Complete English Sentence Structures & Patterns Guide
I'll provide you with practical sentence patterns you can use immediately, with multiple examples for each. Focus on understanding the patterns, not the grammar rules.
1. BASIC STATEMENT PATTERNSSubject + Verb
- I agree.
- She left.
- They arrived.
- The meeting ended.
- Birds fly.
Subject + Verb + Object
- I love coffee.
- She finished the report.
- They bought a house.
- He plays guitar.
- We need help.
Subject + Verb + Adjective/Description
- The food tastes amazing.
- She seems tired.
- He became angry.
- The weather looks terrible.
- This feels wrong.
Yes/No Questions (Verb comes first)
- Do you understand?
- Can we meet tomorrow?
- Have you eaten?
- Is this your book?
- Will they come?
Information Questions (WH- words)
- What do you mean?
- Where did you go?
- When does it start?
- Why are you late?
- How does this work?
- Who told you that?
- Which one do you prefer?
Tag Questions (for confirmation)
- You're coming, aren't you?
- She doesn't know, does she?
- It's expensive, isn't it?
- They left early, didn't they?
- You can help me, can't you?
I think/believe/feel...
- I think this is a good idea.
- I believe we should wait.
- I feel like something's wrong.
- I guess you're right.
- I suppose that makes sense.
In my opinion/view...
- In my opinion, this won't work.
- From my perspective, we need more time.
- The way I see it, we have two options.
- As far as I'm concerned, the decision is final.
- If you ask me, he's being unreasonable.
It seems/appears...
- It seems like a waste of time.
- It appears we have a problem.
- It looks like rain.
- It sounds interesting.
- It feels like the right choice.
Agreement
- I completely agree.
- That's exactly what I think.
- You're absolutely right.
- I couldn't agree more.
- That makes perfect sense.
- I'm with you on this.
Disagreement (polite)
- I see what you mean, but...
- I understand your point, however...
- I'm not sure I agree with that.
- Actually, I think differently.
- I have a different perspective.
- With respect, I disagree.
Partial Agreement
- You have a point, but...
- That's true to some extent.
- I agree up to a point.
- Yes and no.
- In some ways, yes, but...
Why don't we/you...
- Why don't we take a break?
- Why don't you call him?
- Why don't we try something else?
- Why don't you ask for help?
Let's...
- Let's discuss this later.
- Let's go grab some lunch.
- Let's think about it.
- Let's not rush into this.
How about.../What about...
- How about meeting at 3?
- What about trying the new restaurant?
- How about we postpone this?
- What about asking Maria?
Would you like.../Do you want...
- Would you like some coffee?
- Do you want me to help?
- Would you like to join us?
- Do you want to hear my idea?
Shall I/we...
- Shall I open the window?
- Shall we begin?
- Shall I call you later?
Could you/Can you...
- Could you please send me the file?
- Can you help me with this?
- Could you repeat that?
- Can you speak more slowly?
Would you mind...
- Would you mind closing the door?
- Would you mind if I joined you?
- Would you mind waiting a moment?
- Would you mind speaking up?
I was wondering if...
- I was wondering if you could help me.
- I was wondering if we could reschedule.
- I was wondering if you have time.
Because/Since/As
- I'm late because the train was delayed.
- Since you're here, let's start.
- As it's raining, we'll stay inside.
- I called because I was worried.
That's why.../The reason is...
- That's why I didn't come.
- The reason is I forgot.
- That's why it's important.
- The reason is we ran out of time.
Due to/Because of
- Due to bad weather, the flight was cancelled.
- Because of you, we succeeded.
- Due to technical issues, we're delayed.
There is/are...
- There's a problem.
- There are three options.
- There was an accident.
- There will be changes.
- There were many people.
It is/was...
- It's getting late.
- It was a difficult decision.
- It's been a long day.
- It's becoming clear.
More/Less than...
- This is more expensive than that.
- She works harder than anyone.
- It's less complicated than you think.
- Today is better than yesterday.
As...as
- It's not as difficult as it seems.
- She's as smart as her sister.
- This is as good as it gets.
- I'm as confused as you are.
The most/least...
- This is the most important thing.
- He's the fastest runner.
- That's the least of my worries.
Might/May/Could
- I might be late.
- It may rain tomorrow.
- This could work.
- They might not come.
Must/Should
- It must be expensive.
- You should try this.
- This must be the place.
- We should leave now.
Probably/Possibly/Definitely
- I'll probably go.
- It's possibly true.
- We're definitely coming.
- That's probably correct.
Before/After/When/While
- Call me before you leave.
- After the meeting, we'll talk.
- When you arrive, text me.
- While you're here, let's discuss it.
- I'll do it after I finish this.
Already/Yet/Still
- I've already eaten.
- Haven't you finished yet?
- Are you still working?
- I still don't understand.
Just/Recently/Lately
- I just arrived.
- We recently moved.
- I've been busy lately.
- She just called.
I prefer.../I'd rather...
- I prefer coffee to tea.
- I'd rather wait.
- I prefer working alone.
- I'd rather not say.
I'd like/love to...
- I'd like to try that.
- I'd love to visit Japan.
- I'd like some water, please.
Real possibilities
- If you need help, call me.
- If it rains, we'll cancel.
- If you're free, join us.
- If this doesn't work, we'll try something else.
Hypothetical situations
- If I were you, I'd accept.
- If I had time, I would help.
- If we knew, we'd tell you.
- If it were possible, I'd do it.
Past hypotheticals
- If I had known, I would've come.
- If you had asked, I would've helped.
- If we had left earlier, we wouldn't be late.
But/However/Although/Though
- I wanted to go, but I was busy.
- It's expensive. However, it's worth it.
- Although it's difficult, I'll try.
- I'm tired though.
- It's raining, but we'll go anyway.
On the other hand/In contrast
- I like it. On the other hand, it's too expensive.
- In contrast to yesterday, today is better.
- Some agree, while others don't.
And/Also/Furthermore/Moreover/Besides
- I bought bread and milk.
- I'm also interested.
- Furthermore, we need more time.
- Moreover, it's too expensive.
- Besides, I don't want to go.
As well/Too/In addition
- She's coming as well.
- I'm tired too.
- In addition, we need approval.
For example/For instance/Such as/Like
- For example, we could meet on Monday.
- There are many options, for instance, email or phone.
- I like fruits such as apples and oranges.
- Some people, like my brother, disagree.
Actually/In fact/Really/Absolutely
- Actually, I changed my mind.
- In fact, it's the opposite.
- I really appreciate it.
- That's absolutely true.
- I do believe you.
What I mean is.../The point is...
- What I mean is we need to hurry.
- The point is it's too late.
- What I'm trying to say is...
So/Therefore/Consequently/As a result
- I was sick, so I stayed home.
- Therefore, we must act now.
- It rained heavily. Consequently, the event was cancelled.
- As a result, we lost money.
Sorry to interrupt, but.../Excuse me...
- Sorry to interrupt, but we need to leave.
- Excuse me, can I ask something?
- May I just add something?
Go ahead/Please continue/You were saying...
- Go ahead, I'm listening.
- Please continue.
- You were saying something about...?
Really?/Seriously?/No way!/I can't believe...
- Really? That's amazing!
- Seriously? I had no idea.
- No way! Are you sure?
- I can't believe it happened.
- That's incredible!
I'm sorry.../I apologize...
- I'm sorry I'm late.
- I apologize for the confusion.
- Sorry about that.
- My apologies.
That's okay/No problem/Don't worry about it
- That's okay, don't worry.
- No problem at all.
- Don't worry about it.
- It's fine.
Thank you.../I appreciate...
- Thank you so much.
- Thanks for your help.
- I really appreciate it.
- I'm grateful for your support.
You're welcome/My pleasure/Anytime
- You're welcome.
- My pleasure.
- Anytime!
- Don't mention it.
- Happy to help.
Do you understand?/Does that make sense?
- Do you follow me?
- Does that make sense?
- Are you with me?
- Is that clear?
- Do you see what I mean?
I'm not sure I understand.../Could you clarify...
- I'm not sure I follow.
- Could you explain that again?
- What do you mean exactly?
- Could you clarify that?
Generally/Usually/Typically/In general
- Generally speaking, it's safe.
- Usually, I wake up at 7.
- Typically, this takes an hour.
- In general, people agree.
- Most of the time, it works.
Tends to/Is likely to
- It tends to be expensive.
- She's likely to agree.
- This tends to happen.
Kind of/Sort of/A bit/Somewhat
- It's kind of complicated.
- I'm sort of confused.
- It's a bit expensive.
- I'm somewhat disappointed.
I guess/I suppose
- I guess you're right.
- I suppose it's possible.
- I guess we'll see.
Always/Often/Sometimes/Rarely/Never
- I always check my email.
- She often visits.
- Sometimes it works.
- I rarely eat out.
- I never miss deadlines.
Every day/Once a week/From time to time
- I exercise every day.
- We meet once a week.
- From time to time, I travel.
- Now and then, I cook.
Need to/Have to/Must
- I need to leave now.
- You have to try this.
- We must finish today.
- It's necessary to confirm.
It's important/essential/crucial
- It's important to be on time.
- It's essential that you understand.
- It's crucial we act quickly.
Can/Be able to/Know how to
- I can swim.
- She's able to help.
- Do you know how to drive?
- I'm capable of doing it.
He/She said (that)...
- She said she was coming.
- He told me it was ready.
- They mentioned they were busy.
- He asked if I could help.
- She wondered why it happened.
Will/Going to/Likely to
- It will rain tomorrow.
- I'm going to quit my job.
- She's likely to win.
- This is going to be difficult.
- We'll see what happens.
PRACTICAL TIP: Don't try to memorize all of these at once. Pick 3-5 patterns that you need most often and practice them daily. Once they become natural, add more patterns to your speaking toolkit. The key is repeated use in real conversations!
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Comprehensive English Sentence Patterns & Techniques
Here's an expanded guide covering even more scenarios and patterns native speakers use.
1. Simple Direct StatementsThe most common way native speakers communicate.
- I love coffee.
- She works downtown.
- The movie starts at eight.
- My brother lives in Seattle.
- That restaurant closed last month.
- The kids are playing outside.
- Nobody answered the phone.
Connect ideas smoothly without starting new sentences.
- I know a guy who fixes computers for cheap.
- This is the book that changed my life.
- She bought a car which runs on electricity.
- The woman who called yesterday came by today.
- I remember the day when we first met.
- That's the reason why I left early.
- Anyone who wants to join can sign up here.
Sets context immediately, very natural in conversation.
- Yesterday, I ran into my old teacher.
- In the morning, I usually drink tea.
- At the office, everyone was talking about it.
- During the meeting, my phone wouldn't stop ringing.
- Last summer, we traveled through Europe.
