These most common English expressions with examples can help you build credibility, make a good impression, and make your English sound more native. Sir Syed Kazim Ali explains all these expressions, so you are advised to learn their meanings and start using them in your writing.
English expressions are essential in everyday English. They come up all the time in both written and spoken English. English people and modern English writers use these expressions for asking questions, replying and reacting, and expressing a meaning or emotion quickly and naturally. Therefore, learning English expressions and their appropriate uses in sentences has always been an essential and valuable skill and helps competitive aspirants and writers stand out among millions. Therefore, learning to use common English phrases helps you build credibility and make a good impression and makes your English sound more native. Hence, it’s a good idea to master some of these expressions. In this handout, you can find the meaning and use of some common English expressions. Each expression provides a clear and simple meaning, as well as 5 to 10 examples showing how to use these expressions practically in English.
| 1) About to |
| Meaning |
| The expression “about to” is used to describe a situation where someone is going to do something very soon or is close to doing it. It is often used to indicate that an action is imminent and that it will occur in the near future. Simply, we are about to or just about to do something when we are just going to do it. |
| Expression in Sentences |
| 1. I was just about to go to bed when I remembered I had to finish my work. |
| 2. She’s about to graduate from college next month. |
| 3. The storm is about to hit; we better take cover. |
| 4. The train was just about to leave the station when I arrived. |
| 5. He was about to ask her to marry him when the fire alarm went off. |
| 6. The team is just about to start the final game of the season. |
| 7. I was about to make a cake, but I realized I was out of eggs. |
| 8. The pilot announced that the plane was about to land. |
| 9. The audience was about to applaud when the performer took a bow. |
| 10. The sun was just about to set, so we decided to head back to the campsite. |
| 2) It is about time |
| Meaning |
| The expression “it is about time or it is high time” is used to express a feeling of impatience or frustration that something has taken too long to happen or be done. It implies that the speaker believes that it is finally happening or being done after a long wait, and often has a sense of relief or satisfaction attached to it. Simply, we use this expression to say that something should have already happened, which is going to be happen now. |
| Expression Structure |
| It is about time + Subject + Past Verb |
| Expression in Sentences |
| 1. Gosh! It’s almost midnight. It’s about time we went home. |
| 2. It’s about time we had a family vacation. We all need a break. |
| 3. It’s about time you called and checked on your grandmother. She’s been worried about you. |
| 4. I’ve been waiting for this promotion for years; it’s about time it finally came through. |
| 5. The government has been talking about climate change for too long; it’s about time they took real action. |
| 6. It’s about time we got rid of this old couch and bought a new one. |
| 7. I’ve been trying to get a better job for months; it’s about time I received a good offer. |
| 8. It’s about time they finished the road construction on; the traffic has been a nightmare. |
| 9. The country has been in an economic downturn for too long; it’s about time they bounce back. |
| 10. It’s about time we had a proper celebration for your birthday. Let’s have a big party. |
| 3) Above all |
| Meaning |
| The expression “above all” is used to emphasize the most important thing or factor in a particular situation or list of things. It is used to emphasize that this particular thing is the most important, more important than anything else. |
| Important Note |
| The expression “above all” can be used as a typical adverb and an opinion adverb in a sentence. When it is used, typically, we do not place commas before and after it. However, when it is used as an opinion, we place commas before and after it to emphasize the next word or phrase. Finally, if it works as a transition word between two sentences, we place a comma after it to start the clause or sentence; see sentence numbers 1, 3, 5, 7, and 9. |
| Expression in Sentences |
| 1. Above all, always tell the truth, no matter how hard it may be. |
| 2. In a relationship, trust and communication are essential, but above all, love and respect should be present. |
| 3. Above all, take care of your health, both physically and mentally. |
| 4. When choosing a career, make sure you are passionate about it, but above all, choose a field that provides stability. |
| 5. Above all, be grateful for what you have in life and don’t take anything for granted. |
| 6. In a team, everyone should work together, but above all, there should be a clear leader to guide the group. |
| 7. Above all, prioritize your family and spend time with them whenever possible. |
| 8. When making decisions, consider all options, but above all, choose the one that is best for you. |
| 9. Above all, always be kind and help others whenever you can. |
