I welcome all readers to the next audio lesson of the course “Conversational English for Beginners”. The fifth lesson covers the topic “City”, that is, we will look at various situations, questions and phrases that a foreigner asks when arriving in an unfamiliar city. You will have the opportunity to learn various expressions with which you will be able to navigate even the largest city.
This audio course lesson " Conversational English for Beginners"will teach you the vocabulary that will help you travel around English-speaking cities and countries without difficulty. You can easily find a common language with the local population if you ask questions correctly, correctly and politely. And for this you, first of all, need to learn the correct pronunciation of phrases on the topic “City”.
And our audio lesson, in which all phrases were voiced by a qualified speaker, will help you with this. And for complete mutual understanding with residents of populated areas, learn all the previous audio lessons of conversational English course, which cover words of greeting, gratitude, politeness, etc. And right now you can listen to an exemplary pronunciation of vocabulary on the topic “City” in English: /wp-content/uploads/2014/08/les-05.mp3 But the main thing This is not just listening to a recording, but the most accurate reproduction of everything said by the speaker. So practice your pronunciation!
Text of the lesson “Vocabulary on the topic “City”
To make information easier to remember, it needs to be seen concretely and not presented abstractly. Therefore, rely on the graphic expression of all voiced phrases, that is, on tables with text with an expression in Russian and a translation in English. I suggest you familiarize yourself with the key conversational English questions and phrases from the lesson on the topic “City”.
By tradition, we’ll start with a list of the most common questions that foreigners ask when they find themselves in an unfamiliar area in another country:
|
Question in Russian |
Translation into English |
| Does this bus go to Main? | Does tis bus go to Main Street? |
| Where are the taxis? | Where are the taxis? |
| Where is the exit? | Where is the exit? |
| Where is the bus stop here? | Where is the bus? |
| What's the fare? | What is the fare? |
| Where is the nearest subway station? | Where is the subway? |
With these questions you will quickly know which direction you need to go to go to another town or area.
Now let’s remember a few popular English phrases that you will need to pronounce very often in an unfamiliar city:
Don't forget about politeness and gratitude. It would also be a good idea to remember how to pronounce numerals in English, so you can’t do without the names of house numbers and hotel rooms.
I wish you a pleasant journey with the audio course “Conversational English for Beginners”. Good luck!
In the process of getting to know each other, one way or another, there comes a moment when the interlocutors, having finished with pleasantries, talk about what worries them.
The British are then concerned about a person’s origins, namely, where he is from, what country he is from, and even from what city. Therefore, before traveling abroad, it would be a good idea to remember the basic phrases that will help you write a description of the city in English at the right time. If this topic is necessary only for writing an essay, it doesn’t matter. The logic for constructing the description remains the same in both cases.
- A beautiful introduction is half the success
In the case of a school essay, the more beautiful and flowery the introduction, the higher the chances of success. To do this, you can use both and quotes from famous writers about the house. The most famous - “An Englishman’s home is his castle”. You can use others, for example: “There’s no place like home”, “East or West – home is best”. In live communication this is all unnecessary. You can and should start with the most banal introductory words “Well”, “And so...” and so on. Considering that beautiful turns of phrase are highly valued by the British, one can say something sublime, for example, “Ever since I was a child I’ve thought that my town is the best place on Earth. It is the birthplace of many famous people and is a true cultural center of our region”“Since childhood, I thought that my city was the best place on earth. Many famous people were born here, and our city is a real cultural center.”
- Description: simple and tasteful
As with any storytelling, we start by voicing our own opinions. It's obvious that you love your city, but it's worth saying. The more personal assessment in the story, the better. A personal assessment will give your judgment more weight in the eyes of your interlocutor. A description of a city in English is a kind of presentation, so be sure to mention famous people who lived or worked in your city. Don't remember any? It’s okay, limit yourself to a general phrase about the many poets who created and continue to create in the city. For example:
“I like my town and I think it’s quite natural. In my opinion, everyone loves his place just because it gave him the best hours in life – hours with his family. I am not an exception as you see. My town is not very big, but a lot of famous people lived and worked there. Among them there are local poets and actors” – “I love my city and I think it’s natural. It seems to me that everyone loves their home primarily because the best hours were spent there - hours with family. As you can see, I am no exception. My city is small, but many famous people lived and worked in it. Among them are many local actors and poets.”
- Don't go overboard with details!
When describing the city, do not overdo it with embellishment. It will be enough to say about the size of the city, its characteristic features and attractions. In some cases, it is possible and necessary to point out that the city is quite old, with its own history and traditions.
