Five Tips for Speaking English Naturally

Translation from: http://lingualeo.com/jungle/3492

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You’re learning English. Of course, you want to speak naturally, as if you were American or British. But how can you do that? Here are five tips to help.

1 — Use “get”

“Get” is one of the most useful and commonly used words in English. English speakers use it all the time! Take a look at this example:

Beginner: What time did you arrive?
Native speaker: What time did you get there?

“Get” has many meanings. It can mean “take” or “buy.” English learners often have trouble using “get” in the sense of “become”:

Beginner: I became angry when the train was late.
Native speaker: I got angry when the train was late.

In fact, we usually use “get” for temporary situations and “become” for permanent ones.

Temporary: She got bored with the movie.
Permanent: Ralph became a doctor at age twenty-five.
Incorrect: Ralph got a doctor at age twenty-five.

2 — Use “used to”

“Used to” is one of the most useful phrases in English, and it’s easy to pronounce. English learners often get confused when they try to translate a phrase directly from their own language:

Beginner: Last time, I smoked a lot.
Beginner: I smoked a lot, but now, no.
Native speaker: I used to smoke a lot.

Here’s a word of caution. There are two forms of “used to” in English, and they have different meanings and grammatical structures:

Example 1: I used to be a policeman.
Example 2: I am used to eating spicy food.

In example 1, the meaning is “in the past, but not anymore.” In example 2, the meaning is “accustomed to.”

3 — Use “managed to”

Here’s another phrase that doesn’t translate easily into other languages. As a result, learners find it difficult to start using it. “Manage to” is similar to “succeed in doing something.” However, if you use “succeed” instead, the result sounds awkward:

Beginner: Did you succeed to find the keys that you lost?
Native speaker: Did you manage to find the keys that you lost?

4 — Use “about to”

“About to” is a short phrase that’s surprisingly useful. Keep an ear out for it, and you’ll be surprised how often you hear it. We use this phrase to show that something is going to happen soon. Here’s how a native speaker might use it:

Beginner: I think it is going to rain soon.
Native speaker: It looks like it’s about to rain.
Beginner: I can’t have another coffee. I am going soon.
Native speaker: I don’t have time for another coffee. I’m about to go.

5 — Don’t use “very”

Why not use “very”? It isn’t completely wrong, but using “very” can keep you from choosing more descriptive vocabulary. For example, instead of saying “very large,” why not say “huge”? Instead of saying “the food is very good,” why not say “it is absolutely delicious”? To get you started, here are a few more phrases you can use instead of “very”:

very good — terrific, fabulous, excellent
very bad — awful, terrible, dreadful
very small — tiny, microscopic
very old — ancient
very new — brand-new
very beautiful — gorgeous
very clean — spotless

1 — Use “get”

2 — Use “used to”

3 — Use “managed to”

4 — Use “about to”

5 — Don’t use “very”

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