Essential English Vocabulary and Grammar for Communication

Essential English Vocabulary

Everyday Expressions and Phrases

• Atheist: Atheist
• Back up: Reinforce
• Biased: Prejudiced
• Brilliant: Genius
• Broadband: Broadband
• Broadsheet: Broadcast
• Casualty: Victim
• Censorship: Censorship
• Come out: Emerge
• Concerned about: Worried about
• Condone: Approve
• Concentrate on: Focus on
• Cope with: Handle
• Cover up: Conceal
• Crack down on: Take measures against
• Demonstration: Protest
• Deny: Refuse
• Die out: Disappear
• Different from: Different than
• Draw: Tie
• Dubbed: Called
• Economic downturn: Recession
• Fake: False
• Fall for something: Be deceived by something
• Forecast: Prediction
• Foreign correspondent: Foreign correspondent
• Frown on: Disapprove of
• Fussy about: Picky about
• Go ahead: Proceed
• Go bald: Lose hair
• Go down well: Be well received
• Go for a run: Run
• Go on strike: Strike
• Go smoothly: Go well
• Go to great lengths: Do everything possible
• Grateful to: Thankful to
• Hear about/of: Learn about
• Hoax: Practical joke
• Keen on: Enthusiastic about
• Launch: Release
• Left Wing: Left-wing
• Live coverage: Live broadcast
• Live off: Depend on financially
• Make up: Invent
• Obsessed with: Fixated on
• Outbreak: Sudden occurrence
• Own up: Confess
• Point out: Indicate
• Pretend: Act as if
• Rave review: Excellent review
• Reckon: Believe
• Rely on: Depend on
• Responsible for: Accountable for
• Sceptical about: Skeptical about
• Search engine: Search engine
• See eye to eye: Agree
• Set a date: Schedule a date
• Set a good example: Be a role model
• Set a record: Establish a record
• Succeed in: Achieve success in
• Suitable for: Appropriate for
• Tell tales: Spread rumors
• Tamper with: Interfere with
• Take over: Assume control
• Think of: Consider
• Tip: Gratuity
• Two-timer: Cheater
• Venue: Location
• Wind up: Annoy someone
• White lie: Harmless lie

Grammar Focus

Verbs Followed by Gerunds

Acknowledge, admit, advise, anticipate, appreciate, avoid, consider, defend, defer, delay, deny, detest, discuss, dislike, endure, enjoy, escape, excuse, feel like, finish, go, imagine, involve, keep, mention, mind, miss, need, omit, postpone, practice, prevent, quit, recall, recollect, recommend, regret, resent, resist, resume, risk, suggest, tolerate.

Verbs Followed by Gerund or Infinitive with a Change in Meaning

Forget, go on, regret, remember, stop, try.

Reported Speech and Verbs

Verb + Preposition + Infinitive (should)

• Remind: Don't forget to... (Request)
• Warn: It's dangerous to... (Warning)
• Invite: Would you like to...? (Invitation)

Verb + Infinitive

• Offer: I can help you with... (Offer to help)
• Promise: I will... (Promise)
• Decide: I have decided to... (Decision)

Gerund

• Apologize for: I'm sorry for... (Apology)
• Suggest: Let's... / Why don't we...? (Suggestion)
• Recommend: I recommend... (Recommendation)