Resources: Notes on Life and Language in the United States

You want to become a better natural English speaker, right? Of course you do, that's why you are reading this blog.

Well, to reach your goal you don't need to learn the most complicated words in the dictionary and you don't need to sound like a genius.

All you need to do is learn how to carry on a smooth, interesting conversation by knowing how to respond to the speaker with short, appropriate phrases and expressions. In today's lesson you will learn 24 new ways to show that you are listening to the speaker and to keep the conversation moving forward.

Try these out with a native speaker today! Good luck.

#1) How to show enthusiastic support and agreement

• "Definitely!" or "Yeah, definitely"

• "For sure"

• "That's true"

• "Right"

• "Totally"

• "Absolutely"

• "Awesome!"

• "Cool!"

#2) How to show that you are listening (neutral)

• "Mhmmm"

• "Oh"

• "Ah"

• "Really?"

• "Is that right?"

• "I see"

• "Ok"

• "Got it"

#3) How to show concern

• "Oh no"

• "Oh man"

• "Oh jeez" or "Jeez"

• "Wow" or "Woah"

• "Uh oh"

• "I'm sorry"

• "That's a bummer"

• "That's too bad"

I hope you enjoyed today's lesson! Please let me know if you have any questions about how to use these expressions in everyday conversation. Thank you!

Photo credits: Alex Kuruz, quinn.anya, liquene, photoloni