Exercise 1
Choose the correct word to complete each sentence about communication and conversation.
Example: She tried to ______ her point clearly during the meeting. (express / impress / address)
Answer: She tried to express her point clearly during the meeting.
Communication and Conversation: Essential Vocabulary for Everyday English
Have you ever struggled to find the right words to express yourself in English? Or perhaps you have found it difficult to follow a conversation when people speak quickly? Good communication is one of the most important skills in any language, and knowing the right vocabulary makes a huge difference.
In this lesson, we will explore key vocabulary related to communication and conversation. By the end, you will be able to talk about how people share information, express opinions, and interact with others in a wide range of everyday situations.
A Realistic Situation: A Conversation at a Language School
Imagine you are a student at a language school in London. You meet a classmate called Ana in the common room. She looks a little frustrated.
"I had a misunderstanding with my host family last night," she says. "I tried to explain what I meant, but they didn't get the point. I think I need to work on how I express myself."
"Don't worry," you reply. "It takes time. The key is to keep the conversation going and ask for clarification if you don't understand something."
This short dialogue uses many of the words and phrases we will study in this lesson. Let us look at them more closely.
Key Vocabulary and Meaning Breakdown
1. Starting and Managing Conversations
| Word / Phrase | Part of Speech and Meaning | Example Sentence | Collocations / Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| greet | verb — to say hello or welcome someone when you meet them | She greeted her colleagues warmly when she arrived at the office. | greet someone warmly / formally / with a smile |
| introduce | verb — to tell people each other's names when they meet for the first time | Let me introduce you to my manager, David. | introduce yourself / introduce someone to someone |
| chat | verb / noun — to talk in a friendly, informal way about everyday topics | We had a chat over coffee before the meeting started. | have a chat / chat about something / chat to/with someone |
| bring up | phrasal verb — to introduce a topic or subject into a conversation | She brought up the issue of working hours during the meeting. | bring up a topic / bring up a subject / bring up a point |
| small talk | noun (uncountable) — light, informal conversation about unimportant things, such as the weather | Before the interview began, we made small talk about the journey. | make small talk / engage in small talk |
| keep the conversation going | expression — to continue talking so that there are no long, awkward silences | He asked a lot of questions to keep the conversation going. | Often used when someone is working hard to maintain a dialogue. |
2. Expressing Yourself and Your Opinions
| Word / Phrase | Part of Speech and Meaning | Example Sentence | Collocations / Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| express | verb — to communicate a feeling, thought, or opinion using words or actions | It can be difficult to express your feelings in a foreign language. | express an opinion / express concern / express yourself |
| mention | verb — to say something briefly without going into much detail | He mentioned that he was thinking of changing jobs. | mention something to someone / worth mentioning / not mention a word |
| point out | phrasal verb — to draw attention to a fact or piece of information | She pointed out that the report contained several errors. | point out a mistake / point out a problem / point out that… |
| argue | verb — to give reasons for or against something; or to disagree strongly with someone | They argued about the best way to solve the problem. | argue about / argue with someone / argue that… |
| opinion | noun — what you think or believe about a particular subject | In my opinion, communication skills are more important than technical knowledge. | in my opinion / give an opinion / share an opinion / ask for someone's opinion |
| insist | verb — to say something firmly and refuse to accept that it is not true or necessary | She insisted that she had already sent the email. | insist on (doing) something / insist that… |
3. Understanding and Clarifying
| Word / Phrase | Part of Speech and Meaning | Example Sentence | Collocations / Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| clarify | verb — to explain something more clearly so that it is easier to understand | Could you clarify what you mean by that? | clarify a point / clarify a misunderstanding / ask for clarification |
| misunderstanding | noun — a situation in which something is understood incorrectly | There was a misunderstanding about the meeting time. | cause a misunderstanding / avoid a misunderstanding / clear up a misunderstanding |
| get the point | expression — to understand the main idea or purpose of what someone is saying | I didn't get the point of his story at first, but then it made sense. | get the point / miss the point / make a point |
| follow | verb — to understand something that is being said or explained | Could you speak more slowly? I'm finding it difficult to follow you. | follow an argument / follow someone's meaning / hard to follow |
| interrupt | verb — to start speaking before someone else has finished | I'm sorry to interrupt, but could I ask a quick question? | interrupt someone / interrupt a conversation / rude to interrupt |
| paraphrase | verb — to express what someone has said or written using different words | The teacher paraphrased the student's answer to make sure everyone understood. | paraphrase an idea / paraphrase someone's words |
4. Listening and Responding
| Word / Phrase | Part of Speech and Meaning | Example Sentence | Collocations / Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| pay attention | expression — to listen or watch carefully | Please pay attention while I explain the instructions. | pay attention to someone/something / pay close attention |
| respond | verb — to say or do something as a reaction to what someone has said or done | He didn't know how to respond to her question. | respond to someone / respond to a message / respond quickly |
| feedback | noun (uncountable) — comments or reactions from other people about something you have done | The teacher gave useful feedback on the students' presentations. | give feedback / receive feedback / ask for feedback / positive / negative feedback |
| nod | verb — to move your head up and down to show that you agree or understand | She nodded when he asked if she understood the plan. | nod your head / nod in agreement / nod in response |
| acknowledge | verb — to show that you have noticed or understood something | He acknowledged her comment with a brief smile. | acknowledge a point / acknowledge a mistake / acknowledge someone |
Collocations and Useful Expressions
express + an opinion
It is important to be able to express an opinion clearly in a job interview.
