American and British English. This page includes both American English and British English expressions. Some phrases are more common in one variety than the other, but you will hear and need both, so we keep them side by side.

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'm keen to go. / The idea of going really appeals 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 really caught my eye and I'm tempted to buy it. / I'm tempted to splash out on this.
I want to see it.I'm eager to lay eyes on it. / I'm keen to see it for myself. / 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 later on. / 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. / I'm in quite a gloomy 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 feeling very relaxed right now. / I feel entirely at ease. / I've completely switched off now.
I am confused.I'm genuinely puzzled by this. / This has left me pretty confused. / 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 could really do with something to eat.
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 wake up around... / My day kicks off when I wake. / I'm normally awake by...
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 with a 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 with some TV.
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 lost my sense of direction.
I am late.I'm running behind. / 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? / What brings you here today?
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 down a little when you speak? / 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 exactly do you mean by that?
How do I say...?What's the correct way to phrase...? / What's the usual way to say...? / 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.I didn't quite catch that. / I missed what was said. / I didn't quite hear what you said.
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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 book a ticket, please?
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. / Take a left up ahead.
Turn right.Head right at the junction. / Bear to the right there. / Take a 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? / Are they serving people at the moment? / Is it up and running?
Is it closed?Has it shut for the day? / Is it closed at the moment? / Have they stopped serving customers for the day?
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Shopping & Money

A2 (Basic)B2 (More Natural)
I want to buy this.I'm inclined to purchase this. / I'm going ahead and buying this. / 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.Could I have a bag for this, please? / A bag would be useful here. / Could I get something to carry this?
I want a refund.I'd like to have the payment refunded. / 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. / See you first thing 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.It's still on the early side. / There's plenty of time yet. / We're here nice and early.
It is late.It's later than it should be. / Time's gotten away from us. / It's getting rather late.
Do you have time?Might you have a moment? / Could you spare a few minutes? / 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 spell of rough weather. / 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, overcast day.
It is snowing.Snow's coming down steadily. / The snow is falling steadily. / It's snowing heavily now.
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 to my taste at all.
I am full.I've had more than enough. / I couldn't manage another bite. / I'm completely satisfied after the meal.
I am still hungry.I could do with something more to eat. / 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. / I grew up in quite a large family. / 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 really feel my family's absence. / 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. / We had a heated disagreement. / 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 is running slowly today. / Internet speeds are rather poor. / The connection is painfully slow 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. / My phone hasn't been updated yet.
I sent you an email.I sent the details over by email. / An email's on its way to you. / I dropped you 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 spending some time on 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 got to reset my password because I forgot it.
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Home & Housing

A2 (Basic)B2 (More Natural)
I live in a small house.I live in a small but comfortable house. / 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 lights are switched off. / There isn't a light on in here. / The room's unlit.
I need to buy furniture.I'm still shopping for furniture. / 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.It's time I found a new place. / 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 did well enough to pass the exam. / I passed the exam without any trouble. / I managed to pass the exam.
I failed the exam.I didn't make it through the exam. / I fell short on the exam. / I came up 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. / I've still got homework to finish. / There's homework I still 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 cut us 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 in to the 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. / I ended up injured while playing sport.
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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. / I don't want any conflict 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 seem fair to me.
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 an ambulance right now. / 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 is a real 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. / I'm having trouble breathing. / I'm struggling to draw breath properly.
I am bleeding.I've got a bleeding wound. / I'm bleeding quite a lot. / 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 feeling light-headed. / 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.I've still got an email to send. / I need to get an email sent. / 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 busy in a meeting right now. / I'm unavailable because I'm in a meeting.
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 to have a word with my manager. / I need to discuss this with my supervisor. / I have to raise this with my boss.
I got a promotion.I've been moved up to a new role. / I got moved up the ladder. / 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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