600 Words and Phrases PDF - Learn English Vocabulary

Look back at 12 of my YouTube videos that contain hundreds of useful words and phrases to help you expand your range of vocabulary in English. YOUTUBE.COM/ENGLISHWITHLUCY  © LEARN 600 WORDS AND...

Look back at 12 of my YouTube videos that contain hundreds of useful words and phrases to help you expand your range of vocabulary in English. YOUTUBE.COM/ENGLISHWITHLUCY  © LEARN 600 WORDS AND PHRASES IN ENGLISH Welcome to this epic compilation video packed with over 600 words and phrases. Yes, that’s right! That’s more than 600 opportunities to expand your range of vocabulary in English, express yourself with greater precision and improve your fluency. I mean, what’s not to love about learning new vocabulary? This wonderful ebook contains all the words and phrases from the lessons in this video along with some top tips to help you commit them to memory and use them when the time is right! So, what are you waiting for? Let’s get started! YOUTUBE.COM/ENGLISHWITHLUCY VOCABULARY © Table of Contents Please look over the Table of Contents to familiarise yourself with the content of this PDF. You can also jump to any section you’d like to review. Content Pages English I Use Everyday 1 3-11 25 Smart Sentences for Daily Use in English Conversation 12-20 100 Most Common English Words 21-29 100 Important Antonyms (B1-C1 Level) 30-48 50 Important Phrasal Verbs 49-62 English I Use Everyday 2 63-70 21 Advanced Phrases to Build Your Vocabulary 71-76 Advanced Verbs 77-82 15 Stunningly Beautiful English Words 83-85 Rhyming Reduplication 86-89 111 Advanced English Idioms 90-124 100 Body Part Words 125-150 YOUTUBE.COM/ENGLISHWITHLUCY VOCABULARY © ENGLISH I USE EVERY DAY 1 The best way to learn new vocabulary is by seeing new words and phrases used in context. In this lesson, I will recount my attempt at giving my husband an unforgettable birthday while providing you with some common English terms and phrases that I use daily. You can also test your understanding with a follow-up quiz at the end. Will's 30th Birthday: Vocabulary Breakdown PARAGRAPH 1 So this was a few years ago now. As many of you know, my husband Will used to be a farmer, and because his birthday is in July and clashes with “high season” in the farming world, he’d never had a birthday party as an adult. So I wanted to arrange something special for him, and I settled on surprising him with a golf tournament. But I wasn’t sure how to get it off the ground. So, I turned to Will’s best friend, Charlie, who first told me it was the best idea ever (go me!) and then gave me some advice. He said, “If I were you, I’d call the club first. Then get a small group together to play and invite the partners for dinner afterwards.” VOCABULARY to get sth off the ground Use: This is such a common phrase among native speakers which means to make something start to happen or to succeed. Example: I have so many ideas, but I never seem able to get them off the ground. YOUTUBE.COM/ENGLISHWITHLUCY VOCABULARY © the best day ever Use: We use this structure with a superlative in English to respond with enthusiasm. In speech, we often omit the and just say— best idea ever! worst film ever! hardest exam ever! Example: I can't believe you made me watch that — worst film ever! If I were you, I’d... Use: You might recognise this as the second conditional, and it’s such a common use of this structure as we LOVE to give advice. Example: If I were you, I wouldn’t invite Jack to the party; he always gets overexcited. PARAGRAPH 2 So I went to the golf club where Will played and told them what I wanted. They were all, “What a brilliant idea!” blah blah, and they told me that they had a special menu available around the time that I was planning Will’s get-together. The chef even popped out and said, “Oh, you’re in for a treat.” It looked a bit pricey, but they assured me it was well worth the money. Then they started recommending me some very expensive whiskey I could have ready for Will when he finished playing. I politely said, “Hmm, I’m not sure about that. Let me have a think.” YOUTUBE.COM/ENGLISHWITHLUCY VOCABULARY © VOCABULARY They were all... Use: Native speakers use the expression He was all… or I was all… etc. in spoken English, often to convey that someone had strong feelings about something, whether or not we think they’re being sincere. Example: I invited Geri to the party, and she was all, “Awesome! I’ll be there!” and then she didn’t turn up. you’re in for a treat Use: We love using this phrase to say that something is a good idea. We also sometimes use it sarcastically to say that something is going to be challenging or not very good. Example: A: I signed up for a spinning class with Helen tomorrow. B: Oh, you’re in for a treat! I’m not sure about that Use: We Brits use this all the time because we hate saying no or disagreeing directly. Example: I think we should have a picnic for Olivia’s birthday. - I’m not sure about that. Let me have a think Use: This is another really common expression that basically means no, but I don’t want to say it right now. YOUTUBE.COM/ENGLISHWITHLUCY VOCABULARY © Example: That's sounds like a great plan, mate, but let me have a think, yeah? PARAGRAPH 3 I got the ball rolling with the invitations by calling some of Will’s closest friends. “Are you free on Saturday the 3rd of June?” “Do you fancy coming down to celebrate Will’s 30th?” VOCABULARY to get the ball rolling Use: This is another common phrase that we use meaning to make something start to happen. Example: It looks like no one wants to speak first, so I’ll get the ball rolling! Are you free on…? Use: This is one of the most common ways to ask someone to attend an event you’re planning. Example: Are you free on Sunday? We’re thinking of going out for a pub lunch. Do you fancy…? Use: We use this phrase as another way to ask if someone wants to do something. Example: Do you fancy going out for a bite to eat? YOUTUBE.COM/ENGLISHWITHLUCY VOCABULARY © BONUS! I said Will’s 30th, not Will’s 30th birthday. It’s common to shorten significant birthdays like this: Lucy’s 18th, Pete’s 60th. PARAGRAPH 4 The forecast said it was going to rain on the day, but I decided to play it by ear and didn’t make any other plans. It turned out to be gorgeous weather, and Will was over the moon when I told him what was happening. When we got to the gold club, it turned out that I had been told the wrong prices, and instead of £60 a head, it was £100 a head on Saturdays. I literally trembled as I handed over my credit card. He and his mates played a round of golf and had a tipple between holes. We finally sat down to eat, and Will, who was slightly tipsy and feeling generous, accidentally said, "Don't worry, guys, we got this." He accidentally offered to pay for everyone’s meal. Now bear in mind that the golf club had put their prices up, so it was going to be incredibly expensive. We were also in the middle of a mortgage application, so cash was a bit tight. At the time, when I had to pay for all of those rounds of golf and a meal for, I think, about 14 people! But what could we do? Everyone had an amazing time, and they said the food was out of this world. We finally called it a night at about midnight. I needed a little lie-down when I saw the bill, but it was Will’s first birthday party in about ten years, so no regrets. VOCABULARY to play it by ear Use: We use this phrase to talk about how we will deal with a situation as it develops rather than making plans. Example: I don’t know how many people are coming; we’ll have to play it by ear. YOUTUBE.COM/ENGLISHWITHLUCY VOCABULARY © to be over the moon Use: We use this idiom a lot as it means to be very happy. Example: My sister was over the moon when I offered to babysit her children for the night. We've/I've got this Use: This a common expression used when offering to pay for something. Example: Don't worry about lunch today. I've got this. I owe you one. bear in mind Use: This widely used expression means remember or consider. Example: Bear in mind that I only cooked for ten people, but over 30 turned up. out of this world Use: This is a great expression used to emphasise how fantastic something is. Example: The decorations were out of this world! to call it a day/night Use: This means to stop what you are doing because you feel like you’ve done enough or you don’t want to do it any more. YOUTUBE.COM/ENGLISHWITHLUCY VOCABULARY © Example: At 10pm, I decided to call it a night and finish up in the morning. a lie-down | to have/to need a lie-down Use: We use this term both literally, when we're tired, and metaphorically, when something shocks us profoundly. Example: After seeing the price tag on the dress, I