Expressions and conversational phrases

Common English expressions: how to sound natural when you speak

Native speakers don't build sentences word by word: they reach for ready-made chunks like never mind, so far or by the way. These are fixed expressions. They're tricky because the difference often comes down to one small word: on time means as scheduled, in time means early enough, and in the end and at the end aren't interchangeable either. A list makes the meaning clear, but in conversation you still assemble the sentence one word at a time.

An expression becomes yours once you've used it. First look at the example and the situation where the phrase comes up. Then cover the meaning and recall it yourself, from the idea alone. Write a line from your own life and check it against the notes. The section is grouped by situation: conversational reactions, time, place, manner, and describing people and things. Each page has a clear meaning, a common mistake and an exercise.

LetsWords turns this into regular practice. You can start with ready-made sets and add phrases you've come across at work or in TV shows to your own collection. With each expression you write your own sentence, and the check points out mistakes and suggests a more precise way to say it. No idea what to write about? The generator will give you a sentence idea in your native language at the right level. Start now, and these ready-made chunks will start fitting into your speech.