- On weekends, I like to sleep in.
- Back in college, I was completely different.
- Throughout history, people have made the same mistakes.
For conditions and possibilities.
- If it rains, we'll stay home.
- If you need help, just call me.
- If I had known, I would've come earlier.
- If she asks, tell her I'm busy.
- If this doesn't work, we'll try something else.
- If I were you, I'd apologize.
- If only I had more time.
- If anything happens, contact me immediately.
Show two sides of something.
- I wanted to go, but I was too tired.
- He's smart, although sometimes careless.
- While I understand your point, I still disagree.
- She loves the city, but she misses the countryside.
- It's expensive, yet totally worth it.
- I trust him, though I'm not sure why.
- Despite the rain, we had a great time.
Explain reasons naturally.
- I stayed home because I wasn't feeling well.
- Since you're already here, want some coffee?
- As it was getting late, we decided to leave.
- I called you because I had a question.
- She's upset since nobody told her about the change.
- We left early due to the traffic.
- Given the circumstances, I think we did well.
Frame questions or statements with these words.
- What I mean is, we need more time.
- How you do something matters more than what you do.
- Where you go is your choice.
- When I was younger, I thought differently.
- Why this matters is because people depend on us.
- What happened was completely unexpected.
- How she manages everything amazes me.
- What they don't realize is the cost involved.
Talk about past habits or states.
- I used to play guitar every day.
- We used to live near the beach.
- He used to be really shy.
- There used to be a park here.
- She used to work with my sister.
- I used to hate vegetables as a kid.
- Didn't you use to have longer hair?
Connect past to present without specific times.
- I've been to Japan three times.
- Have you ever tried skydiving?
- She's never seen snow before.
- We've known each other for years.
- He's worked here since 2015.
- I've heard so much about you.
- They've already left.
- Have you finished yet?
Talk about plans and predictions.
- I'm going to start exercising next week.
- It's going to rain later.
- They're going to love this gift.
- We're going to need more chairs.
- He's going to be so surprised.
- You're going to regret that.
- What are you going to do about it?
Show differences or similarities.
- This one is better than that one.
- She runs faster than anyone I know.
- It's not as difficult as it looks.
- He's just as talented as his brother.
- Today is hotter than yesterday.
- This is the best pizza in town.
- Nothing compares to homemade food.
- The more I learn, the less I know.
Express opinions less directly.
- I think we should wait a bit longer.
- I feel like something's not right.
- I believe this is the right decision.
- I guess we could try that.
- I'd say it's about fifty-fifty.
- I have a feeling things will work out.
- I doubt that's going to happen.
- I suspect he knows more than he's saying.
Add variety and flow.
- Walking home, I saw the most amazing sunset.
- Thinking about it now, I should've said something.
- Looking back, it was the best decision ever.
- Speaking of which, did you hear the news?
- Considering everything, we did pretty well.
- Knowing her, she'll be late.
- Being honest, I'm not sure.
- Having said that, I still support the idea.
Soften commands and make polite suggestions.
- You should see a doctor about that.
- We could grab dinner later if you want.
- I would recommend the salmon.
- It might rain tomorrow.
- That might not be the best idea.
- You could've told me sooner.
- We should probably leave soon.
- I wouldn't worry too much about it.
Make statements more conversational and invite agreement.
- You're coming tonight, right?
- She said five o'clock, didn't she?
- It's cold today, isn't it?
- You haven't eaten yet, have you?
- That was incredible, wasn't it?
- He doesn't know, does he?
- We've met before, haven't we?
Suggest action or offer help.
- Let's get out of here.
- Let me help you with that.
- Let's not argue about this.
- Let me think about it for a minute.
- Let's just agree to disagree.
- Let me show you how it works.
- Let's face it, we messed up.
Stress the action itself.
- I do like your idea.
- She does work hard.
- We did finish on time.
- I do understand what you mean.
- He did say he would come.
- Please do come in.
- I did try to call you.
Show determination or surprise.
- Even if it takes all night, I'll finish this.
- Even though I'm tired, I'm still going.
- I'll support you even if others don't.
- Even though she's young, she's very mature.
- He kept going even when everyone else quit.
- Even if you don't agree, please listen.
- I won't change my mind even if you beg me.
Show immediate sequence.
- As soon as I heard, I called you.
- Once you try it, you'll understand.
- The moment she walked in, everyone stopped talking.
- As soon as possible, let me know.
- Once we arrive, we'll text you.
- The second I saw him, I knew something was wrong.
- The instant it happened, I regretted it.
Express surprise or seek confirmation.
- Didn't you say you were busy?
- Isn't that the guy from the party?
- Don't you think it's too expensive?
- Wasn't she supposed to be here by now?
- Haven't we met before?
- Aren't you cold without a jacket?
- Doesn't anybody care about this?
Show openness or indifference.
- Whatever you decide is fine with me.
- Whoever gets there first should save seats.
- Wherever you want to go, I'm in.
- Whenever you're ready, we can start.
- However you want to do it works for me.
- Whatever happens, don't panic.
- Whoever did this needs to confess.
Highlight multiple positive points.
- She's not only smart but also incredibly kind.
- It's not only expensive but also hard to find.
- He not only apologized but also offered to help.
- We not only met our goal but also exceeded it.
- They're not only late but also unprepared.
Present options or eliminate them.
- Either come with us or stay home.
- I can meet either Tuesday or Wednesday.
- Neither option sounds appealing.
- She likes neither coffee nor tea.
- Either way, we need to decide soon.
- You can either accept it or complain about it.
- Neither of us knew what to do.
Express wants about present, past, or future.
- I wish I could fly.
- I hope everything works out.
- I wish I had studied harder.
- I hope you feel better soon.
- I wish things were different.
- I wish you were here.
- I hope I'm not interrupting.
- I wish I'd never said that.
Show when something will be done.
- By the time you get here, I'll be ready.
- By the time we arrived, the show had started.
- By the time I'm thirty, I want to own a house.
- By the time she realized, it was too late.
- By the time you read this, I'll be gone.
Show something will happen regardless.
- No matter what happens, I'll be there.
- No matter how hard I try, I can't solve it.
- No matter where you go, I'll find you.
- No matter who says what, stick to your plan.
- No matter how many times I explain, they don't get it.
Clarify or emphasize your main idea.
- The thing is, I don't have enough time.
- The point is, we need to act now.
- The thing is, I've already tried that.
- The problem is, nobody wants to volunteer.
- The truth is, I'm scared.
- The fact is, we can't afford it.
- The reality is, nothing's going to change.
Show what you choose over something else.
- I'd rather stay in than go out tonight.
- She chose to walk rather than take the bus.
- Rather than complain, let's find a solution.
- I'd rather not talk about it.
- Rather than wait, I decided to leave.
- I'd rather be honest than polite.
When the doer doesn't matter or is obvious.
- The window was broken last night.
- My car got towed.
- Everything's been taken care of.
- The meeting has been postponed.
- I got invited to the party.
- The food was already eaten.
- My wallet was stolen.
Soften statements, very common in casual speech.
- It's kind of complicated.
- I'm sort of worried about it.
- That's kind of what I meant.
- He's sort of a friend.
- It was kind of awkward.
- I'm kind of busy right now.
- She's sort of annoying sometimes.
Prepare for possibilities.
- Take an umbrella in case it rains.
- I'll give you my number in case you need it.
- Here's extra money in case of emergencies.
- Call me in case anything changes.
- Write it down in case you forget.
- I brought a jacket just in case.
Talk about expectations or obligations.
- I'm supposed to be there at six.
- This isn't supposed to happen.
- What are we supposed to do now?
- You're not supposed to tell anyone.
- How am I supposed to know that?
- We were supposed to meet an hour ago.
Ask without expecting an answer, for effect.
- What was I supposed to do?
- Who knows what'll happen next?
- Why would anyone do that?
- How am I supposed to know?
- What's the point of trying?
- Who cares anymore?
- What difference does it make?
Something will happen very soon.
- I'm about to leave.
- The movie's about to start.
- She was about to say something.
- We're about to find out.
- I was just about to call you.
- They're about to announce the winner.
Describe final outcomes, often unexpected.
- We ended up staying all night.
- He ended up quitting his job.
- I ended up really enjoying it.
- They'll probably end up getting married.
- How did we end up here?
- You'll end up regretting this.
Transition or get back to the point.
- Anyway, what were you saying?
- So, what did you decide?
- Anyway, I should probably go.
- So, here's what happened.
- Anyway, long story short...
- So, where were we?
Express strong likes/dislikes.
- I'd rather die than apologize to him.
- She'd rather work alone.
- Wouldn't you rather know the truth?
- I'd rather not discuss this here.
- I'd rather skip it altogether.
- He'd rather quit than continue like this.
Something you can't control.
- I can't help thinking about it.
- She can't help being late.
- I can't help but laugh.
- He couldn't help feeling disappointed.
- I can't help wondering what happened.
- You can't help but admire her courage.
Reveal how something actually was.
- It turned out to be really easy.
- She turned out to be right.
- Everything turned out fine.
- It turns out he was lying.
- Things didn't turn out as planned.
- It turned out better than expected.
Not complete sentences, but very natural.
- Never mind.
- Sounds good.
- Perfect.
- No way.
- Absolutely not.
- Got it.
- Makes sense.
- Fair enough.
- Not really.
- Exactly.
- Whatever.
Express obligations and requirements.
- I have to leave early tomorrow.
- We need to talk.
- You've got to see this.
- I've got to go now.
- Do we really have to do this?
- She needs to calm down.
- You have to believe me.
- I've got to admit, you were right.
Talk about continuing, beginning, or ending actions.
- Keep trying, you'll get it.
- Stop worrying so much.
- I need to start saving money.
- Keep it down, people are sleeping.
- Stop making excuses.
- She keeps forgetting her keys.
- Start thinking about your future.
- I can't stop laughing.
One of the most versatile patterns in English.
- I got fired yesterday.
- Can you get me some water?
- I'm getting tired of this.
- She got accepted to Harvard.
- I don't get what you mean.
- We got stuck in traffic.
- Get out of here!
- I got your message.
- Things are getting worse.
Show that something causes something else.
- You make me laugh.
- This makes no sense.
- What made you change your mind?
- Don't make me repeat myself.
- That made my day.
- She makes everyone feel comfortable.
- It makes me wonder.
- You're making this harder than it needs to be.
Used in countless everyday situations.
- Take your time.
- It takes practice.
- I'll take care of it.
- Take my advice.
- This won't take long.
- Let me take a look.
- I can't take it anymore.
- Take a seat.
- It took forever.
Set boundaries or limits.
- As long as you're happy, I'm happy.
- As far as I know, the meeting is still on.
- You can stay as long as you want.
- As far as I'm concerned, the issue is closed.
