Intervenant
Laurence Petoud Executve Assisan Formarice en Enreprise ECDL Exper
[email protected] http://fce-cae.blog4ever.com/
This support has been developed as part of my revisions for exams First Certificate in nglish.
!"" #ns$ers to Common nglish %uestions
&ometimes' even $hen you (no$ a lot of nglish' you can have difficulty finding the right $ords or phrases to ans$er simple )uestions. *ere are +" of the most common )uestions in nglish , each one $ith five sample responses. General Questions 1. What do you do? This question means “What is your job/profession?”
"":"" "":""
m a student.
$or( in a ban(.
m unemployed at the moment.
run my o$n business. The word “run” means you are the primary person responsible for operating the business.
m retired no$. used to be an engineer. “Retired” means you have stopped woring !usually after you are "# or "$ years old%. 2. Are you married?
"":"" "":""
es' ve been married for t$o years no$.
m divorced.
m engaged , $ere getting married next year.
0o' but m in a relationship.
0ope' m single. “&ope” is an informal way to say “&o.” 3. Why are you studying English?
"":"" "":""
For $or(.
&o can communicate $hen travel.
love learning ne$ languages.
1ecause d li(e to immigrate to the 2.&.
m thin(ing of studying in ngland. The 'orre't way is “thining of studying” and not “thining to study.” . Where!"o# did you learn English?
"":"" "":"" © L. Peoud - hps://.!ace"oo#.com/Cam"rid$eExamsPreparaton%re!&'pe("oo#mar# hp://!ce-cae.",o$ever.com
Pa$e )*+ 010)2+3.docx
too( classes for three years.
did an intensive course.
ve been studying on my o$n. (ou 'an also say “studying by myself.”
pic(ed it up from movies and songs. )n this 'onte*t+ “pi'ed it up” means “learned it 'asually.”
3y girlfriend taught me. $. What do you do in your %ree time?
"":"" "":""
dont have any free time
usually hang out $ith friends. “,ang out” means to spend time in an informal way.
go running a lot.
do volunteer $or(.
li(e reading and relaxing at home. &. What's the #eather li(e? ! "o#'s the #eather?
"":"" "":""
*ot and humid. “,umid” means there is a lot of water vapor in the air.
ts pouring , ta(e an umbrella. “-ouring” means raining very heavily.
# little chilly , you might $anna bring a 5ac(et. “hilly” means a little bit 'old.
6orgeous , a perfect summer day
ts )uite cold , ma(e sure to bundle up. “undle up” means to wear warm 'lothing for prote'tion against the 'old. ). What time is it? ! *o you have the time?
"":"" "":""
ts ten ocloc(.
ts half past four. This means “012#3
ts a )uarter to t$elve. “4 quarter” is 5$ minutes 6 so this means “5510$3
7et me chec( my phone.
&orry' dont (no$. +ho,,ing - +ocial Questions
© L. Peoud - hps://.!ace"oo#.com/Cam"rid$eExamsPreparaton%re!&'pe("oo#mar# hp://!ce-cae.",o$ever.com
Pa$e *+ 010)2+3.docx
. /an I hel, you? ! *o you need any hel,? This is a question that you might hear from an employee or salesperson in a store.
"":"" "":""
0o than(s' m 5ust bro$sing. “rowsing” means looing 'asually at the items.
es , do you have this in a larger si8e9
es , $here are the try-on rooms9 “Try7on rooms” means the pla'e where you 'an put on the 'lothes to see if they are the right si8e and if you lie them.
eah' can you tell me ho$ much this is9
eah' m loo(ing for something under ;". 0. "o#'s it going?
"":"" "":""
6reat Couldnt be better This means that everything is e*'ellent.
Fine. *o$ are things $ith you9
0ot bad. This means that things are 9:.
cant complain.
"":"" "":""
6reat 0ever better.
m all right.
7i(e need a vacation.
# little depressed. =eally a$ful. (ou 'an say you;re feeling “awful” for both physi'al and emotional pain. 11. "o# #as your day?
"":"" "":""
=eally good
© L. Peoud - hps://.!ace"oo#.com/Cam"rid$eExamsPreparaton%re!&'pe("oo#mar# hp://!ce-cae.",o$ever.com
Pa$e *+ 010)2+3.docx
>retty uneventful.
This means that nothing parti'ularly spe'ial or interesting happened during the day.
