Effective English Phrases for Everyday Social Situations

Common Social Situations and Appropriate Responses

Practical English Dialogues for Daily Life

• Meeting a cousin after 10 years: "It's been ages since we last saw each other. It's amazing, you haven't changed!"
• Justifying low marks to your parents: "Remember I was ill with swine flu and missed two school weeks."
• Arriving at a closed cinema: "Let's go somewhere else; what about the amusement arcade?"
• Advising a friend against copying homework: "If you copy it from the internet, you won't learn anything. That's good for nothing."
• Asking a friend to remove an unauthorized photo: "You had no permission; remove my photo immediately!"
• Explaining why you didn't catch any fish: "There was a sign in the river warning of toxic spills, so I decided to buy you some fish and chips instead!"
• Explaining what a "spa" is to a child: "A spa is a place with pools where you can relax."
• Explaining why you dislike Christmas: "Christmas is the holiday for consumerism."
• Giving advice to someone afraid of flying: "You should be positive; maybe a sleeping tablet can help."
• Declining a dance from a stranger: "Sorry, but my boyfriend/girlfriend is right there."
• Asking a neighbor to lower the music: "Sorry, but the music is too loud. I can't sleep. Please turn the volume down."
• Setting conditions for giving sweets: "OK, I'll give you some sweets if you finish your homework first."
• Sharing summer holiday plans: "I am going to spend the whole summer studying English in Ireland."
• Suggesting an activity for Peace Day: "Why don't we sing 'Imagine' by John Lennon?"