- As long as it doesn't rain, we'll go.
- As far as I can tell, everything's fine.
State what prevents something.
- I won't go unless you come with me.
- Unless something changes, I'm quitting.
- Don't call unless it's an emergency.
- We'll be late unless we leave now.
- Unless I'm mistaken, that's her car.
- Nothing will improve unless we act.
Include or exclude multiple things.
- Both my parents and my siblings came.
- She's both talented and hardworking.
- I want not just success but happiness too.
- It's not the money but the principle.
- Both of us agree on this.
- I enjoy both reading and writing.
Show success or failure at something difficult.
- I managed to fix it myself.
- She failed to show up.
- Did you manage to get tickets?
- He failed to mention that detail.
- I barely managed to finish on time.
- They failed to see the problem.
Express chance occurrences.
- I happened to see her at the mall.
- Do you happen to know the time?
- It just so happens I'm free tonight.
- We happened to be in the neighborhood.
- You wouldn't happen to have a pen, would you?
Express how things look or feel.
- It seems like a good idea.
- She appears to be upset.
- Things aren't always as they seem.
- You seem tired today.
- It would appear we have a problem.
- He seems to know what he's doing.
Express whether something has value.
- It's worth a try.
- This book is worth reading.
- Was it worth the wait?
- Some things are worth fighting for.
- It's not worth the hassle.
- That's worth mentioning.
Ask permission or express annoyance.
- Do you mind if I sit here?
- I don't mind waiting.
- Would you mind closing the window?
- Mind your own business.
- I wouldn't mind a cup of coffee.
- Never mind what they think.
Talk about intentions or purposes.
- I didn't mean to hurt you.
- What do you mean by that?
- I meant to call you earlier.
- This is meant to help, not harm.
- I mean it this time.
- What's that supposed to mean?
Express wants or moods.
- I feel like eating pizza.
- Do you feel like going out?
- I don't feel like talking right now.
- It feels like summer today.
- I feel like I've been here before.
- She feels like giving up.
Compare appearances or sounds.
- You look like you've seen a ghost.
- That sounds like a plan.
- It looks like rain.
- He looks like his father.
- Sounds like you had fun.
- It looks like we're done here.
Explain the purpose of actions.
- I came early in order to get a good seat.
- We're saving money so that we can travel.
- Study hard in order to pass.
- I'm telling you this so that you understand.
- She left early in order to avoid traffic.
Give urgent advice or warnings.
- You'd better hurry up.
- We'd better not be late.
- I'd better get going.
- You'd better watch out.
- We'd better leave this alone.
- She'd better have a good excuse.
Show resigned acceptance.
- We might as well give it a shot.
- You may as well tell the truth.
- I might as well go home.
- We may as well start without them.
- Might as well make the best of it.
Show what's too risky or costly.
- I can't afford to be late.
- We can't afford to make mistakes.
- She can't afford to lose this job.
- I can't afford not to try.
- They can't afford to wait any longer.
Show when something will happen.
- I won't leave until you come.
- Only when it's too late do people realize.
- Not until yesterday did I understand.
- We won't know until tomorrow.
- Only when you lose something do you appreciate it.
Describe usual patterns.
- I tend to wake up early.
- He tends to exaggerate.
- Things tend to work out eventually.
- She tends to avoid confrontation.
- People tend to judge too quickly.
Show arrival or transition.
- Winter is coming.
- Here comes trouble.
- When it comes to cooking, I'm clueless.
- The truth finally came out.
- How did this come about?
- It came as a surprise.
- Dreams do come true.
Express placement or causing states.
- Put it over there.
- Don't put words in my mouth.
- I put a lot of effort into this.
- She put me in a difficult position.
- Put yourself in my shoes.
- Let me put it this way.
Describe running or managing things.
- I'm running late.
- We ran into some problems.
- She runs her own business.
- I ran out of patience.
- Time's running out.
- Let's run through this one more time.
Express movement or how things develop.
- How did it go?
- Things went smoothly.
- Here we go again.
- Let's go over the details.
- Everything's going to be fine.
- Where does this go?
- Something's got to give.
Show giving or yielding.
- Give me a break.
- Don't give up.
- I'll give it a thought.
- Give me a minute.
- Something's got to give.
- I give you my word.
Express bringing things or causing situations.
- Bring your friends along.
- This brings back memories.
- What brought you here?
- She brought up an interesting point.
- This brought tears to my eyes.
Give information or instructions.
- Tell me about it.
- I told you so.
- Time will tell.
- To tell you the truth...
- Don't tell me you forgot.
- I can't tell the difference.
Make requests or inquiries.
- If you ask me, it's a waste of time.
- Don't ask me why.
- I'm asking for a favor.
- You're asking for trouble.
- Ask around and see what people think.
Talk about leaving or what remains.
- Leave me alone.
- Let's leave it at that.
- That leaves us with one option.
- I left my keys at home.
- Leave some for the others.
- What's left to say?
Express discoveries or opinions.
- I find that hard to believe.
- Did you find what you were looking for?
- I found out the truth.
- You'll find it's not that easy.
- I find her quite charming.
Show how things function or describe effort.
- This plan won't work.
- I'm working on it.
- Let's work something out.
- It worked like a charm.
- Work with me here.
- This relationship isn't working.
Name things or summon people.
- Call it what you want.
- I call that luck.
- Call me when you arrive.
- Let's call it a day.
- Who do you call in emergencies?
Express attempts or testing.
- Try your best.
- I'll try anything once.
- Try not to worry.
- Have you tried turning it off and on?
- Try to see it from my perspective.
- It's worth a try.
Express waiting or anticipation.
- Wait a second.
- I can't wait to see you.
- Wait and see what happens.
- Wait your turn.
- Wait until you hear this.
- Worth the wait.
Discuss speaking and conversations.
- We need to talk.
- Talk about bad timing!
- Speak for yourself.
- Speaking from experience...
- Now you're talking!
- Talk sense into him.
Talk about remembering or forgetting.
- Remember when we first met?
- Don't forget to lock the door.
- I'll never forget this.
- Remember what I told you.
- Forget about it.
- I forgot all about that.
Express knowledge or acquaintance.
- You know what I mean.
- For all I know, he could be lying.
- I know better than that.
- You never know what might happen.
- Know what?
- Get to know him first.
Express seeing or comprehending.
- I see what you mean.
- See you later.
- I'll see what I can do.
- We'll see about that.
- See for yourself.
- Let me see if I understand.
Talk about hearing things.
- I hear what you're saying.
- Have you heard the news?
- I've heard enough.
- Hear me out.
- Nice to hear from you.
- I heard through the grapevine.
Express wants and needs clearly.
- I want nothing to do with this.
- All I need is five minutes.
- Want to grab lunch?
- I need you to focus.
- What do you want from me?
- We need to leave now.
Express strong feelings about things.
- I'd like to think so.
- Love it or hate it, that's how it is.
- I like how you think.
- I hate to say this, but...
- Would you like some help?
- I love how this turned out.
Make assumptions or predictions.
- I bet you didn't expect this.
- I guess so.
- Bet you can't do that again.
- Guess what happened!
- I'd guess around fifty people.
Show figuring things out.
- I figured as much.
- Figure it out yourself.
- Go figure.
- I can't figure out what he wants.
- That figures.
Express becoming aware of something.
- I didn't realize how late it was.
- Did you notice anything strange?
- I just realized something.
- Nobody noticed I was gone.
- Now I realize what you meant.
Talk about using things or past habits.
- Use your head.
- What's the use?
- I could use a break.
- I'm not used to this.
- We used to be friends.
- Make good use of your time.
Discuss managing situations.
- I'll deal with it later.
- Can you handle this?
- I can't deal with this right now.
- She knows how to handle pressure.
- Deal with it.
Express dependence or reliability.
- You can count on me.
- It depends on the weather.
- Don't rely on luck.
- I'm counting on you.
- That depends.
- We depend on each other.
Express anticipation or investigation.
- Looking forward to seeing you.
- I'll look into it.
- We're looking forward to the weekend.
- Look into getting a new car.
Discuss attention or consequences.
- Pay attention to details.
- You'll pay for this.
- I wasn't paying attention.
- It pays to be prepared.
- Someone has to pay the price.
Direct attention to specific things.
- Focus on what matters.
- I can't concentrate with all this noise.
- Let's focus on the solution.
- Concentrate on your breathing.
Talk about using time or resources.
- Don't waste your time.
- I spent all day cleaning.
- Stop wasting my time.
- How do you spend your weekends?
- Money well spent.
Discuss saving or losing things.
- Save your breath.
- I'm trying to save money.
- Don't lose hope.
- You've got nothing to lose.
- I lost my train of thought.
Talk about making changes.
- People never change.
- Let's switch topics.
- Change your mind?
- Time to switch gears.
- Things are changing fast.
Express moving past things.
- Time to move on.
- Let's move forward with this.
- I've moved on from that chapter.
- We need to move past this.
Ask someone to wait or delay.
- Hold on a second.
- Hold off on making any decisions.
- Can you hold on?
- Let's hold off until we know more.
Express yielding or quitting.
- Don't give in to pressure.
- I give up trying to understand.
- She finally gave in.
- Never give up on your dreams.
Talk about appearing or displaying.
- Will you show up this time?
- Stop showing off.
- He didn't show up to the meeting.
- She's just showing off her new car.
Discuss collecting or delivering.
- I'll pick you up at seven.
- Can you drop this off for me?
- Things are picking up.
- Drop off your application here.
This comprehensive list now covers virtually every common scenario and conversational pattern you'll encounter in English. Mix these patterns naturally in your speech to sound like a native speaker!
You're right! Let me check what important patterns I might have missed:
101. The "Have/Has been" Continuous Experience Pattern
151. Simple Negative Statements
226. "Come" Phrasal Verbs
Common Idioms & Expressions
Show ongoing situations from past to present.
- I've been waiting for hours.
- She's been working here for five years.
- How long have you been studying English?
- We've been trying to reach you all day.
- It's been raining since morning.
- Have you been feeling okay lately?
- They've been dating for months.
Talk about future ongoing actions.
- I'll be waiting at the station.
- She'll be arriving around noon.
- We'll be watching the game tonight.
- They'll be expecting an answer soon.
- This time tomorrow, I'll be flying to Paris.
- Will you be joining us for dinner?
Describe past habits or imaginary situations.
- Every summer, we would visit my grandparents.
- He would always make me laugh.
- I would never do something like that.
- What would you do in my situation?
- Would you mind repeating that?
- I would've helped if I had known.
- That would be amazing.
Express regrets or missed opportunities.
- I could've done better.
- You should've told me sooner.
- We would've come if we'd known.
- She could've been a doctor.
- I should've listened to you.
- They would've won if they'd tried harder.
