Every row below starts with a correct but very basic A2 sentence — the kind you learn first. Next to it are several ways a real native speaker would express the exact same thing at a B2 level. You don't need to memorize all the alternatives for each phrase — just start swapping one or two into your own speech at a time.

Everyday Phrases by Category

20 categories, 600 phrase pairs, over 1,800 B2-level alternatives in total.

Opinions & Beliefs

A2 (Basic)B2 (More Natural)
I think that...It seems to me that... / My impression is that... / I'd venture to say that...
I don't think so.I'm not convinced. / That seems unlikely to me. / I have my reservations about that.
I agree.That aligns with my thinking. / I'm right there with you. / That's exactly my take too.
I disagree.I'd have to push back on that. / That's not quite how I'd frame it. / I take a different view.
I believe it is true.I'm fairly confident that's accurate. / The evidence seems to support that. / I'd lean towards believing it.
I am sure.I have no reservations about that. / I'm fully confident in that. / There's no question in my mind.
I am not sure.I'm torn on that one. / I can't quite commit to an answer. / I'm still weighing it up.
In my opinion...As I see it... / To my mind... / For what it's worth, I'd say...
What do you think?What's your read on this? / Where do you land on this? / I'd value your input on this.
It is good.It's genuinely impressive. / It holds up well. / It's got a lot going for it.
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Wishes & Preferences

A2 (Basic)B2 (More Natural)
I want to...I'm inclined to... / I have every intention of... / I've set my sights on...
I like this.This has a lot of appeal to me. / I have a soft spot for this. / This resonates with me.
I love this.I'm absolutely taken with this. / This has really won me over. / I can't get enough of this.
I don't like this.This doesn't sit well with me. / This falls flat for me. / This isn't really to my taste.
I want to go.I'm inclined to head over. / I have half a mind to go. / Going has real appeal to me.
I want to eat.I could use a proper meal. / I'm ready to tuck in. / Food is calling my name.
I want to sleep.I'm ready to call it a night. / Sleep is calling. / I'm running on empty.
I want to buy this.I'm seriously considering this purchase. / This has caught my eye for buying. / I'm tempted to splash out on this.
I want to see it.I'm eager to lay eyes on it. / I wouldn't want to miss it. / It's on my list to check out.
I prefer coffee.Coffee's my preference, hands down. / I lean heavily towards coffee. / Given the choice, coffee wins every time.
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Social Life & Work

A2 (Basic)B2 (More Natural)
How are you?How have things been with you? / How's life been treating you lately? / How are you holding up?
How is your work?How are things progressing at work? / How's the job been lately? / How's work been treating you?
I am busy.I've got quite a lot on right now. / My schedule's packed at the moment. / I'm stretched pretty thin currently.
I am free.My schedule's fairly open. / I've got some flexibility right now. / I'm not tied up at the moment.
Let's meet.Let's arrange to get together. / Why don't we set something up? / Let's find a time to catch up properly.
See you later.I'll catch you further down the line. / Until next time, then. / Speak soon, take care.
Can you help me?Would you mind giving me a hand? / Could I enlist your help with this? / Any chance you could assist me?
Thank you.I'm genuinely grateful. / That's very much appreciated. / I can't thank you enough.
You are welcome.It was no trouble at all. / Happy to help. / Think nothing of it.
Sorry I am late.Apologies for holding things up. / Sorry, I got caught up and couldn't get here sooner. / My apologies for the delay.
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Emotions & Health

A2 (Basic)B2 (More Natural)
I am happy.I'm in really good spirits. / I couldn't be more content. / I'm genuinely delighted.
I am sad.I'm feeling rather down. / There's a real heaviness to my mood. / I'm feeling quite low right now.
I am angry.I'm genuinely furious about this. / This has really got under my skin. / I'm seething about it, honestly.
I am scared.This has me genuinely unsettled. / I'm quite apprehensive about it. / It fills me with real dread.
I am relaxed.I'm in a pretty easygoing state. / I feel entirely at ease. / I'm thoroughly unwound right now.
I am confused.I'm genuinely puzzled by this. / This has left me quite disoriented. / I can't quite make sense of it.
I am surprised.This has really thrown me. / I wasn't expecting that at all. / That's caught me off guard.
I am hungry.My stomach's been growling for a while. / I could really do with a proper meal. / I'm in serious need of food.
I am thirsty.My throat's incredibly dry. / I'm in desperate need of a drink. / I could really use some water.
I am cold.I'm chilled right to the core. / The cold has really got to me. / I can't seem to warm up.
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Daily Actions

