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?? How to be More Polite - Being Polite - Politeness - Sounding Polite -British English Pronunciation

Video vocabulary

have

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US / həv /

UK / hæv /

A1
  • verb
  • To drink, smoke, eat or use something
  • To experience the effects of something
  • To organize an event, or join in an activity
  • To own, possess, or hold something
  • To cause to happen or produce a particular effect

last

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US / lɑ:st /

UK / læst /

A1
  • adjecitve
  • Most recent; the latest
  • The one before
  • adverb
  • Final; with nothing following; after all others
  • Most recent; the latest
  • determiner
  • The one at the end
  • verb
  • To remain or continue for a certain period of time

universal

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US / ˌju:nɪˈvɜ:sl /

UK / ˌjunəˈvɚsəl /

A2
  • adjecitve
  • Existing in all places at all times for all people
  • Done or experienced by everyone
  • noun
  • Things which apply equally to everyone

remember

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US / rɪ'membə(r) /

UK / rɪˈmɛmbɚ /

A1
  • verb
  • To give someone a gift, e.g. birthday, wedding
  • To hold a thought in your mind to not forget it
  • To bring a previous image or idea to your mind

could

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US / kəd /

UK / kʊd /

A1
  • other
  • Past form of 'can' to mean have ability
  • Used to ask for something politely, or to offer

polite

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US / pəˈlaɪt /

UK / pəˈlaɪt /

A2
  • adjecitve
  • Showing good manners or respect for other people

imperative

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US / ɪm'perətɪv /

UK / ɪmˈpɛrətɪv /

B2
  • adjecitve
  • Absolutely necessary; that must be done
  • noun
  • The state of demanding notice or attention

with

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US / wɪð /

UK / wɪð, wɪθ /

A1
  • preposition
  • As an employee of a certain company
  • Against something or someone
  • By using something as a means
  • Due to; because of
  • Including
  • Possessing as a feature
  • Related to
  • (Of the manner/attitude by which you do something)
  • Used to express that people or things are together

not

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US / nɒt /

UK / nɑt /

A1
  • adverb
  • Word indicating the negative
  • (Used to form the negative of verbs)

quite

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US / kwaɪt /

UK / kwaɪt /

A1
  • adverb
  • Not very; fairly
  • Very; In a complete or total manner

bye

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US / baɪ /

UK / baɪ /

A1
  • exclamation
  • Saying farewell to someone

english

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US / ˈɪŋglɪʃ /

UK / ˈɪŋɡlɪʃ /

A1
  • adjecitve
  • Concerning the culture and people of England
  • noun
  • Language of the UK, USA, Nigeria and elsewhere
  • Person's name

give

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US / ɡɪv /

UK / ɡɪv /

A1
  • noun
  • Degree of flexibility in something, a material
  • verb
  • To hand over or present something to someone
  • To cause someone to have or experience something

subscribe

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US / səb'skraɪb /

UK / səbˈskraɪb /

B1
  • verb
  • To regularly pay to receive a service

somebody

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US / 'sʌmbədɪ /

UK / ˈsʌmˌbɑdi, -ˌbʌdi, -bədi /

A1
  • noun
  • Important well-respected person
  • pronoun
  • Person who is not known or named

can

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US / kæn /

UK / kən,kæn /

A1
  • noun
  • A metal container for storing food
  • other
  • Able to; have the skill to; have the time to
  • verb
  • To have permission to
  • To be possible to do
  • To preserve food by sealing it in a metal container

now

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US / naʊ /

UK / naʊ /

A1
  • adverb
  • At the present time or moment
  • Right away or in the next possible moment
  • Used to refer to something that just happened
  • Time between the present and a moment in the past
  • conjunction
  • Resulting from or because of something

video

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US / 'vɪdɪəʊ /

UK / ˈvɪdiˌo /

A2
  • adjecitve
  • Of a moving film, with sound
  • noun
  • Recording capturing action with sound
  • verb
  • To make a moving film of, with sound

want

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US / wɔnt /

UK / wɑnt, wɔnt /

A1
  • noun
  • Something you desire or wish for
  • State or condition of poverty
  • verb
  • To desire or wish for something; hope for a thing

please

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US / pli:z /

UK / pliz /

A1
  • adverb
  • Used when you politely ask people for things
  • verb
  • To entertain someone, by dancing, singing etc.
  • To make someone happy by doing something