- Could've, should've, would've—too late now.
Make strong logical conclusions.
- You must be tired after that trip.
- He must have forgotten about the meeting.
- It must be nice living by the beach.
- She must have left already.
- There must be some mistake.
- You must be joking.
- It must have been difficult.
Express disbelief or impossibility.
- That can't be right.
- He couldn't have done it alone.
- It can't be that expensive.
- She couldn't have known.
- This can't be happening.
- You can't be serious.
- It couldn't be easier.
Express requirements without "have to."
- We need more time.
- All you need is love.
- I need this done by Friday.
- What we need right now is a plan.
- Nobody needed to know.
- Do I need to spell it out for you?
Point out existence or presence of things.
- There's a problem we need to discuss.
- There are several options available.
- There's no point arguing about it.
- Is there anything I can do?
- There used to be a store here.
- There's nothing to worry about.
- There must be a better way.
Make general statements or describe situations.
- It's getting late.
- It was nice meeting you.
- It's hard to say.
- It doesn't matter anymore.
- It seems like a waste.
- It's been a long day.
- It was worth it.
Direct attention to locations.
- Here's the thing...
- There goes my chance.
- Here comes the bus.
- There you go again.
- Here we are.
- There it is!
- Here you go.
Show something happened recently or minimize things.
- I just got here.
- Just do it.
- I was just thinking about you.
- It's just a scratch.
- Just a minute.
- I just can't believe it.
- Just let it go.
Show if something continues, happened early, or hasn't happened.
- Are you still awake?
- I've already eaten.
- Haven't you left yet?
- She's still working on it.
- We already know.
- Is it over yet?
- Still the same old story.
Talk about any time or no time in life.
- Have you ever been to Europe?
- I'll never forget this.
- Best meal I've ever had.
- Never say never.
- Hardly ever see him anymore.
- If you ever need anything...
- Never in my life have I seen that.
Show something was close to happening.
- I almost forgot.
- We're nearly done.
- Almost there.
- She nearly fell.
- I almost had it.
- Nearly everyone showed up.
- We almost made it on time.
Modify the intensity of descriptions.
- It's quite good actually.
- That's pretty impressive.
- I'm fairly certain.
- Quite frankly, I don't care.
- Pretty much finished.
- It's fairly simple.
- Quite the opposite.
Show too much or sufficient amounts.
- It's too late now.
- That's good enough.
- You're too kind.
- I've had enough.
- Too little, too late.
- Is this enough?
- Can't be too careful.
Emphasize degree or quality.
- It's so beautiful!
- She's such a sweetheart.
- So that's what happened.
- Such a shame.
- I'm so sorry.
- It was such a long day.
- So far, so good.
Intensify descriptions.
- I'm very proud of you.
- That's really helpful.
- It's extremely important.
- Very funny.
- I really mean it.
- Extremely rare.
- Very well then.
Express different levels of uncertainty.
- I'll probably be late.
- Maybe next time.
- Perhaps you're right.
- Probably not.
- Maybe so.
- Perhaps we should leave.
- Most probably.
Express strong certainty.
- I'm definitely coming.
- Certainly not!
- Absolutely love it.
- Definitely worth trying.
- I certainly hope so.
- Absolutely certain.
- Most definitely.
Correct assumptions or add surprising information.
- Actually, I've changed my mind.
- In fact, the opposite is true.
- I actually like it.
- She's my boss, actually.
- In fact, I was just thinking the same thing.
- Actually, now that you mention it...
Summarize or simplify complex things.
- Basically, we're out of options.
- It's essentially the same thing.
- Basically, what I'm saying is...
- Essentially, you were right.
- Basically nothing.
- That's essentially it.
Signal honest or direct statements.
- Honestly, I don't know.
- Frankly, I don't care.
- Truthfully, I'm scared.
- To be honest with you...
- Quite honestly...
- Frankly speaking...
Report information you're not sure about.
- Apparently, they broke up.
- He's supposedly an expert.
- She allegedly stole it.
- Apparently so.
- Supposedly, it works.
- Allegedly, he was there.
Point out what seems clear.
- Obviously, this isn't working.
- Clearly, we need a new approach.
- Evidently, he didn't get the message.
- Obviously not.
- It's clearly a mistake.
- Evidently so.
Show your feeling about a situation.
- Unfortunately, I can't make it.
- Fortunately, nobody was hurt.
- Sadly, things didn't work out.
- Luckily, we arrived on time.
- Unfortunately for him...
- Thankfully, it's over.
Set boundaries on quantities or situations.
- At least you tried.
- At most, it'll take an hour.
- At least we're safe.
- At the very least, apologize.
- At most ten people.
- At least that's what I heard.
Give rough estimates.
- It'll take an hour, more or less.
- About twenty people, give or take.
- More or less finished.
- Ten dollars, give or take a few.
- More or less the same.
Show something will happen despite obstacles.
- One way or another, we'll figure it out.
- Somehow, I knew you'd say that.
- I'll get it done one way or another.
- Somehow, it all worked out.
- We'll manage somehow.
Express that something will eventually happen.
- Sooner or later, you'll understand.
- The truth comes out sooner or later.
- Sooner or later, everyone leaves.
- You'll have to decide sooner or later.
Describe things that happen occasionally.
- I see him every now and then.
- Now and then, I think about it.
- Every once in a while, treat yourself.
- Once in a blue moon, he calls.
Show sudden events.
- All of a sudden, the lights went out.
- Suddenly, everything made sense.
- Out of nowhere, he appeared.
- All at once, everyone started laughing.
Show final results after time.
- In the end, it was worth it.
- Eventually, you'll get used to it.
- Finally, some good news.
- In the end, we all agreed.
- Eventually, things settled down.
Organize thoughts or arguments.
- First of all, let me explain.
- To begin with, I never agreed to this.
- For one thing, it's too expensive.
- First and foremost, safety matters.
- To start with, here's what happened.
Present contrasting information or simultaneous events.
- On the other hand, it could work.
- Meanwhile, back at home...
- Then again, maybe not.
- On the flip side, consider this.
- In the meantime, let's wait.
Add related but tangential information.
- By the way, did I mention...
- Incidentally, he's my cousin.
- On a side note...
- Speaking of that, I forgot to tell you.
- While we're on the subject...
Clarify by saying the same thing differently.
- In other words, we failed.
- That is to say, you disagree.
- To put it simply...
- What I'm trying to say is...
- In simpler terms...
Provide specific examples.
- For example, look at what happened last time.
- Take my brother, for instance.
- Like yesterday, for example.
- Consider this, for instance.
List examples without formal structure.
- Cities like Paris and Rome.
- Things such as books and papers.
- Many people, including myself.
- Sports like basketball and soccer.
Attribute information to sources.
- According to the news, it's true.
- Based on what you said...
- According to him, nobody knew.
- Based on my experience...
Introduce specific topics.
- As for the money, don't worry about it.
- Regarding your question...
- As to when we'll leave, I'm not sure.
- As for me, I'm staying home.
Show causes (positive or negative).
- Due to weather, the flight's delayed.
- Because of you, we won.
- Thanks to her help, I passed.
- Owing to circumstances beyond our control...
Show contrast with obstacles.
- Despite the rain, we went anyway.
- In spite of everything, I'm happy.
- Despite what you think, I care.
- In spite of his age, he's very active.
Show what was chosen over something else.
- Instead of complaining, do something.
- I stayed home instead of going out.
- Instead of her, they chose him.
- Why not try this instead of that?
Show lack or absence of something.
- I can't live without you.
- Without a doubt, he's guilty.
- She left without saying goodbye.
- Without thinking, I agreed.
- Without further ado...
Show exceptions to statements.
- Everyone came except John.
- Apart from that, everything's fine.
- Aside from the cost, I love it.
- Nothing matters except this.
Add additional elements.
- She, as well as her sister, attended.
- Along with everything else, I'm tired.
- Together with my team, we succeeded.
- Coffee, as well as tea, is available.
Make comparisons explicitly.
- Compared to last year, we're doing better.
- In comparison to others, you're lucky.
- Compared to what could've happened...
Prepare for specific scenarios.
- In case of fire, use the stairs.
- In the event of rain, we'll cancel.
- In case of emergency, call this number.
Limit opinions to specific scope.
- As far as I'm concerned, we're done.
- As far as quality goes, it's excellent.
- As far as that's concerned, I agree.
You're absolutely right! I apologize for that oversight. Let me add all the negative patterns, expressions, and scenarios that native speakers commonly use:
The foundation of saying "no" to things.
- I don't like it.
- She doesn't work here anymore.
- We didn't go to the party.
- They haven't arrived yet.
- I'm not interested.
- He won't listen to me.
- Nobody called.
- Nothing happened.
Most common way to negate actions.
- Don't touch that.
- She doesn't care what people think.
- I didn't see anything.
- Don't you dare.
- They don't understand.
- Doesn't matter.
- I didn't mean it like that.
- Don't even think about it.
Simple negation in various contexts.
- I'm not sure.
- Not now.
- That's not true.
- Not exactly.
- Not really.
- Not at all.
- Not a chance.
- Not on my watch.
Direct rejection and refusal.
- No way.
- No problem.
- No idea.
- No kidding.
- No doubt.
- No wonder.
- No offense.
- No thanks.
- Absolutely not.
Express something won't ever happen.
- I'll never forgive you.
- Never again.
- Never in a million years.
- This never happened.
- Never too late.
- I've never been so embarrassed.
- Never mind that.
- You never listen.
Express complete absence.
- Nothing works anymore.
- Nobody knows the answer.
- I have nowhere to go.
- None of this makes sense.
- Nothing's changed.
- Nobody cares.
- Nowhere near enough.
- None of your business.
Agree with negative statements.
- I don't like it either.
- Neither do I.
- Me neither.
- Nor do I care.
- I can't neither.
- Neither one of us knew.
- Neither here nor there.
Show something barely happened or exists.
- I hardly know you.
- Barely made it on time.
- I can scarcely believe it.
- Hardly ever see him.
- Barely enough food.
- I can hardly wait.
- Hardly anyone showed up.
- Barely passed the test.
Express things that almost never happen.
- I rarely go out anymore.
- She seldom complains.
- We rarely see eye to eye.
- Seldom have I been so disappointed.
- Rarely does that happen.
- I seldom make mistakes like that.
Show something stopped happening.
- I don't love you anymore.
- She's no longer working here.
- That's not funny anymore.
- I can't take this anymore.
- We're no longer friends.
- Not anymore, I'm done.
- I no longer care.
Show something hasn't happened but might.
- Not yet, but soon.
- I haven't decided yet.
- She's not ready yet.
- Not just yet.
- Haven't finished yet.
- Not yet anyway.
Emphasize the extent of negation.
- I didn't even try.
