200+ Common English Phrases & Idioms for Beginners

Question 1

10 Ways to Say Hello & Goodbye – Basic Phrases in English

Answer 1

1.Hello
2.Hi
3.(informal) Hey
4.Hi there
5.(informal) Howdy
6.Bye
7.Bye-bye
8.(informal) See ya later
9.Take care
10. Have a good one

Question 2

10 Informal Ways to Say Yes and No – English Basic Phrases

Answer 2

1.Yeah
2.Yup
3.Mm-hmm!
4.Uh-huh!
5.Sure!
6.Nope
7.Nah
8.Mm-mm
9.Uh-uh
10.No way

Question 3

10 Ways to Ask How Someone Is – Easy English Phrases

Answer 3

1.How are you?
2.How’s it going?
3.How ya doin’?
4.How are things?
5.How’s life?
6.How have you been?
7.How’s your family?
8.What’s up?
9.What’s new?
10. What have you been up to lately?

Question 4

10 Ways to Say How You Are – Beginner English Sentences

Answer 4

1.I’m fine, thanks. How about you?
2.Pretty good.
3.Not bad.
4.Great!
5.Couldn’t be better!
6.Can’t complain.
7.I’ve been busy.
8.Same as always.
9.Not so great.
10. Could be better.

Question 5

10 Ways to Say Thank You – Basic English Phrases for Beginners

Answer 5

1.Thanks.
2.Thanks a lot.
3.Thank you so much.
4.Thanks a million!
5.Thanks for your help. / Thanks for helping me.
6.I really appreciate it.
7.I’m really grateful.
8.That’s so kind of you.
9.I can’t thank you enough. (for extremely important things)
10. I owe you one.(this means you want/need to do a favor for the other person in the future)

Question 6

10 Ways to Respond to “Thank You” – English Expressions for Beginners

Answer 6

1.You’re welcome.
2.No problem.
3.No worries.
4.Don’t mention it.
5.My pleasure.
6.Anytime.
7.It was the least I could do.
8.Glad to help.
9.Sure!
10. Thank you. (use this when you ALSO have something to thank the other person for)

Question 7

5 English Phrases for Apologizing – Easy Phrases in English

Answer 7

1. I’m sorry that… [ex. I was so rude yesterday]
2. It’s my fault. (= I am taking responsibility for the problem)
3. Oops, sorry. (for very small problems)
   4.I should have… [ex. called you and told you I’d be late]
   5.(formal) I apologize for… [ex. the delay]

Question 8

5 Ways to Respond to an Apology – Easy English Phrases

Answer 8

1.That’s OK.
2.It happens.
3.No problem.
4.Don’t worry about it.
5.I forgive you.(for serious problems)

Question 9

10 Phrases for Introductions – Beginner English Phrases

Answer 9

1.I just wanted to introduce myself. I’m… [your name]
2.I don’t think we’ve met before. My name’s… [your name]
3.This is…
4.I’d like you to meet…
5.Have you met…?
6. I’d like to introduce you to…
7.Nice to meet you.
8.It’s a pleasure to meet you.
9.Likewise.
10. And you.
#1 and #2 are used to introduce yourself; #3-#6 are used to introduce someone else.
#9 and #10 can be used as a response to #7 and #8.

Question 10

6 Ways to Show Interest – Basic Expressions in English

Answer 10

1.Really?
2.That’s interesting.
3.Uh-huh.
4.Right.
5.Gotcha.
6.Sure.
You can use these phrases to show the other person that you are listening

Question 11

5 Ways to End a Conversation Politely – English Sentences for Beginners

Answer 11

1.It was nice chatting with you.
2.Well, it’s getting late.
3.Anyway, I should get going.
4.(formal) Sorry, but I’m afraid I need to…
5.I’m sorry to cut you off, but I actually gotta run. (cut you off = interrupt you)

Question 12

10 English Phrases for Telephone Calls – Common Phrases in English

Answer 12

1.Hi, this is Jane.
2.(formal) May I speak with John Smith?
3.(informal) Is John there?
4.I’m calling about…
5.I’m returning your call.
6.(formal) One moment, please.
7.(informal) Hang on a sec.
8.He’s not here. Would you like to leave a message?
9.Could you ask him to call me back?
10. Thanks for calling.

Question 13

10 Phrases English for Asking for Information

Answer 13

1.Can you tell me…?
2.Could you tell me…?
3.I’d like to know…
4.Do you know…
5.Do you have any idea…?
6.Could anyone tell me…?
(use this phrase when asking a group of people)
7.Would you happen to know…?
8.I don’t suppose you (would) know…?
9.I was wondering…
10. I’m calling to find out…
(use this phrase on the telephone)
Use #4, #5, #7, and #8 when you’re not sure if the other person has the information.

