English Vocabulary & Expressions for Fluency
Essential English Vocabulary & Expressions
Enhance your English fluency by mastering these common verbs, adjectives, phrasal verbs, and expressions. This comprehensive list will help you communicate more effectively in various situations.
Verbs & Prepositional Phrases
Common Verb-Preposition Combinations
apologise for: to tell someone that you are sorry for something you have done
compare with: to examine the similarities and differences between two things
concentrate on: to give all your attention to something
cope with: to deal successfully with a difficult situation
deal with: to take action in order to solve a problem
depend on: to rely on someone or something
dream about/of: to imagine something you would like to happen
hear of: to know that someone or something exists
laugh at: to show amusement by producing sounds and facial movements
Adjective-Preposition Combinations
addicted to: unable to stop using or doing something
aware of: having knowledge or perception of something
bothered about: feeling worried or upset by something
cautious about: careful to avoid problems or danger
critical of: pointing out the faults of someone or something
confident about: having a strong belief in one’s own abilities
hopeless at: very bad at a particular activity
Essential Phrasal Verbs
Everyday Phrasal Verbs
back up: to make a copy of computer data
brush up (on): to improve what you already know
come up with: to think of an idea or plan
get into: to become interested in something
keep up with: to stay at the same level or speed as someone or something
make up: to invent (a story, excuse, etc.)
think over: to consider something carefully
Phrasal Verbs for Relationships & Social Interaction
count on (someone): to rely on someone
fall out (with someone): to have a disagreement and stop being friendly
finish with (someone): to end a relationship
get on with (someone): to have a friendly relationship
go off (someone/something): to stop liking someone or something
hit it off (with someone): to quickly become good friends
let (someone) down: to disappoint someone
look down on (someone): to think you are better than someone
look up to (someone): to respect and admire someone
stick together: to support each other
take after (someone): to resemble a family member in character or appearance
Phrasal Verbs for Movement & Action
come up: to approach or happen
keep up: to maintain the same speed or level
line up: to form a row or queue
live up to: to meet expectations
set off: to begin a journey
slow down: to reduce speed
speed up: to increase speed
speak up: to talk more loudly or openly
turn up: to appear or arrive
pull over: to stop at the side of the road
pull up: to stop a vehicle briefly
run into: to collide with or meet by chance
run over: to hit with a vehicle
Describing Feelings & Health
black out: to lose consciousness suddenly for a short time
feel dizzy: to feel as if everything is turning around you
feel exhausted: to feel extremely tired
feel ill: to feel unwell
feel sick: to feel as if you are going to vomit
anxious: feeling worried or nervous
bad-tempered: easily annoyed or made angry
cheerful: noticeably happy and optimistic
Adverbs of Frequency
generally: in most cases
hardly ever: almost never
normally: usually; typically
occasionally: sometimes but not often
often: many times; frequently
once/twice a week: one/two times every week
regularly: at uniform intervals
seldom: not often; rarely
usually: under normal conditions
Adjectives for People & Places
Personality Adjectives
adventurous: willing to try new or risky things
Adjectives for Describing Places
affordable: reasonably priced
broke: having no money
close-knit: united; working closely together
diverse: showing a great deal of variety
industrial: related to manufacturing or factories
inner-city: in the central part of a large city
relaxed (atmosphere): calm and stress-free
remote: far away from cities or other places
residential: zoned for homes rather than businesses
rural: in the countryside
trendy: very fashionable or up to date
urban: in or relating to a city
welcoming: friendly and making you feel comfortable
Verbs of Movement & Sound
Verbs of Movement
bend down: to move your body so that you are closer to the ground
lie down: to put your body in a flat position
lean: to rest for support against something
march: to walk with regular steps in a formal way
rush: to move or do something very quickly
stumble: to trip or almost fall
trip: to hit your foot against something and almost fall
Verbs of Sound
creak: (of a door or floor) to make a high, rough sound
rustle: to make a soft, light sound by moving or stirring something
sniff: to breathe in quickly through the nose to smell something
scream: to give a loud, high cry
shout: to speak very loudly
sigh: to exhale audibly to express weariness or relief
sob: to cry noisily, taking in deep breaths
whisper: to speak very softly
Key Time Expressions
for ages / for hours / for a long time: during a very long period
in the end: finally; after everything else has happened
in time: before a deadline or before something starts
on time: at the correct or scheduled time
in the meantime: during the time before something happens
in no time: very quickly; almost immediately
the following week / the next day / the day before: relative time markers
Common Collocations & Idioms
“Give,” “Get,” “Do,” & “Make” Collocations
give someone a hand: to help someone
give someone a lift: to drive someone somewhere
get a shock: to be very surprised
get stuck: to be unable to move or proceed
get upset: to become unhappy or distressed
get worse: to become less good or more severe
get lost: to be unable to find your way
get angry: to become angry
get a job: to obtain employment
do your best: to try as hard as you can
do someone a favour: to help someone
do housework: to clean and maintain a home
do harm: to cause damage or injury
do homework: to complete school assignments
make a change: to alter something
make a mess: to create disorder
make a mistake: to do something incorrectly
make progress: to advance or improve
make an effort: to try hard
make a noise: to produce sound
General Prepositional Phrases
in advance: before an event
in charge of: responsible for
in general: generally speaking
in public: where other people can see or hear
in tears: crying
out of breath: unable to breathe easily
out of control: not manageable
out of date: no longer current
out of order: not working correctly
out of sight: not visible
at all: in any way
at first: in the beginning
at last: finally
at once: immediately
at random: without a plan or pattern
by accident: unintentionally
by chance: unexpectedly
by hand: done manually
by heart: from memory
by law: as required by legislation
Verbs for Communication & Interaction
agree: to have the same opinion
amuse: to entertain someone
cheer (someone) up: to make someone feel happier
confess: to admit something that you feel guilty about
congratulate: to praise someone for an achievement
encourage: to give support or confidence
enquire: to ask for information
forbid: to refuse to allow
highlight: to emphasize something important
insist: to demand something firmly
mention: to refer briefly to something
persuade: to convince someone to do something; to win someone over by argument or appeal
point out: to draw attention to something
recommend: to suggest as a good course of action; to suggest something as good
reassure: to remove someone’s doubts or fears