100 Common Phrases for Everyday Usage

Language is a medium of the interaction of concepts with people. It makes the transfer of data effortless and dependable. Phrases has a major part in constructing language. Phrases help the students to add importance to the content in every field of creative behavior.

English as a subject carries an essential value to understanding English literature, English textbooks, international books, and in-depth information on the English language. Specifically for English medium students, English as a creative subject is a critical and splendid experience for students to create a better understanding and improve their presentation skills in an international language.

A phrase is any collection of connected words that, unlike a sentence, has no mixture of subject-predicate. The words in a phrase work together so that the phrase itself functions as a single part of speech. Phrases can never stand alone as sentences in the language.

For instance, 

He is playing with his toy car.

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A phrase can be written as a noun, verb, adverb, adjective, or preposition in a sentence structure. The function of a phrase is based simply on its structure. Based on their functions, phrases are split into different types-

Types of Phrases in English

1. Noun Phrase

A noun phrase is a group of two or more words guided by a noun that contains modifiers (e.g., ‘the,’ ‘a,’ ‘of them,’ ‘with her’). It acts as a noun in a sentence with all its other determiners that change the noun. The noun is the main and initial word of the sentence and others are put after or before the noun.

A noun phrase consists of a noun as the headword and other words (usually modifiers and determiners) that arrive after or before the noun. The whole phrase acts as a noun in a sentence.

Noun Phrase = noun + modifiers        

Examples:

• She is wearing a beautiful dress. (as noun/object)
• She brought herself an earring. (as noun/object)
• The house with cobwebs is dumped. (as noun/subject)
• A man on the roof was yelling. (as noun/subject)

A sentence can also have more noun phrases.

For example,

 The girl with blue eyes bought a cute cat.

2. Adjective Phrase

An adjective phrase is a set of words along with its modifiers, that acts as an adjective in a sentence. An adjective phrase works as an adjective to change (or tell about) a noun or a pronoun in a sentence.

Examples:

• He is wearing a strong flowery scent. (modifies perfume)
• Cinderella looked gorgeous in her white dress. (modifies cinderella)
• He gave me a glass full of wine. (modifies glass)
• A boy from Africa won the race. (modifies boy)

Prepositional phrases and participle phrases also function as adjectives so we can also call them adjective phrases when they serve as an adjective.

3. Prepositional Phrase

These phrases are the most commonly used ones. These will be seen everywhere, in a sentence, clauses, and even phrases. The preposition phrase always begins with a preposition and nouns and pronouns are its objects like as, in the room, from the shop to the library, etc. 

The object of a preposition can have its modifiers, which also are aspects of the prepositional phrase.

For example:

• The women in choking attire looked exhausted and annoyed.
• He sits by the rushing river to write his poem.
• Let me go to the room.

4. The Participial Phrase

This phrase starts with a past or present participle followed by its modifiers and determiners. They can also be employed as adjectives. 

Feeling the refreshed air, Jim realized that he had got the valley.

In the initial sentence, the present participle “feeling” induces the participial phrase, which contains the participle’s object (air) and its modifiers (the fresh). This participial phrase functions as an adjective modifying the subject of the sentence (Jim).

The rivals, trapped by the soldiers, threw down their guns.

Here, the past participle “trapped” initiates the participle phrase “trapped by the soldiers” The whole phrase functions as an adjective transforming the subject of the sentence (soldiers). See the phrase-within-a-phrase here. “By the soldiers” is a prepositional phrase that modifies the participle trapped. Phrases can work as modifiers in other phrases.

5. The Gerund Phrase 

Gerund phrases might look like a participle phrase as they too start with the -ing form of the verb along with its object and modifiers. But, the gerund phrase always functions as a noun in a sentence and not as an adjective.

Like other nouns, a gerund phrase can function as the subject of a sentence, the object of a verb or preposition, or complementary of a linking verb. 

In the following mentioned example, the gerund phrase “Riding the Spanish bull” works as a noun and is the subject of the verb “scared.”

Riding the Spanish bulls, scared Hugh. 

6. The Infinitive Phrase

An infinitive phrase has an infinitive (for example, to rest, to have wandered, to consider, to throw) along with its objects and modifiers. Infinitive phrases usually function as nouns, though they can also be employed as adjectives and adverbs.

In this sentence, “To walk freely” is an infinitive phrase acting as a noun and it is the subject of this sentence.

To walk freely was his only wish.

Here, “take strict action” is an infinitive phrase serving as a noun and it is the direct object of the predicate “didn’t want.”

The teachers didn’t want to take strict action.

Next, the infinitive phrase “to spend foolishly” works as an adjective modifying the noun money.

He had an abundance of time and money to spend foolishly.

These are the kinds of Phrases and the following notes regarding the phrases will help you to understand them even more.

Find Out the 100 Commonly Mispronounced Words in English, Here!

The Significance of Learning Common Phrases

There are many grounds to learn common English phrases, and here are listed some of them.

