Phrase Lists
This section includes lists of common phrases, each grouped around a certain topic. There are no explanations, just important phrases for you to research and remember.

This is a list of phrases for showing appreciation or gratitude to someone in English.

Light "thank you" phrases

If someone does something small for you, you can say:

Thanks.

Thank you.

It's common to follow "Thanks" with a person's name or a word to address them:

Thanks darling.

Thanks Ben!

Appreciate it!

It's not often used in American English, but English speakers in Britain and Australia often say:

Cheers.

More serious English "Thank you's"

When someone really goes out of their way to help you, you can use one of these expressions to show a deeper level of gratitude:

We really appreciate all of your hard work and effort.

Thank you so much.

This is less formal but expresses a lot of emotion:

Thank you so, so much for coming.

You might think that this phrase would express deep thanks, but it's not exactly used that way:

Thank you very much.

Actually, people often use this for simple polite interactions like when a waiter brings your food.

You can also use it when you're angry with someone:

I can do it just fine by myself, thank you very much.

Formal expressions of thanks

Here's a formal phrase to use in situations like when you're writing a card to someone:

I'm so thankful for having you in my life.

The emotion that this phrase expresses is really strong.

Another phrase which is also formal but not as emotional is this one:

I want to thank you for all the support you've given me during my time here.

This phrase is good to use in various situations at work.

Responding to "thank-you's"

When someone thanks you, it's polite to respond in some way. Depending on how serious the "thank you" is, you can respond with one of the phrases below:

• Sure.
• No sweat.
• No problem.
• You're welcome.
• Don't worry about it.
• You're quite welcome.
• No, not at all.
• It's my pleasure.
• It's the least I could do.

This list is arranged roughly in order of seriousness.

Halloween is a holiday that happens on October 31st each year. People dress up in strange costumes. Kids wear these costumes to walk around the neighborhood and ask their neighbors for candy. Adults go to parties or street fairs. Here are some phrases that you might hear around Halloween:

Costumes

People wear costumes on Halloween.

They can either buy a pre-made costume or make their own costume by hand.

You can dress up as:

• a ghost
• a witch
• a fireman
• a princess
• a mummy
• a vampire
• a zombie
• an alien
• a character from a movie
• someone who's in the news

When you want to tell people about your costume, say:

I'm dressing up as a robot for Halloween.

Trick or treating

Kids go from door to door, asking for candy. This is called going Trick or Treating. The kids knock on the door or ring the doorbell. When the door opens, they yell:

Trick or treat!

When kids show up at your door, you should ask them what their costume is:

What are you supposed to be?

Who are you dressed as?

The candy that kids get can be:

• mini chocolate bars
• hard candy
• chewing gum
• suckers (also known as lollipops; these are hard candy on a stick)

There's also one kind of candy that's specific to Halloween. It's called "candy corn". It's not really corn, just colored sugar formed into a little triangular shape that looks a little like a kernel of corn. Most people don't really like it.

Other activities

Lots of people carve pumpkins. A carved pumpkin is also called a jack-o-lantern. To do this, you:

1. cut out a hole in the top of the pumpkin
2. scoop the seeds out of it
3. cut holes in the sides to make the shape of a face
4. put a candle inside of it

You can also go to a haunted house. Real haunted houses are houses that have ghosts in them. But at Halloween, people sometimes put on a haunted house. They do things like:

• decorate some rooms in a building with cobwebs
• put fake plastic spiders everywhere
• hang plastic bats from the ceiling
• play spooky music
• turn the lights down low
• hide behind something wearing a costume, and then jump out to scare people who walk through

People often pay to walk through these fake haunted houses.

A word to use on Halloween

Boo! (to scare people suddenly)

The host or hostess

When you first go in, the host or hostess will want to know how many people are eating with you. They might ask:

How many?

Or, in a fancier restaurant:

How many are in your party?

If they can see how many people walked in together, they might simply ask:

Two?

Some popular restaurants expect you to have a reservation before you come. In that case, the hostess might ask:

Do you have a reservation?

If the place is really busy, you might have to wait. They'll say:

It's going to be about a 15-minute wait. 

If you decide to wait, they'll write your name on a list:

Can I get your name?

