Lexicon
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Requests without 'please' sound rude in English.
It expects 'Fine, thanks' — not your life story.
Weather, weekend, traffic — light topics build trust.
Most workplaces drop titles after one meeting.
British English uses 'sorry' as apology, excuse me AND question marker.
In British English, 'not bad' often means excellent.
English speakers often say no without saying no.
Cutting a queue in Britain is a serious social offence.
Say 'Thank you' — don't reject it.
Direct requests can sound rude. Modals make you sound polite.
Tipping rules are vastly different between the US and the UK.
Soften your request when asking the waiter for the check or bill.
SINCE = a starting point. FOR = a duration.
First conditional: IF + present, WILL + base verb.
Feeling = -ED. Cause = -ING.
'People' is plural in English.
Never 'an information' or 'informations'.
The 'to' is a preposition, so use -ing.
MAKE = create/produce. DO = perform/carry out.
SAY something. TELL someone.
USED TO = past habit (no more). BE USED TO = accustomed to (now).
FEWER for countable. LESS for uncountable.
AT for specific times. IN for months/years/periods. ON for days/dates.
DESPITE + noun/-ing. ALTHOUGH + clause.
IT'S = it is / it has. ITS = belonging to it.
WILL = spontaneous / prediction. GOING TO = planned / evidence-based.
UK "lift" = US "elevator" — the box that moves you between floors.
UK "chips" = US "fries" — long, fried potato sticks.
UK "crisps" = US "chips" — thin, crunchy potato slices in a bag.
UK "petrol" = US "gas" — fuel for your car.
UK "petrol station" = US "gas station" — where you fill the car up.
UK "flat" = US "apartment" — a home inside a bigger building.
UK "lorry" = US "truck" — a big vehicle for cargo.
UK "boot" = US "trunk" — the storage space at the back of a car.
UK "bonnet" = US "hood" — the cover over a car's engine.
UK "pavement" = US "sidewalk" — the path beside a road for people.
UK "queue" = US "line" — a row of people waiting.
UK "rubbish" = US "trash" — things you throw away.
UK "biscuit" = US "cookie" — a small sweet baked snack.
UK "jumper" = US "sweater" — a knitted top for cold days.
UK "trainers" = US "sneakers" — soft sport shoes.
UK "trousers" = US "pants" — the clothes you wear on your legs.
UK "underground" = US "subway" — the city train that runs below ground.
UK "holiday" = US "vacation" — time off work or school for travel and rest.
UK "postcode" = US "zip code" — the short code for your address.
UK "mobile" = US "cell phone" — the phone you carry with you.
UK "autumn" = US "fall" — the season after summer.
UK "tap" = US "faucet" — the thing you turn for water at the sink.
UK "football" = US "soccer" — the sport played with feet and a round ball.
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