Sounding natural

English course · B2 · Upper intermediate · 6 short videos

Goal — I can make small talk and sound natural and friendly.

Grammar — question tags (isn't it? aren't you?), softeners (kind of, sort of, a bit), answering negative questions

Words — lovely, finally, sun, Londoner, nicest, decision, offer, office, six months, flights, kind of, sort of

The videos of this unit

The most British conversation ever.

Lily Lovely day, isn't it?

Mia It is! Finally some sun.

Lily You're not from here, are you?

Mia No, I'm from the US. But I've been here for years now.

Lily Well, you sound like a real Londoner.

Mia That's the nicest thing anyone's ever said to me.

Useful expression Lovely day, isn't it? — Small talk: the tag “isn't it?” invites the other person to agree.

Mia has decided.

Mia So… I've made a decision.

Zoe You're going to New York, aren't you?

Mia Kind of. Tom offered me the New York office, but only for six months.

Zoe Six months? I can live with that.

Mia And I'm sort of hoping you'll visit.

Zoe I've already looked at flights.

Useful expression You're going to New York, aren't you? — Use a question tag to check what you think is true.

The secret of natural English.

Word kind of /ˈkaɪndə/ — A little, not completely. It makes what you say softer.

Yes or no? The answer that confuses everyone.

Common mistake ~~“You don't like coffee, do you?” “Yes.”~~ → No, I don't. I hate coffee.

Why: In English, answer the fact, not the question. Like it? “Yes, I do.” Don't like it? “No, I don't.” Always add the short answer.

Sure or not sure?

Word isn't it. / isn't it?

B2 final quiz: 5 questions!