Descriptive English Words to Sound More Fluent and Engaging

hey guys this is the clear English corner and I'm Keenan your personal American English pronunciation coach a few weeks ago one of my students sent me an email he was getting ready to present his research for his doctoral dissertation and he was working on his introduction in a few quick sentences he talked about being very happy very thankful very lucky and very excited he was trying to convey some significant emotions but by using very over and over the effect was redundant and the same thing happens with the word really and if you're not careful you can end up sounding less animated and interesting than you actually are I'm definitely not saying that you should never use these words but I want you to be able to incorporate some variety especially if you're preparing a presentation so in this lesson we're learning descriptive words to use in place of really and very phrases will also practice using these words in sentences with an extra emphasis on using contractions to help you sound more natural sound like a plan let's dive in alright so instead of saying you're very happy or really excited try using the words thrilled or delighted I'm delighted to be here notice how I am becomes I'm I'm I'm delighted to be here I'm delighted to be here she's thrilled with her new place she is becomes she's she's with that consonant sound for our apostrophe s since E is a vowel sound and voiced she's she's she's thrilled with her new place she's thrilled with her new place instead of very sad try heartbroken heartbroken we're heartbroken about it notice how we are becomes were were not even we're it reduces all the way down to were were were heartbroken about it were heartbroken about it instead of very lucky try fortunate fortunate I'm fortunate to be part of such a forward-thinking organization notice how I am again I'm I'm I'm fortunate I'm fortunate I'm fortunate to be part of such a forward-thinking organization I'm fortunate to be part of such a forward-thinking organization instead of very thankful try grateful grateful we're grateful for the opportunity we're grateful for the opportunity again notice we are is becoming more were like it was spelled w/e are e were wer we're grateful we're grateful we're grateful for the opportunity instead of saying something is really or very good try the words exceptional or phenomenal I know great words write exceptional phenomenal it was an exceptional performance it was an exceptional performance we had phenomenal seats we had phenomenal seats instead of very bad try awful awful or horrible horrible this tastes awful this tastes awful he's a horrible cook he's a horrible cook notice how he is becomes he's he's again with that Z consonant for our apostrophe s he's he's he's a horrible cook instead of very dirty try filthy filthy this place is filthy this place is filthy for really or very clean you can use spotless spotless her apartments always spotless her apartments always spotless apartment is become apartments apartments her apartments always spotless her apartments always hallways notice to how the S sound is linking in front of the word always making it sound like saw ways saw ways her apartments always spotless instead of very funny try hilarious hilarious you're hilarious you are becomes you're you're not even you're you're you're you're hilarious you're hilarious for really or very pretty try gorgeous gorgeous that's a gorgeous dress that is becomes that's that's and that's a comes really quick that's a that's a that's a gorgeous dress that's a gorgeous dress instead of very ugly try hideous hideous those are hideous curtains notice how those are becomes those are those are now you're not going to see this written as a contraction with an apostrophe are e but that word R is reducing to her those are those are hideous curtains those are hideous curtains if something is really interesting try describing it as intriguing or compelling it's an intriguing article it is becomes its its and the word and becomes a it's in it's in it's an intriguing article that's a compelling argument that is that's that's nessa that's uh again that s linking over in front of other do you hear it making it sound like son so that's a that's a compelling argument if something is very big try using the words massive or tremendous they built a massive house out in the country they have becomes they've they've they've built a massive house out in the country we've had tremendous success with this we have becomes we've we've we've had we've had we've had tremendous success with this if something is very small try using the word tiny tiny it's a tiny change that makes a massive impact it is becomes it's it's it's uh it's uh it's a tiny change that makes a massive impact this is a fun one instead of really hot try stifling stifling it's stifling in here it is it's it's it's stifling it's stifling and notice how that s and our contraction is is linking right over into the S at the beginning of stifling the sound is continuing from the end of its into stifling it's stifling it's stifling it's stifling in here side note you can't use stifling to describe a person as very hot you can't say he's so stifling or she's really stifling good to know right that would have a really different meaning meaning the person is like oppressive and maybe overly clingy instead of very cold you could say freezing freezing I'd rather it be freezing than stifling I would becomes I I I'd rather I'd rather I'd rather it be freezing than stifling very mad instead of really or very mad try furious or livid he's furious about it again he is becomes he's he's he's furious he's furious and notice two about it about it that final T at the end of about becomes a flap T sounds like a quick D and then links over in front of the word it making it sound like that did about it about it he's furious about it I'm livid I am becomes I'm I'm I'm livid instead of very busy try slammed slammed we're slammed this week at work we're slammed this week at work again we are becoming were were we're slammed we're slammed we're slammed this week at work if something is really or very important try the words critical and crucial it's crucial that you understand this it is becomes it's it's it's crucial it's crucial it's crucial that you understand this it's a critical concept again it is it's it's it's uh it's uh so it's uh it's a critical concept and finally if you're really or very tired try the words exhausted or the phrase worn out worn out I'm completely exhausted I'm completely exhausted I am becoming I'm I'm I'm completely I'm completely exhausted the word completely adding even extra emphasis - exhausted he's totally worn out he is again he's he's he's totally and listen to that word totally notice how that second tee is becoming a flap T totally totally totally he's totally worn out so there you have it 20-plus descriptive words that you can use instead of really and very so that you can sound more fluent and engaging and avoid sounding redundant be sure to visit the clear English corner website for a list of all the practice words and sentences used in this lesson I have a link for you in the video description and that's all for now and as always thanks so much for tuning in and I'll see you next time

Channel: Clear English Corner with Keenyn Rhodes

Views: 276,149

Keywords: Advanced english words, english words, descriptive English words, contractions, practice contractions, sound fluent, fluent, fluency, american english, american english accent, american english pronunciation, pronunciation american english, american english learning, american accent, american accent training, american pronunciation, accent reduction, how to speak american accent, clear english, clear english corner, keenyn

Id: GXED_DfgCJs

Length: 10min 47sec (647 seconds)

Published: Tue Nov 12 2019