needed a lie-down. Will's 30th Birthday: Full Story So this was a few years ago now. As many of you know, my husband Will used to be a farmer, and because his birthday is in July and clashes with “high season” in the farming world, he’d never had a birthday party as an adult. So I wanted to arrange something special for him, and I settled on surprising him with a golf tournament. But I wasn’t sure how to get it off the ground. So, I turned to Will’s best friend, Charlie, who first told me it was the best idea ever (go me!) and then gave me some advice. He said, “If I were you, I’d call the club first. Then get a small group together to play and invite the partners for dinner afterwards.” So I went to the golf club where Will played and told them what I wanted. They were all, “What a brilliant idea!” blah blah, and they told me that they had a special menu available around the time that I was planning Will’s get-together. The chef even popped out and said, “Oh, you’re in for a treat.” It looked a bit pricey, but they assured me it was well worth the money. Then they started recommending me some very expensive whiskey I could have ready for Will when he finished playing. I politely said, “Hmm, I’m not sure about that. Let me have a think.” I got the ball rolling with the invitations by calling some of Will’s closest friends. “Are you free on Saturday the 3rd of June?” “Do you fancy coming down to celebrate Will’s 30th?” YOUTUBE.COM/ENGLISHWITHLUCY VOCABULARY © The forecast said it was going to rain on the day, but I decided to play it by ear and didn’t make any other plans. It turned out to be gorgeous weather, and Will was over the moon when I told him what was happening. When we got to the gold club, it turned out that I had been told the wrong prices, and instead of £60 a head, it was £100 a head on Saturdays. I literally trembled as I handed over my credit card. He and his mates played a round of golf and had a tipple between holes. We finally sat down to eat, and Will, who was slightly tipsy and feeling generous, accidentally said, "Don't worry, guys, we got this." He accidentally offered to pay for everyone’s meal. Now bear in mind that the golf club had put their prices up, so it was going to be incredibly expensive. We were also in the middle of a mortgage application, so cash was a bit tight. At the time, when I had to pay for all of those rounds of golf and a meal for, I think, about 14 people! But what could we do? Everyone had an amazing time, and they said the food was out of this world. We finally called it a night at about midnight. I needed a little lie-down when I saw the bill, but it was Will’s first birthday party in about ten years, so no regrets. YOUTUBE.COM/ENGLISHWITHLUCY VOCABULARY © QUIZ! Choose the correct answer for each question. 1) “This dessert is ____________," he said as he took a bite. a. out of this world b. the best idea ever c. in for a treat 2) What phrase indicates you need time to consider an idea? a. I’m not sure about that. b. Let me have a think. c. Sounds good to me. 3) __________ that our budget is quite limited for this event. a. Bear in mind b. Bearing it in mind c. Bearing mind 4) To be over the moon means to feel sad and downcast. a. True b. False 5) Let's not set a strict schedule; we'll just ____________. a. play it with ears b. play it by year c. play it by ear 6) How would you give advice using hypotheticals? a. You can… b. You should definitely… c. If I were you, I’d… 7) It's time to ____________ on our new project. a. get the ball rolling b. getting started c. get something off the ground 8) __________ grabbing a coffee later? a. Are you fancy b. Do you fancy c. Are you free on The End! 1) a 2) b 3) a 4) b 5) c 6) c 7) a 8) b YOUTUBE.COM/ENGLISHWITHLUCY VOCABULARY © 25 SMART SENTENCES FOR DAILY USE IN ENGLISH CONVERSATION In this lesson, you will learn 25 fresh phrases you can add to your daily conversations to break out of the routine of sticking to the same few lines. These phrases are popular in the UK but used pretty universally. PART 1 First, let's discuss the phrases we can use when we meet someone that we either do or do not know. 1. It's nice to bump into you. You would use this phrase if you are at the very least familiar with a person, so maybe you know of them. To know of someone is to have heard about them, to know their name, but we normally say this when we do, at the very latest, know of someone. If you have seen someone recently, you can say, “it's nice to bump into you again”. Now, the literal meaning of ‘to bump into someone’ is to collide with someone, for example, “I bumped into someone at the supermarket and dropped my milk” for example. However, in this context, the context of meeting someone, ‘to bump into someone’ means to meet someone unexpectedly. Example: I bumped into your mum at the swimming pool. Meaning: I unexpectedly met your mum. 2. It's great to finally meet you in person. This a phrase that we use if we don't know someone. We haven't met them before, but we have maybe heard of them before or we have communicated with them digitally. Maybe we've been talking over email, or something like that. I say this so much after the pandemic. I met so many people online, over Zoom, and now I can finally meet them in real life. Example: Ah, it’s so nice to finally meet you person! YOUTUBE.COM/ENGLISHWITHLUCY VOCABULARY © 3. Speak of the devil. This phrase has a very specific usage. This is said when a person appears just after being mentioned. Example: If I'm talking to a colleague about someone's excellent presentation, and then that person appears, I could say— "Speak of the devil; we were just talking about your excellent presentation." This can be a great way to make someone new feel included, especially if you have been complimenting them behind their back. 4. I've heard so much about you. Number four, another one to use if you haven't met someone before but you want to pay them a nice compliment. Obviously, only say this if you actually have heard good things said about this person. Good responses to this: “All good things, I hope.” "All positive, I hope.” 5. I don't think we've crossed paths before. And the last one, number five, is a nice way of saying, "I don't know who you are, so please introduce yourself to me." It avoids an awkward situation. To cross paths with someone is to meet someone by chance. And if we haven't crossed paths before, well, we've never met. But I think it's a little bit nicer than saying, "Who are you? I don't know who you are." PART 2 Okay, next section. Let's say for now that you have met someone that you do know; you're going to want to catch up with them. And to catch up with someone is to talk about everything that's happened since you last saw each other. YOUTUBE.COM/ENGLISHWITHLUCY VOCABULARY © 6. How is everything going? If you can't specifically remember what they've been doing, "How is everything going?", is a great way to let them lead the conversation. It gives them room to open up. This might refer to their family, their work, their personal life, romantic life, who knows. But you can let them lead the conversation because they decide what ‘everything’ is. 7. What have you been up to? This is a really friendly phrase. I've used this before. I've taught it before in my Stop Saying How Are You? video. If you are 'up to something', it means that you are doing something mischievous. You're doing something troublesome. This phrase is very warm and friendly. It's saying 'what trouble have you been causing? What have you been doing?' It's something that we use a lot with children or animals. We use it with friends as well. It's very casual, but it's not inappropriate for professional situations, but it is appropriate if you know the person quite well. Example: I often say to my dog— "What have you been up to Diego?" Good responses to this: “Oh, not much.” “I've not been up too much.” 8. What have I missed? Fill me in! So if you haven't caught up with someone for a while, this is a good way to ask them what has happened since you last spoke. To fill someone in is to give someone missing information or to inform someone more fully of a situation. So if I'm saying, ‘fill me in’, I'm saying, tell me all this missing information. 9. We've got so much to catch up on. This means, "we've got so much to talk about". So much has happened since we last saw each other. YOUTUBE.COM/ENGLISHWITHLUCY VOCABULARY © 10. There's so much to say, but I can't go into it now. This is one that you can use if you've seen or met someone that you know you need to spend a long time talking to, but it's not the right time. 