SPOKEN ENGLISH RULES
| No. | Rule | Example |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Use contractions in speech to sound natural | I am I'm, You are |
| 2 | Avoid overly formal words in casual talk | Use help instead of "assist" |
| 3 | Use short sentences in speech | Can you help me? |
| 4 | Use fillers naturally, but not too much | Well, you know, actually |
| 5 | Stress important words to change meaning | I didn't say he stole it |
| 6 | Use rising intonation in yes/no questions | Are you coming? |
| 7 | Use falling intonation in whquestions | Where are you going? |
| 8 | Don't translate directly from mother tongue | Wrong: Open the light * Correct: Turn on the light |
| 9 | Use phrasal verbs instead of formal verbs | Find out vs. |
| "discover" | ||
| 10 | Use idioms in moderation | That exam was a piece of cake |
| 11 | Practice linking sounds | "Go on" Gowan |
| 12 | Drop weak sounds in casual talk | I am going to -+ I'm gonna |
| 13 | Use gonna, wanna, gotta in informal talk | I'm gonna call him |
| 14 | Avoid double negatives | Wrong: I don't know nothing + Correct: I don't know anything |
| 15 | Use tag questions for flow | You're coming, aren't you? |
| 16 | Use vague language for politeness | kind of, maybe, something like that |
| 17 | Use small talk to start conversations | Nice weather today, isn't it? |
| 18 | Use short responses instead of repeating | Do you like pizza? Yeah, I do |
| 19 | Use discourse markers to organize speech | Anyway, by the way, in fact |
| 20 | Repeat key words for emphasis | It's very, very important |
| 21 | Use intonation to show surprise | Really?! |
| 22 | Use well to soften disagreement | Well, I don't really think so |
| 23 | Use you know to check understanding | It was cold, you know? |
| 24 | Use I mean to clarify | He's lazy�I mean, he never finishes work |
| 25 | Use like as a filler carefully | He was, like, really upset |
| 26 | Use reductions in natural talk | Did you + Didja, What do you Whaddya |
| 27 | Use ellipsis in short answers | Who's coming? * John, |
| 28 | Use auxiliary stress for emphasis | I do like it |
| 29 | Avoid reading-like speech | Speak naturally, not word by word |
| 30 | Use intonation for lists | Apples 7, oranges n, bananas |
| 31 | Use minimal responses to show interest | Uh-huh, right, I see |
| 32 | Use rising intonation for uncertainty | Maybe we could go there? |
| 33 | Use polite forms with strangers | Could you help me? |
| 34 | Avoid monotone; vary pitch | Say Really?! with emotion |
| 35 | Stress contrasts in ideas | I said tea, not coffee |
| 36 | Use so and such for emphasis | That movie was so good |
| 37 | Use pauses to organize speech | Well... I think we should go |
| 38 | Use echo questions for surprise | A: I saw Brad Pitt. B: You saw WHO? |
| 39 | Use contractions with negatives | I cannot I can't |
| 40 | Use let's for suggestions | Let's go to the park |
| 41 | Use shall we? for polite suggestions | Let's start, shall we? |
| 42 | Use rising intonation in offers | Would you like some tea? |
| 43 | Use so to show result | It was raining, so we stayed home |
| 44 | Use because to give reasons | We left early because it was late |
| 45 | Use actually to correct gently | Actually, I'm from Luck now |
| 46 | Use anyway to change topic | Anyway, let's talk about the exam |
| 47 | Avoid literal translation of proverbs | Correct: Don't cry over spilt milk |
| 48 | Use casual terms with friends | Hey buddy, what's up? |
| 49 | Use softeners in requests | Can you please..., Could you |
| 50 | Keep speech natural, simple, clear | Say I'm tired, not "l am experiencing fatigue" |