A2 (Basic)B2 (More Natural)
I wake up.I surface around... / My day kicks off when I wake. / I come to around...
I go to bed.I retire for the night. / I turn in around... / I settle down for the night.
I take a shower.I freshen up under the shower. / I hop in for a quick wash. / I get myself cleaned up.
I eat breakfast.I fuel up before heading out. / I have something to eat first thing. / I grab a proper breakfast.
I go to work.I set off for the office. / I make my way into work. / I head in for the day.
I clean the house.I tidy the place up. / I give the house a proper going-over. / I sort the house out.
I cook dinner.I put together an evening meal. / I get dinner sorted. / I prepare something for dinner.
I watch TV.I unwind with some television. / I switch on the telly. / I settle in for some viewing.
I read a book.I lose myself in a book. / I get stuck into some reading. / I settle down with a novel.
I listen to music.I put some tunes on. / I stick some music on in the background. / I get lost in some music.
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Problems & Solutions

A2 (Basic)B2 (More Natural)
I have a problem.I've run into a genuine snag. / Something's cropped up that needs sorting. / I've hit a bit of a wall here.
It is broken.It's stopped functioning altogether. / It's given up the ghost. / It's out of commission.
I lost my key.My key seems to have gone astray. / I can't locate my key anywhere. / My key's vanished on me.
I am lost.I've completely lost my bearings. / I haven't the faintest idea where I am. / I've gone off course somewhere.
I am late.I'm falling behind schedule. / Time's gotten away from me. / I'm not going to make it on time.
I made a mistake.I've gone and got that wrong. / I've slipped up somewhere. / That was an error on my part.
I forgot.That completely slipped past me. / It went right out of my head. / That escaped my memory entirely.
I am sorry.I sincerely apologize for that. / I feel genuinely bad about that. / Please accept my apologies.
Don't worry.There's really no cause for concern. / Put your mind at ease. / It's genuinely nothing to fret over.
It is my fault.The responsibility lies with me. / I'll own that mistake. / That one's down to me.
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Communication & Questions

A2 (Basic)B2 (More Natural)
What is this?What exactly am I looking at? / What are we dealing with here? / Could you clarify what this is?
Who is he?Who exactly is he? / I'm not familiar with him — who is he? / Could you tell me who he is?
Where is it?Whereabouts might it be? / Do you happen to know where it's got to? / Any idea of its location?
Why are you here?What's brought you to this neck of the woods? / I wasn't expecting to see you — what's the occasion? / To what do we owe the pleasure?
Can you repeat?Would you mind going over that again? / Could you run that by me once more? / I missed that — could you say it again?
Speak slowly.Could you slow your pace a little? / Would you mind taking it a bit slower? / Perhaps a little slower, if you don't mind.
What does it mean?What's the significance of that? / Could you unpack what that means? / What am I meant to take from that?
How do I say...?What's the correct way to phrase...? / How would one express...? / What's the appropriate term for...?
Can you explain?Could you elaborate on that? / Would you mind shedding some light on it? / Could you talk me through it?
I didn't hear.That didn't quite reach me. / I missed what was said. / That went past me, unfortunately.
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Travel & Getting Around

A2 (Basic)B2 (More Natural)
I want a ticket.I'd like to purchase a ticket. / I'm after a ticket, please. / Could I secure a ticket?
Where is the bus?Whereabouts does the bus stop? / Could you point me to the bus stop? / Any idea where I'd catch the bus?
It is far.It's quite a distance from here. / It's a fair trek away. / That's some way off.
It is near.It's just a short distance away. / It's within easy reach. / It's a stone's throw from here.
Turn left.Head left at the junction. / Bear to the left there. / Veer left up ahead.
Turn right.Head right at the junction. / Bear to the right there. / Veer right up ahead.
Go straight.Continue straight on. / Proceed directly ahead. / Keep going in a straight line.
I am tired of walking.My legs have had enough walking. / I could use a rest from all this walking. / I've walked more than enough for today.
Is it open?Is it currently operating? / Is it accessible right now? / Is it up and running?
Is it closed?Has it shut for the day? / Is it currently unavailable? / Has it ceased operating?
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Shopping & Money