| 10. In a successful business, efficiency and profitability are important, but above all, the company should have a strong culture and values. |
| 11. They need food, clothing, and, above all, water. |
| 12. In the business, we must value safety above all. |
| 4) By Accident |
| Meaning |
| The expression “by accident or by chance” refers to something that happens unexpectedly or unintentionally. It means that the event was not planned or intended, but happened as a result of a chance occurrence. |
| Important Note |
| The expression “by accident or by chance” is always used typically; it means we cannot place commas before and after it, and we cannot start a sentence with it. |
| Expression in Sentences |
| 1. I discovered my favorite restaurant by accident when I was lost on my way home. |
| 2. I learned how to play the guitar by accident when I picked up a friend’s instrument. |
| 3. I found the lost dog by accident when I was walking in the park. |
| 4. I stumbled upon the hidden waterfall by accident on a hiking trip. |
| 5. I found the answer to the question by accident. |
| 6. I bought the winning lottery ticket by accident when I grabbed the wrong ticket at the store. |
| 7. I learned the truth about my friend’s secret by accident when I overheard their conversation. |
| 8. I discovered my passion for photography by accident when I was given a camera as a gift. |
| 9. I met my future spouse by accident when I sat down next to her on a train. |
| 10. I solved the mystery of the missing necklace by accident. |
| 5) Take Advantage of |
| Meaning |
| The expression “take advantage of” means to use a situation, opportunity, or resource to gain an advantage or benefit. It refers to utilizing something to one’s own benefit, often at the expense of others. |
| Expression in Sentences |
| 1. She took advantage of the discounted gym membership to get in shape. |
| 2. He took advantage of the early bird special to save money on his vacation. |
| 3. The company took advantage of the high demand for their product to increase prices. |
| 4. They took advantage of the online resources to learn a new language. |
| 5. She took advantage of the flexible schedule to work from home and spend more time with her family. |
| 6. He took advantage of the networking event to meet new business contacts. |
| 7. The company took advantage of the free publicity to promote their brand. |
| 8. They took advantage of the free trial to test out the software before purchasing it. |
| 9. She took advantage of the chance to travel to different countries to broaden her cultural understanding. |
| 10. He took advantage of the opportunity to learn from the best in his field to improve his skills. |
| 6) I am Afraid |
| Meaning |
| The expression “I am afraid” is typically used to express a feeling of fear, apprehension, or concern about something while telling it to somebody. We use this expression when we tell our people bad news and want to express our emotions politely and courteously. |
| Expression in Sentences |
| 1. I am afraid that the bus has been delayed. |
| 2. I am afraid I have not done my homework. |
| 3. Could you not find him? I am afraid not. |
| 4. I am afraid of being lost, so I always carry a map with me. |
| 5. I am afraid of heights, so I never go on amusement park rides. |
| 7) After All |
| Meaning-1 |
| “After all” is an expression having multiple meanings. First, we use this expression when we are explaining why something that we have said is true. |
| Example Sentences (Meaning-1) |
| 1. Although Salman speaks French beautifully, he is half French after all. |
| 2. She will not be able to get the task done by the next week. After all, she will on holiday from tomorrow. |
| 3. Although I do like her, after all, she is my sister. |
| 4. I lost my first match, but after all, I had never played cricket before. |
| 5. Of course, I love him – after all, he’s my brother. |
| Meaning-2 |
| Second, we use this expression when things do not happen the way we expect, think or plan. |
| Example Sentences (Meaning-2) |
| 1. Maybe she was right after all. |
| 2. I am really sorry, but I have decided not to join you guys after all. |
| 3. Alia shouldn’t be working so hard – she is 70, after all. |
| 4. I’m not really ambitious. After all, money isn’t everything. |
| 5. Had the previous report been wrong after all? |
| 6. Perhaps those friends knew something after all. |
| 7. The rain has stopped, so the game will go ahead after all. |
| Important Note |
| The expression “after all” can be used as a typical adverb and an opinion adverb in a sentence. When it is used, typically, we do not place commas before and after it. However, when it is used as an opinion, we place commas before and after it to emphasize the next word or phrase. Finally, if it works as a transition word between two sentences, we place a comma after it to start the clause or sentence. |
| 8) After that |
| Meaning |
| “After that” is an expression that means “following that,” or “as a result of that.” It is often used to describe a sequence of events or actions that occur one after another, especially in the past, but we can use it in the present too. |
| Important Note |
