Mastering English: Vocabulary, Phrases, and Reviews
Formal Letter Writing
Salutation
Dear Sir or Madam, Dear Mr./Mrs.
Introduction
State who you are and the purpose of your writing:
- I am writing to request more information about a job offer.
- My name is [Your Name], and I am writing to express my disappointment with the services your company provided.
Body
Structure your sentences using transitional phrases:
First, Secondly, Moreover, Finally…
Ask for things indirectly:
- I would be grateful if you could…
- Please, could you tell me…
- Would you mind telling me...
- I would like to know if…
Closing Sentence
Thank you for your attention to this matter. I appreciate your prompt response.
Goodbye Sentence
Kind regards,
Essential Vocabulary
Travel and Environment
Travel, Shade, Leaf, Bench, Ladder, Watch, Finger, Earth, Rope, Cup, Table, Comb, Field, Customer, Sky, Place, Between, Work
Phrasal Verbs
Work out, come up with, ended up, go ahead, keep track, taking over
Movie Review
The plot is gripping. The acting skills are impressive. The characters are captivating. The story is complex. The set is flawless.
Restaurant Review
The service is impeccable. The location is convenient. The price is reasonable. The food quality is exquisite. The ambiance is charming.
Prepositional Phrases
Advocate for, complain about, depend on, apologize for/to, lead to, prepare for, worry about, rely on, care about, believe in, know about
Adjectives
Ethical/unethical, adequate/inadequate, desirable/undesirable, effective/ineffective, useful/useless
Expressing Opinions
You shouldn’t miss this movie; I can’t recommend it strongly enough. This movie isn’t worth your time; save yourself some time and avoid it. That experience has shown me the value of having a different perspective.
Describing People
Age
Child, teenager, young adult, middle-aged person/people, elderly person/people, in his/her 20s, 30s, 40s, etc.
Height
Tall, short
Hair
Color: Blond/blonde, dark-haired, brunette
Shape: Long, short, curly, straight
Eyes
Blue-eyed, brown-eyed, black-eyed
Skin
Tanned, fair, dark, ebony
Personality
Charismatic, patient, open-minded, easy-going, kind-hearted, energetic, reliable, friendly, resilient, optimistic, honest, empathetic, altruistic, supportive, helpful
Adjectives for Reviews
Positive Adjectives
- Gripping: Something that holds your attention tightly.
- Shocking: Very surprising and makes you feel amazed or scared.
- Impressive: Something that makes you feel amazed or proud.
- Hilarious: Very funny and makes you laugh a lot.
- Flawless: Perfect and without any mistakes or problems.
- Captivating: Very interesting and makes you want to keep looking or listening.
- Complex: With more than one part.
Negative Adjectives
- Predictable
- Disappointing
- Unconvincing
Expressing Strong Opinions
I can’t recommend this movie strongly enough. / You don’t want to miss this movie; I can’t recommend it strongly enough. Save yourself some time and avoid this movie. / This movie isn’t worth your time; save yourself some time and avoid it. That experience has shown me the value of… / That experience has shown me the value of having a different perspective. In conclusion, we need to see both sides of the issue. / In conclusion, we need to consider both the pros and cons of the issue. I believe that at the end, it all depends on the context. / I believe that at the end, it all depends on the choice of context.
Human Anatomy
Human Organs
Lungs, Liver, Kidney, Stomach, Heart
Body Parts – Hand
Wrist, Nails, Knuckle, Thumb, Palm
Body Parts – Face
Chin, Cheeks, Eyebrows, Jaw, Forehead
Body Parts – General
Knee, Elbow, Ankle, Armpit, Hips