- Not even close.
- She won't even talk to me.
- Not even if you paid me.
- I can't even begin to explain.
- Not even once.
- Didn't even notice.
Express refusal or hypothetical rejection.
- I won't do it.
- He wouldn't listen.
- Won't happen again.
- I wouldn't know.
- She won't budge.
- Wouldn't hurt to try.
- I won't stand for this.
- Wouldn't dream of it.
Show impossibility or lack of ability.
- I can't stand him.
- Couldn't care less.
- Can't help it.
- I couldn't agree more.
- Can't make it tonight.
- Couldn't be bothered.
- I can't take it anymore.
Express what didn't or shouldn't have happened.
- You shouldn't have said that.
- I wouldn't have guessed.
- We couldn't have known.
- She shouldn't have come.
- I wouldn't have believed it.
- Couldn't have been worse.
Show something isn't necessary.
- You needn't worry.
- Don't need to explain.
- I needn't remind you.
- You don't need to apologize.
- Needn't have bothered.
Express strong prohibition.
- You mustn't tell anyone.
- We must not forget.
- Mustn't be late.
- You must not do that.
- I mustn't let this happen.
Negate states of being.
- It isn't fair.
- They aren't coming.
- That wasn't me.
- We weren't invited.
- Isn't it obvious?
- Aren't you tired?
- Wasn't it great?
Negate experiences or completed actions.
- I haven't eaten yet.
- She hasn't called back.
- We hadn't planned this.
- Haven't you heard?
- Hasn't been the same since.
- I hadn't thought of that.
Use negatives to express certainty.
- Without fail, he's always late.
- Without a doubt, she's lying.
- Without question, the best.
- No doubt about it.
- Without exception.
Show how different something is.
- Far from perfect.
- Far from over.
- I'm far from convinced.
- Far from the truth.
- Far from satisfied.
- Far from easy.
Strongly deny something.
- By no means am I finished.
- In no way is this acceptable.
- By no means easy.
- In no way responsible.
- This is by no means the end.
Say something is the opposite.
- He's anything but stupid.
- This is anything but simple.
- I'm anything but happy.
- She's anything but lazy.
- Anything but that.
Show amounts aren't enough.
- Less than ideal.
- Less than impressed.
- Under no circumstances.
- Less than thrilled.
- Under no obligation.
- Nothing less than perfect.
Show failure to accomplish something.
- I fail to see the point.
- She failed to mention that.
- They fail to understand.
- I fail to see how.
- Failed to deliver.
- Don't fail me now.
Show deliberate refusal.
- I refuse to believe it.
- She refuses to listen.
- I refuse to participate.
- He refused to comment.
- Refuse to give up.
- I refuse to accept that.
Point out what's missing.
- Lack of effort.
- Due to lack of interest.
- Absence of evidence.
- Complete lack of respect.
- In the absence of proof.
- Total lack of judgment.
Emphasize specific missing things.
- Without a care in the world.
- Without a second thought.
- Left without a word.
- Without a trace.
- Without a clue.
- Without a penny to my name.
Emphasize complete absence.
- Not a single person came.
- Not a single word.
- Not a single chance.
- Not a single day goes by.
- Not a single doubt.
- Not a single clue.
Negate each individual item.
- Not one of them helped.
- Not one bit.
- Not one word of truth.
- Not one person believed me.
- Not one thing went right.
Show how far from achieving something.
- Nowhere near finished.
- Nowhere near good enough.
- Nowhere near ready.
- Nowhere near close.
- Nowhere near as good.
Show lack of similarity.
- Nothing like I expected.
- It's nothing like that.
- Looks nothing like the picture.
- Nothing like the old days.
- Tastes nothing like chicken.
Downplay ability or quality.
- Not much of a cook.
- Not much of a talker.
- Not much of a surprise.
- Not much of a choice.
- Not much of a plan.
Correct or qualify statements.
- Not so much angry as disappointed.
- Not so much a problem as a challenge.
- Not so much forgot as chose not to.
- Not so much difficult as time-consuming.
Express uselessness of action.
- No use crying over spilt milk.
- What's the point?
- No good will come of this.
- There's no use arguing.
- No point in waiting.
- It's no good.
Show there's no method to do something.
- No way to know for sure.
- There's no way to fix this.
- No way to tell.
- No way to avoid it.
- No way to win.
Express very strong impossibility.
- I cannot possibly accept.
- You cannot possibly mean that.
- We cannot possibly finish in time.
- She cannot possibly know.
Show a task can't be done.
- Impossible to say.
- It's impossible to please everyone.
- Impossible to forget.
- Impossible to ignore.
- Impossible to predict.
Show lack of capability.
- Unable to attend.
- I'm unable to help.
- Unable to decide.
- Currently unable to process.
- Unable to contain my excitement.
Show inherent inability.
- Incapable of lying.
- He's incapable of change.
- Incapable of feeling.
- Seemingly incapable of learning.
Show conscious choice not to do something.
- Unwilling to compromise.
- I'm unwilling to risk it.
- Unwilling to admit defeat.
- Unwilling to cooperate.
Show hesitation or unwillingness.
- Reluctant to say yes.
- I'm reluctant to agree.
- Reluctant to get involved.
- He was reluctant to share.
Express opposition to ideas or actions.
- I'm opposed to the idea.
- Dead against it.
- Totally opposed to violence.
- I'm against the whole thing.
- Strongly opposed to change.
Reject claims or requests.
- I deny everything.
- She denied knowing him.
- They denied access.
- Can't deny the truth.
- Denied the allegations.
Show active avoidance.
- Avoid eye contact.
- I'm avoiding him.
- Avoid the topic.
- Can't avoid it forever.
- Avoiding the inevitable.
Show deliberate disregard.
- Just ignore him.
- She ignored my calls.
- Can't ignore the facts.
- Completely ignored me.
- Ignore the haters.
Express regret about actions.
- I regret nothing.
- Regret to inform you.
- I regret saying that.
- You'll regret this.
- Deeply regretted it.
Show missing something or someone.
- I miss you.
- Missed the point entirely.
- You're missing out.
- Missed opportunity.
- Can't miss it.
- Narrowly missed disaster.
Point out what's insufficient.
- You lack experience.
- Lacking common sense.
- Lack the courage.
- Severely lacking.
- What you're lacking is confidence.
Express loss or defeat.
- Don't lose hope.
- I've lost my patience.
- Losing my mind.
- Lost cause.
- Lost track of time.
- Nothing to lose.
Show resources used badly.
- Don't waste your breath.
- Wasted opportunity.
- Waste of time.
- Completely wasted effort.
- You're wasting away.
Show things not working or damaged relationships.
- Don't break my heart.
- I'm broke.
- Broken promises.
- You broke your word.
- This relationship is broken.
- Broke down in tears.
Express strong negative feelings.
- I hate to admit it.
- Hate to break it to you.
- I hate when that happens.
- Absolutely hated it.
- Hate to say I told you so.
Show moderate negative preference.
- I dislike the idea.
- Strongly dislike him.
- I've always disliked crowds.
- Universally disliked.
Express skepticism or uncertainty.
- I doubt it.
- I have my doubts.
- Seriously doubt that.
- Never doubted you.
- Without a doubt wrong.
- I doubt very much.
Challenge validity or truth.
- I question your judgment.
- No questions asked.
- Beyond question wrong.
- I never questioned it.
- Highly questionable.
Express differing opinions.
- I disagree completely.
- Have to disagree with you there.
- Strongly disagree.
- Couldn't disagree more.
- We disagreed on everything.
Formally oppose something.
- I object to that.
- No one objected.
- Strenuously object.
- I object on principle.
Express dissatisfaction.
- Can't complain.
- Stop complaining.
- I'm not complaining, but...
- Complained bitterly.
- Nothing to complain about.
Show moral or practical disapproval.
- I disapprove of your methods.
- Highly disapprove.
- She disapproved immediately.
- Strongly disapprove.
Show something is not allowed.
- I forbid it.
- Strictly forbidden.
- Forbidden territory.
- You're forbidden from entering.
- God forbid.
Show stopping something from happening.
- Nothing can prevent it.
- Prevented from leaving.
- I can't prevent you.
- Prevent a disaster.
Command or show cessation.
- Stop it right now.
- I stopped caring.
- Can't stop thinking about it.
- Full stop.
- Stopped dead in my tracks.
Show abandonment of effort.
- I quit.
- Don't quit on me now.
- Quitting while ahead.
- I'm not a quitter.
- Quit complaining.
Show refusal or denial.
- I reject that idea.
- Flatly rejected.
- Reject the notion.
- Totally rejected.
- Fear of rejection.
Show treating something as unimportant.
- Don't dismiss it so quickly.
- Dismissed my concerns.
- Casually dismissed.
- I won't be dismissed.
Show leaving behind.
- Don't abandon ship.
- Abandoned hope.
- Feel abandoned.
- Abandon the plan.
- All hope abandoned.
Show lack of proper attention.
- Don't neglect your health.
- Feeling neglected.
- Neglected to mention.
- Years of neglect.
Show failure to notice.
- Easy to overlook.
- Can't overlook this.
- Completely overlooked.
- Overlooked the obvious.
Show judging something as less than it is.
- Don't underestimate me.
- Seriously underestimated.
- Never underestimate the power of...
- Greatly underestimated.
Show inferiority.
- Worse than before.
- Not as good as yesterday.
- Less impressive than expected.
- Inferior quality.
- Worse off than them.
- Not nearly as nice.
Express shock or disbelief.
- Didn't you know?
- Wasn't that obvious?
- Haven't you learned anything?
- Aren't you ashamed?
- Doesn't that bother you?
- Won't you ever learn?
Show bad outcomes.
- If you don't hurry, you'll miss it.
- Unless you study, you'll fail.
- Without trying, nothing happens.
- Fail to prepare, prepare to fail.
Create emphasis through double negation.
- I ain't got nothing. (very informal)
- Can't get no satisfaction. (very informal)
- I'm not unhappy. (literate usage)
- Not uncommon.
- Not without difficulty.
Show negative "if" situations.
- If I hadn't known better...
- If you don't mind...
- If it weren't for you...
- If not for the rain...
- If nothing else...
Now THIS is truly comprehensive! The list now covers positive scenarios, negative scenarios, expressions, different contexts, and all the patterns native English speakers use in real conversations.
You're absolutely correct! I apologize for missing those crucial elements. Let me add all the idioms, proverbs, phrasal verbs, and collocations that native speakers use constantly:
Arrive, happen, and appear in different ways.
- Come across (find/seem): I came across an old photo. / He comes across as arrogant.
- Come along (progress/accompany): How's the project coming along? / Come along with us.
- Come around (visit/change mind): Come around sometime. / She'll come around eventually.