'To go into something' is to discuss or explain something in a careful and detailed way. This implies that there are lots and lots of details, too many for now. Maybe it would be impolite to talk a lot; maybe there are some people around that shouldn't hear what you're talking about. It's a good one to use or to have up your sleeve—to have something ready for later. PART 3 So we've discussed talking to people that we have met before; now, what should we do with people that we haven't met before? We should get to know them, shouldn’t we? We should ask some good open-ended questions to get them talking. 11. How did you get into X? Often we want to ask people, "How did you get your job? How did you end up working here?" That's not so polite. So this phrase is a really good alternative. 'To get into something' in this context is to become involved with. Then, they can tell you their life story. Example: How did you get into marketing? Meaning: How did you become involved with marketing? 12. What do you do for fun? Another nice way of getting to know someone is to ask them what they do for fun. And in American English especially, this is a very common question. I would say it's not so common in the UK, but we do see it in movies, and TV shows a lot. I just noticed this question was asked a lot to me when I visited to US, and I thought it was really nice. It was a really good way of making conversation that isn’t about work. Example: So, what do you do for fun? YOUTUBE.COM/ENGLISHWITHLUCY VOCABULARY © 13. What do you do outside of work? / What do you do when you're not working? In British English, we might say something more like these two phrases. It’s maybe a bit nicer than asking someone what they do for fun because I know when someone asks me what I do for fun, I think, “Oh my word, I’m not that fun a person. I like running. Is running fun enough to answer this question? Do they think that running is fun enough?” So these alternatives are pretty safe. 14. What makes you tick? Another good thing to talk about is motivation, and we want to know what motivates people. But instead of just simply saying, "what motivates you?" You could say, "what makes you tick?" And this is sort of asking, “what are you passionate about?” or "what keeps you going?" Example: Helping my students gain confidence really makes me tick. 15. What gets you out of bed in the morning? This is another similar one that basically asks, "what do you get up for?" Or a really fun and cheeky one is, “what floats your boat?” That means, “what brings you joy?” This comes from the phrase, “whatever floats your boat.” Whatever you like. And this is something that we say when somebody says they like something that we think is a bit strange. So, for example, if someone says they like running marathons every weekend, I might say, "whatever floats your boat; not my thing, but good for you." The question, “what floats your boat?” is a variation of that. PART 4 Now, when we meet people, and we have a really, really good conversation, the next step is to ensure further contact. But we don't just want to say, "What's your number? I would like to talk again." Although, I quite like the direct approach. There are some other ways of doing this— YOUTUBE.COM/ENGLISHWITHLUCY VOCABULARY © 16. I'd love to carry this on at a later date/time. This is saying, "I would like to continue this conversation". So you're sort of stopping them there, saying pause, but let's continue this later on. 17. I feel like we've got so much more to talk about. This is good one to use if you can see that a conversation is coming to an end, maybe it's like a break in a conference, and you know that the next lecture is starting, but you still want to make sure you remain in contact with this person. This is a really nice one because it's sort of passing the baton. It's passing the responsibility over to the other person. And it gives them the opportunity to say, "well, let's stay in touch. Let's exchange contact details." It's good to use if you don't know if they want to stay in touch, if you're kind of testing the water. If they say yeah, let's stay in touch, brilliant. If they don't, well there we are. At least we know. 18. We should discuss this over lunch. This one is used to suggest that something be discussed over a consumable, a food or a beverage. For example— We should discuss this over lunch. We should chat over coffee. We should talk over dinner. If you think about it, using the word 'over’ is quite appropriate because normally, two people having a meeting at dinner, we are speaking over the top of the food. The conversation flows over the food or drink. 19. We should do this again. This is another very simple, very casual one which implies we should see each other again. YOUTUBE.COM/ENGLISHWITHLUCY VOCABULARY © 20. Here's my email/number. Drop me a line, and we'll sort something out. This is a great one if you want to be very direct and give your contact details. 'To drop someone a line' is to write a brief message. We also say, 'drop me a text' or 'drop me a WhatsApp'. And 'to sort something' out is to organise something—we’ll arrange another meeting. PART 5 And now on to the last set of phrases. And for me, the hardest part of any conversation is leaving the conversation. I’m terrible at parties. I end up talking to one person intensely for the whole event, and then it comes to the end, and I think, “Ugh, I have not met many people here.” It's just so awkward, isn't it? 21. Oh, I'm a bit pressed for time. This is a great one if you don't have much time. This is a nice way of saying, "I don't have any time; I need to go." 22. Right, I need to make a move. In the UK, we always sort of clap our hands or if we’re sitting down, we slap our thighs and say, “Right, I’ve got to be going.” 'To make a move' is to begin to leave or just to leave. I'm going to make a move—I'm going to leave. It's just a nicer way of saying it because we're beating around the bush; we're avoiding the topic. I don't wanna say I'm leaving, so I'm going to say I'm making a move. 23. I'm going to have to get going. / I need to get going. This is a very similar one to number 22. Again, this is to begin to leave. But by saying 'I have to', it's implying that you don't want to; I just have to. I’m obliged to leave. It's not my choice; I need to. YOUTUBE.COM/ENGLISHWITHLUCY VOCABULARY © 24. I don't want to hog you, so I'm going to go over here. Now this is a really nice one; it’s interesting, but ever so slightly manipulative but I learnt it from someone that I really respect, an older woman in my village. I always really enjoy talking to her at parties in our village. But, I probably enjoy speaking to her more than she enjoys speaking with me. And once, she said this wonderful phrase when she wanted to leave our conversation, but she did it in such a nice way. 'To hog something' is to take or use something good all for yourself so that other people can't have it. And she was saying, I don't want to keep you all to myself, so I'm going to make sure other people can talk to you too. And it's implying that whoever you're talking to is so great that they need to talk to lots of people; lots of people can benefit from talking to them. It wouldn't be right to deny others the chance of talking to this person. I thought it was really interesting, kind of like reverse psychology. 25. I've already taken so much of your time. This is a lovely way of saying, “you know, I don't want to leave, but I’ve wasted your time, so I’m going to go because it’s fair on you.” YOUTUBE.COM/ENGLISHWITHLUCY VOCABULARY © QUIZ! Choose the correct phrase from below that best complete each missing part of the story. Jenna stepped into the expat bar, her weary traveller's eyes scanning the crowd for familiar faces. Just as she was about to grab a seat, she spotted a group of people she had met during her time in Indonesia. With a smile, she approached them, but there were a few new faces among them. "No way! It’s so wild (1) ________," she exclaimed. One of her friends quickly turned round and gave her a big hug. (2) "________; we were just talking about you," he said warmly. Jenna blushed, feeling a mix of excitement and curiosity. She looked at the group of people, extending her hand for introductions. (3) "________." As they settled into a booth, Jenna couldn’t believe how small the world truly was. (4) "________" she asked, eager to catch up. (5) "________ since Indonesia?" Her friends eagerly shared their stories, describing their adventures across Southeast Asia. Ana Luisa, another of Jenna’s friends, showed up a bit later in the evening. She hurriedly sat down next to Jenna. "What have I missed? (6) ________," she said, her voice brimming with anticipation. They laughed, realising how much they had to catch her