A2 (Basic)B2 (More Natural)
I want to buy this.I'm inclined to purchase this. / This has convinced me to buy. / I'm going to go ahead with this purchase.
How much is it?What's the asking price? / What am I looking at cost-wise? / Could you tell me the price?
It is too much.That's beyond what I'd budgeted. / That exceeds what I'm willing to pay. / That's a bit steep for my liking.
I have no money.My funds are rather limited right now. / I'm short on cash at the moment. / I don't have the means right now.
I pay by card.I'll be settling by card. / Card is my preferred method. / I'll put it on card.
I pay by cash.I'll cover this in cash. / Cash is how I'll be paying. / I'll settle up in cash.
Where is the shop?Whereabouts is the store located? / Could you point me toward the shop? / Do you know where I'd find the shop?
I need a bag.I'll require something to carry this in. / A bag would be useful here. / Could I get something to carry this?
I want a refund.I'd like my money reimbursed. / I'm requesting a refund on this. / I'd like this amount returned to me.
It is on sale.It's currently discounted. / There's a markdown on it. / It's being offered at a reduced price.
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Time & Plans

A2 (Basic)B2 (More Natural)
What time is it?Could you give me the time? / What time do you have? / Do you happen to know the time?
See you tomorrow.I'll see you again tomorrow. / Until tomorrow, then. / Looking forward to tomorrow.
See you next week.I'll catch up with you next week. / Until we meet again next week. / See you the same time next week.
I am free on Friday.Friday works well for me. / I've got availability on Friday. / My schedule's clear on Friday.
I have a meeting.I've got something scheduled. / I'm tied up with an appointment. / There's a meeting on my calendar.
I am busy today.My day's fully booked. / I've got a packed schedule today. / There's little room in my day today.
It is early.We're ahead of schedule. / It's still on the early side. / There's plenty of time yet.
It is late.We're behind where we should be. / Time's gotten away from us. / It's later than it should be.
Do you have time?Might you have a moment? / Are you available briefly? / Could you spare some time?
I am in a hurry.I'm pressed for time right now. / Time's rather tight for me at the moment. / I need to move quickly.
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Weather & Nature

A2 (Basic)B2 (More Natural)
It is sunny.The sun's out in full force. / It's a bright, sunny spell. / We're getting glorious sunshine.
It is raining.We've got steady rainfall. / It's coming down quite heavily. / The rain's set in properly.
It is windy.There's a strong breeze picking up. / The wind's really gusting today. / It's rather blustery out.
It is cold outside.There's a real chill in the air. / The temperature's dropped considerably. / It's bitterly cold out there.
It is hot outside.The heat's rather intense today. / Temperatures are soaring outside. / It's sweltering out there.
The weather is nice.We're having lovely conditions. / The weather's been remarkably pleasant. / Conditions couldn't be better.
The weather is bad.Conditions have really deteriorated. / We're in for a rough weather spell. / The weather's taken a turn for the worse.
It is cloudy.The sky's rather overcast. / Cloud cover's rolled in. / It's a grey, clouded day.
It is snowing.We've got snowfall coming down. / Snow's settling in properly. / It's a proper snowy spell.
There is a storm.We're due for a significant storm. / A storm system is moving in. / There's severe weather approaching.
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Food & Dining

A2 (Basic)B2 (More Natural)
The food is good.The food's genuinely impressive. / The cooking here is really solid. / The meal has been thoroughly enjoyable.
The food is bad.The food's fairly underwhelming. / The cooking leaves something to be desired. / The meal's been rather disappointing.
I want to eat out.I fancy dining out this evening. / Eating out appeals to me tonight. / I'm in the mood to go out for a meal.
Can I see the menu?Might I take a look at the menu? / Could you bring the menu over? / I'd like to see what's on offer.
I would like to order.I'm ready to place my order. / I'll go ahead and order now. / I think I'll have...
The bill, please.Could we settle up, please? / Might I have the check? / Could you bring the bill over?
This is delicious.This is genuinely delicious. / This has real flavor to it. / This is exceptionally tasty.
This tastes bad.This doesn't taste right at all. / The flavor's quite off. / This isn't agreeing with my palate.
I am full.I've had more than enough. / I couldn't manage another bite. / I'm thoroughly satisfied, food-wise.
I am still hungry.My appetite hasn't been satisfied yet. / I could still manage more. / That hasn't quite filled me up.
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Family & Relationships

