Strong (extreme) adjectives

Angry – furious
Big – huge, enormous, vast, titanic, colossal
Clever – brilliant, ingenious
Cold – freezing
Dirty – filthy, stinking, grotty (cutre)
Hot – boiling, roasting, baking hot
Hungry – starving, famished
Interested – fascinated
Pleased – ecstatic, thrilled, delighted
Surprised – Shocked – horrified
Scared – frightened-petrified/terrified
Small – tiny, miniscule
Surprised – amazed, astonished, shocked
Tired – exhausted (knackered – British English colloquial slang)
Ugly – hideous
Upset – devastated

      

Starting a conversation and making small talk

Think of ways to start speaking to someone in English for the first time and keep the conversation going.

Introductions:

Hi / Hello, I’m……
Is this your first time here?
Have you been here before?
What do you think of the conference? / What do you think of the party / speakers / event / music etc?

The Weather

It’s a bit cold today, isn’t it?
I’m sweating, it’s boiling!
Oh, what a terrible wind!
Oh, I hope it doesn’t rain.
It’s freezing / boiling today!
Nice day, isn’t it? / Lovely weather, isn’t it? (with falling intonation)

In spite of and despite mean the same and have the same grammar:

We went to the beach in spite of the weather.
We went to the beach despite the weather.

In spite of winning the championship he failed the drug test.
Despite winning the championship he failed the drug test.

In spite of the fact that it was a nice day, we stayed at home.
Despite the fact that it was a nice day, we stayed at home.

Despite the fact that it was raining, we still went to the beach.
In spite of the fact that it was raining, we still went to the beach.

      

Greeting Cards

Why do the British, and the Americians, love to send them?

birthday cards
Christmas Cards
anniversary cards
new job cards
promotion cards
retirement cards
Easter Cards
new baby cards
get well soon cards
death cards (to pass away = to die)
When people die, personal loss – You could write:
I’m sorry for your loss.
My condolences.
Our hearfelt condolences.
With deepest sympathy.
thinking of you at this sad time.
Our prayers/thoughts are with you at this difficult time.
I was sorry/saddened to hear that _________ passed away.