The way in which English is spoken, either formally or informally. As opposed to written usage.
Questions tagged [spoken-english]
736 questions
39
votes
5 answers
Are the terms "girlfriend" and "boyfriend" limited to some age in the spoken language?
Are the terms "girlfriend" or "boyfriend" limited to some age in the spoken English?
I'm asking it because the word "girlfriend" is a closed compound noun which literally (in the narrow meaning of these two components of this closed compound word)…
Virtuous Legend
- 27,128
- 196
- 415
- 597
32
votes
9 answers
2 for 5 (bucks) vs 5 (bucks) for 2
I heard a Burger King promotion on a radio, saying:
Beautiful! 2 for 5! // It means 2 hamburgers, 5 bucks
To me, '2 for 5' sounds like you pay 2 hamburgers to buy 5 bucks, which is illogical.
I would think '5 for 2' makes more sense, meaning you…
dan
- 12,997
- 16
- 94
- 193
26
votes
7 answers
When is "me" used as a possessive pronoun, instead of "my"?
In books I often see characters speak "me" instead of "my":
I saw it with me own eyes.
I'm going to the bathroom to wash me hands.
What English is this?
SovereignSun
- 25,028
- 40
- 146
- 271
15
votes
6 answers
Can "do somebody" mean "imitate somebody" in spoken English?
I heard this exchange from Friends (an American TV show):
... ...
A: They do you.
B: Do me?
... ...
(Unfortunately, I don't know the episode number.)
The context is that A is B's assistant and she is trying to give B (a boss) some feedback about…
dan
- 12,997
- 16
- 94
- 193
8
votes
2 answers
"I'm in" meaning?
I've seen these lines from the TV show Mom. A is a woman and B is a man
A: So, should we do it?
B: Yeah! Sure.
A: Okay! Great! Tonight! Burgundy Bistro. 8:00 and I'll wear a red
scarf.
B: I'll wear a Raiders cap.
A: Well, the Niners would be…
dan
- 12,997
- 16
- 94
- 193
5
votes
2 answers
Is it correct to say: "we are not allowed pets in the flat"?
In BBC's The Flatmates program, a dialogue goes like:
We are not allowed pets in the flat.
Is it appropriate to drop "to keep" after "allowed"?
Clouma
- 53
- 1
- 5
5
votes
6 answers
Which kind of books should be read for learning spoken English?
Should I prefer plays or composition? Is there some benefit of one over the other for learning spoken English?
I live in India and will be talking to only Indians. It is supposed to be a daily conversation about day to day life.
Update…
Aquarius_Girl
- 583
- 6
- 15
- 37
4
votes
2 answers
How can I respond to this situation?
In my office, my colleague makes phone calls to clients. However, the client may not answer at that time. After some time, the client makes a call back to my office. Suppose I answer that call, and they simply say, "I got a missed call from this…
selva
- 41
- 3
3
votes
2 answers
Is "but rather" valid in this context
A person was humorously saying:
Go straight ahead and you'll see a big hotel, there you'll find a nice concrete road on the left....(pause).... don't take the road but rather take the narrow street on the right.
Is but rather the same as rather…
user100323
- 1,068
- 12
- 18
3
votes
1 answer
Why do I hear "to" in quick speaking english sound like "the"?
I'm looking to track down a suspect
This man (Barry Allen) said "I'm looking to ..." But I can just hear "I'm looking the ..."
Sound track is in the above link.
Zhang
- 3,487
- 6
- 29
- 61
3
votes
1 answer
Is it true that “What are you drinking?" is used to offer to buy someone a drink?
I saw this from my dictionary:
What are you drinking?
used to offer to buy someone a drink, especially in a pub spoken.
I am wondering if this usage is indeed applied in practice. What are you drinking? to me sounds that they see I'm drinking…
dan
- 12,997
- 16
- 94
- 193
3
votes
1 answer
Express you are willing to share time with somebody you do not know yet
I want to invite somebody else to spend some time, casually, welcoming if the other person can put it in their schedule.
The first thing I came up with [with context]:
[I will be around until Friday.]
Let me know if you want to share some…
Overbryd
- 133
- 3
3
votes
1 answer
What should I say after asking about the price of an article but I don't want to buy?
In many cases, I ask a seller about the price of an article, but finally I don't want to buy. I don't know how to reply him or her politely in English? What English-speaker usually say thin these cases?
statistics_learning
- 253
- 1
- 4
- 7
2
votes
2 answers
Tone in spoken questions: [Do] your friends call you John or Jack?
I could not tell if the woman in the exchange pronounced Do or dropped it when she asked the man about his name; I could not hear the word Do at all. For all I know, whoever transcribed the conversation might have added Do. Then it came to mind…
learner
- 5,918
- 29
- 81
- 140
2
votes
1 answer
How to know, how my English sounds for native speakers?
The general feedback what I get: we understand eachother, but generally they aren't satisfied. But is only an impression from indirect effects.
Of course I can ask them, but unfortunately I see major obstacles to get a realistic answer:
They often…
Gray Sheep
- 133
- 6