Advanced English Vocabulary for Life, Culture, and Grammar

Posted on Nov 7, 2025 in English

Essential English Vocabulary and Grammar Patterns

Relationships and Personal Life

Dating and Breakups Expressions

  • Ask someone out
  • Be on the rebound
  • Be seeing someone
  • Be through (finished)
  • Break off a relationship
  • Cheat on someone
  • Dump a boyfriend/girlfriend
  • Fancy someone
  • Have a crush on someone
  • Have a date with someone
  • Have a row with someone (argument)
  • Hurt
  • On the rocks (in trouble)
  • Split up with someone
  • There are plenty more fish in the sea

Commitment and Relationship Challenges

  • Change your mind
  • Go stale (become uninteresting)
  • Go through a rough patch (difficult period)
  • Long-term relationship
  • Make a commitment
  • Run someone down (criticize)
  • Settle down (start a stable life)
  • Take someone for granted (undervalue them)
  • Ups and downs
  • Work through a problem (resolve by talking)
  • To get engaged (to commit to marriage)

Identity, Ownership, and Social Terms

  • Be your own man/woman
  • Have your own house
  • On (my, your, his, etc.) own (alone)
  • Own three flats (be the owner)
  • Owner, Ownership
  • A couple of questions
  • A happy couple
  • Love your partner
  • Work in pairs
  • Soulmate
  • Breadwinner
  • Harsh reality
  • Fate

Music, Concerts, and Common Expressions

Music Terminology

  • Band, Beat, Catchy
  • Chill out (relax)
  • I can’t get it out of my head
  • It makes me want to dance
  • Laid-back (tranquil)
  • Live, Lyrics, Performer
  • Relaxing, Singer-songwriter
  • Tune (melody)
  • Support band (opening act)

Concert Experiences

  • Brilliant
  • Get hold of tickets
  • Get rave reviews
  • Get to the front
  • Go wild
  • Jam-packed
  • Sold out

Common Expressions for Feelings and Value

  • I’m looking forward to… (I really want to)
  • I can’t help… (I can’t avoid)
  • I can’t stand… (I hate)
  • I don’t fancy… (I don’t feel like)
  • I feel like… (I want to)
  • I wouldn’t mind… (It wouldn’t bother me)
  • It’s worth… (It has value/benefit)
  • There’s no point in… (It’s useless)

Phrasal Verbs with ‘Make’

  • Make do with: Manage with what is available.
  • Make out: Distinguish or understand (e.g., sound, writing).
  • Make up: Reconcile / Invent something / Constitute.
  • Make up for: Compensate for something.

Goals and Education Vocabulary

  • Aim (objective)
  • Aim to (directed at)
  • Aim at (point at)
  • Aimed at an audience (directed towards)
  • Aimless (without objective)
  • To struggle (to fight for something)
  • To mug (to rob/assault)
  • Posh (high class)
  • Tuition (teaching/fees)
  • My mind went blank
  • State/Charter/Public school

Environmental Issues and Conservation

Environmental Problems and Terminology

  • Natural reserves, Natural habitats, Natural resources
  • Endangered species, In danger of extinction
  • Pollution, Deforestation, Global warming
  • Unleaded petrol, Dumping nuclear waste, Toxic waste, Dump (landfill)
  • Conservation projects, Acid rain
  • Exhaust fumes, Emissions, Pesticides
  • Factory, Crops
  • Greenhouse effect, Ozone layer
  • Long-term, Way of life
  • Indigenous people, Future generations
  • Flood, Radiation, Sea level, Climate, Deserts, Ice caps, Oceans, Gases

Conservation Actions and Solutions

  • Alternative energy sources, Renewable energy
  • Recycling, Recycling point, Bottle bank
  • Environmentally friendly, Public transport
  • Make a donation, Sign a petition, Take part in a demonstration
  • Raise money, Campaign for a cause, Join an organization, Become a volunteer
  • Environmentalist

Advanced Grammar: Reported Speech and Verb Patterns

These patterns dictate how verbs are followed by objects, infinitives, or clauses in reported speech and indirect commands.

Pattern 1: Verb + Person + To + Infinitive

Used for advising, commanding, persuading, or allowing someone to do something.

  • Verbs: advise, remind, forbid, persuade, warn, order, command, invite, encourage, urge, beg, allow.

Pattern 2: Verb + To + Infinitive (Often followed by a person/object)

Used for offers, threats, promises, or intentions.

  • Verbs: offer, refuse, threaten, promise, want, visit, swear, agree, volunteer, guarantee.

Pattern 3: Verb + That Clause

Used for statements, thoughts, hopes, or explanations.

  • Verbs: announce, complain, doubt, admit, exclaim, hope, think, expect, feel, add, point out, reply, answer, promise, hope, guarantee, explain, wish.

Pattern 4: Verb + (Someone) + Preposition + Gerund (-ing)

Used for accusations, congratulations, thanks, or insistence.

  • Verbs: accuse (someone) of, congratulate (somebody) on, thank (someone) for, insist on, apologise for.

Pattern 5: Verb + That + Person + Verb (Simple Tense or Should) / Verb + Gerund (-ing)

Used for suggestions or recommendations.

  • Verbs: suggest, propose, recommend.

Pattern 6: Verb + That + Person + Verb (Past Perfect) / Verb + Gerund (-ing)

Used for admitting, denying, or regretting past actions.

  • Verbs: admit, deny, regret.
*Grammar Note on Reported Speech: Backshifting

When reporting speech, the verb tense is typically shifted one step further into the past.