up on. They chatted into the late hours of the night until Jenna remembered she had a completely full day of tourist activities the next day. (7) “Right, ________,” she blurted out, slapping her thighs. The group stood up and exchanged well wishes, and went their separate ways. As she was walking back to her hostel, she felt a tap on her shoulder. It was her friend Pierre. He handed her a piece of paper. (8) “________ if you are ever in France; I’d love to see you again,” he said shyly. Jenna took the piece of paper and flashed a nervous smile. “Of course; see you soon!” she said sincerely. Phrase Bank d. I'm going to have to get a. Fill me in b. What have you been up to c. Speak of the devil going g. to bump into you all h. I don't think we've e. Drop me a line f. How is everything going? again crossed paths The End! 1) g 2) c 3) h 4) f 5) b 6) a 7) d 8 e YOUTUBE.COM/ENGLISHWITHLUCY VOCABULARY © 100 MOST COMMON ENGLISH WORDS VOCABULARY LESSON YOUTUBE.COM/ENGLISHWITHLUCY There are over 170,000 unique words in the English language. The average adult native English speaker knows between 15 and 20,000 different word families. However, native speakers get by only using a fraction of these words in daily speaking and writing. Some words are used much more than others. This lesson will teach 100 of the most commonly spoken and written words in the English language. Understanding these words and knowing how to use them will get you on your way to mastering English. NOUNS A noun is a word that refers to a place, a person, a thing, a quality or an activity. You can’t have a sentence without the use of some sort of noun. No. Word Pronunciation Example 1 man /mæn/ The man sat quietly on the chair. 2 day /deɪ/ It was the last day of summer. 3 people /ˈpiːpl/ Many people travel abroad for their holiday. 4 time /taɪm/ What time will they come to the house today? 5 woman /ˈwʊmən/ He saw the woman from across the room. 6 life /laɪf/ Jack spent his whole life writing his novel. 7 world /wɜːld/ The world is a big place; go out and see it! 8 thing /θɪŋ/ We have both brought the same thing. YOUTUBE.COM/ENGLISHWITHLUCY VOCABULARY © /jɪə(r)/ 9 year This year has been one of the craziest yet! /jɜː(r)/ She was only a child, but she could play the piano 10 child /tʃaɪld/ better than anyone. PRONOUNS A pronoun is used to substitute a noun or a noun phrase in a sentence. We can only use a pronoun if the noun or noun phrase has been referred to previously. No. Word Pronunciation Example weak - /hi/ 1 he He likes to go out ice skating. strong - /hiː/ weak - /hə(r)/ 2 her Her shoes were left out in the rain all night. strong - /hɜː(r)/ /hɪm/ 3 him Can you take him to the station, please? /ɪm/ 4 I /aɪ/ I am from England. 5 it /ɪt/ It looks as if she's been crying. weak - /mi/ 6 me Don't give me that look! strong - /miː/ 7 my /maɪ/ My new phone should arrive today. /ɑː(r)/ 8 our Our new home is in the village not far from here. /ˈaʊə(r)/ weak - /ʃi/ 9 she She is from a posh family; what do you expect? strong - /ʃiː/ weak - /ðəm/ 10 them I went with them to see the play. strong - /ðem/ weak - /ðæt/ 11 that That picture frame is crooked. strong - /ðət/ 12 their /ðeə(r)/ Their payments are overdue. 13 these /ðiːz/ These flowers are beautiful. YOUTUBE.COM/ENGLISHWITHLUCY VOCABULARY © 14 they /ðeɪ/ They missed the train, so they walked home instead. 15 this /ðɪs/ This is the road I used to take to school as a child. weak: /əs/ 16 us We always bring a few snacks with us. strong: /ʌs/ weak: /wi/ 17 we We had just started hiking when Jerry hurt his knee. strong: /wiː/ 18 who /huː/ Who was that in your office? weak - /jə/ 19 you You shouldn't do that! strong - /juː/ weak - /jə(r)/ 20 your Your sister came over yesterday looking for you. strong - /jɔː(r)/ VERBS Every sentence requires the use of a verb. We use verbs to represent actions, feelings and states of being. When learning English, it is easy to use the same verbs repeatedly. So, in addition to teaching you some of the most commonly used verbs, you will also be given synonyms (words that have the same meaning) to help add some variety to your conversations and writing. No. Word Pronunciation Example Synonyms Come to my house tonight - we're 1 come /kʌm/ appear, arrive, occur making pizza! 2 find /faɪnd/ I can't find the remote control! discover, identify, locate 3 give /ɡɪv/ Can you give me a minute? allow, award, grant 4 get /ɡet/ I hope I get a raise this month. gain, obtain, earn Sheila, go and speak with your 5 go /ɡəʊ/ flee, depart, progress father! YOUTUBE.COM/ENGLISHWITHLUCY VOCABULARY © weak - /həv/ 6 have I have the forms in my bag. acquire, accept, possess strong - /hæv/ 7 know /nəʊ/ I know this can't be easy to hear. perceive, realize, notice accept, take notice, 8 listen /ˈlɪsn/ Listen to his new song - it's great! observe They will look at the sculpture for 9 look /lʊk/ glance, peer, stare hours. What are you going to make for the compose, generate, 10 make /meɪk/ school picnic? produce announce, convey, 11 say /seɪ/ Don't say things you don't mean. express I could see she was angry from her 12 see /siː/ detect, notice, view facial expression. 13 take /teɪk/ Manny took the bad news in stride. accept, capture, seize 14 tell /tel/ Tell him about it after his birthday. advise, disclose, inform consider, determine, 15 think /θɪŋk/ I always think about leaving my job. understand Can I use baking powder instead of adopt, employ, 16 use /juːz/ baking soda? manipulate 17 want /wɒnt/ They want to take a cruise this year. choose, crave, wish AUXILIARY VERBS Auxiliary verbs are extremely useful in English. They are also referred to as “helping or modal verbs.” Auxiliary verbs help to form certain verb tenses, voices and moods. Needless to say, we use them quite often. YOUTUBE.COM/ENGLISHWITHLUCY VOCABULARY © No. Word Pronunciation Example weak - /bi/ 1 be I'll be swimming tomorrow morning. strong - /biː/ weak - /kən/ 2 can Can you lift the chair so I can sweep under it? strong - /kæn/ weak - kəd/ 3 could I could leave work early to pick up the wine. strong - /kʊd/ weak - /də/ 4 do Do they always come this late? strong - /duː/ weak - /həv/ 5 shall I shall ask him tomorrow. strong - /hæv/ 6 might /maɪt/ They might stay a little longer. weak - /məst/ 7 must You must allow me to take you for dinner! strong - /mʌst/ weak - /ʃəd/ 8 should I should really be going now. strong - /ʃʊd/ weak - /wəd/ 9 would I would like a skateboard for Christmas. strong - /wʊd/ 10 will /wɪl/ We will write to you as soon as we arrive. ADJECTIVES Adjectives add detail to your speaking and writing. They are used to describe nouns, and they provide the reader or listener with additional information. If you want to liven up your conversations, adjectives are the way to go! No. Word Pronunciation Example 1 all /ɔːl/ Did you put all of the food away? 2 any /ˈeni/ I don't have any patience for you right now! 3 different /ˈdɪfrənt/ Can you get me a different mug? YOUTUBE.COM/ENGLISHWITHLUCY VOCABULARY © 4 even /ˈiːvn/ He really wants the painting to be even on the wall. 5 first /fɜːst/ Ben was the first person to call me after my break-up. 6 just /dʒʌst/ It wasn't just of him to treat you that way. 7 last /lɑːst/ This is my last phone call. 8 white /waɪt/ When I opened my eyes, I saw white walls. 9 many /ˈmeni/ We have too many boxes to move. 10 more /mɔː(r)/ Please, could I have more potatoes? 11 new /njuː/ Her new shoes are black. 12 one /wʌn/ My dog has one blue eye, and the other is brown. weak - /səm/ 13 some Can I borrow some money for a coffee? strong - /sʌm/ 14 two /tuː/ The two trees in the garden need to be chopped down. ADVERBS Adverbs are brilliant words that help you describe a verb, an adjective, another adverb or entire sentences. You may have learned that most adverbs end in -ly, this may be true, but the most common adverbs might surprise you. No. Word Pronunciation Example 1 also /ˈɔːlsəʊ/ We also live up the hill! 2 here /hɪə(r)/ I live here too! 3 how /haʊ/ He didn't know how to speak Italian. 4 no /nəʊ/ Call no later than 7:00 PM. 5 not /nɒt/ It is not snowing today. 6 now /naʊ/ Are you ready to go now? YOUTUBE.COM/ENGLISHWITHLUCY VOCABULARY © 7 so /səʊ/ She was so early for the party. 8 then /ðen/ We can't go back to how it was then. 9 very /ˈveri/ Dave was very angry after the meeting. 10 when /wen/ When will you be leaving? CONJUNCTIONS Conjunctions are a crucial part of speaking English fluently. Conjunctions allow us to link short, simplistic sentences into long, beautifully complex ideas. Conjunctions join together other words, clauses or phrases. Without conjunctions, reading would be painfully boring. No. Word Pronunciation Example weak - /ənd/ 1 and Clean your room and the bathroom! strong - /ænd/ /bɪˈkəz/ I can't come tonight because I have work in the 2 because /bɪˈkɒz/ morning. weak - /bət/ 3 but They don't have a size 3, but they do have a size 4. strong - /bʌt/ 4 if /ɪf/ She will cover for me if I stay late tomorrow. 