Useful Smart Phrases

No.	Phrase	Meaning	Example
1	Leave someone in the lurch	Leave someone without help in a difficult moment.	He promised support but left me in the lurch.
2	Take someone by surprise	To happen unexpectedly.	The sudden news took everyone by surprise.
3	On the contrary	Used to show the opposite idea.	He is not careless; on the contrary, he is careful.
4	Fall flat	To fail to impress or succeed.	His joke fell flat.
5	It doesn’t make much difference	The change is not very important.	Meeting today or tomorrow doesn’t make much difference.
6	At the end of the day	When everything is considered.	At the end of the day, effort matters most.
7	By all means	Certainly; you are welcome to do it.	If you need help, by all means ask.
8	In the same boat	In the same situation.	Many students are in the same boat before exams.
9	Under the weather	Feeling slightly ill.	I stayed home because I felt under the weather.
10	Go the extra mile	Make more effort than expected.	Great teachers go the extra mile for students.
11	It goes without saying	Something that is obvious and does not need explanation.	It goes without saying that regular practice improves fluency.
12	Do something like there is no tomorrow	To do something with great intensity or urgency.	He studied like there is no tomorrow before the final exam.
13	Hold a brief for someone	To support or defend someone strongly.	I do not hold a brief for that company’s policies.
14	Would that you could have!	An expression of strong wish or regret.	Would that you could have attended the seminar yesterday!
15	Fan the flames	To make a conflict or problem stronger.	His comments only fanned the flames of the argument.
16	End in smoke	To fail or collapse completely.	All their business plans ended in smoke.
17	Stand on ceremony	To behave too formally.	Please come in and relax; do not stand on ceremony.
18	Make amends for	To compensate or apologize for a mistake.	He tried to make amends for his earlier mistake.
19	Correct me if I’m wrong	Used to politely check if your understanding is accurate.	Correct me if I’m wrong, but the meeting starts at 3 PM.
20	Let me build on that	Used when you want to add more to someone’s idea.	That’s a good point. Let me build on that with another example.
21	I’m on board with that	To show that you agree with a plan or idea.	Your proposal sounds great. I’m on board with that.
22	Let’s not get ahead of ourselves	Used to suggest slowing down and not making decisions too quickly.	Let’s not get ahead of ourselves; we should review all the details first.
23	Let’s keep this on the table	To keep an idea open for future consideration.	It may work later, so let’s keep this on the table.
24	Let’s park this for now	To pause the discussion and return to it later.	We’re short on time, so let’s park this for now.
25	Let’s circle back to this	To return to the topic later in the discussion.	We can circle back to this after finishing the other points.
26	I completely second that	Used to strongly agree with someone’s suggestion.	That’s a brilliant idea. I completely second that.
27	I’d like to weigh in on that	Used when you want to give your opinion on a topic.	If you don’t mind, I’d like to weigh in on that.
28	I see where you’re coming from	Used to show that you understand someone’s perspective.	I see where you’re coming from, but we might need another solution.
29	Go parallel on something with someone	To work alongside someone on the same task.	You prepare the report and I’ll go parallel on this with you.
30	Let that sink in	Used to tell someone to think carefully about what was just said.	He completed the entire project in one day — let that sink in.
31	Hear me out	Used when asking someone to listen fully before judging or interrupting.	Hear me out — this idea might actually solve the problem.
32	Let me get this straight	Used to clarify or confirm something surprising or confusing.	Let me get this straight — you finished all the work by yourself?
33	That rings a bell	Used when something sounds familiar.	That rings a bell. I think I’ve heard that name somewhere before.
34	This is inviting	Used to describe something that looks welcoming or attractive.	The café looks so cozy — this is inviting.
35	Above board	Completely honest and transparent; without any hidden or dishonest actions.	Everything about the deal was above board.
36	I don’t want to push it	Used when you do not want to demand too much or go too far.	I already asked for one favor today, so I don’t want to push it.
37	One step forward and two steps back	When progress is made but then things get worse again.	Every time we solve one issue, another appears — it feels like one step forward and two steps back.
38	Out of something	Done because of a particular feeling, reason, or motivation.	She helped the family out of kindness.

