What’s the word? Vocabulary help from EC Cambridge

How many words do you think you know in English? 100? 1000? 5000? The English dictionary has approximately 80,000 words, yet English native speakers probably use around 15,000 to 20,000 of them.

It’s possible to survive in an English speaking country if you know around 1000 words, from booking hotels, ordering in restaurants to making everyday conversation. EC language school Cambridge wants you to expand your knowledge.

Take a look at the following situations and decide what the best answer is, but be careful! One is correct, one is rude/impolite and one is grammatically wrong.

1. You’re at a restaurant. The waiter has brought you chicken but you asked for duck. What could you say?

• A: I didn’t ask chicken, I ask duck
• B: I don’t want this chicken!
• C: I ordered duck, not chicken

2.  You’re on holiday and you’re trying to find the train station. You stop a stranger in the street. What do you say?

• A: You! Tell me where the station is.
• B: How I get to station?
• C: Excuse me, could you tell me the way to the station?

IF you’re having problems, why not ask a friend or your teacher, and discuss which you think are rude, grammatically incorrect and why. Good luck!

Learn more about English courses at EC Cambridge!