- Come back (return): When are you coming back?
- Come by (visit/obtain): Come by anytime. / How did you come by that?
- Come down with (get sick): I'm coming down with a cold.
- Come forward (volunteer info): Several witnesses came forward.
- Come from (originate): Where does this come from?
- Come in (enter): Come in, the door's open.
- Come off (succeed/detach): The plan didn't come off. / The button came off.
- Come on (hurry/encourage): Come on, let's go! / Oh, come on, you can do it!
- Come out (be revealed/published): The truth came out. / When does the book come out?
- Come over (visit): Come over for dinner.
- Come through (succeed/survive): You really came through for me. / She came through the surgery fine.
- Come up (arise/approach): Something came up. / He came up to me.
- Come up with (think of): I came up with an idea.
Movement and progression patterns.
- Go after (pursue): Go after your dreams.
- Go ahead (proceed): Go ahead, I'm listening.
- Go along with (agree): I'll go along with whatever you decide.
- Go around (circulate/be enough): Rumors are going around. / Not enough to go around.
- Go away (leave): Just go away!
- Go back (return): Can't go back now.
- Go by (pass/use as guide): Time goes by so fast. / Go by the rules.
- Go down (decrease/happen): Prices went down. / What's going down?
- Go for (choose/attack): I'll go for the chicken. / The dog went for him.
- Go in for (interested in): I don't go in for that sort of thing.
- Go into (enter/explain): Let's not go into details.
- Go off (explode/sound): The alarm went off. / The bomb went off.
- Go on (continue/happen): Go on, tell me more. / What's going on?
- Go out (leave/extinguish): Let's go out tonight. / The fire went out.
- Go over (review/receive): Let's go over it again. / How did it go over?
- Go through (experience/examine): I went through hell. / Go through your notes.
- Go through with (complete): I can't go through with this.
- Go together (match/date): These colors go together. / Are they going together?
- Go up (increase/explode): Prices are going up. / The building went up in flames.
- Go with (accompany/match): This tie goes with that shirt.
- Go without (lack): Had to go without food.
Extremely versatile action patterns.
- Get across (communicate): I can't get my point across.
- Get ahead (succeed): Trying to get ahead in life.
- Get along (have relationship): We get along great. / How are you getting along?
- Get around (avoid/travel): He gets around the rules. / She really gets around.
- Get at (imply/access): What are you getting at? / Can't get at it.
- Get away (escape): Got away with murder. / I need to get away.
- Get back (return/revenge): When did you get back? / I'll get back at him.
- Get back to (contact again): I'll get back to you on that.
- Get by (survive/pass): Just getting by. / Can you get by?
- Get down (depress/descend): This weather gets me down. / Get down from there.
- Get in (enter/arrive): Get in the car. / What time does the train get in?
- Get into (enter/become interested): How did you get into that? / I'm really getting into yoga.
- Get off (leave/escape punishment): Get off the bus. / He got off easy.
- Get on (board/progress): Get on the train. / How are you getting on?
- Get on with (continue): Let's get on with it.
- Get out (leave/become known): Get out of here! / The secret got out.
- Get out of (avoid): Trying to get out of work.
- Get over (recover): Get over it. / Can't get over how much you've changed.
- Get through (finish/contact/survive): Get through this chapter. / Can't get through to him. / We'll get through this.
- Get together (meet): Let's get together soon.
- Get up (rise): What time do you get up?
Taking and accepting in various ways.
- Take after (resemble): You take after your mother.
- Take apart (disassemble/criticize): Take it apart and see. / The critics took it apart.
- Take away (remove): Take away the pain.
- Take back (return/retract): Take it back to the store. / I take back what I said.
- Take down (write/demolish): Take down these notes. / They took down the building.
- Take in (absorb/deceive): Hard to take it all in. / Don't be taken in by his lies.
- Take off (remove/depart/succeed): Take off your shoes. / The plane took off. / Her career took off.
- Take on (accept/hire/challenge): Don't take on too much. / They're taking on new staff. / I'll take you on.
- Take out (remove/date): Take out the trash. / He took her out to dinner.
- Take over (assume control): Who's taking over?
- Take up (begin/occupy): Take up a hobby. / It takes up too much space.
Placement and action patterns.
- Put aside (save): Put some money aside.
- Put away (store): Put away your toys.
- Put back (return/delay): Put it back where you found it. / The meeting was put back.
- Put down (place/insult/kill): Put down your weapon. / Stop putting me down. / Had to put the dog down.
- Put forward (propose): Put forward a suggestion.
- Put in (install/submit): Put in a new window. / Put in an application.
- Put off (postpone/discourage): Don't put it off. / His attitude put me off.
- Put on (wear/gain/pretend): Put on your coat. / I've put on weight. / Stop putting on an act.
- Put out (extinguish/inconvenience): Put out the fire. / I don't want to put you out.
- Put through (connect): I'll put you through to him.
- Put together (assemble): Put the puzzle together.
- Put up (accommodate/erect): Can you put me up? / Put up a tent.
- Put up with (tolerate): I can't put up with this anymore.
Rotation and change patterns.
- Turn around (reverse): Turn the car around. / He turned his life around.
- Turn away (reject): They turned away customers.
- Turn back (return): Too late to turn back now.
- Turn down (refuse/lower): He turned down the offer. / Turn down the volume.
- Turn in (submit/go to bed): Turn in your homework. / I'm turning in early.
- Turn into (become): The frog turned into a prince.
- Turn off (switch off/disgust): Turn off the lights. / That really turns me off.
- Turn on (switch on/attack/excite): Turn on the TV. / The dog turned on its owner. / That really turns me on.
- Turn out (result/produce/attend): It turned out well. / The factory turns out cars. / Nobody turned out for the event.
- Turn over (flip/give): Turn over the page. / Turn it over to the police.
- Turn up (arrive/increase/appear): He turned up late. / Turn up the heat. / Something will turn up.
Seeing and searching patterns.
- Look after (take care): Look after yourself.
- Look ahead (plan for future): Time to look ahead.
- Look around (examine area): Just looking around.
- Look at (observe/consider): Look at that! / Look at it this way.
- Look back (reflect): Looking back on those days.
- Look down on (despise): Don't look down on others.
- Look for (search): What are you looking for?
- Look forward to (anticipate): Looking forward to it.
- Look into (investigate): I'll look into it.
- Look on (watch): Just looked on without helping.
- Look out (be careful): Look out!
- Look over (examine): Look over these documents.
- Look through (examine/ignore): Look through the files. / He looked right through me.
- Look up (search/improve): Look it up in the dictionary. / Things are looking up.
- Look up to (admire): I look up to my teacher.
Creation and interpretation patterns.
- Make for (head toward/contribute to): He made for the exit. / This makes for good reading.
- Make of (understand): What do you make of this?
- Make off (escape): The thieves made off with the money.
- Make out (see/understand/kiss/claim): Can't make out the writing. / I can't make out what he means. / They were making out. / He made out that he was rich.
- Make over (transfer/renovate): Made over the house to his son. / They made over the kitchen.
- Make up (invent/reconcile/comprise/apply makeup): Don't make up stories. / Let's make up. / Women make up 60%. / She's making up her face.
- Make up for (compensate): Make up for lost time.
Breaking and separation patterns.
- Break away (escape): Break away from tradition.
- Break down (stop working/cry/analyze): The car broke down. / She broke down in tears. / Break down the costs.
- Break in (enter illegally/interrupt/wear in): Someone broke in. / Sorry to break in. / Breaking in new shoes.
- Break into (enter forcefully/begin suddenly): Break into a house. / She broke into song.
- Break off (end/detach): Break off the engagement. / A piece broke off.
- Break out (escape/begin suddenly/erupt): He broke out of prison. / War broke out. / I'm breaking out in hives.
- Break through (penetrate): Finally broke through the barrier.
- Break up (end relationship/disperse): We broke up. / The crowd broke up.
Running and managing patterns.
- Run across (encounter): I ran across an old friend.
- Run after (chase): Don't run after him.
- Run around (be busy): Running around all day.
- Run away (escape): Don't run away from your problems.
- Run down (criticize/hit/exhaust): Stop running me down. / He was run down by a car. / I'm run down.
- Run into (meet/collide): I ran into trouble. / Ran into an old classmate.
- Run off (leave quickly/print): He ran off without paying. / Run off some copies.
- Run out (exhaust supply): We've run out of milk. / Time's running out.
- Run over (hit/exceed/review): The dog was run over. / The meeting ran over. / Let's run over it once more.
- Run through (review/use up): Run through the presentation. / He ran through his inheritance.
- Run up (accumulate): Running up a huge bill.
Carrying and causing patterns.
- Bring about (cause): What brought about this change?
- Bring along (take with): Bring along a friend.
- Bring around (convince/revive): I'll bring him around. / They brought him around.
- Bring back (return/remind): Bring back memories.
- Bring down (reduce/topple): Bring down prices. / Brought down the government.
- Bring forth (produce): Bring forth evidence.
- Bring forward (reschedule earlier): The meeting was brought forward.
- Bring in (introduce/earn): Bring in new policies. / How much does that bring in?
- Bring off (succeed): He brought it off perfectly.
- Bring on (cause/provoke): You brought this on yourself.
- Bring out (release/elicit): They're bringing out a new model. / That brings out the best in you.
- Bring up (raise topic/vomit/raise child): Don't bring that up. / I brought up my lunch. / She brought up three kids.
Giving and yielding patterns.
- Give away (donate/reveal): Give away old clothes. / Don't give away the ending.
- Give back (return): Give back what you borrowed.
- Give in (surrender): Finally gave in to pressure.
- Give off (emit): Giving off a strange smell.
- Give out (distribute/stop working): Give out the papers. / My legs gave out.
- Give up (quit/surrender): Don't give up. / I give up trying.
Maintaining and continuing patterns.
- Keep at (persist): Keep at it, you'll succeed.
- Keep away (stay distant): Keep away from trouble.
- Keep back (withhold/stay away): Keeping back information. / Keep back from the edge.
- Keep down (control/stay low): Keep down costs. / Keep your head down.
- Keep from (prevent/refrain): Couldn't keep from laughing. / Keep it from him.
- Keep off (stay away from): Keep off the grass.
- Keep on (continue): Keep on trying.
- Keep out (exclude): Keep out of trouble. / Keep out! (sign)
- Keep to (adhere to): Keep to the schedule.
- Keep up (maintain pace/continue): Can't keep up with you. / Keep up the good work.
- Keep up with (stay informed): Keep up with the news.
Summoning and naming patterns.
- Call back (return call): I'll call you back.
- Call for (require/collect): This calls for celebration. / I'll call for you at seven.
- Call in (summon/phone workplace): Call in the experts. / I'm calling in sick.
- Call off (cancel): Call off the wedding.