5 or /ɔː(r)/ We can go to get Chinese or Indian - it's up to you. weak - /ðən/ 6 than I would rather stay at home than go to the nightclub. strong - /ðæn/ PREPOSITIONS Prepositions show how one noun in a sentence is related to another. Prepositions help to explain direction, time, location, and space. Without prepositions, we wouldn’t know where anything is! No. Word Pronunciation Example 1 about /əˈbaʊt/ I'll be there in about 5 minutes. weak - /ət/ 2 at Turn right at the end of the street. strong - /æt/ YOUTUBE.COM/ENGLISHWITHLUCY VOCABULARY © 3 by /baɪ/ My purse is by the dining room chair. weak - /fə(r)/ 4 for Is all of that for you? strong - /fɔː(r)/ weak - /frəm/ 5 from The present is from all of us. strong - /frɒm/ 6 in /ɪn/ Just put it in the box. weak - /ˈɪntə/ 7 into Put it into the fridge, not the oven. strong - /ˈɪntuː/ 8 on /ɒn/ The book is on the shelf. weak - /tə/ 9 to We're going to the fair today. strong - /tuː/ 10 with /wɪð/ Don't leave me with him. ARTICLES Prepositions show how one noun in a sentence is related to another. Prepositions help to explain direction, time, location, and space. Without prepositions, we wouldn’t know where anything is! No. Word Pronunciation Example weak - /ə/ 1 a A man came to see you today. strong - /eɪ/ weak - /ən/ 2 an Is that an orange on the sofa? strong - /æn/ weak - /ðə/ 3 the The new table looks wonderful! strong - /ðiː/ According to some sources, the Korean language has the most words listed in a standard dictionary with over 1,000,000 entries. YOUTUBE.COM/ENGLISHWITHLUCY VOCABULARY © Activity Choose the part of speech that best represents the underlined word in each sentence. 1) She knew that there were going to be a lot of people there - but 500? That's insanity! a. noun b. adjective c. verb 2) What time are we meeting tomorrow? a. noun b. article c. verb 3) I want all of you to write a letter to the prime minister requesting more funding. a. preposition b. adjective c. adverb 4) Should you be doing that right now? It doesn't look safe. a. auxiliary verb b. adverb c. verb 5) Leave your things by the door - you can get them later. a. noun b. preposition c. article 6) She will drive because you've had too much to drink! a. adverb b. preposition c. conjunction Choose the correct word to complete each sentence. 7) You ________ pick up the cake at noon on Monday. a. couldn't b. are c. can 8) Your husband cooks _________ cleans up afterwards? It sounds like you are living a dream! a. but b. and c. or 1) c 2) a 3) b 4) a 5) b 6) c 7) c 8) b The End YOUTUBE.COM/ENGLISHWITHLUCY VOCABULARY © 100 IMPORTANT ANTONYMS (B1-C1 LEVEL) In this lesson, we are exploring the world of opposites. You are going to learn over 100 new adjectives and antonyms to give your vocabulary skills a well- deserved boost. I will give you each word’s IPA transcription, definition and an example sentence so you feel confident learning these new terms. I’ve also created a quiz to test your comprehension skills! What are antonyms? Before we jump into a lesson all about antonyms, it’s important that you understand what they are. An antonym is a word that has the opposite meaning to another word. Think ‘happy’ and ‘sad’, ‘short’ and ‘tall’, but in this lesson, we’re breaking away from these common antonyms. Instead, we are going to have a look at some more advanced ones spanning from B1 to C1. In this lesson, I’ll give you an adjective and then tell you its antonym or antonyms because many words have more than one antonym. Keep in mind that some of the antonyms might be more advanced than the adjective I give you. I’ve also tried to weave in some mini-stories so you can see how these opposite words work together. B1-Level Antonyms 1 grateful /ˈɡreɪtfl / unappreciative /ˌʌnəˈpriːʃətɪv/ feeling or showing thanks not feeling or showing thanks Molly was extremely grateful when Tim Tim felt Molly was unappreciative when she helped her move house. forgot to thank him for his hard work. YOUTUBE.COM/ENGLISHWITHLUCY VOCABULARY © 2 amazed /əˈmeɪzd/ unimpressed /ˌʌnɪmˈprest/ greatly surprised or impressed not feeling admiration or respect June was amazed at the view from the Martha was unimpressed by the view, mountaintop. claiming she had seen better. 3 cheerful /ˈtʃɪəfl/ grumpy /ˈɡrʌmpi/ happy and optimistic bad-tempered and irritable My cousin is always cheerful in the I, for one, am typically quite grumpy before mornings. I’ve had my coffee. 4 private /ˈpraɪvət/ public /'pʌblɪk/ intended for a particular person or group, known to everyone not for people in general to know about Her uncle, Mark, on the other hand, is an Lucile prefers to keep her life private. open book and lives a very public life. 5 rough /rʌf/ smooth /smuːð/ having an uneven surface evenly flat or level Once the road was resurfaced, it became The road by our house was so rough that smooth, and now it’s my favourite road to driving became a challenge. drive on. YOUTUBE.COM/ENGLISHWITHLUCY VOCABULARY © 6 qualified /ˈkwɒlɪfaɪd/ competent or knowledgeable enough to perform a job Janet is highly qualified for her role in finance and feels confident at work. incompetent /ɪnˈkɒmpɪtənt/ unfit /ʌnˈfɪt/ not having the skills to do something well not suitable or qualified Her former boss thought she was unfit for But for many years, she was incompetent her previous position, leading to her and often made many errors. dismissal. 7 fascinating /ˈfæsɪneɪtɪŋ/ dull /dʌl/ extremely interesting not interesting Paul is an absolute history buff and finds Unfortunately, his daughter thinks his ‘fun all things history fascinating. history facts’ are incredibly dull. 8 shy /ʃaɪ/ outgoing /ˌaʊtˈɡəʊɪŋ/ nervous or timid in social situations sociable and eager to meet people I’ve always been shy and prefer smaller Unlike me, my sister is quite outgoing, gatherings. making new friends wherever she is. 9 basic /ˈbeɪsɪk/ elaborate /ɪˈlæbərət/ YOUTUBE.COM/ENGLISHWITHLUCY  VOCABULARY © very simple detailed and complicated This recipe for banana bread is fairly basic A more elaborate version of the recipe but delicious. includes exotic spices. 10 proud /praʊd/ humble /ˈhʌmbl/ feeling deep pleasure or satisfaction as a not having or showing feelings of result of achievements superiority In contrast, her colleague, Ben, is extremely Carla is proud of her accomplishments and humble and downplays his achievements to doesn’t forget to celebrate her small wins. a fault. 11 brave /breɪv/ cowardly /ˈkaʊədli/ showing courage and fearlessness lacking courage or resolution His actions were those of a cowardly man, It was very brave of you to stop that man especially when he tried to deny the whole from stealing my bag. thing. 12 generous /ˈdʒenərəs/ selfish /ˈselfɪʃ/ willing to give more of something, lacking consideration for others; especially money or time, than is strictly concerned chiefly with one's own personal necessary or expected profit or pleasure My mum is very generous, always My father can be rather selfish and doesn’t volunteering and donating to charity. often think about others. YOUTUBE.COM/ENGLISHWITHLUCY  VOCABULARY © 13 obvious /ˈɒbviəs/ unclear /ˌʌnˈklɪə/ easily perceived or understood not easy to understand I thought it was so obvious that Max was But after reading the messages he sent you, into you! it's rather unclear. 14 calm /kɑːm/ feeling a sense of peace Sophie remained calm during the heated debate, effortlessly making her points. frenzied /ˈfrenzid/ or /ˈfrenziːd/ agitated /ˈædʒɪteɪtɪd/ wildly excited or uncontrolled feeling or appearing troubled or nervous In contrast, her opponent became frenzied, Even after the debate ended, he still raising his voice and speaking rapidly. appeared agitated, unable to relax. 15 standard /ˈstændəd/ unconventional /ˌʌnkənˈvenʃənl/ conforming to established norms not based on what is generally done The doctor described the procedure as However, he stated that there was a new being quite standard and following all approach that was unconventional but normal guidelines. more effective. 16 tight /taɪt/ loose /luːs/ YOUTUBE.COM/ENGLISHWITHLUCY  VOCABULARY © firmly held in place not securely held in place I made sure the knot on my son’s shoe was 30 minutes later, the knot became loose tight and secure before he ran off to play. again and needed retying. 