English Sentence Starters for Everyday Speaking
English Sentence Starters for Everyday Speaking
English sentence starters + Verb I gottaUse phrase this for
obligation or necessity Id rather (not)Use this phrase to express
your preferences Ill help youUse this phrase to offer or promise
assistance Let me /Can I? /Do you mind if I?Use these three phrases
to ask permission to do something(from most informal to most
polite/formal) You could / You shouldUse these phrases to give
advice could is weaker, and should is stronger Please dontUse this
phrase to ask someone not to do something Lets notUse this phrase
to suggest that a group doesnt do something Why dont we? / Why
not?Use these phrases to make suggestionsExamples:I gotta put some
more gas in the car the tanks almost empty!
Id rather stay home tonight.
Ill help you install the new computer program.
Let me carry some of those books.
Can Ihave a glass of water?
Do you mind if I turn off the air conditioning?
You could take extra classes to help you catch up.
You should study harder.
Please dont feed the animals.
Lets not jump to conclusions.
Why dont we try a new restaurant? / Why not try a new
restaurant?
English sentence starters + to + verb I used toUse this phrase
for something you did frequently in the past, but you dont do now
Id like toUse this phrase for something you want to do Im about
toUse this phrase for something youre going to do in the immediate
future I didnt mean toUse this phrase to talk about something you
did accidentally Im here toUse this phrase to announce your purpose
for being in a place Im dying toUse this phrase for something you
REALLY want to do It takes (time) toUse this phrase to talk about
how long something takes Theres no need toUse this phrase to talk
about an unnecessary actionExamples:I used to play tennis, but I
rarely have time nowadays.
Id like to take martial arts classes.
Im about to leave for work, so I cant talk very long.
I didnt mean to offend anyone.
Im here to apply for the internship.
Im dying to see the new movie.
It takes an hour to drive from here to the city.
Theres no need to print out the document.
English sentence starters + verb-ING Ive beenUse this phrase to
talk about your recent activities Im busy / I was busyUse this
phrase to say how you are/were occupied Im not used toUse this
phrase to talk about something youre not accustomed to Im having a
hard timeUse this phrase to talk about something youre having
difficulty doing Im looking forward toUse this phrase to talk about
something youre excited about in the future How about ?Use this
phrase to make suggestions Its no use / Theres no pointUse this
phrase to say that something will have no result/effectExamples:Ive
been running 5 km every morning.
Im busy folding laundry.
Im not used to driving an automatic car.
Im having a hard time finding clothes that fit.
Im looking forward to seeing my family.
How about having a picnic in the park?
Its no use arguing with him; his mind is made up.
English sentence starters +subject + verb Ive heard thatUse this
to talk about news or facts Im not sure ifUse this to express
uncertainty What if ?Use this to bring upa potential concern Lets
say thatUse this to introduce a hypothetical situation Thats whyUse
this to explain a logical result How come ?Use this to ask Why?
informallyExamples:Ive heard that youre moving to a new place.
Im not sure if theyll be happy with the changes.
What if you get sick while traveling?
Lets say that things dont go as planned.
Thats why we need to be prepared.
How come she didnt tell me?
English sentence starters + past participle IveUse this phrase
to say something youve done in the past Have you ?Use this phrase
to ask about something another person has done in the past I
should(nt)haveUse this phrase to express your desire to have done
something differently in the pastExamples:Ive had three surgeries
on my knee.
Have you cleaned your room?
I should have brought a jacket. Im freezing.
