26 Practice Makes Perfect English Conversation
Improving your conversation
So
So has many different uses. In the example conversation, it is used to begin a question that is not
surprising and may have even been expected.So how much do you want for the car? (You know I’m interested in buying it.)
So when are we leaving? (We both know we are going somewhere together.)Another use of so is to mean extremely.I can’t wait to get there. I’m so excited.To be like
Like asks for a description of a person, place, or thing.What’s his wife like? Is she nice? Yes, she’s very nice.
What’s your new house like? It’s big, with four bedrooms and three baths.To be like is also a slang (informal) expression that means to be thinking or telling your
reaction.She comes home late, and I’m like, “Where have you been?”
He told me I wasn’t studying enough, and I was like, “What do you mean? I study for
three hours every night!”
The teacher told me I failed the math test, and I was like, “Oh man, my mom’s going
to be upset.”Look like, smell like, and sound like express similarity of appearance, smell, and sound.Mary looks (just/exactly) like her mother.
This perfume smells like gardenias.
When I talk to you on the phone, you sound like your dad.These same combinations can also mean seem like, to indicate a guess about what is
happening.It looks like (it’s going to) rain.
It smells like something’s burning.
It sounds like you’re very upset.When things are similar, they are said to be, look, smell, or sound alike.You guys are exactly alike—always getting into trouble.
The twins look alike.
These two roses smell (exactly) alike.
You and your brother don’t sound (at all) alike.Will
Will—usually in contraction form (’ll)—is often used to make an offer to do something.I’ll go to the store for you.
We’ll wash the dishes.