17 confident /ˈkɒnfɪdənt/ uncertain /ʌnˈsɜːtn/ certain of oneself or of an outcome not sure Roger was confident he would get the lead I was uncertain about his chances after role in the Christmas pantomime. seeing his dreadful audition. YOUTUBE.COM/ENGLISHWITHLUCY  VOCABULARY © B2-Level Antonyms 18 aggressive /əˈɡresɪv/ passive /ˈpæsɪv/ confrontational and assertive accepting without resistance His colleague Brenda adopts a passive James's aggressive negotiating style often approach during business dealings, never puts others off. voicing her ideas or concerns. 19 anxious /ˈæŋkʃəs/ relaxed /rɪˈlækst/ worried and tense free from tension and anxiety We all felt anxious about the coming exam, But come exam day, we all felt shockingly constantly reviewing our notes when we relaxed because of our excessive studying. had downtime. 20 dishonest /dɪsˈɒnɪst/ truthful /ˈtruːθfl/ not honest honest and straightforward When their father got involved, the children My neighbour's children were decidedly suddenly became truthful, admitting that dishonest when I questioned them about they had indeed broken the window while my broken window. playing cricket in the garden. 21 confusing /kənˈfjuːzɪŋ/ straightforward /ˌstreɪtˈfɔːwəd/ difficult to understand easy to understand YOUTUBE.COM/ENGLISHWITHLUCY  VOCABULARY © The lecture was so confusing that even the Luckily, the professor's clarifications were brightest students were left scratching their straightforward, instantly clearing up the heads. confusion. 22 dramatic /drəˈmætɪk/ striking or sensational in appearance or effect The sunset was dramatic, painting the sky in vivid hues. understated /ˌʌndəˈsteɪtɪd/ mundane /mʌnˈdeɪn/ appearing or expressed in a subtle way ordinary and dull The following morning had an understated My daily commute on the underground felt beauty, with soft light illuminating the mundane compared to the spectacle of horizon. nature I’d witnessed. 23 offensive /əˈfensɪv/ causing someone to feel hurt or upset Carlo is a popular comedian whose jokes are so offensive that people often walk out of his shows. inoffensive /ˌɪnəˈfensɪv/ pleasant /ˈpleznt/ not causing offence or harm giving a sense of happy satisfaction He decided to change his routine, and his His entire set turned out to be quite opening act was surprisingly inoffensive, pleasant. appealing to a broader audience. YOUTUBE.COM/ENGLISHWITHLUCY  VOCABULARY © 24 desperate /ˈdespərət/ or hopeful /ˈhəʊpfl/ /ˈdesprət/ feeling or showing a hopeless sense that a situation is so bad it's almost impossible feeling optimistic about a future event to deal with Out of work and low on funds, Joanne felt However, after a promising job interview, desperate. she became hopeful. 25 steady /ˈstedi/ shaky /ˈʃeɪki/ not firm or securely fixed; likely to move or not moving; held firmly in place break The surgeon's steady hand was crucial The intern's shaky hand made everyone during the delicate operation. nervous. 26 accurate /ˈækjərət/ free from error, especially conforming to fact or truth The journalist prided herself on providing accurate information. incorrect /ˌɪnkəˈrekt/ erroneous /ɪˈrəʊniəs/ not in accordance with fact; wrong wrong or false However, she published a rumour about a She had to issue an apology for publishing local politician that turned out to be the erroneous article before checking all of incorrect, damaging her reputation. the facts. YOUTUBE.COM/ENGLISHWITHLUCY  VOCABULARY © 27 optimistic /ˌɒptɪˈmɪstɪk/ hopeful and confident about the future Despite the setbacks, Roen remained optimistic about the project's success. pessimistic /ˌpesɪˈmɪstɪk/ negative /ˈneɡətɪv/ tending to see the worst aspect of things not hopeful or enthusiastic; expecting the or believe the worst will happen worst The negative atmosphere became a self- His team, however, were more pessimistic fulfilling prophecy, causing the project to and started looking for other opportunities. fail. 28 modest /ˈmɒdɪst/ not having or showing a high opinion of your own importance Despite her achievements, our CEO remained modest about her talents. arrogant /ˈærəɡənt/ pretentious /prɪˈtenʃəs/ attempting to impress by affecting greater having an exaggerated sense of one's own importance or merit than is actually importance or abilities possessed Our CFO, however, could definitely be His pretentious demeanour was off-putting, described as arrogant, often dismissing leading people to favour Emily's modest others' contributions. approach. YOUTUBE.COM/ENGLISHWITHLUCY  VOCABULARY © 29 temporary /ˈtemprəri/ lasting for only a limited period of time; not permanent Their housing arrangement was only temporary until she found something more stable. permanent /ˈpɜːmənənt/ enduring /ɪnˈdjʊərɪŋ/ lasting or intended to last indefinitely lasting over a long period; durable Their enduring friendship with her They eventually found a permanent home neighbours made the new place feel like where they felt secure and settled. home. 30 sincere /sɪnˈsɪə/ disingenuous /ˌdɪsɪnˈdʒenjuəs/ free from pretence or deceit; genuine lacking in sincerity or honesty Our new manager is sincere and very Our former boss was ultimately held straightforward with his expectations. accountable for his disingenuous actions. YOUTUBE.COM/ENGLISHWITHLUCY  VOCABULARY © C1-Level Antonyms 31 sceptical /ˈskeptɪkl/ doubting or questioning Anne was sceptical about the so-called 'miracle diet' Martina had recommended. credulous /ˈkredʒələs/ trusting /ˈtrʌstɪŋ/ ready to believe, especially with little willing to trust without suspicion evidence Anne is very trusting of her friend, but she Martina was known to be credulous, buying does her own research before believing into every health fad she heard about. anything. 32 hasty /ˈheɪsti/ done or acting with excessive speed or urgency Patricia is always hasty when she orders food. She just gets the first item on the menu. deliberate /dɪˈlɪbərət/ or cautious /ˈkɔːʃəs/ /dɪˈlɪbrət/ careful to avoid potential problems or done consciously and intentionally dangers Her friend Anna liked to take her time and Paul was more cautious and decided to make a deliberate choice after considering consult the waiter before ordering all the options. anything. YOUTUBE.COM/ENGLISHWITHLUCY  VOCABULARY © 33 resilient /rɪˈzɪliənt/ vulnerable /ˈvʌlnərəbl/ able to withstand or recover quickly from susceptible to physical or emotional harm difficult conditions Her partner, Richard, was emotionally Despite losing her job, Emily remained vulnerable and found it hard to adjust to resilient and started her own business. the new challenges. 34 candid /ˈkændɪd/ deceptive /dɪˈseptɪv/ giving an appearance or impression truthful and straightforward different from the true one I try to be candid with all of my clients so Unfortunately, my boss prefers a more they know exactly what to expect from our deceptive approach in order to boost sales. products. 35 infallible /ɪnˈfæləbl/ incapable of making mistakes or being wrong Sue believed her strategy was infallible and would guarantee success. unreliable /ˌʌnrɪˈlaɪəbl/ imperfect /ɪmˈpɜːfɪkt/ not able to be relied upon not perfect; faulty or incomplete Steve, however, was rather unreliable, The strategy itself turned out to be missing key deadlines that put the plan at imperfect once Sue realised she was risk. missing several key components. YOUTUBE.COM/ENGLISHWITHLUCY  VOCABULARY © 36 coherent /kəʊˈhɪərənt/ disjointed /dɪsˈdʒɔɪntɪd/ logical and consistent lacking a coherent sequence or connection Jane's argument was coherent and Her opponent's rebuttal was disjointed and persuasive, winning over the audience. failed to counter her points effectively. 37 tangible /ˈtændʒəbl/ abstract /ˈæbstrækt/ existing in thought or as an idea but not clearly exists or can be physically felt having a physical or concrete existence The tangible benefits of the new policy However, its abstract goals, like employee were felt immediately, with increased satisfaction, were harder to measure. wages and improved working conditions. 38 erratic /ɪˈrætɪk/ not even or regular in pattern or movement Mike's erratic behaviour made it difficult to anticipate his next move. consistent /kənˈsɪstənt/ predictable /prɪˈdɪktəbl/ unchanging in nature, standard or effect able to be predicted over time Not surprisingly, her predictable schedule His wife, however, was consistent and made it easier for everyone to coordinate always followed the same daily routine. with her. YOUTUBE.COM/ENGLISHWITHLUCY  VOCABULARY © 39 profound /prəˈfaʊnd/ very great or intense; having deep insight or understanding Megan's presentation had a profound impact on how her community viewed recycling. shallow /ˈʃæləʊ/ superficial /ˌsuːpəˈfɪʃl/ lacking depth of intellect, emotion or existing or occurring at or on the surface knowledge She took on many of the shallow Luckily, most of the community agreed that arguments made against her stance. the counterarguments were just superficial. 