A2 (Basic)B2 (More Natural)
I have a big family.I come from quite a large family. / My family's fairly extensive. / There are plenty of us in the family.
I love my parents.I'm deeply attached to my parents. / My parents mean a great deal to me. / I hold my parents in high regard.
We get along well.We have a genuinely good relationship. / There's real harmony between us. / We're on excellent terms.
We don't get along.There's noticeable tension between us. / Our relationship is rather strained. / We don't see eye to eye.
I miss my family.I feel the absence of my family keenly. / Being apart from my family weighs on me. / I long for time with my family.
My parents raised me well.I was brought up with solid values. / My upbringing instilled good principles in me. / My parents did a commendable job raising me.
I am getting married.I'm due to be married soon. / Wedding plans are underway for me. / I'm about to tie the knot.
We had an argument.We had a falling-out. / Words were exchanged between us. / There was a disagreement that escalated.
We made up.We managed to reconcile. / Things have been smoothed over between us. / We've patched things up.
I trust him completely.I place complete confidence in him. / His word is beyond question to me. / I have unwavering trust in him.
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Technology & Internet

A2 (Basic)B2 (More Natural)
My phone is broken.My phone's stopped functioning. / My phone's given up entirely. / My handset is out of action.
I need to charge my phone.My phone's in urgent need of charging. / I need to plug my phone in soon. / My battery's nearly depleted.
The internet is slow.The connection's dragging today. / Internet speeds are rather poor. / The connection is far from reliable right now.
I lost my connection.My connection dropped out. / I got disconnected unexpectedly. / The signal cut out on me.
I need to update my phone.My phone's overdue for an update. / I need to install the latest update. / An update is required on my end.
I sent you an email.I forwarded the details by email. / An email's been sent your way. / I dispatched an email earlier.
Check your messages.Take a look at your inbox. / You'll want to check your messages. / Have a look through your messages.
I am on social media.I'm browsing social media at the moment. / I've been scrolling through my feed. / I'm occupied with social media.
I took a photo.I captured a photo of it. / I got a shot of that. / I snapped a picture.
I need to reset my password.I'll need to reset my login credentials. / My password requires resetting. / I've locked myself out and need a reset.
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Home & Housing

A2 (Basic)B2 (More Natural)
I live in a small house.My living space is fairly modest. / I reside in a fairly compact house. / My home is on the smaller side.
I need to clean my room.My room's overdue for a tidy. / I ought to sort my room out. / My room requires some attention.
The room is messy.The room's in a state of disarray. / Things are rather cluttered in here. / The room needs a proper tidy.
I fixed the sink.I resolved the issue with the sink. / The sink's now functioning properly. / I got the sink working again.
The lights are off.The lighting's switched off. / There's no illumination in here. / The place is dark, lights off.
I need to buy furniture.I've got furniture to source still. / I need to furnish the space. / Furniture shopping is on my list.
The house is quiet.There's a real stillness about the house. / It's remarkably peaceful at home. / The house is unusually silent.
I need to move house.I'm due for a change of residence. / Relocating is on the cards for me. / I need to find a new place to live.
The heating is broken.The heating system's failed. / We've lost heating entirely. / The heating's stopped working.
I redecorated my room.I gave my room a complete overhaul. / My room's had a makeover. / I refreshed the look of my room.
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Studies & Education

A2 (Basic)B2 (More Natural)
I am studying for a test.I'm preparing thoroughly for an exam. / I've been revising ahead of a test. / I'm putting in the study hours for an upcoming exam.
I passed the exam.I came through the exam successfully. / I cleared the exam without issue. / The exam went well for me.
I failed the exam.I didn't come through the exam. / The exam didn't go my way. / I fell short on the exam.
I don't understand this subject.This subject is proving genuinely difficult to grasp. / I'm struggling to get to grips with this topic. / This material isn't sinking in for me.
I need to do homework.I've got assignments awaiting completion. / Homework still needs attending to. / There's coursework I need to finish.
I am learning a new language.I'm in the process of acquiring a new language. / I've taken up learning another language. / I'm developing my skills in a new language.
My teacher is strict.My teacher maintains high standards. / My instructor is quite demanding. / My teacher doesn't tolerate much slack.
I got a good grade.I achieved a strong result. / My performance earned a solid grade. / I scored well on that.
I got a bad grade.My result fell below expectations. / That grade was disappointing. / I underperformed on that assessment.
I have a lot of homework.I've been assigned a considerable amount of work. / My workload from school is substantial right now. / Homework has piled up considerably.
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Sports & Leisure