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Occupations

Occupations Cards

Englivio Speaking Drill Library

Food

Travel Words Cards

Travelling

Travel Words Cards

Describing Personality

English Words Cards

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Sentence & Its Types

1) What is a Sentence?

Definition, punctuation, and quick examples.

A sentence is a group of words that expresses a complete thought. It usually starts with a capital letter and ends with punctuation: . ? !

✓

Must-have rule

A sentence must contain subject + verb + complete meaning.

Correct sentences

She is playing.
The dog barked loudly.
We are learning English.

Not sentences

Running in the park. (no subject)
The happy boy. (no verb)

2) Important Parts of a Sentence

Subject + Predicate.

Every sentence has two main parts: subject and predicate.

A) Subject

The subject tells about the doer of the action or who or what the sentence is about.

Examples:

John is eating.
The teacher is speaking.
My friends are waiting.

Subject type	Example	Why it is the subject
Noun	The boy runs.	The boy does the action.
Pronoun	She sings.	She does the action.
Phrase	The tall man is my uncle.	The phrase tells who the sentence is about.

B) Predicate

The predicate tells what the subject does or is. It includes the verb and may include an object or a complement.

Verb (action/state)

She runs fast.
They are sleeping.
He likes music.

Object (receives action)

She reads a book.
He kicked the ball.
They built a house.

Complement (adds information)

Subject complements:

She is happy.
He became a doctor.
The sky looks beautiful.

Time & place complements (extra information):

She studies at night.
They met in the park.
We will leave after class.
He works in London.

3) Clauses in a Sentence

Independent vs dependent clauses.

A clause is a group of words that has a subject and a verb.

Clause type	Meaning	Stand alone?	Examples
Independent clause	Complete thought	Yes	She finished her work. The sun is shining. We went home.
Dependent clause	Incomplete thought	No	because she was tired when the bell rang although it was raining

Correct

She slept because she was tired.
We left when the bell rang.

Wrong

Because she was tired.
When the bell rang.

Remember

A dependent clause needs an independent clause to make a complete sentence.

4) Types of Sentences by Structure

How clauses combine.

Type	Rule	Examples
Simple	1 independent clause	She sings. I like pizza. The sun is shining.
Compound	2+ independent clauses (and, but, or, so, yet)	I was tired, but I finished my work. She likes tea, and he likes coffee. We can go now, or we can wait.
Complex	1 independent + 1+ dependent clauses	Although it was raining, we went outside. I will call you when I arrive. She cried because she was sad.
Compound-complex	2 independent + 1+ dependent clauses	Although he was tired, he kept working, and he completed the task. When I arrived home, she was cooking, and the children were playing.

5) Types of Sentences by Function

What the sentence does (purpose).

Type	Purpose	Ending	Examples
Declarative	Gives information	`.`	I live in London. She is my sister. The meeting starts at noon.
Interrogative	Asks a question	`?`	Where are you going? Do you like coffee? What time is it?
Imperative	Command / request	`.` / `!`	Close the door. Please sit down. Finish your homework.
Exclamatory	Strong feeling	`!`	What a wonderful day! That is amazing! I can’t believe it!

6) Types of Sentences by Form

The grammatical pattern used in the sentence.

Form	Meaning	Examples
Affirmative	Positive statement	She is happy. They finished the work.
Negative	Uses “not / never”	She is not happy. They did not finish the work.
Interrogative	Question form	Is she happy? Did they finish the work?
Negative interrogative	Question + negation	Isn’t she happy? Didn’t they finish the work? Aren’t you coming?