“My town is not very special but it has its own traditions and a long history. It was built 200 years ago and is named after ……. We have many flowers and fountains in the center of the town. The streets are wide and clean. You can see a lot of shops there. There’s also an old house where……lived and worked” – “My city is the most ordinary, but has its own long history and traditions. It was built 200 years ago and named after...... The city center has many trees and fountains, its streets are wide and clean. There are also many shops in the city. Among the attractions we can highlight the old house, where... lived and worked."
Thus, by connecting all the parts together, you will receive a coherent description of the city in English, into which you only need to substitute your data.
Many people nowadays live in cities or strive to live there, preferring active activity to quiet solitude. But for now, let’s not compare “life in the city” and “life outside the city,” but let’s start with descriptions of the city in English. English words for beginners on the topic “Cities and Towns” you will find below. Also, when describing any place, be it a city or a country, it is necessary to master “description constructs”, namely:
- there is/are
- it has
English words for beginners on the topic “Cities and Towns”
Nouns (nouns):
- the capital - capital
- city - a large city (usually in every such English city there is cathedral - cathedral)
- town - town
- lawn - lawn
- square - area
- the center - center
- street - street
- place - place
- palace - palace
- castle - castle
- bridge - bridge
- park - park
- the cinema - cinema
- the theater - theater
- the museum - museum
- the library - library
- the staduim - stadium
- the zoo - zoo
- the church - church
- (corner) shop - store
- market - market
- supermarket - supermarket
- a view of - view of
Adjectives (adjectives):
- new - new
- old - old
- small - small
- big - big
- high (tall) - high
- famous - famous
- beautiful - beautiful
- main - main
- narrow - narrow
- wide - wide
Be + Adjective (=verb):
- be proud of - be proud
- be rich in - to have in large quantities
- be famous for - to be famous for
- be full of - to be complete
My Home Town
- be not far- be nearby
- fresh- fresh
Exercise. Read and translate the text from English.
My home town is small. It is rich in parks and gardens, so it is very green. The town stands on the river and from the bridges you can have a nice view of its beautiful houses. In the center there are mainly old buildings and a church. There is no theater in my town but there is a museum. The museum is not far from the main square.
The streets of my town are narrow and the houses are not very high. There are many small corner shops where people usually buy food. Also there is a market where people can buy fresh fruits and vegetables.
My town is not very famous but I am proud of it.
My Friends' Town
Exercise.Insert articles into the text where necessary. Translate the text.
My friend lives in…small town. It is...new town. … streets in … town are broad and straight. There are…beautiful buildings in them. … town is very green, and so … air is fresh. There are … beautiful parks and gardens in … town. … people like to go there after … work. In … evening you can hear … sounds of … music from … parks. There are … schools, … libraries, … supermarket, … hospital, … theater, … cinemas, … clinics and … kindergartens in … town.
Edinburgh. Edinburgh (English text for beginners)
- fortress- fortress
- cathedral— cathedral
- ancient- ancient
Edinburgh is the capital of Scotland. It is one of the most beautiful cities in the UK.
The main sight of the city is a famous fortress- Edinburgh Castle. The castle stands high on the mountain. From its towers you can have a good view of the city’s historical buildings, churches and cathedrals.
Tourists from different countries visit Edinburgh every day. They walk narrow streets, do sightseeing, buy souvenirs and enjoy the unusual spirit of the ancient city.
Moscow. Moscow (text in English for beginners)
- magnificent - majestic
- historical - historical
- impressive - impressive
- be located — located
Moscow is the capital of Russia and one of the largest cities in the world. It stands on the Moscow River.
The center of Moscow is Red Square. It is always full of people because tourists from many countries come to visit it. From Red Square there is a good view of St. Basil's Cathedral, the magnificent Russian church. Also Red Square is famous for Lenin’s Mausoleum and two most famous shopping places in the center of the city: GUM[ɡum] and TcUM .
The most famous historical place of Moscow is the Kremlin. The Kremlin is rich in its churches and cathedrals, its towers and museums. From the bridge of the Moskva River there is a good view of the Kremlin Palace, the impressive building, which is located on the territory of the Kremlin.
There are many high buildings in Moscow.
We are also waiting for you English words for beginners on the topic “How to navigate the city”— Asking the way / Giving Directions COMING SOON
We all love to travel. We like to visit new countries and cities, we try to see as many sights as possible, we are attracted by architectural monuments. But sometimes a person can get lost while in an unfamiliar city. It’s good if you have a map of the city you’re visiting with you. But sometimes you can only get your bearings by asking the residents of this city where you need to go. In this situation, you need to know a description of the city in English, or, to be more precise, the names of establishments and buildings, transport and pretexts for finding your way around. Another situation is also possible. You are hosting a foreigner (or working as a tour guide), and you need to show the person the city, telling them about significant places. You can’t do without a description of the city in English!