Question 14

5 Pharses Ways to Say “I don’t know” – Basic Phrases in English for Beginners

Answer 14

1.I have no idea/clue.
2.I can’t help you there.
3.(informal) Beats me.
4.I’m not really sure.
5.I’ve been wondering that, too

Question 15

10 English Phrases for Asking for Someone’s Opinion & Giving Your Opinion

Answer 15

1.What do you think about…?
2.How do you feel about…?
3.What’s your opinion of…?
4.What are your views on…?
5.In my opinion…
6. I’d say…
7.Personally, I think/believe…
8.If you ask me…
9.The way I see it…
10. From my point of view…

Question 16

5 English Phrases for Not Having an Opinion

Answer 16

1.I’ve never given it much thought.
2.I don’t have strong feelings either way.
3.It doesn’t make any difference to me.
4.I have no opinion on the matter.
5.(very informal) Whatever

Question 17

10 English Phrases for Agreeing – Beginner Phrases in English

Answer 17

1.Exactly.
2.Absolutely.
3.That’s so true.
4.That’s for sure.
5.I agree 100%
6.I couldn’t agree with you more.
7.That’s exactly what I think. / That’s exactly how I feel.
8.(informal) Tell me about it! / You’re telling me!
9.(informal) I’ll say!
10. I suppose so. (use this phrase for weak agreement – you agree, but reluctantly)
Note: Avoid the common error of saying “I’m agree” – the correct phrase is “I agree” or “I’m in agreement” – the second one is more formal.

Question 18

10 Common English Phrases for Disagreeing – Beginner Sentences in English

Answer 18

1.I don’t think so.
2.I beg to differ.
3.I’m afraid I don’t agree.
4.I’m not so sure about that.
5.That’s not how I see it.
6.Not necessarily.
7.Yes, but… [say your opinion]
8.On the contrary.
9.(very informal) No way!
10. (very strong) I totally disagree.

Question 19

5 English Phrases for Responding to Good News

Answer 19

1.Congratulations!
2.That’s great!
3.How wonderful!
4.Awesome!
5.I’m so happy for you!

Question 20

5 English Phrases for Responding to Bad News

Answer 20

1.Oh no…
2.That’s terrible.
3.Poor you. (Use this to respond to bad situations that are not too serious)
4.I’m so sorry to hear that.
5.I’m sorry for your loss. (Use this only if someone has died)

Question 21

10 English Phrases for Invitations

Answer 21

1.Are you free… [Saturday night?]
2.Are you doing anything… [Saturday night?]
3.Let me check my calendar.
4.(informal) Do you wanna… [see a movie?]
5.(formal) Would you like to… [join me for dinner?]
6.I’d love to!
7.Sounds great!
8.I’d love to, but I have another commitment.
9.I don’t think I can.
10. Maybe another time.

Question 22

5 Ways to Make & Respond to an Offer

Answer 22

1.(more formal) Would you like a drink?
2.(informal) Do you want some water?
3.Can I get you something to eat?
4.That’d be great, thanks. (= yes)
5.No, thanks. I’m OK. (= no)

Question 23

6 English Phrases for Talking About Future Plans

Answer 23

1.I’m going to…
2.I’m planning to…
3.I hope to…
4.I’d like to…
5.I might… / I may…
6.I’m thinking about…

Question 24

10 Ways to Talk about Likes & Dislikes

Answer 24

1.I love… [soccer]
2.I’m really into… [soccer]
3.I live for… [soccer]
4.[soccer] is my thing.
5.I’m crazy about… [soccer]
6.I’m not a huge fan of… [modern art]
7.[Modern art] isn’t my cup of tea.
8.I don’t really care for… [modern art]
9.I’m not into… [modern art]
10. I can’t stand… [modern art]

Question 25

5 Ways to Make a Suggestion

Answer 25

1.How about… [ex. trying something new]?
2.Why don’t you… [ex. talk to your boss]?
3.Maybe we should… [ex. do more research].
4.I’d recommend… [ex. going to the doctor].
5.Have you thought about… [ex. buying a new computer]?

Question 26

10 English Phrases for Asking/Talking about Jobs

Answer 26

1.Where do you work?
2.What do you do? / What do you do for a living?
3.I work at… [Microsoft].
4.I’m a/an… [accountant].
5.I’m unemployed. / I’m between jobs at the moment.
6.I’m looking for work.
7.I’m a stay-at-home mom/dad.
8.I run my own business.
9.I’m a freelance… [writer/designer/etc.]
10. I’m retired.

Question 27

10 English Phrases for Describing Relationships

Answer 27

10 English Phrases for Describing Relationships

Question 28

Basic English Phrases

Answer 28

Last but not least.
Little by little.
Let me go.
Let me be.
Long time no see.
Make yourself at home.
Make yourself comfortable.
My pleasure.
out of question
More recently,…
Make best use of
Nothing
Nothing at all
No choice
No hard feeling
Not a chance
Now or never
No way out/dead end
No more
Never say never
none of your business
No way
No problem
Not long ago
out of order
out of luck
One way or another
One thing lead to another
Piece of cake
Poor thing
out of the blue
out of touch
So?
So so
Stay in touch
So what?
Step by step
See?
Sooner or later
Shut up!
That’s all
Too good to be true
Too bad
The sooner the better
Take it or leave it
There is no denial that…
Viewed from different angles…
What is mentioning is that…
What is more dangerous,…
Well?
Well then
Who knows
Way to go
Why not ?
You see
No more, no less
No kidding?