Learning common phrases creates distinct kinds of communication easy

When you master some common English phrases in your life, you will be in a position to examine different topics more easily. In all types of communications, phrases are commonly used. Many of the phrases are also required for all types of situations. Even as you go to different places around the world where different English dialects are spoken, you can use these phrases to communicate with people in a more precise manner.

It will complete learning English easier

Many people would have an easier time learning English if they learned different phrases and sayings. Besides, learning some of these phrases is very much fun, and you can begin to use them almost immediately, which will only add to your proficiency in this language.

Improved the career opportunities

The world is getting international by the day, and English is the most wanted language of communication in the world. Therefore, if you can speak good English, you will have a better chance of success in your career. Studies have revealed that having a better proficiency in English is essential in career progression, with high-level managers in global corporations usually selected based on their ability to communicate correctly in English.

Learning English phrases will drive you educated

As you learn English phrases you will furthermore learn a lot of things about the language, the culture, and the world in general. Therefore, this type of learning will greatly improve your learning and make you better educated on many known issues. For example, learning common phrases about Shakespeare can help you learn more about the famous English playwright and the English culture of the day.

You can comprehend most of the information in the world

A lot of the information in the world is in English, and you can comprehend it best when you know common English phrases, which are regularly utilized in all types of communications. English is the official language in over 50 countries, and it is rather well-known in many other countries. English is a global language, and learning it and its common phrases are always going to unlock doors for you in the world for more opportunities.

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100 Basic English Phrases for Dialy Usage

Speaking English can be hard and scary – even for native speakers. However, there are many phrases you can employ again and again in your daily life.

If you learn these phrases and practice them, you will begin to feel more comfortable speaking English with friends, colleagues, or strangers.

1. Hello
2. Hi
3. See ya later
4. Sure!
5. Nope
6. How are you?
7. How’s it going?
8. How have you been?
9. How’s your family?
10. What’s up?
11. What’s new?
12. Pretty good.
13. Can’t complain.

    14. I’ve been busy.

15. Thanks a lot.
16. I appreciate it.
17. Would you like a drink?
18. How do you feel about…?
19. I’m returning your call.
20. Can you tell me…?
21. Would you happen to know…?
22. I have no idea/clue.
23. I’m not sure.
24. Do you agree with me?
25. Do you know/see what I mean?
26. How do you feel about…?
27. Don’t you think that…?
28. Is it the case that…?

    29. No, thanks. I’m OK.

30. I’m planning to…
31. I’m single.
32. I’m divorced.

    33. No problem.

34. It was the least I could do.
35. That’s OK.

    36. No problem.

37. I’d like you to meet…
38. It was nice chatting with you.
39. Phrases for Telephone Calls
40. You crossed my mind.
41. I appreciate you.
42. I feel sad without you.
43. You inspire me.
44. You are my reason for living.
45. You occupy my thoughts.
46. I miss your laugh.
47. I adore you.
48. You’re everything to me.
49. You’re the light of my life.
50. I am not getting anything else at this time.
51. We appreciate the offer, but …
52. I’m not really into it, but thanks for inviting me!
53. I’d rather not, thanks.
54. Nah
55. That’s not going to work for me.
56. Sounds fun, but I’m not available.
57. I want to, but I’m unfit to.
58. If you ask me…
59. I don’t have strong feelings either way.
60. That’s so true.
61. I beg to differ.
62. That’s not how I see it.
63. Congratulations!
64. That’s terrible.
65. I’m so sorry to hear that.
66. Let me check my calendar.
67. Sounds great!
68. Pardon?
69. What do you mean?
70. Do you understand what I’m saying?
71. Is that clear?
72. I need a little help.
73. Could you do me a favor?
74. Keep up the good work!
75. Long time, no see
76. What are you been up to?
77. Hey there?
78. Nice to see you again?
79. Look who it is!
80. You’re doing great.
81. Excuse me?
82. Do you mind repeating that?
83. Sorry, I didn’t hear what you said.
84. Sorry, I didn’t catch that.
85. I’m not happy about this.
86. I have a vague recollection of…
87. It’s a piece of cake.
88. How much is this?
89. I’m starving!
90. I’m full.
91. I love this show!
92. Do you have any bags to check?
93. Your flight has been canceled.

    94. No matter what happens, I’m going to…

95. Sorry, I’m late.
96. I was tied up in a meeting.
97. I’m afraid you’re right.

    98. No, you’ve got it wrong.

99. She’s brilliant.
100. He’s a bit slow.

As you can see, there is a combination of easy English phrases and sentences that you can choose and that will help you to manage numerous English situations.

In our ENTRI Learning App, you can find more useful English lessons to improve your vocabulary and communication. Our course “English Padikkyam with Inverted Coconut” by Aparna Mulberry is full of this kind of practical English speaking and listening lessons. Start now by learning a couple of new English phrases and sentences every day and apply them whenever you are able. Your English will get sounder shortly!