The city and its parts
The word "city" can be translated as a town And a city, but the latter is more common. A town is a small town, while a city– big and lively. Each city is divided into districts ( districts), and every city has a suburb ( a suburb) and surroundings ( neighborhoods). A person may also find himself in a village(village).
As a rule, every city has streets ( streets), area ( squares), parks ( parks) and squares ( public gardens). And in the suburbs or surrounding areas you can see a field ( a field), river ( a river) or channel ( a channel).
- Want to know how cities in America get their nicknames? Then the article “” will suit your taste.
Adjectives to describe the city
The most important thing in describing a city is what impression it makes on people who visit it. And here the following adjectives that you can use in English will come to your aid:
- ancient- ancient;
- historic– historical;
- attractive- attractive;
- lovely- Cute;
- bustling– noisy, fussy;
- contemporary- modern;
- lively– lively;
- picturesque– picturesque;
- charming– charming;
- touristic– tourist;
- dull– dim;
- boring- boring.
Transport in the city
When traveling around the city, you will use public transport ( public transport). It's worth learning what the train is called ( a train), railway station ( a railway station), tram ( a tram), trolleybus ( a trolley bus), bus ( a bus), metro ( a tube/subway) and steamer ( a steamer).
- A convenient phrasebook on this topic is presented in the article “Urban transport"
- A detailed description of public transport can be found in the article “”
Places to visit
Attractions ( sights) in every city there is a mass. If you're in another city, you'll probably want to visit the theater ( a theater), museum ( a museum), cinema ( a cinema) or gallery ( an art gallery). You can enjoy music in the concert hall ( a concert hall) or in the opera ( an opera house). Architecture lovers can be advised to visit the church ( a church), Cathedral ( a cathedral) or castle ( a castle).
- Choose entertainment to your liking with our article “”.
Children and students study at school ( a school), college ( a college), university ( a university), and books are borrowed from the library ( a library). The names of all these institutions will help you find any attraction or place you choose to visit.
You can refresh yourself in the cafe ( a café) or restaurant ( a restaurant). Shopping lovers will be attracted by huge shopping centers ( shopping malls). Ordinary shops and supermarkets are named accordingly shops And supermarkets (department stores). And also every tourist should know what a bank is called in English ( a bank), pharmacy ( a drugstore), hospital ( a hospital), police station ( a police station), post office ( a post office).
- In case of an emergency, you may need phrases from our article "". We hope that the words from the article will not be useful to you, but absolutely everyone should know them.
How to give directions in English
Now let’s imagine that we need to tell or understand how to get to a museum. You can politely ask a passerby using the following sentence:
Could you please tell me where the (place) is? – Could you please tell me where (something) is?
We will, of course, use the names of objects in English in our speech, as well as prepositions of place, which will help us create a competent route. So be sure to take the time to memorize them.
| Pretext | Translation |
|---|---|
| on | on |
| at | at |
| in | V |
| on the right | on right |
| on the left | left |
| at the corner | on the corner |
| near, next to | nearby, near |
| in front of | against |
| between | between |
| across | through |
| along | along |
| above | above |
| below | below |
| opposite to | against |
| behind | behind |
And be sure to watch the video. There is a teacher in it Jon explains how to give directions correctly in English.
1 Words in English on the topic: On a city street (sound, transcription)Click on an English word to listen (or listen in the player)
Other words:
city- (Big city; avenue– wide street, avenue; high street (American main street)– main, central street; back street- back street, nook; dead-end street- dead end; downtown– business center of the city; uptown– outskirts of the city; residential areas, sleeping areas; district- district, quarter
subway- Amer. metro; bus (coach)- bus; public transport (public transportation / transit)- public transport; pedestrian crossing- crosswalk
2 Words in English on the topic: Public places and institutions (sound, transcription)
- a park
["restərɔnt] – restaurant
["kæfeɪ] – cafe
[ʃɔp] – shop
["fɑːməsɪ] – pharmacy
(= grocery shop/store) ["grəus(ə)rɪ] – grocery store
["s(j)uːpəˌmɑːkɪt] – supermarket
– bank
- mail
["sɪnəmə] – cinema
["laɪbr(ə)rɪ] – library
["lɔːndrɪ] – laundry
Other words:
drugstore- Amer. pharmacy; chemist's shop– British pharmacy; hospital- hospital; police station- police station; fire station- fire Department
laundromat- Self-service laundry; hairdressing salon- salon; barber shop– men's hairdresser
schoolhouse- school; museum- museum; theater (American theater)- theater; circus- circus
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3 English words on the topic: In the city / In the city
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4 English vocabulary: places in the city
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5 Song: In the city / In the city
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6 Differences in the use of the words town and city
Noun town opposed to a noun city. Word city denotes a large, industrial town or city, regardless of size, that has a cathedral.