- Call on (visit/ask): I'll call on you tomorrow. / The teacher called on me.
- Call out (shout/expose): Call out his name. / Call out bad behavior.
- Call up (phone/recall): Call me up sometime. / Calling up old memories.
Establishing and arranging patterns.
- Set about (begin): How do we set about this?
- Set apart (distinguish): What sets you apart?
- Set aside (save/ignore): Set aside some time. / Set aside your differences.
- Set back (delay/cost): This will set us back weeks. / That set me back $500.
- Set down (record): Set down your thoughts.
- Set in (begin): Winter has set in.
- Set off (depart/trigger): We set off early. / Set off the alarm.
- Set out (begin journey/explain): We set out at dawn. / Let me set out the facts.
- Set up (establish/arrange): Set up a business. / I've been set up!
Gripping and maintaining patterns.
- Hold against (resent): Don't hold it against me.
- Hold back (restrain/hide): Holding back tears. / You're holding something back.
- Hold down (keep/manage): Hold down a job.
- Hold off (delay/resist): Hold off making a decision. / We held off the attackers.
- Hold on (wait/grip): Hold on a minute. / Hold on tight.
- Hold onto (keep): Hold onto your dreams.
- Hold out (offer/resist/last): Hold out your hand. / How long can you hold out? / Will the food hold out?
- Hold over (postpone): Held over until next week.
- Hold up (delay/rob): What's holding us up? / They held up a bank.
Drawing and attracting patterns.
- Pull apart (separate/criticize): Pull them apart. / The critics pulled it apart.
- Pull away (move away): The car pulled away.
- Pull back (withdraw): Pull back from the agreement.
- Pull down (demolish/depress): Pull down the old building. / This is pulling me down.
- Pull in (arrive/attract): The train pulled in. / That exhibit pulls in crowds.
- Pull off (succeed/remove): He pulled it off! / Pull off the road.
- Pull on (wear): Pull on your boots.
- Pull out (withdraw/remove): Pull out of the deal. / Pull out a tooth.
- Pull over (stop vehicle): The cop pulled me over.
- Pull through (survive): She pulled through the illness.
- Pull together (cooperate): We need to pull together.
- Pull up (stop/reprimand): Pull up a chair. / He was pulled up for lateness.
Transporting and continuing patterns.
- Carry away (become too excited): Don't get carried away.
- Carry off (succeed): She carried it off beautifully.
- Carry on (continue): Carry on with your work. / They're carrying on an affair.
- Carry out (execute): Carry out the plan.
- Carry over (continue): The meeting carried over into the next day.
- Carry through (complete): Carry through your promises.
Falling and declining patterns.
- Fall apart (break down): Everything's falling apart.
- Fall back (retreat): We fell back to safer ground.
- Fall back on (resort to): Have savings to fall back on.
- Fall behind (lag): Falling behind in payments.
- Fall down (collapse/fail): The building fell down. / The plan fell down.
- Fall for (be deceived/fall in love): Don't fall for that trick. / I'm falling for you.
- Fall in (collapse): The roof fell in.
- Fall into (begin): Fell into bad habits.
- Fall off (decrease): Sales are falling off.
- Fall out (quarrel/happen): We fell out over money. / See how it falls out.
- Fall over (trip): He fell over his own feet.
- Fall through (fail): The deal fell through.
Standing and enduring patterns.
- Stand by (support/wait): I'll stand by you. / Stand by for instructions.
- Stand down (resign): The chairman stood down.
- Stand for (represent/tolerate): What does this stand for? / I won't stand for this.
- Stand in (substitute): Can you stand in for me?
- Stand out (be noticeable): You really stand out.
- Stand up (rise/endure scrutiny): Stand up when I talk to you. / The theory doesn't stand up.
- Stand up for (defend): Stand up for your rights.
- Stand up to (confront): Stand up to bullies.
246. Body Part Idioms
Proverbs & Sayings
Use body parts figuratively.
- Cost an arm and a leg: It cost an arm and a leg.
- Break a leg: Break a leg on your performance!
- Get cold feet: I'm getting cold feet about the wedding.
- Pull someone's leg: Are you pulling my leg?
- Have a chip on your shoulder: He's got a chip on his shoulder.
- Keep your chin up: Keep your chin up, it'll get better.
- Turn a blind eye: They turned a blind eye to corruption.
- Keep an eye on: Can you keep an eye on my bag?
- See eye to eye: We don't see eye to eye.
- All ears: I'm all ears, tell me everything.
- Play it by ear: Let's just play it by ear.
- In over your head: I'm in over my head with this project.
- Get something off your chest: I need to get this off my chest.
- Have a heart: Have a heart and let him go.
- Put your foot down: Time to put your foot down.
- Get your feet wet: Just getting my feet wet.
- Put your foot in your mouth: I really put my foot in my mouth.
- Give someone the cold shoulder: She gave me the cold shoulder.
- Stick your neck out: I stuck my neck out for you.
- Have a bone to pick: I have a bone to pick with you.
Compare situations to animals.
- Let the cat out of the bag: Who let the cat out of the bag?
- Raining cats and dogs: It's raining cats and dogs.
- Kill two birds with one stone: We can kill two birds with one stone.
- When pigs fly: That'll happen when pigs fly.
- Hold your horses: Hold your horses, we're not ready.
- Beat a dead horse: You're beating a dead horse.
- The elephant in the room: Nobody mentioned the elephant in the room.
- Let sleeping dogs lie: Better to let sleeping dogs lie.
- The early bird gets the worm: The early bird gets the worm.
- A wolf in sheep's clothing: He's a wolf in sheep's clothing.
- Smell a rat: I smell a rat here.
- Holy cow: Holy cow, that's amazing!
- Cash cow: That product is our cash cow.
- Till the cows come home: We could argue till the cows come home.
- A fish out of water: I felt like a fish out of water.
- Bigger fish to fry: I have bigger fish to fry.
- The straw that broke the camel's back: That was the straw that broke the camel's back.
- Don't count your chickens before they hatch: Don't count your chickens before they hatch.
- Like a bull in a china shop: He's like a bull in a china shop.
- Straight from the horse's mouth: I heard it straight from the horse's mouth.
Use food for comparisons.
- Piece of cake: That test was a piece of cake.
- Spill the beans: Don't spill the beans about the surprise.
- Butter someone up: Stop trying to butter me up.
- Bring home the bacon: Someone has to bring home the bacon.
- Egg on your face: You'll have egg on your face.
- In a nutshell: In a nutshell, we failed.
- Cry over spilt milk: No use crying over spilt milk.
- The cream of the crop: She's the cream of the crop.
- Take with a grain of salt: Take his advice with a grain of salt.
- Bite off more than you can chew: I bit off more than I could chew.
- Bread and butter: That's my bread and butter.
- Cherry-pick: Don't cherry-pick the data.
- Couch potato: He's such a couch potato.
- Go bananas: I'm going bananas over this.
- Sour grapes: That's just sour grapes.
- Selling like hotcakes: The tickets are selling like hotcakes.
- Not my cup of tea: Opera is not my cup of tea.
- The apple of my eye: She's the apple of my eye.
- Comparing apples and oranges: You're comparing apples and oranges.
- Low-hanging fruit: Let's focus on the low-hanging fruit.
Talk about money and value.
- Break the bank: That won't break the bank.
- Go Dutch: Let's go Dutch.
- A dime a dozen: Those are a dime a dozen.
- Bet your bottom dollar: You can bet your bottom dollar.
- Born with a silver spoon: He was born with a silver spoon.
- Pay through the nose: I paid through the nose for this.
- Penny for your thoughts: A penny for your thoughts?
- Cost a pretty penny: That cost a pretty penny.
- Feel like a million bucks: I feel like a million bucks.
- In for a penny, in for a pound: In for a penny, in for a pound.
- Money talks: Money talks in this business.
- Time is money: Time is money, let's hurry.
- Pinch pennies: We have to pinch pennies.
- Cash in on: He's cashing in on his fame.
Use weather to describe situations.
- Under the weather: I'm feeling under the weather.
- Every cloud has a silver lining: Every cloud has a silver lining.
- Break the ice: Let me break the ice.
- Come rain or shine: I'll be there, come rain or shine.
- Steal someone's thunder: Don't steal my thunder.
- On cloud nine: I'm on cloud nine.
- Storm in a teacup: It's just a storm in a teacup.
- A breeze: That test was a breeze.
- Chase rainbows: Stop chasing rainbows.
- Get wind of: I got wind of their plans.
- Throw caution to the wind: I threw caution to the wind.
- Save for a rainy day: Save it for a rainy day.
Use colors symbolically.
- Green with envy: I'm green with envy.
- Out of the blue: This came out of the blue.
- Caught red-handed: He was caught red-handed.
- Once in a blue moon: I see him once in a blue moon.
- Golden opportunity: It's a golden opportunity.
- In the red: The company is in the red.
- In the black: Finally, we're in the black.
- White lie: It's just a white lie.
- Roll out the red carpet: They rolled out the red carpet.
- Paint the town red: Let's paint the town red!
- Grey area: It's a bit of a grey area.
Express time concepts.
- In the nick of time: We arrived in the nick of time.
- Better late than never: Better late than never.
- Time flies: Time flies when you're having fun.
- Beat the clock: We beat the clock.
- Around the clock: Working around the clock.
- Call it a day: Let's call it a day.
- Against the clock: Racing against the clock.
- In no time: I'll be done in no time.
- At the eleventh hour: He changed his mind at the eleventh hour.
- For the time being: This will work for the time being.
Common action expressions.
- Hit the nail on the head: You hit the nail on the head.
- Miss the boat: I think you missed the boat.
- Jump the gun: Don't jump the gun.
- Hit the road: Time to hit the road.
- Throw in the towel: I'm throwing in the towel.
- Bite the bullet: We have to bite the bullet.
- Face the music: Time to face the music.
- Cut corners: Don't cut corners on this.
- Jump through hoops: I had to jump through hoops.
- Bite your tongue: I had to bite my tongue.
- Cross that bridge when we come to it: We'll cross that bridge when we come to it.
- Put all your eggs in one basket: Don't put all your eggs in one basket.
- Burn bridges: Don't burn bridges.
- The ball is in your court: The ball is in your court now.
Express challenge levels.
- Walk in the park: It's not exactly a walk in the park.
- Uphill battle: This is an uphill battle.
- Easier said than done: That's easier said than done.
- Like pulling teeth: Getting information from him is like pulling teeth.
- A tough nut to crack: He's a tough nut to crack.
- Between a rock and a hard place: I'm between a rock and a hard place.
- Behind the eight ball: We're behind the eight ball.
Talk about outcomes.
- Back to the drawing board: Back to the drawing board.
- Hit the jackpot: I hit the jackpot!