understand

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US / ˌʌndə'stænd /

UK / ˌʌndɚˈstænd /

A1
  • verb
  • To know the meaning of language, what someone says

would

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US / wʊd /

UK / wʊd /

A1
  • other
  • Used to indicate something imagined
  • Used to ask or request something politely
  • Verb used to indicate possibility, request etc.
  • Used to indicate a preference
  • Used to indicate a reaction
  • Indicates something that occurred repeatedly
  • Used to indicate willingness or ability to do

british

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US / ˈbrɪtɪʃ /

UK / ˈbrɪtɪʃ /

A1
  • adjecitve
  • Concerning the culture and people of British

add

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US / æd /

UK / æd /

A1
  • verb
  • To include as well
  • To put two things or numbers together, e.g. 2+2

bit

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US / bɪt /

UK / bɪt /

A1
  • noun
  • Device put in a horse's mouth to control it
  • Small piece of something
  • verb
  • (E.g. of fish) to take bait and be caught

thank

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US / θæŋk /

UK / θæŋk /

A1
  • verb
  • To tell someone you are grateful to them

another

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US / əˈnʌðə(r) /

UK / əˈnʌðɚ /

A1
  • adjecitve
  • One more, but not this
  • determiner
  • One more added
  • pronoun
  • One more (thing)

bread

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US / bred /

UK / brɛd /

A1
  • noun
  • Money or earnings
  • Baked food made from flour, used in sandwiches

anything

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US / ˈeniθɪŋ /

UK / ˈɛniˌθɪŋ /

A1
  • pronoun
  • A thing of any kind

rude

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US / ru:d /

UK / rud /

A2
  • adjecitve
  • Being unkind or impolite to others; disrespectful
  • Offensive; ill-mannered
  • Being made in a simple way

direct

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US / də'rekt /

UK / dɪˈrɛkt, daɪ- /

A2
  • adverb
  • Coming straight from something
  • verb
  • To tell someone in a very clear way to do something
  • To show the way by conducting or leading
  • To control the acting in a movie or play

and

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US / ənd /

UK / ənd, ən,ænd /

A1
  • conjunction
  • Used to refer to two or more things
  • Plus; in addition; on top of that
  • Used to introduce an action that follows another

lot

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US / lɒt /

UK / lɑt /

A1
  • noun
  • What happens to a person in life from chance; fate
  • A group of people seen together
  • Item for sale at an auction
  • Small area of land used for a purpose e.g. parking

channel

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US / 'tʃænl /

UK / ˈtʃænəl /

B1
  • noun
  • Long hole dug in the ground, e.g. to move water
  • TV or radio station or its programs
  • Method or way of sending or receiving information
  • Narrow passage through which water travels
  • Method or route used for sending or getting things
  • verb
  • To dig a long hole for carrying water
  • To send (e.g. money) to a certain place or person
  • To direct water or liquid through a passage
  • To direct energy or feelings into something

come

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US / kʌm /

UK / kʌm /

A1
  • verb
  • To arrive at a place
  • (Of mail) to be delivered
  • To move toward someone; go with someone
  • To reach a certain point or state

couple

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US / 'kʌpl /

UK / ˈkʌpəl /

A2
  • noun
  • Two people in a romantic relationship
  • Two of something; two people; a pair
  • verb
  • To join something to something else
  • (Two animals) to engage in sexual relations
  • To put two people or things together

something

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US / ˈsʌmθɪŋ /

UK / ˈsʌmθɪŋ /

A1
  • adverb
  • In some degree or measure
  • noun
  • a person or thing of some value or consequence
  • pronoun
  • Thing that is not yet known or named
  • Approximately

comment

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US / 'kɒment /

UK / ˈkɑmɛnt /

A2
  • noun
  • Something you say, giving an opinion; remark
  • verb
  • To say something that gives your opinion

language

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US / ˈlæŋgwɪdʒ /

UK / ˈlæŋɡwɪdʒ /

A1
  • noun
  • Words or signs used to communicate messages

about

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US / ə'baʊt /

UK / əˈbaʊt /

A1
  • adverb
  • To be ready to; going to
  • Nearly; approximately; roughly
  • Near; next to; close to
  • In every direction; in the area of
  • preposition
  • Concerning or of (a topic)

again

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US / ə'ɡen /

UK / əˈɡɛn /

A1
  • adverb
  • One more time, once more

like

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US / laɪk /

UK / laɪk /

A1
  • adjecitve
  • Being equal in status or kind to something else
  • Similar; the same
  • adverb
  • For example
  • preposition
  • Used as a filler; used to ad emphasis
  • In a way similar to the way something is done
  • Such as; for example
  • verb
  • To want to
  • To find something pleasing; to prefer something