40 robust /rəʊˈbʌst/ feeble /ˈfiːbl/ lacking physical strength, especially as a strong and healthy; vigorous result of age or illness Despite his advanced age, Graham remains He always feared becoming a feeble old robust, walking three miles every day. man, but he’s not slowing down yet. 41 minimal /ˈmɪnɪml/ of a minimum amount, quantity or degree The damage was minimal, thanks to the quick response of emergency services. extensive /ɪkˈstensɪv/ abundant /əˈbʌndənt/ YOUTUBE.COM/ENGLISHWITHLUCY  VOCABULARY © existing or available in large quantities covering or affecting a large area (typically more positive) Luckily, abundant help was available as The neighbouring city wasn't so lucky and the community pulled together to assist in suffered extensive damage from the storm. the clean-up. 42 absurd /əbˈsɜːd/ wildly unreasonable, illogical or inappropriate It seemed absurd that someone would abandon their brand new phone on the bus. logical /ˈlɒdʒɪkl/ sensible /ˈsensəbl/ of or according to the rules of logic or able to make good judgments based on formal argument wisdom However, any sensible person would have On second thoughts, it is logical to assume checked their pockets before getting off the someone had simply lost it. bus. 43 cooperative /kəʊˈɒpərətɪv/ or obstructive /əbˈstrʌktɪv/ /kəʊˈɒprətɪv/ involving mutual assistance in working causing or tending to cause difficulties and towards a common goal delays One team member seemed to be The team was cooperative and completed deliberately obstructive, constantly the project ahead of schedule. throwing up barriers to progress. YOUTUBE.COM/ENGLISHWITHLUCY  VOCABULARY © 44 eager /ˈiːɡə/ wanting to do or have something very much Ben was eager to start his new job and make a good impression. apathetic /ˌæpəˈθetɪk/ indifferent /ɪnˈdɪfrənt/ showing or feeling no interest, enthusiasm having no particular interest or sympathy; or concern unconcerned They just went about their business, His co-workers appeared to be quite indifferent to the fact that Ben was even apathetic and didn’t share his enthusiasm. there. 45 overwhelming /ˌəʊvəˈwelmɪŋ/ manageable /ˈmænɪdʒəbl/ able to be managed, controlled or very great in amount; overpowering accomplished without great difficulty The first week at university was However, after settling in, he found the overwhelming for Leon, with so many new coursework to be quite manageable. experiences and challenges. 46 trivial /ˈtrɪviəl/ significant /sɪɡˈnɪfɪkənt/ of little value or importance important Many thought the debate was focused on In contrast, the subsequent discussion trivial matters that diverted attention from addressed significant topics that mattered real issues. to the community. YOUTUBE.COM/ENGLISHWITHLUCY  VOCABULARY © 47 persistent /pəˈsɪstənt/ continuing firmly or obstinately in a course of action in spite of difficulty or opposition Though Raul and his kids had never built a tree house, they remained persistent in their efforts. inconsistent /ˌɪnkənˈsɪstənt/ sporadic /spəˈrædɪk/ not staying the same throughout occurring at irregular intervals Their sporadic bursts of energy and interest Unsurprisingly, his kids’ dedication to in everything other than the tree house getting the project done was inconsistent. meant that Raul was alone to finish the task. YOUTUBE.COM/ENGLISHWITHLUCY VOCABULARY © QUIZ! Choose the correct answer for each question. 1) The CEO's decision to donate a large 6) The hotel offered __________ services sum to charity was considered like a personal butler and a private jet. __________. a. standard a. selfish b. unconventional b. generous c. tight c. basic 2) Harry's __________ actions during the 7) David was extremely __________ when fire saved everyone in the building. a stranger returned his lost wallet. a. cowardly a. grateful b. shy b. unappreciative c. brave c. rough 3) Even after reviewing the evidence, 8) The keynote speaker's talk was Clara was still __________ about what to __________, with every point logically believe. connected to the next. a. confident a. disjointed b. uncertain b. coherent c. grateful c. rough 9) My son was being ________ when he 4) Despite her achievements, Ella lied to me about taking the biscuits. remained __________. a. dishonest a. humble b. arrogant b. pretentious c. truthful c. fascinating 10) The recipe is quite __________, so it 5) She was __________ when she heard shouldn't take too long to make. she didn't get the job. a. elaborate a. fascinated b. temporary b. dull c. basic c. disappointed The End! 1) b 2) c 3) b 4) a 5) c 6) b 7) a 8) b 9) a 10) c YOUTUBE.COM/ENGLISHWITHLUCY VOCABULARY © 50 IMPORTANT PHRASAL VERBS In this lesson, you will learn 50 of the most common phrasal verbs. I’ve prepared 5 short stories for you to see how these phrasal verbs are used in context. This way, you can learn how to use them in real-life situations. I will give you their meanings, transcriptions and example sentences, too. I’ve also included additional vocabulary to ensure you understand each story. Don't forget to take the quiz at the end to see how much you've learnt! Emily’s First Job Way back in my uni days, my best friend, Emily, started her first job as a waiter in a bustling café. Nervous but determined, she decided to look up some tips while sitting on the bus to work. Just as she was starting to relax, the bus suddenly broke down. She quickly got off the bus and shot off on foot. Her new colleague, Sarah, helped her calm down and get on with her duties. Emily came across challenging customer after challenging customer, but she managed to keep her cool. Sarah's guidance was invaluable as she continued to look after Emily throughout her shift. During the busy lunch rush, Emily knocked over a tray of glasses onto her phone. Her phone went black and wouldn’t turn on. As the day came to an end, Emily felt a sense of relief. What a day! PHRASAL VERBS (t) - A transitive phrasal verb requires a (i) - An intransitive phrasal verb does (s) - A separable phrasal verb allows the direct object, which shows who or what not require a direct object. Intransitive object to go between the main verb and receives the action in a sentence. phrasal verbs cannot be separated. the particle or after the particle. 1. to look up (t-s) /ˌlʊk ˈʌp/ - to search for information or advice She looked up the recipe online before attempting to bake the cake. 2. to break down (i) /ˌbreɪk ˈdaʊn/ - to stop functioning or fail suddenly Unfortunately, my car broke down on my way out of town. YOUTUBE.COM/ENGLISHWITHLUCY VOCABULARY © 3. to get off (t) /ˌɡet ˈɒf/ - to leave or exit from a vehicle or transportation We need to get off at the next station. 4. to shoot off (i) /ˌʃuːt ˈɒf/ - to move quickly or suddenly As soon as the bell rang, the children shot off towards the playground. 5. to calm down (i, t -s) /ˌkɑːm ˈdaʊn/ - to become less anxious or agitated I always try to take a deep breath to calm down before giving a presentation. 6. to get on with (sth.) (t) /ˌɡet ˈɒn wɪð ˈsʌmθɪŋ/ - to continue with a task or activity, especially after an interruption Right, that's enough TV - time to get on with your homework, 7. to come across (t) /ˌkʌm əˈkrɒs/- to encounter or find a person or thing unexpectedly You won’t believe who I came across at the bookshop today! 8. to look after (t) /ˌlʊk ˈɑːftə/ - to take care of or provide assistance to someone Jane will look after the children while we’re at dinner. 9. to knock over (t-s) /ˌnɒk ˈəʊvə/ - to accidentally cause something to fall or tip over The strong wind knocked over many of the newly planted trees in the park. 10. to turn on (i, t-s) /ˌtɜːn ˈɒn/ - to activate or start a device or appliance Can you turn on the heater? It’s freezing in here! This is an ergative verb. It can be transitive and intransitive. EXTRA VOCABULARY bustling adj /ˈbʌslɪŋ/ - full of busy activity The market was bustling with shoppers preparing for the festival. to keep one’s cool phr /kiːp wʌnz kuːl/ - to remain calm and composed, especially in a stressful situation Even when the meeting became intense, Maria kept her cool. invaluable adj /ɪnˈvæljuəbl/ - extremely useful or valuable Phil’s advice was invaluable to the success of our project. YOUTUBE.COM/ENGLISHWITHLUCY VOCABULARY © lunch rush phr /ˈlʌnʧ rʌʃ/ - the period during lunchtime when restaurants and cafes are especially busy We should avoid going out during the lunch rush if we want a quiet meal. Arthur’s Tea Shop Now I want to tell you about the time my cousin, Arthur, decided to set up a charming little tea shop in our hometown. He was known for whipping up tasty scones and aromatic brews. However, when he applied for a loan, the bank manager turned him down, believing his venture wouldn't work out. Despite this minor setback, Arthur refused to give up on his dream. Focused on proving them wrong, he took on the challenge of transforming our grandmother's dilapidated cottage into a delightful tearoom. He dusted off some old family recipes, figured out the perfect blend of teas and even caught up on the latest baking trends. As the grand opening day approached, villagers started to queue outside his tearoom, eager to taste his treats. Arthur had truly turned the tables on his doubters. His tearoom became a thriving success, and even the bank manager had to eat humble pie when he came to enjoy a cuppa. Arthur never missed the chance to offer his doubters a treat when they came by as opposed to telling them off. He made sure not to faff about when it came to achieving his dreams. PHRASAL VERBS 11. to set up (t-s) /ˌset ˈʌp/ - to establish or create something, like a business or organisation Sarah decided to set up a charity to help underprivileged children in her community. YOUTUBE.COM/ENGLISHWITHLUCY VOCABULARY © 12. to whip up (t-s) /ˌwɪp ˈʌp/ - to quickly and skillfully prepare something, usually food My mum used to whip up the most delicious pasta in just a few minutes. 