Punctuation

Punctuation Guide

Sentence Starting & Endings

🔠

Capitalization

Period

Question Mark

Exclamation

…

Ellipsis

Separators

Comma

;

Semicolon

Colon

–

Hyphen

—

Dash

Quotes & Parentheses

’

Apostrophe

“ ”

Quotation

( )

Parentheses

Writing Reviews

Englivio Reviews Lesson

Writing a review is about sharing your honest experience with others. Reviews can inform, guide, and influence decisions, whether for products, services, books, or places. A good review is clear, detailed, and balanced, highlighting positives and areas for improvement.

Structure for Writing a Review

Introduction

Begin by mentioning what you are reviewing and why. Keep it personal and enthusiastic.

Example: “I recently joined Englivio’s online English course to improve my speaking and grammar skills, and it has been an amazing experience.”

Experience / Body

Share specific positive experiences, focusing on features, moments, or aspects that impressed you. Include examples like teaching style, platform usability, or interactive lessons.

Example: “The lessons are engaging, and the teachers explain concepts clearly with practical examples. I especially enjoyed the conversation practice sessions, which helped me speak more confidently.”

Highlights / Strengths

Mention any highlights or strengths. Examples:

Friendly and helpful instructors
Interactive and easy-to-use platform
Variety of lessons for speaking, writing, and grammar
Supportive environment that motivates learning

Conclusion / Recommendation

End with a positive summary. Encourage others to try it.

Example: “Overall, I highly recommend Englivio to anyone who wants to improve their English effectively. The lessons are enjoyable, and the teachers make learning easy and fun.”

Sample Reviews

Product Review

Focus on features, usability, quality, and value for money.
Example: Wireless Headphones
“I bought the XYZ wireless headphones two weeks ago, and I’m impressed. The sound quality is crisp, and the battery lasts over 12 hours, which is perfect for long commutes. The design is sleek, and they feel comfortable for extended use. I wish the app had more customization options, but overall, they are excellent value for money. Highly recommended for anyone who travels frequently or works from home.”

Customer Service Review

Focus on responsiveness, helpfulness, friendliness, and resolution of issues.
Example:
“I contacted Englivio’s support team when I had trouble accessing my course. The representative responded within an hour, patiently guided me through troubleshooting, and even followed up the next day to ensure everything was working. Their service was professional and friendly. I highly recommend their support team for prompt and effective assistance.”

App Review

Focus on usability, features, design, and overall user experience.
Example:
“I’ve been using Google Keep to organize my notes and reminders, and it’s excellent. The interface is simple and easy to navigate, making it quick to add and manage notes. I especially like the color-coded labels, voice notes, and reminders that sync across all my devices. The app is reliable, fast, and updated regularly. I highly recommend it for anyone who wants a simple, effective tool to stay organized.”

Book Review

Focus on content, writing style, themes, characters, and takeaways.
Example: “Atomic Habits” by James Clear
“This book is a practical guide for building better habits and breaking bad ones. The concepts are easy to understand, and the examples make them relatable. I found the strategies on habit stacking particularly helpful. I’d recommend this book to anyone looking to improve productivity and personal growth.”

Travel Review

Focus on location, attractions, accommodation, food, and overall experience.
Example:
“I recently visited Istanbul, Turkey, and it was incredible. The Hagia Sophia and Blue Mosque are breathtaking, and the Bosphorus cruise was relaxing. The local food, especially kebabs and baklava, was delicious. Hotels were comfortable and reasonably priced. I would definitely recommend Istanbul for a cultural and historical experience.”

Restaurant Review

Focus on food quality, menu variety, ambiance, service, and value for money.
Example: “The Golden Spoon”
“I dined at The Golden Spoon last week, and it was a delightful experience. The ambiance is cozy, and the staff is attentive. I tried the mushroom risotto and chocolate lava cake—both were exquisite. Prices are reasonable for the quality. I’d highly recommend it for a date night or family dinner.”

Activity: Write Your Review

Now it’s your turn! Write a short review about your ongoing English learning experience with Englivio. Ask your instructor to provide the link where you can post your review.