| We can use this expression in two ways. First, we use it to start the next sentence; in this case, it becomes a transition word. Second, we use this expression within a sentence to show two actions, but in this case, we do not place commas before or after it. Next, we can also use this expression within a sentence to start the next clause, but in this case, we place a comma after it. |
| Expression in Sentences |
| 1. I lived in London for three years, and after that, I moved to Lahore in Pakistan. |
| 2. I have to deliver an essay writing lecture to the CSS and PMS aspirants and after that drive my sister home. |
| 3. I lost my car keys once, and after that, I always attatched it to my pants’ strap. |
| 4. Parking is free till next week. After that, everyone has to pay to park here. |
| 5. The sports centre closed, so we had no more matches to watch after that. |
| 6. After that, I’ll be going on vacation for two weeks. |
| 7. He finished his work and went for a run, and after that, he relaxed and watched a movie. |
| 8. After that, the team’s morale was high and they felt confident about the rest of the season. |
| 9. She got her degree and started her own business, and after that, she became successful and fulfilled. |
| 10. They finished their project and celebrated, and after that, they started planning their next big idea. |
| 9) After this |
| Meaning |
| The expression “After this or from now on” refers to something that happens or is to be done after a current event or action. It is often used to describe a present or future plan or event. It also means next. |
| Important Point |
| We can use this expression in two ways. First, we use it to start the next sentence; in this case, it becomes a transition word, but we do not place a comma after it. Second, we typically use this expression, meaning we do not place commas before and after it. |
| Expression in Sentence |
| 1. What shall I do after this? |
| 2. After this you will have to pay to park your car here. |
| 3. After this I have to go to the bank to deposit some money. |
| 4. They’re going to have a picnic in the park after this class. |
| 5. I’m going to rest for a bit after this workout. |
| 6. She plans to study for her exams after this episode of her favorite show. |
| 10) Again and again |
| Meaning |
| The expression “Again and again” means “repeatedly” or “over and over.” It is often used to describe a repeated action or event. |
| Important Note |
| We use this expression typically, meaning we do not place commas before and after it. |
| Expression in Sentence |
| 1. I’ve tried this recipe again and again, but I can’t seem to get it right. |
| 2. He practiced his speech again and again until he was satisfied with his performance. |
| 3. She checked her phone again and again hoping to see a message from her friend. |
| 4. She is making the same mistake again and again. |
| 5. The police officer asked us again and again to describe exactly what happened. |
| 11) All over again |
| Meaning |
| The expression “All over again” means “to start from the beginning” or “to repeat the same process.” It is often used to describe starting a process or experience anew. |
| Important Note |
| We use this expression typically, meaning we do not place commas before and after it. |
| Expression in Sentence |
| 1. I have to start this project all over again because I made a mistake. |
| 2. He realized he had to learn the material all over again because he had forgotten it. |
| 3. She felt like she was starting her life all over again after moving to a new city. |
| 4. I have to repeat the experiment all over again because the results were not accurate. |
| 5. He had to train for the race all over again after an injury. |
| 12) Ages ago |
| Meaning |
| The expression “Ages ago” means “a long time ago” or “in the distant past.” It is often used to describe an event that happened a considerable amount of time in the past. |
| Important Point |
| We can use this expression in two ways. First, we use it to start the next sentence; in this case, it becomes a transition word, but we do not place a comma after it. Second, we typically use this expression, meaning we do not place commas before and after it. |
| Expression in Sentence |
| 1. I visited that museum ages ago and I still remember the exhibits. |
| 2. He read that book ages ago, and he still quotes from it. |
| 3. She saw that movie ages ago, but she still remembers the story. |
| 4. Ages ago this was a saloon, I remember. |
| 5. He played that video game ages ago, but he still enjoys it. |
| 13) Long ago |
| Meaning |
| The expression “Long ago” means “in the distant past” or “a significant amount of time in the past.” It is often used to describe events or experiences that took place a considerable amount of time in the past. |
| Important Point |
| We can use this expression in two ways. First, we use it to start the next sentence; in this case, it becomes a transition word, but we do not place a comma after it. Second, we typically use this expression, meaning we do not place commas before and after it. |
| Expression in Sentence |
| 1. Long ago an unmarried girl was considered her father’s property. |
| 2. He lived in that country long ago, but he still speaks the language. |
| 3. She came here a long time ago, when she was very long. |
| 4. A long time ago this piece of land belonged to Ali’s saloon. |
| 5. He saw that play long ago, but he still talks about it. |
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