Essential English Vocabulary, Grammar, and Interactions
Vocabulary: Compound Adjectives
world-famous; high-tech; slow-paced; densely populated; well-planned; highly educated; open-minded; fun-loving; culturally diverse.
Grammar: Comparatives and Superlatives
Comparisons:
cheaper than; more crowded than; less expensive than; better than; worse than; hotter than; more densely populated than; worse than.
Superlatives:
the cheapest; the most crowded; the least expensive; the best; the worst; the most high-tech; the worst; the most culturally diverse; the least populated.
(not) as… as: St. Petersburg isn’t as cold as Moscow; Osaka is as high-tech as Tokyo.
Interactions: Problems
Reporting a problem:
There’s a problem with… / I’m having a problem with… / There seems to be a problem with…
Responding to a problem:
I’ll let someone know right away. / I’ll get someone to take care of it. / I’ll have someone get on it right away.
Vocabulary: Travel Talk
Good experiences:
Upgraded; Discounted; Guaranteed; Issued.
Bad experiences:
Delayed; Overbooked; Expired; Overpriced; Packed; Overrated.
Grammar: Reporting Commands and Advice
These reporting verbs are followed by an object + infinitive. Notice the placement of not.
The man said: “Be patient.” – He told me to be patient. / The man said: “Don’t be impatient.” – He told me not to be impatient. / The man said: “Remember to take your room key.” – He reminded us to take our room key. / The man said: “Don’t forget your room key.” – He reminded us not to forget our room key. / The man said: “Call in a few days.” – He advised me to call in a few days. / The man said: “Don’t carry a lot of cash.” – He warned her not to carry a lot of cash. / “Get a good guidebook.” – She told me to get a good guidebook. / “Don’t pack too much.” – She told me not to pack too much. / “Buy a youth hostel card.” – She advised me to buy a youth hostel card. / “Don’t go out at night alone.” – She warned me not to go out at night alone. / “Keep your passport safe.” – She told me to keep my passport safe. / “Use ATMs to get cash.” – She advised me to use ATMs to get cash.
Vocabulary: Character Traits
Competitive: You want to be better than everyone else. / Energetic: You are active and enthusiastic. / Idealistic: You believe you can make good things happen. / Imaginative: You always think of new and creative ideas. / Independent: You think and act without help from others. / Logical: You make decisions based on facts. / Loyal: You always support people and places you know. / Rebellious: You do not follow other people’s rules. / Studious: You spend time studying and learning new things.
Language in Context: Personality Types
Reformer: logical and idealistic; wants everything to be perfect. / Helper: caring and generous; likes to please people. / Achiever: studious and ambitious; wants success. / Individualistic: sensitive and often quiet; likes to be independent. / Investigator: curious and creative; who is always questioning things. / Loyalist: hardworking, responsible and extremely loyal; someone that people can trust. / Enthusiast: optimistic and spontaneous; cheerful and fun-loving. / Challenger: confident and powerful; makes decisions that other people find difficult to make. / Peacemaker: easygoing and agreeable; dislikes situations which create conflict.
Grammar: Defining Relative Clauses
Use the pronouns who or that for people. Use which or that for things.
The Achiever is a person who / that wants success. / The Peacemaker dislikes situations which / that create conflict.
The relative pronouns are optional when they are the object of the relative clause.
The Loyalist is someone (who / that) people can trust. / The Challenger makes decisions (which / that) other people find difficult to make.
My sister has a side which my parents never see. / I like friends who are easygoing and loyal. / I hardly ever do things which are spontaneous. / I have views which some people can’t understand. / I was a studious child who was also very energetic. / My brother is a person who people find competitive.
Interactions: Interruptions
Interrupting politely:
Sorry, but can I ask something? / I’m sorry, but could I ask one thing? / Before you go on, could I ask something?
Agreeing to an interruption:
Sure. Go ahead. / Yeah, of course. / OK. Sure.
Vocabulary: Tips to Manage Stress
Balance work and play: Equilibre trabalho e diversão. / Be more organized: Seja mais organizado. / Find time to relax: Encontre tempo para relaxar. / Lead a healthier lifestyle: Levar um estilo de vida mais saudável. / Live within a budget: Viver dentro de um orçamento. / Manage time better: Gerenciar o tempo melhor.
Grammar: Wish
Use wish + a past tense verb to talk about present wishes. For wishes with the verb be, use were with both singular and plural nouns and pronouns.
I have to study. – I wish I didn’t have to study. / I don’t have free time. – I wish I had more free time. / I can’t read it now. – I wish I could read it now. / I am so busy. – I wish I weren’t so busy. / I am not very organized. – I wish I were more organized. / I wish I didn’t worry so much. / I wish I could find more time to relax. / I wish I did better in school. / I wish my schedule were not so full. / I wish I didn’t have to do chores every day.