?ery productive.
&uper busy. # total nightmare.
4 “nightmare” is a terrible+ s'ary dream.
"":"" "":""
t $as fantastic.
t $as terrible.
t $asnt bad.
ts one of the best ve ever seen.
0o' didnt thin( it lived up to the hype. This means the movie was not as good as its publi'ity presented. 13. "o# #as the ,arty?
"":"" "":"" Cra8y , it $as absolutely pac(ed.
“-a'ed” means it was 'rowded= there were very many people there.
t $as a good time.
&mall' but fun.
There $as hardly anybody there.
1oring , couldnt $ait to get outta there. 1. /an you give me a hand? This means “'an you help me?” 6 often with a physi'al tas lie moving furniture or 'arrying a bo*.
"":"" "":""
f course
d be glad to.
Aill it ta(e long9
&ure , 5ust a sec. This means “just a se'ond” 6 you need the other person to wait one moment before you 'an help them.
&orry , m a bit busy at the moment. 1$. What have you een u, to lately?
© L. Peoud - hps://.!ace"oo#.com/Cam"rid$eExamsPreparaton%re!&'pe("oo#mar# hp://!ce-cae.",o$ever.com
Pa$e *+ 010)2+3.docx
This question means “What have you been doing re'ently?” 6 you 'an answer it in the present perfe't 'ontinuous.
"":"" "":""
ve been $or(ing a lot.
3ostly studying.
ve been ta(ing it easy. This means “rela*ing+ not doing anything intense or stressful.”
>lanning my summer vacation.
0othing much. 1&. What's the matter? This means “What;s the problem?” 6 you 'an as it to someone who appears sad or upset.
"":"" "":""
h' m 5ust having a rough day. 4 “rough day” means a diffi'ult+ bad day.
m not feeling so good.
5ust found out my mothers in the hospital. The phrasal verb “found out” means “dis'overed or heard some new information.”
d rather not tal( about it. This means “);d prefer not to tal about it.”
0othing' m fine. estaurant Questions 1). What #ould you li(e to drin(?
"":"" "":""
ced tea' please.
Bust $ater for me.
Ahat do you have9
Could $e see the $ine list9
0othing for me' than(s. 1. Are you ready to order? To “order” means to as the waiter/waitress for the food you want to eat.
"":"" "":""
0ot )uite , thin( $e need a little more time.
Ahat are the specials today9 “>pe'ials” are featured dishes that might also have a dis'ount.
© L. Peoud - hps://.!ace"oo#.com/Cam"rid$eExamsPreparaton%re!&'pe("oo#mar# hp://!ce-cae.",o$ever.com
Pa$e 1*+ 010)2+3.docx
es' ll have a Caesar salad and then the ba(ed chic(en $ith potatoes. The most 'ommon way to order food is to say “);ll have”
2h-huh. To start off' $ell split an order of nachos. “To start off” means you are ordering an appeti8er !small amount of food eaten before the main meal%. “>plit” means that two or more people will share/divide one order of food.
#lmost , 5ust have a couple of )uestions. 10. Is everything 45? While you are eating+ the waiter/waitress will often 'ome to your table and as this question to 'he' if you need anything.
"":"" "":""
es' everythings fine' than(s.
ts all delicious
Could $e have some more $ater' please9 “ould we have” is a polite way to as for something.
#ctually' m still $aiting for my side dish. 4 “side dish” is a small portion of food that a''ompanies the main meal.
To be honest' my food is (inda cold. Could you heat it up9 “To be honest” is a diplomati' way to introdu'e a 'omplaint or negative 'omment. 2. /an I get you anything else? The waiter/waitress will probably as you this after you have finished eating.
"":"" "":""
T$o decaf coffees' please. “
Bust the chec(' please. The “'he'” is the list of items and the total pri'e to pay.
Could have a loo( at the dessert menu9
ll have a slice of apple pie. 4 “sli'e” is a single pie'e of a pie+ 'ae+ or pi88a.
0o than(s , thin( $ere 5ust about done. - &ee more at: http://$$$.espressoenglish.net/!""-ans$ers-to-common-english)uestions/sthash.$DbsF"rd.dpuf
© L. Peoud - hps://.!ace"oo#.com/Cam"rid$eExamsPreparaton%re!&'pe("oo#mar# hp://!ce-cae.",o$ever.com
Pa$e +*+ 010)2+3.docx