that

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US / ðæt /

UK / ðæt, ðət /

A1
  • adjecitve
  • The person or thing being talked about
  • Used to identify something both the speakers know
  • adverb
  • Used to reinforce adjectives and adverbs
  • To such a degree
  • conjunction
  • Used to connect a noun clause
  • Used to introduce an adverbial clause
  • Used to introduce a noun clause
  • determiner
  • Used as a noun to refer to something
  • pronoun
  • Referring an object far away
  • Used to refer to the relative pronoun ‘which’

what

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US / wɒt /

UK / hwɑt, hwʌt, wɔt, wʌt,hwət, wət /

A1
  • pronoun
  • Thing or things that; the same kind as
  • Used to emphasize something you are about to say
  • adjecitve
  • Used to refer to a particular amount, or number
  • Used to place emphasis on a particular quality
  • adverb
  • To a certain degree
  • determiner
  • Question words used for asking for information
  • exclamation
  • Used to express excitement, shock, or surprise
  • Used to ask people to repeat something they said

cheer

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US / tʃiə /

UK / tʃɪr /

A2
  • noun
  • Feeling of happiness or optimism
  • A loud shout of encouragement or approval
  • A toast used when raising your glass to drink
  • verb
  • To give a loud shout of encouragement to someone
  • To make someone feel happier or less worried

first

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US / fɜ:st /

UK / fɚst /

A1
  • adjecitve
  • 1st; Coming before all others in time or place
  • noun
  • Something that has not happened before
  • Position of the winner of a competition

get

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US / ɡet /

UK / ɡɛt /

A1
  • verb
  • To become affected by illness or disease
  • To begin to feel or understand an emotion or idea
  • To send or bring someone or something home, etc.
  • To go somewhere to obtain something
  • To (cause to) do a particular thing
  • To obtain, receive or be given something
  • To currently have
  • To prepare for use
  • To understand something being said or read

watch

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US / wɒtʃ /

UK / wɑtʃ /

A1
  • noun
  • Period of time someone is responsible for guarding
  • Device you wear on your wrist that shows the time
  • Official warning statement, e.g. of bad weather
  • verb
  • To keep in check, manage, or control something
  • To look at something for entertainment, e.g. TV
  • To guard a place or people; protect child, etc.
  • To look at carefully to work out what is happening
  • To protect and care for someone or something

word

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US / wɜ:d /

UK / wɚd /

A1
  • noun
  • Unit of language that has a meaning
  • Promise
  • Short remark or piece of information
  • verb
  • To express something by choosing particular words

less

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US / les /

UK / lɛs /

A1
  • adjecitve
  • Smaller in amount or degree
  • adverb
  • To a smaller degree
  • noun
  • A smaller amount
  • preposition
  • With the subtraction of

conditional

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US / kənˈdɪʃənl /

UK / kənˈdɪʃənəl /

A2
  • adjecitve
  • Depending (on)
  • noun
  • Clause or sentence beginning with 'if' or 'unless'

one

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US / wʌn /

UK / wʌn /

A1
  • pronoun
  • You; we; people in general; someone
  • The thing or person previously referred to
  • adjecitve
  • Used to refer to people generally
  • Being a strong example of (something mentioned)
  • number
  • Number 1

fine

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US / faɪn /

UK / faɪn /

A2
  • adjecitve
  • Good, acceptable or satisfactory
  • Of high quality; made with great skill
  • In a careful or exact manner; into small pieces
  • Being of high quality
  • Good; okay; no problem
  • (Of weather) good; not raining
  • noun
  • Money you have to pay because you broke a rule
  • verb
  • To pay money because you broke a law

you

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US / jʊ /

UK / ju /

A1
  • pronoun
  • Person someone is speaking or writing to
  • Person or people in general

how

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US / haʊ /

UK / haʊ /

A1
  • adjecitve
  • To what degree? in what amount?
  • adverb
  • (Used to explain the way to do something)
  • exclamation
  • For what purpose or reason?
  • (Used to ask someone or something's condition)

the

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US / ðə /

UK / ðə /

A1
  • article
  • Used to refer to something already mentioned
  • Used to show there is only one of something
  • determiner
  • Used to describe all of a family