make + small talk
British people often make small talk about the weather when they meet strangers.
ask for + clarification
If you do not understand something, always ask for clarification before moving on.
clear up + a misunderstanding
They had a quick meeting to clear up the misunderstanding about the project deadline.
give + feedback
My manager gives me feedback on my work every Friday afternoon.
bring up + a topic
He brought up the topic of salary during the performance review.
pay + attention
You need to pay attention to body language as well as the words people use.
keep + the conversation going
Asking open questions is a great way to keep the conversation going.
point out + a mistake
She politely pointed out a mistake in my report before I sent it to the client.
respond + to a message
Please respond to the email as soon as possible so we can confirm the arrangement.
Important Differences and Confusing Words
Say, Tell, or Speak?
These three verbs are all about communication, but they are used differently in English.
Say is used to report words or statements. It focuses on the words themselves. We do not need to mention who you are speaking to.
She said that she was tired.
He said "good morning" to everyone.
Tell requires an object — you must say who you are telling. It is used for giving information or instructions.
She told me that she was tired.
The manager told the team to arrive early.
Speak is more formal and often refers to the ability to use a language or to talking in a general sense. It is often used with to or with.
Do you speak Japanese?
I need to speak to the manager about my contract.
Discuss or Argue?
Discuss means to talk about a topic in a calm, organised way. It does not suggest conflict.
We discussed the new company policy at the meeting.
Argue usually means to disagree with someone, often with strong emotions. However, it can also mean to present a logical case for something in a formal context.
They argued about who was responsible for the mistake.
She argued that the new plan would save the company money.
Listen or Hear?
Listen is an active, intentional action. You choose to listen to something.
I listened carefully to what the teacher was saying.
Hear is a passive experience. You hear something without necessarily trying to.
I heard a strange noise outside during the night.
Respond or Reply?
Both words mean to answer, but there is a small difference in usage.
Respond is slightly more formal and can refer to both words and actions. It is commonly used in professional or written contexts.
She responded to the complaint within 24 hours.
Reply is mainly used for spoken or written communication and is more conversational.
He didn't reply to my text message all day.
Common Mistakes
❌ She told that she was nervous.
✅ She said that she was nervous. — Use say that (not tell that). With tell, you must include a person: She told me that she was nervous.
❌ We discussed about the problem for an hour.
✅ We discussed the problem for an hour. — The verb discuss does not need the preposition about. It is followed directly by the object.
❌ I am interesting in your opinion on this matter.
✅ I am interested in your opinion on this matter. — Use interested in (not interesting in). Interesting describes the thing that causes interest; interested describes how you feel.
❌ Can you explain me the meaning of this word?
✅ Can you explain the meaning of this word to me? — The verb explain is not followed directly by a person. Use explain something to someone.
❌ He said me that the meeting was cancelled.
✅ He told me that the meeting was cancelled. — Use tell + person + that. Do not use said me.
❌ I didn't listen his question properly.
✅ I didn't listen to his question properly. — Listen must be followed by the preposition to when an object is included.
❌ She interrupted me while I was speaking and it was a bit rude of she.
✅ She interrupted me while I was speaking and it was a bit rude of her. — After a preposition such as of, use an object pronoun (her, him, them), not a subject pronoun.
Communication and Conversation: Quick Summary and Review
In this lesson, you have learned a wide range of vocabulary connected to communication and conversation at the B1 intermediate level. Here is a quick summary of the most important points:
- Use greet, introduce, chat, and make small talk when starting or maintaining everyday conversations.
- Use express, mention, point out, and insist to share ideas, facts, and opinions confidently.
- Use clarify, follow, paraphrase, and get the point when checking or improving understanding.
- Use pay attention, respond, acknowledge, and give feedback to show you are listening actively.
- Remember the key differences: say vs tell, listen vs hear, discuss vs argue, and respond vs reply.
- Avoid common mistakes such as discuss about, said me, and interesting in.
Strong communication and conversation skills are at the heart of all successful English use — whether you are chatting with friends, taking part in a meeting, or sending a professional email. The more you practise these words and expressions in real contexts, the more natural they will become.
Now practise your communication and conversation vocabulary in the exercises below.
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