Noun town, denoting “not in the countryside, not in the village”, is used without an article in phrases like to go to town, go out of town, be in town, live in town.
Russian "to go out of town" corresponds to English to go to the country.
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7 Features of the use of words denoting streets in English
1. The names of streets and squares are used without an article: Oxford Street, Red Square.
2. Words in city addresses are not separated by a comma: 115 Oxford Street.
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8 The word "shop" in British and American English
The Russian word "shop" corresponds to the English shop And store, which usually differ in size: store refers more often to large (universal) trading enterprises, shop– to smaller and more specialized ones.
When indicating events taking place in specialized stores in English, a combination of the type at/to the baker's(in a bakery), similar:
at / to the grocer's– in a food/grocery store,
at the butcher's- in a butcher shop,
at/to the stationer's- in a stationery store,
at / to the tailor's– tailor’s workshop (atelier),
at/to the dentist's- at the dentist.
Word shop- store, unlike Russian combinations, although it is implied, it is not used.
In American English shop- only a small store selling one product. All other stores in the American version are called stores. A general store in both varieties of English is called a department store, a supermarket. In the modern trading system there are also entire areas of shops, often connected to each other: shopping centers or shopping mall.
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9 How to ask directions in the city to any object (voiced phrases)
Where is the bank? / Where is the bank located?
1. It's on Main Street.
2. It's next to the post office.
3. It's between the bakery and the barber shop.
4. It's on the corner of Ninth Street and Pine Street.
How do you get to the sporting goods store? / How to get to the sporting goods store?
First, go down State Street until you get to 4th South. Then, turn left. Then, go down 4th South for three blocks. It"s on the right side of the street next to Wendy"s.
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10 City street in English idioms and proverbs
to blow / skip town– colloquial "get away" from the city
boom town- Amer. booming or growing city
ghost town- deserted city
jerkwater town– American; decomposition provincial, provincial, sleepy, small town
out of town- in the village; out of town
one-horse town- a run-of-the-mill, provincial town
sleepy town– provincial, sleepy, small town
to paint the town red- indulge in fun, carouse
to go to town– colloquial carouse; succeed
town and gown– residents of Oxford or Cambridge, including students and professors
market town– British fair city, city of fairs
to be in the same street with smb.- to be in the same position as someone.
it"s not up my street– colloquial I am not qualified in this field
the man in the street- Amer. ordinary citizen, layman
to get square with smb.- settle scores with smb.
all square– with an equal score (in the game); decomposition honestly, fairly
square one– the very beginning
to be in the road; to get in smb."s road- straight. and trans. be in the way
one for the road– the last glass drunk before leaving, road trip
down the road– American; decomposition in the future, ahead
the road to Damascus- bibliography epiphany, turning point in smb. life (the persecutor of Christians Saul, the future Apostle Paul, was baptized and himself became a preacher of Christianity after the Lord appeared to him on the road to Damascus)
to go on the road- go on tour
All roads lead to Rome.– last All roads lead to Rome.
underground mutton- joking. rabbit, rabbit meat
to go underground- go underground
all over the shop- scattered everywhere, in disarray
to come to the wrong shop- contact the wrong address
to get a shop- theater. get an engagement
to lift a shop- commit shoplifting
to shut up shop- close the shop; cease activities
shut your shop– shut up!, shut up!
you can't put it in the bank– American; decomposition it's useless, it's of no use
drugstore cowboy– American; decomposition (literally drugstore cowboy) one who wears cowboy clothes without being a cowboy; a person who hangs around pharmacies and street corners
...........................................11 Games, songs and stories: City (street and public places) (flash)
Names of English streets that have become common nouns
Downing Street– Downing Street, a street in London on which the official residence of the Prime Minister is located. Over time, the British government itself or the Prime Minister began to be called this.
Fleet Street– Fleet Street, a street in London, where until recently the editorial offices of the main British newspapers were located, which made the name of the street a household name for the British press.
Lombard Street– Lombard Street, a street in the City of London on which there are many banks. The London money market and the financial world of England as a whole began to be called by the name of the street.
Throgmorton Street– Throgmorton Street, a street in London on which the stock exchange is located, and which also became the name of the London stock exchange and stockbrokers.
Carey Street- Carey Street. The name of this London street, on which the insolvency court is located, came to be called bankruptcy and insolvency in general.
Bow Street– Bow Street, the street in London on which the building of the main criminal police court is located, as well as the name of the court itself.
Wardour Street– Wardour Street is a London street where antique shops were previously concentrated (today the offices of film companies are located). The street gave its name to English speech, full of archaisms: wardour street english.
Street names in the USA that have become household names
Coloring pages, games and puzzles in English