A2 (Basic)B2 (More Natural)
I like playing sports.I have a genuine enthusiasm for sports. / Sports feature heavily in my free time. / I take real pleasure in playing sports.
I am watching a game.I'm following a match at the moment. / I've got a game on right now. / I'm tuned into a match.
My team won.My team came away with the win. / My side secured the victory. / My team pulled off a win.
My team lost.My team came out on the losing end. / My side suffered a defeat. / My team fell short this time.
I go to the gym.I train at the gym regularly. / The gym's a regular fixture in my routine. / I make a habit of going to the gym.
I need to get in shape.I need to work on my fitness. / Getting fit is overdue for me. / I should focus on improving my physical condition.
I am good at football.I have a real aptitude for football. / Football's something I excel at. / I'm reasonably skilled when it comes to football.
I am bad at swimming.Swimming isn't exactly my strong suit. / I'm rather lacking when it comes to swimming. / Swimming doesn't come naturally to me.
Let's play a game.Fancy a game together? / Shall we get a game going? / How about we play something?
I hurt myself playing sports.I picked up an injury during a match. / I sustained an injury while playing. / Sport left me with an injury.
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Debates & Disagreements

A2 (Basic)B2 (More Natural)
I don't agree with you.I find myself at odds with your view. / That's not a position I share. / I can't align myself with that.
Let's not argue.Let's avoid this turning into a dispute. / There's no need for this to escalate. / Let's keep this civil.
You are wrong.That's simply not accurate. / I'd have to correct you there. / That doesn't hold up, I'm afraid.
I have a different opinion.My perspective diverges from that. / I see this from a different angle. / I hold a contrasting view.
Let's compromise.We should look for some middle ground. / A compromise seems sensible here. / Let's find a solution that works for both sides.
I don't want to fight.I'd rather this didn't turn confrontational. / Conflict isn't something I'm after here. / I'd prefer to keep things amicable.
We disagree on this.Our views diverge significantly on this. / There's a genuine difference of opinion here. / We're clearly not aligned on this issue.
That's not fair.That strikes me as unjust. / There's something inequitable about that. / That doesn't sit right, fairness-wise.
I understand your point.Your reasoning makes sense to me. / I can see the logic in your position. / Your point is well taken.
I still disagree.My position remains unchanged. / I'm still not persuaded. / That hasn't shifted my view.
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Emergencies & Health

A2 (Basic)B2 (More Natural)
Call an ambulance.We need emergency medical assistance immediately. / Get an ambulance dispatched right away. / Emergency services need to be contacted now.
I need a doctor.I require medical attention. / A doctor's assessment is needed here. / I should be seen by a physician.
It is an emergency.This constitutes a genuine emergency. / This situation demands immediate attention. / There's no time to lose here.
I feel dizzy.I'm experiencing lightheadedness. / My balance feels off right now. / Everything feels a bit unsteady.
I can't breathe well.I'm having genuine difficulty breathing. / My breathing feels compromised. / I'm struggling to draw breath properly.
I am bleeding.I've sustained a bleeding wound. / There's active bleeding here. / I'm losing a fair amount of blood.
I broke my arm.I've sustained a fracture to my arm. / My arm's been broken. / There's a break in my arm.
I need medicine.Medication is required here. / I need something to treat this. / I'll need to take medicine for this.
I have a fever.My temperature's noticeably elevated. / I've developed a fever. / I'm running a temperature.
I feel faint.I feel on the verge of fainting. / I'm experiencing a sense of faintness. / I don't feel entirely steady on my feet.
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Meetings & Office Work

A2 (Basic)B2 (More Natural)
Let's start the meeting.Shall we get the meeting underway? / Let's proceed with the meeting. / Time to get started, then.
I have a deadline.I'm working against a deadline. / There's a submission date I need to meet. / A deadline's looming over this.
I finished the report.The report's been completed. / I've brought the report to completion. / The report is now finalized.
I need to send an email.An email needs to go out from me. / I have to draft and send a message. / There's an email I need to get out.
Let's schedule a call.We should arrange a call. / Let's set up a time to speak. / A call would be worth scheduling.
I am in a meeting.I'm currently tied up in a meeting. / I'm occupied with a meeting right now. / A meeting has me unavailable at present.
Can we reschedule the meeting?Might we move the meeting to another time? / Could the meeting be rearranged? / Would it be possible to shift the meeting?
I need to talk to my boss.I need a conversation with my manager. / A discussion with my supervisor is overdue. / I have to raise this with my boss.
I got a promotion.I've been advanced to a new role. / My position has been upgraded. / I've moved up within the company.
I have too much work.My workload has become unmanageable. / I'm overwhelmed with tasks currently. / There's simply too much on my plate.
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