How to ask questions in English to find out what you really want to know

We’ve seen before how important it is to be able to ask questions in English, but there are times when a simple question isn’t enough to really find out what you want to know. A good example of this might be in a job interview. People don’t want to give negative answers in job i

Travel English: Key words for the train

It’s not uncommon for tourists to travel by train in an English-speaking country, especially in the UK. Trains are a great way to get around, but sometimes the associated phrases and vocabulary can be confusing if you’re a non-native speaker. It’s important to know some key Engli

Typically Indian-English phrases

As you may know, people in the United Kingdom and the United States speak slightly different versions of English. Not only is their accent different, but there are also some variations in their vocabulary and grammar. However, this variation in English is not only limited to the

Expat living: exploring the English countryside.

Spending time in big cities is always entertaining; with the hustle and bustle of cars, trains and buses shifting masses of people to work and back again. Walking down a busy street past different vendors, shop fronts, street performers and restaurants serving up cuisine from all

Top three reasons for learning English

Living in a land where the native language is not your mother tongue can be challenging yet very rewarding. Since I previously mentioned three major reasons to learn a new language I have come across many more situations where I’m grateful that I’ve taken on the test that is lear

British Accents and Dialects: A Rough Guide

Have you ever tried to put on a British accent? The chances are the accent you’re trying to copy is ‘Received Pronunciation’, or standard English – also known as the Queen’s English. Received Pronunciation, or RP, is what most non-Brits are used to hearing as a British accent, of

Useful English words for going to a music concert

Putting your English skills into action in a new environment is a great way to increase your confidence. Going to a concert is a wonderful cultural experience, and a great opportunity to learn and use everyday English words [https://englishlive.ef.com/en-gb/resources/english-lang

Where does the English language come from?

A brief history of the most widely used language in the world The English language is one of the linguistic success stories of the last five hundred years. If you’re reading this article here on the EF English Live blog then you are one of the estimated 1 billion plus people who

Five useful ways to disagree politely in English

When you disagree with someone, it can often be a challenge to express your point of view without offending that person. At the same time, it’s important to express your honest opinion. Here are five ways to disagree politely without offending the person you are talking to. Ackn

Sports Idioms

If you’re an avid EF English Live blog reader then you’re well aware of how quirky English idioms can be. You already know that you have to ‘think outside of the box’ when it comes to idiomatic English. Well, these sports related idioms are really no exception. Here are a few ph