And then, when it's your turn to sit:

Mr. Knight, your table is ready.

The host or hostess will take you to your table with one of these phrases:

Right this way.

Follow me, please.

If it's a nice restaurant, they may ask:

Would you like me to take your jackets for you?

And then they say goodbye:

Jacob will be your server tonight.

Enjoy your meal.

The waiter or waitress

The waiter will usually start off by introducing him- or herself:

Welcome to D'Angelo's. My name is Rebecca.

Depending on the atmosphere of the restaurant, they may try to make some small talk:

How are you doing this evening?

If the restaurant has daily specials, the server will tell you about them:

Let me tell you about our specials today. We have a miso-glazed Chilean Sea Bass with a side of mashed sweet potatoes and sauteed spinach.

Then you're expected to order drinks:

Can I get you something to drink?

If you're not sure, the server will offer to come back again in a few minutes:

Do you need a little time to decide?

They'll go around the table to each person, using phrases like these:

And for you sir?

And for you miss?

What can I get for you?

Then they'll leave:

I'll be right back with your drinks.

When the waiter or waitress returns, he or she will ask you to order your food:

Are you ready to order?

If the dish you order has a choice of side dishes, they'll offer to let you choose:

That comes with either fries or a baked potato. Which would you prefer?

Would you like fries with that, or a baked potato?

If you ask for something, the server will say:

Sure.

Or at a fancier restaurant:

Certainly.

But if you ask for something that's not available, you'll hear:

Oh, I'm sorry. We're all out of the salmon.

When the waiter or waitress brings you your food, they'll probably ask:

Can I get you anything else?

After you're finished eating everything, someone will come to collect your dishes:

Would you like me to take that?

Then the server will come out to ask about your meal and offer dessert:

How was everything?

Can I interest you in our dessert menu?

When you're finished with your meal, they'll offer to bring you the check:

I'll bring the check right out.

And sometimes there are questions about the check:

Would you like me to split it?

Do you need any change?

A wedding "reception" is a party that happens after the wedding ceremony. Here is a list of things that happen at the reception:

• The bride and groom, and their families, greet the guests.
• Guests mingle and have cocktails.
• There's a catered dinner. Seating is usually assigned.
• Guests may get wedding favors from the bride and groom.
• The bride and groom cut the wedding cake.
• The bride tosses the bouquet.
• The couple has their first dance.
• The guests see the couple off.

Things to say to the bride and groom:

You look amazing!

You make such a great couple.

Congratulations!

You look so happy together.

Things to write in a card or in the couple's guestbook:

Best wishes to you both.

Wishing you an abundance of love and joy.

Wishing you the best on this special day.

May this be the start of many wonderful years of happiness.

Congratulations on this wonderful milestone.

Making a toast:

May I have everyone's attention?

I'd like to make a toast. To Kathy and Steve: may you live a long and happy life together.

We're all delighted to be here today on this joyous occasion.

On behalf of everyone here, I'd like to congratulate you both on this special day.

Here are some phrases to describe what happens at a traditional American wedding ceremony. Of course, there are people from all different backgrounds living in the U.S., so this doesn't describe all weddings. But this is a very common wedding style that you often see on TV and movies.

• The ceremony is held in a church, a garden, in an outdoor pavillion (like a big tent), in someone's home, etc.
• Ushers show the guests to their seats.
• Guests sit either on the bride's side (usually the left) or the groom's side.
• The groom waits at the altar.
• The couple's bridesmaids and groomsmen stand nearby. The maid of honor and best man stand closest to the bride and groom.
• The bride walks down the aisle.
• She wears a wedding dress and a veil.
• The father of the bride gives her away.
• The minister or wedding officiant says:

  Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today to witness the union of Merlin William Shepard and Annabel Elizabeth Lee in marriage.

  If anyone feels that this couple should not be united in Holy Matrimony, speak now or forever hold your peace.

  Do you, Kim, take this man, Noah, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better and for worse, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, 'till death do you part?

• The bride and groom answer:

  I do.

• The couple exchanges rings. They often say:

  With this ring, I thee wed.

• Then the minister or officiant says:

  By the power vested in me by the state of New York, I now pronounce you husband and wife.

  You may kiss the bride.