- Strike gold: We struck gold with this idea.
- Go down in flames: The project went down in flames.
- Fall flat: The joke fell flat.
- Dead in the water: The plan is dead in the water.
- Come up short: We came up short this quarter.
256. Wisdom Proverbs
Common Collocations
Traditional wisdom sayings.
- Actions speak louder than words: Remember, actions speak louder than words.
- A penny saved is a penny earned: A penny saved is a penny earned.
- All good things must come to an end: All good things must come to an end.
- Don't put all your eggs in one basket: Don't put all your eggs in one basket.
- Two heads are better than one: Two heads are better than one.
- You can't have your cake and eat it too: You can't have your cake and eat it too.
- Where there's smoke, there's fire: Where there's smoke, there's fire.
- The grass is always greener on the other side: The grass is always greener on the other side.
- Don't cry over spilt milk: Don't cry over spilt milk.
- What goes around comes around: What goes around comes around.
- You reap what you sow: You reap what you sow.
- Rome wasn't built in a day: Rome wasn't built in a day.
- When in Rome, do as the Romans do: When in Rome, do as the Romans do.
- Practice makes perfect: Practice makes perfect.
- The early bird catches the worm: The early bird catches the worm.
- A picture is worth a thousand words: A picture is worth a thousand words.
- Don't judge a book by its cover: Don't judge a book by its cover.
- Honesty is the best policy: Honesty is the best policy.
- If it ain't broke, don't fix it: If it ain't broke, don't fix it.
- Look before you leap: Look before you leap.
Warning and advice sayings.
- Better safe than sorry: Better safe than sorry.
- A stitch in time saves nine: A stitch in time saves nine.
- Don't count your chickens before they hatch: Don't count your chickens before they hatch.
- Too many cooks spoil the broth: Too many cooks spoil the broth.
- Let sleeping dogs lie: Let sleeping dogs lie.
- Don't bite the hand that feeds you: Don't bite the hand that feeds you.
- Curiosity killed the cat: Curiosity killed the cat.
- Pride comes before a fall: Pride comes before a fall.
- Haste makes waste: Haste makes waste.
- A fool and his money are soon parted: A fool and his money are soon parted.
General life philosophy.
- Live and let live: Live and let live.
- To each his own: To each his own.
- You can't please everyone: You can't please everyone.
- It takes two to tango: It takes two to tango.
- Time heals all wounds: Time heals all wounds.
- What doesn't kill you makes you stronger: What doesn't kill you makes you stronger.
- Every cloud has a silver lining: Every cloud has a silver lining.
- Hope for the best, prepare for the worst: Hope for the best, prepare for the worst.
- When life gives you lemons, make lemonade: When life gives you lemons, make lemonade.
- The best things in life are free: The best things in life are free.
259. Verb + Noun Collocations
Natural verb-noun pairs.
- Make a decision: I need to make a decision.
- Do homework: Did you do your homework?
- Take a break: Let's take a break.
- Have a chat: Can we have a chat?
- Give advice: He gave me some advice.
- Pay attention: Pay attention!
- Catch a cold: I caught a cold.
- Save time: This will save time.
- Waste money: Don't waste money.
- Spend time: I spent time with family.
- Tell a lie: Don't tell lies.
- Keep a promise: Always keep your promises.
- Break a promise: He broke his promise.
- Lose weight: I need to lose weight.
- Gain weight: I've gained weight.
- Make a mistake: Everyone makes mistakes.
- Do damage: The storm did damage.
- Cause problems: This will cause problems.
- Run errands: I have to run errands.
- Raise awareness: We need to raise awareness.
Natural adjective-noun pairs.
- Heavy rain: We had heavy rain last night.
- Strong coffee: I need strong coffee.
- Bright future: You have a bright future.
- Deep sleep: I was in a deep sleep.
- Quick shower: I'll take a quick shower.
- Hard work: It takes hard work.
- Close friend: She's a close friend.
- Golden opportunity: This is a golden opportunity.
- Bitter disappointment: It was a bitter disappointment.
- Strong possibility: There's a strong possibility.
- Slim chance: Only a slim chance.
- Rough estimate: Give me a rough estimate.
- Safe bet: That's a safe bet.
- Common sense: Use common sense.
- General idea: I have a general idea.
- Main point: That's the main point.
- Big deal: It's not a big deal.
- Tough decision: That's a tough decision.
- Final decision: Is that your final decision?
- Personal opinion: That's just my personal opinion.
Natural adverb-adjective pairs.
- Highly unlikely: It's highly unlikely.
- Deeply concerned: I'm deeply concerned.
- Fully aware: I'm fully aware of that.
- Completely different: That's completely different.
- Totally wrong: You're totally wrong.
- Absolutely necessary: It's absolutely necessary.
- Perfectly clear: That's perfectly clear.
- Entirely possible: It's entirely possible.
- Bitterly disappointed: I was bitterly disappointed.
- Strictly forbidden: That's strictly forbidden.
- Seriously injured: He was seriously injured.
- Heavily influenced: I was heavily influenced.
- Widely accepted: It's widely accepted.
- Painfully obvious: It's painfully obvious.
- Ridiculously expensive: That's ridiculously expensive.
Natural verb-preposition combinations.
- Agree with: I agree with you.
- Apologize for: He apologized for being late.
- Believe in: I believe in you.
- Care about: I care about this.
- Concentrate on: Concentrate on your work.
- Consist of: It consists of three parts.
- Deal with: I'll deal with it.
- Depend on: It depends on the weather.
- Dream about: I dream about traveling.
- Insist on: He insisted on paying.
- Listen to: Listen to me.
- Look after: Look after yourself.
- Object to: I object to that idea.
- Participate in: Everyone can participate in this.
- Rely on: I rely on you.
- Respond to: Please respond to my email.
- Search for: We're searching for answers.
- Suffer from: He suffers from allergies.
- Think about: I'll think about it.
- Wait for: I'm waiting for you.
- Worry about: Don't worry about it.
Natural noun-noun combinations.
- Traffic jam: We're stuck in a traffic jam.
- Bus stop: Meet me at the bus stop.
- Coffee break: Time for a coffee break.
- Train station: Where's the train station?
- Window seat: I'd like a window seat.
- Job interview: I have a job interview.
- Business meeting: I'm in a business meeting.
- Birthday party: Are you coming to the birthday party?
- Power outage: There was a power outage.
- Price tag: Check the price tag.
- Speed limit: What's the speed limit?
- Credit card: I'll pay by credit card.
- Kitchen table: Let's sit at the kitchen table.
- Safety belt: Fasten your safety belt.
- Fire alarm: The fire alarm went off.
Natural verb-adverb pairs.
- Work hard: You work hard.
- Sleep soundly: I slept soundly.
- Think carefully: Think carefully about this.
- Speak softly: Please speak softly.
- Rain heavily: It's raining heavily.
- Change dramatically: Things changed dramatically.
- Differ significantly: The results differ significantly.
- Improve considerably: It's improved considerably.
- Increase rapidly: Prices are increasing rapidly.
- Listen carefully: Listen carefully.
- Try hard: I tried hard.
- Smile broadly: He smiled broadly.
- Knock loudly: Someone knocked loudly.
- Whisper quietly: She whispered quietly.
Natural time expressions.
- Waste time: Don't waste time.
- Kill time: Just killing time.
- Save time: This will save time.
- Spare time: In my spare time.
- Free time: I have no free time.
- Make time: Make time for yourself.
- Take time: This will take time.
- Spend time: I spend time reading.
- Run out of time: We're running out of time.
- On time: Always on time.
- In time: We arrived in time.
- For the time being: That's it for the time being.
- At times: At times, I feel lonely.
- At all times: Be alert at all times.
- In no time: I'll be there in no time.
- High time: It's high time you left.
Natural weather expressions.
- Heavy rain: We're expecting heavy rain.
- Strong wind: There's a strong wind today.
- Thick fog: We drove through thick fog.
- Light drizzle: It's just light drizzle.
- Pouring rain: It's pouring rain.
- Blazing sun: Under the blazing sun.
- Freezing cold: It's freezing cold.
- Torrential rain: Torrential rain flooded the streets.
- Scorching heat: The scorching heat was unbearable.
- Howling wind: The howling wind kept me awake.
Professional and business terms.
- Do business: We do business internationally.
- Close a deal: We closed the deal.
- Make a profit: Did you make a profit?
- Cut costs: We need to cut costs.
- Launch a product: They're launching a product.
- Meet a deadline: Can we meet the deadline?
- Attend a meeting: I have to attend a meeting.
- Submit a report: Submit your report by Friday.
- Run a company: She runs a company.
- Hold a position: He holds a senior position.
- Reach an agreement: We reached an agreement.
- Take minutes: Who's taking minutes?
- Give a presentation: I have to give a presentation.
- Set goals: Let's set goals for next year.
Natural relationship expressions.
- Make friends: It's hard to make friends.
- Close relationship: We have a close relationship.
- Strong bond: They share a strong bond.
- Mutual respect: It's based on mutual respect.
- Keep in touch: Let's keep in touch.
- Lose touch: We lost touch years ago.
- Build trust: You need to build trust.
- Break up: They broke up last month.
- Get along: We get along great.
- Fall out: We fell out over money.
- Patch things up: Time to patch things up.
- Grow apart: We just grew apart.
Academic and learning terms.
- Take an exam: I'm taking an exam tomorrow.
- Pass a test: Did you pass the test?
- Fail a class: I failed that class.
- Do research: I'm doing research.
- Write an essay: I have to write an essay.
- Give a lecture: He's giving a lecture.
- Attend classes: You must attend classes.
- Hand in homework: Hand in your homework.
- Get a degree: She got her degree last year.
- Study hard: You need to study hard.
- Learn by heart: Learn this by heart.
- Pay attention: Pay attention in class.
- Take notes: Don't forget to take notes.
Medical and health expressions.
- Catch a cold: I caught a cold.
- Feel sick: I feel sick.
- Get better: Hope you get better soon.
- Take medicine: Take your medicine.
- Have an operation: She had an operation.
- Make an appointment: I need to make an appointment.
- Follow advice: Follow the doctor's advice.
- Suffer from: He suffers from migraines.
- Recover from: She's recovering from surgery.
- Break a bone: He broke a bone.
- Sprain an ankle: I sprained my ankle.
- Pull a muscle: I pulled a muscle.
- Run a fever: She's running a fever.
- Feel dizzy: I feel dizzy.
NOW this is truly comprehensive! This massive list includes:
- All major phrasal verbs (over 200 different combinations)
- Common idioms organized by category
- Essential proverbs and sayings
- Natural collocations for every situation
- Plus all the previous sentence patterns, structures, and techniques
This complete guide covers virtually everything native English speakers use in daily conversation!
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