.
- Alright.
- Not bad.
- Much better.
- All the better for seeing you.
Self-Expression when making decisions
We all make vows and resolutions from time to time around the new year, promising people to give up bad habits, and improve their lives.
Here are some phrases:
- I guess I'd better stop overspending.
- I suppose I really ought to go to the gym.
- I really should diet, but then again...
- There's nothing for it. I'll have to do it.
- I promise I'll try harder to arrive early.
- I have every intention of passing the test.
- Never again will you catch me snoring.
- Nothing is going to stop me finishing.
- No matter what happens, I'm going to win.
- Come hell or high water, I'll pay it back.
Self-Expression when rejected
Sometimes. People ask us to do things, and we don't want to do that.
Here are ten statements to say no:
- No but thanks for asking.
- No way.
- Absolutely not.
- No Chance.
- Not, if you paid me.
- Get lost.
- No, full stop.
- Not likely.
- I don't want to.
- I'd rather not.
Self-Expression when you reassure someone
Sometimes. Others are really worried about something that isn't a big deal.
Here are phrases that you can use to reassure them and make them feel better:
- I can assure you that...
- You'll be fine. / It'll be fine.
- What are you worrying for?
- There's no need to worry.
- There's nothing to worry about.
- It'll turn out all right.
- It isn't as bad as all that.
- Whatever you may have heard...
- Rest assured ...
Express yourself when quoting
Sometimes. We want to repeat something we just said or someone else said.
Fortunately there are many phrases in English that we can use to introduce this:
- Look at it this way.
- Basically,
- In a nutshell,
- To paraphrase,
- To put it another way,
- What it all boils down to is...
- To sum up ...
- In other words,
- What this means is ...
- Put it this way.
Describe the negative reaction of others
Sometimes we say something wrong, and then someone gets angry.
Here are ten phrases to describe other people's negative reaction:
- He got somebody's back up.
- She caused offense / outrage.
- She put his nose out of joint because she didn’t consult him.
- I don’t want to get on the wrong side of her because she could make things difficult for me.
- She reduced somebody to tears.
- They put him down.
- I wish you wouldn't show me up in front of my parents.
- We got in her black books.
- He dissed my new hairstyle.
- She took umbrage at my remarks.
Self-Expression by avoiding giving your opinion
Sometimes. Someone asks your opinion about something, and you have nothing to say. Or, you don't want to have your say.
Here are phrases to avoid giving your opinion:
- I couldn't say.
- I've never given it much thought.
- I don't have any feelings either way.
- Your guess is as good as mine.
- I (really) don't know what to say.
- I really can't say.
- You're asking the wrong person.
- It doesn't affect me (either way).
- It doesn't make any difference to me.
- That's an interesting question.
Self-Expression when making noise
We have many words to describe noise, some words are closely related to certain adjectives.
Here are ten of them:
- A deafening roar.
- A high-pitched scream.
- A terrible din.
- A piercing shriek.
- A fading echo.
- A muffled reply.
- A booming voice.
- A creaking door.
- A low murmur.
- A bloody racket.