well

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US / wel /

UK / wɛl /

A1
  • adjecitve
  • Being in a fortunate, good condition or state
  • Healthy and in good condition
  • adverb
  • In an acceptable, proper, or successful manner
  • In a complete, total, or full manner
  • A great and considerable degree
  • In a successful way, in a good or satisfactory way
  • exclamation
  • Used to begin or continue a particular statement
  • Used to show you want to start saying something
  • Used to express that you are waiting for a reply
  • You say this to change the topic of a conversation
  • Used to indicate you are making a final remark
  • noun
  • Long deep hole in the ground to get water
  • verb
  • To cause your eyes to fill with tears

for

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US / fə(r) /

UK / fɔr,fə /

A1
  • preposition
  • Used to show the purpose, or need of something

grant

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US / ɡrɑ:nt /

UK / ɡrænt /

A2
  • noun
  • Money given for education or research
  • Person's name
  • verb
  • To admit an opinion is true but not fully agreeing
  • To give or let someone do what they want

just

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US / dʒʌst /

UK / dʒʌst /

A1
  • adjecitve
  • Proper or appropriate; as is deserved
  • Doing or being what is right or fair
  • Legally correct; having enough evidence
  • adverb
  • Almost; nearly
  • Exactly at the time of
  • Exactly (the same as, like)

request

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US / rɪ'kwest /

UK / rɪˈkwɛst /

A2
  • noun
  • Thing that has been asked for
  • verb
  • To ask for, usually politely and formally

much

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US / mʌtʃ /

UK / mʌtʃ /

A1
  • adjecitve
  • Very; to a high level or degree
  • adverb
  • A lot; large amount; a high degree of
  • Nearly; basically
  • On many occasions; often
  • noun
  • A large amount; a great quantity

water

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US / 'wɔ:tə(r) /

UK / ˈwɔtɚ, ˈwɑtɚ /

A1
  • noun
  • Clear liquid that forms the seas, rivers and rain
  • Large area such as an ocean or sea
  • verb
  • (Of the eyes) to produce tears
  • (Mouth) to become wet at the thought of nice food
  • To pour liquids onto a plant to keep it alive

sound

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US / saʊnd /

UK / saʊnd /

A1
  • adjecitve
  • Sensible, dependable and reliable
  • Unbroken or undisturbed, as of sleep
  • Firm or solid in structure
  • Sane; not mentally ill
  • Clearly reasoned; involving sense, good judgment
  • noun
  • Unique quality that characterizes a style of music
  • Waves traveling in air or water that can be heard
  • verb
  • To seem or appear to be, from what was said
  • To say in a clear deliberate manner
  • To make a noise, e.g. to ring a bell

rating

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US / ˈreɪtɪŋ /

UK / ˈretɪŋ /

A1
  • noun
  • The score derived from an assessment of something
  • verb
  • To assess something or consider its qualities

use

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US / ju:s /

UK / ju:s /

A1
  • noun
  • Ability to employ something
  • Need to enable it to work
  • Permission to do something with something
  • Act of spending money
  • Operation of a machine for its function
  • verb
  • To have; to eat, drink, consume etc.
  • To need to operate or work
  • To operate a machine, e.g. a computer
  • To treat a person badly
  • To do something with, for a task or purpose
  • Subtitles section
  • Hi, a couple of tips about how to sound more polite in English.
  • OK, the first thing, when you don't understand what somebody says, don't say, What?
  • That sounds quite rude.
  • Say, Pardon?
  • Could you say that again?
  • OK.
  • Just don't say, What?
  • Much better, Pardon.
  • Now for another thing.
  • Don't use direct imperatives.
  • Give me the water.
  • Pass me the bread.
  • OK, in a lot of languages, that's fine.
  • In English, that's a bit direct.
  • Much better.
  • Could you give me the water, please?
  • Please, could you pass me the bread?
  • OK.
  • So don't use the imperative.
  • Use a conditional or a please or something with it.
  • Now one more.
  • Don't say, I want.
  • Say, I would like.
  • OK.
  • I would like is much more polite and much less direct.
  • One last thing.
  • Remember, with requests, add the word please.
  • And if your requests are granted, say thank you.
  • Or, instead of thank you, you can use the universal British cheers.
  • OK.
  • So, thank you for watching.
  • Please come and watch more of my videos.
  • Subscribe to my channel if you would.
  • And if you've got anything you'd like to say, please comment.
  • Give me a rating.
  • Bye for now.