First Certificate useful writing and speaking expressions

Writing

 ESSAY - LINKING EXPRESSIONS

for the first point for further points for the last point conclusion
Firstly Next Last but not least In conclusion
To begin with then lastly to sum up
First of all secondly finally on balance
to conclude

 EMAIL / LETTER (FORMAL OR INFORMAL)

FORMAL INFORMAL
begining end begining end
I have received your I look forward to don’t forget to write well that’s all for now
letter dated 4th June hearing from you soon
Dear Sir/Madam → Yours faithfully it was great to get Best wishes
your email/letter
Dear Mr Smith/ Mrs Yours sincerely thanks for your Lots of love
Price → letter/email
I apologise for the This is just a quick Give my love to
delay in replying note to say (for email) everyone
To whom it may Dear Stefan,
concern
Hi Susan,

 Useful expressions for:

APOLOGISING
- Sorry about forgetting to tell you
- Please forgive me for making that mistake
- I would like to apologise for arriving so late (formal)
- It was silly of me to suggest that

REQUESTING INFORMATION
-Can you give me an idea when it¨ll finish
- I would be grateful if you could tell me the cost (formal)
- I´d like to know if you´ve got a spare ticket
- Could you let me know what time you´ll be here?

ADVISING
- My advice to you to is to consider it most carefully. (formal)
- It´d be a good idea to try again.
- I really think you should go somewhere else.
- If I were you, I´d tell her now.

CHANGING THE SUBJECT

 - That reminds me, it´s her birthday next week.
- By the way, what´s his name?
- With reference to the accommodation, there are certain changes.... (formal)
- Anyway, how´s life in general?

EXPRESSING SURPRISE
- Believe it or not, I´ve just won the lottery!
- Funnily enough, we were both at the same primary school.
- I was most surprised to discover that the price has risen. (formal)
- You´ll never believe this, but she´s his cousin!

EXPRESSING ENTHUSIASM
- It´s a really exciting place to go with friends!
- I think it´s great that everyone will be there!
- I´m delighted to hear you won a prize!
- I am extremely enthusiastic about learning Chinese. (formal)

 ARTICLE
Remember an article needs a title and should be written in an informal style. Try and write a question in
the first paragraph to attract the reader and use extreme adjectives to make it more interesting.

USE EXTREME ADJECTIVES

Adjective Extreme adjective

Small Tiny, minute, microscopic
Big Massive, huge, gigantic, giant
Tasty Delicious, mouth watering
Hot Boiling, warm,
Pretty Beautiful, gorgeous
Clean Spotless, flawless
Bad Terrible, awful, horrible
Tired Exhausted, overtired, fatigued, worn out
Good Wonderful, fantastic, excellent

 REPORT
 Remember a report needs a title and sub headings for each of the paragraphs and that it is a formal or
neutral writing

Introduction Description and Recommendations Conclusion

findings and suggestions
The aim of this report It has been sugges- I believe we should In conclusion
is to ted that
The report looks at There would seem to I (would) suggest To sum up
be
The purpose of this It would appear that I would recommend To conclude
report is to that
The report is inten- It is felt that I strongly recommend To summarise
ded to show that
The intention of this It is said to be My recommendation
report is to is that

 REVIEW

PRAISING
- It was one of the best....I have ever...
- The ..... was absolutely perfect, and ....
- We had (a pleasant/an enjoyable/a marvellous, etc) time at...
- I was pleased to see that.....
- It was a nice surprise to find that......
- ......was even better than we had expected

CRITICISING
- There should have been.....
- I thought there was going to be.... but there was only.....
- The advertisement said that .....but in fact....
- We were (rather) disappointed to find that....
- There weren´t enough.... to....

RECOMMENDING
- Anyone who likes....will really enjoy...
- Don´t miss the opportunity to....
- I´m sure everyone will fine... worth (listening to / visiting / trying, etc)
- If you get the chance to ..... (see it / buy one / go there etc,).... I would advise

ADVISING NOT TO DO
- I (would strongly) advise against (watching / reading / eating, etc.) this....
- My advice is to avoid this....and ......instead.
- I (would) suggest finding a better....than this, such as.....)

SPEAKING
 PART 1

USEFUL BASIC EXPRESSIONS

- To give an example: for example, for instance, like, such as,
- To give a reason: the reason is, because, so
- To add information: also, as well as that, and often,
- To ask for repetition: Pardon?, Could you say that again, please?, Sorry, I didn´t catch
that,

 PART 2

SAYING WHICH PICTURE YOU´RE TALKING ABOUT

- The picture at the top shows...
- In the second photo, there are....
- In the one at the bottom....
- They both show.....
- In both of them there are people....

GUESSING
- He seems/looks......
- He looks as if.....
- They look like.......
- They might/may/could be.....
- Perhaps/Maybe.....
- It´s probably....

COMPARING THE PICTURES

- I think the tennis players are fitter than the people in the exercise class.
- Playing tennis like that is more exciting than doing an exercise class.
- These people are moving much more quickly than those people.

CONTRASTING THE PICTURES

- Tennis is a competitive sport, but an exercise class isn´t .
- An exercise class is usually an indoor activity, while tennis is usually played outside.
- Those people are playing to win, whereas the others are doing it to get fit.
- They get paid for taking part. On the other hand, .......
- You need a proper court to play tennis. In contrast, you can do this kind of exercise
anywhere

SAYING WHICH YOU´D PREFER TO DO

- I prefer to.....
- I enjoy .......
- I´d rather......
- I find.....

 PART 3
 MAKING SUGGESTIONS
- How about....?
- Why don´t we....?
- Perhaps we should....?
- What do you think....?
- So shall we...... , then?

ASKING IF SOMEONE AGREES WITH YOU

- Don´t you think so?
- Would you agree?
- Wouldn´t you say so?
- Is that all right with you?
- Would you go along with that?

AGREEING WITH SOMEONE

- Right.
- I think so, too.
- That´s true.
- I completely agree with you.
- That´s a great idea.

DISAGREEING POLITELY WITH SOMEONE

- I´m no really sure about that.
- I think it might be better to.....
- I think I´d rather....
- I don´t really agree. I think.....
- I´m not so keen on....

GIVING REASONS FOR DISAGREEING

- That´s because....
- For one thing, ....(for another....)
- Well, the thing is....
- I think the problem is that....
- The main reason is that....

 PART 4

ASKING FOR AND GIVING OPINION

- What do you think about.....?
- What are your views about.....?
- How do you feel about......?
- Could you tell me your opinion/feelings on....?

GIVING OPINION
- I think/feel....
- I´d say that....
- It seems to me....
- In my opinion.....
- My own feeling/opinion is that ....

TRYING TO CHANGE SOMEONE´S OPINION

- Yes, but isn´t it possible that...?
- Yes, but on the other hand.....
- But don´t you think/feel that.....?
- Well, others might say....