13. to turn down (t-s) /ˌtɜːn ˈdaʊn/ - to reject an offer, request or opportunity Unfortunately, we've had to turn down several incredible job applicants due to budget constraints. 14. to work out (i) /ˌwɜːk ˈaʊt/ - to have a positive outcome I haven't found a publisher for my book yet, but I'm sure it'll all work out. Adding ‘on’ makes 15. to give up (on) (i, t) /ˌɡɪv ˈʌp/ - to quit or stop trying, the action more usually due to difficulties or challenges targeted, requiring the use of an object. After hours of trying to solve the puzzle, she finally gave up. 16. to take on (t-s) /ˌteɪk ˈɒn/ - to accept a responsibility or challenge Mark was eager to prove himself to the higher-ups and quickly agreed to take on the team leader role. 17. to dust off (t-s)/ˌdʌst ˈɒf/ - to revive or reuse something neglected or forgotten Ali decided it was time to dust off the guitar he bought as a teenager and learn to play once and for all. 18. to figure out (t-s) /ˌfɪɡə(r) ˈaʊt/ - to find a solution to a problem or discover a way to do something He read the instructions several times but still couldn't figure out how to assemble the bookshelf. 19. to catch up (on) (i, t) /ˌkætʃ ˈʌp/ - to get up to date or reach the same level as others When we use ‘on’ we After missing a few classes, Lisa needed to catch up on her need a direct object. coursework. 20. to tell off (t-s) /ˌtel ˈɒf/ - to scold or reprimand someone for their behaviour or actions We sat in silence as Ms Langford told Rachel off for being 10 minutes late to class. YOUTUBE.COM/ENGLISHWITHLUCY VOCABULARY © 21. to faff about (i) /ˌfæf əˈbaʊt/ - to waste time or engage in unproductive activities Instead of studying for his exams, Tom would often faff about on social media. EXTRA VOCABULARY scone n /skɒn/ - a small, round and usually slightly sweetened bread or cake, often served with tea She baked fresh scones and served them with clotted cream and jam. aromatic adj /ˌærəˈmætɪk/ - having a strong and pleasant smell The kitchen was filled with the aromatic scent of roasted garlic. loan n /ləʊn/ - an amount of money that is borrowed, usually from a bank and has to be paid back They took out a loan to buy their first house. venture n /ˈventʃə/ - a risky or daring journey or undertaking Starting his own business was a big venture for him. dilapidated adj /dɪˈlæpɪdeɪtɪd/ - (of a building or object) in a state of disrepair or ruin due to age or neglect They decided to renovate the dilapidated old mansion. to turn the tables idiom /tɜːn ðə ˈteɪblz/ - to reverse a situation, making one's own position stronger and the opponent's weaker The underdog team turned the tables in the second half and won the game. to eat humble pie idiom /iːt ˈhʌmbl paɪ/ - to admit one's mistake and apologise After doubting her solution, he had to eat humble pie when she was proven right. to come by phr v /kʌm baɪ/ - (AmE) to visit a place or person quickly I will come by your house later to get the books. YOUTUBE.COM/ENGLISHWITHLUCY VOCABULARY © My Childhood Dream Have I ever told you about how I’d dreamt of becoming a professional violinist when I was younger? When I brought up my interest in the violin to my parents, they got me a beginner violin to practise with. But I always struggled to nail the right fingerings and bow technique. One day, I met an older woman named Isabella, who was a fantastic violinist. Her passion for music rubbed off on me instantly. Luckily, she took me under her wing and taught me a lot. As the years went by, I began to lose interest in the violin, and I cut back on how much I was playing. It felt like I was letting Isabella down and my own dreams. I contemplated giving it up altogether. It was a difficult decision to make, but I decided to call off my pursuit of becoming a professional musician. I sorted out my priorities and decided the best decision was to give up so I could pursue whatever truly made me happy. I found a new path in life, and I looked forward to all that life had in store for me. In the end, the lessons I learnt from Isabella about passion, determination and following one's heart paid off in ways I couldn't have imagined. Life can be funny, but it always turns out exactly as it’s supposed to. PHRASAL VERBS 22. to bring up (t-s) /ˌbrɪŋ ˈʌp/ - to mention or introduce a topic or subject in conversation Sarah decided not to bring up the fact that she was moving out of the country during the family dinner. 23. to rub off (on/onto sb.) (i, t) /ˌrʌb ˈɒf (ɒn/ˈɒntu)/ - to have a positive influence on someone, causing them to adopt certain qualities or habits YOUTUBE.COM/ENGLISHWITHLUCY VOCABULARY © Her enthusiasm for volunteering began to rub off on her friends, inspiring them to join, too. 24. to go by (i) /ˌɡəʊ ˈbaɪ/ - to pass or elapse The years seemed to go by quickly as she watched her children grow up. 25. to cut back (on sth.) (i, t) /ˌkʌt ˈbæk (/ɒn ˈsʌmθɪŋ/) - to reduce something I need to cut back on the amount of money I spend on takeaways. 26. to let down (t-s) /ˌlet ˈdaʊn/ - to disappoint or fail to meet someone's expectations Marion says she will be here tomorrow - she won't let me down, will she? 27. to call off (t-s) /ˌkɔːl ˈɒf/ - to cancel or terminate an event, plan or activity Due to bad weather, they had to call off the outdoor picnic and reschedule it. 28. to sort out (t-s) /ˌsɔːt ˈaʊt/ - to resolve or organise a situation or problem I've got to sort out the plumbing issue in the kitchen; it's becoming quite a nuisance. 29. to look forward to (t) /ˌlʊk ˈfɔːwəd tuː/ - to anticipate or be excited about a future event or experience The whole family looks forward to the annual reunion; it's the highlight of the year! 30. to pay off (i) /ˌpeɪ ˈɒf/ - to yield positive results or success as a result of hard work Putting effort into your studies now will pay off in the long run. 31. to turn out (i) /ˌtɜːn ˈaʊt/ - to result or develop in a particular way, often unexpectedly Despite initial doubts, the project turned out to be a great success. EXTRA VOCABULARY fingering n /ˈfɪŋɡərɪŋ/ - the placement of the fingers on the strings of a stringed instrument to produce the correct notes Proper fingerings are crucial for playing the piece accurately. YOUTUBE.COM/ENGLISHWITHLUCY VOCABULARY © to take someone under one’s wing idiom /teɪk ˈsʌmwʌn ˈʌndə wʌnz wɪŋ/ - to guide, protect or mentor someone When I was a new employee, Mrs Thompson took me under her wing. to contemplate v /ˈkɒntəmpleɪt/ - to think deeply or carefully about something He sat by the window, contemplating his life choices. pursuit n /pəˈsjuːt/ - the action of chasing or seeking something My younger sister travelled the world in pursuit of her dreams. to have in store phr /həv ɪn stɔː/ - to have something planned or ready for someone or for the future You never know what life has in store for you. A Love Gone Wrong Now, let me tell you the juicy story of Tom and Elizabeth. They were inseparable throughout sixth form and were the envy of all their peers. But in our final year, something changed dramatically. Their relationship, once unbreakable, suddenly fell apart in the most public way possible, right in the common room. It was quite ugly, with harsh words exchanged and tears shed. Despite their friends' encouragement to make up, they couldn't come up with a way to reconcile. It seemed like their love had withered, replaced by bitterness and resentment. Tom, always the stubborn one, insisted on maintaining his distance. On the other hand, Elizabeth desperately wanted to take back what she’d said and rekindle what