Lily asks
Describe the people you spend the most time with.
How to build your answer
Describe: four moves, about a minute.
- 1Say who or whatOne line to introduce it.
- 2Two detailsWhat they're like, or what it looks like.
- 3Why it mattersWhat it means to you.
- 4A small momentOne example that brings it to life.
Lily's answer, three ways
The same story, from easy to advanced. Tap a highlighted phrase to learn it.
Easy
Lily's voice note
Mostly my flatmate, Mia, because we live together, so I see her every day. We cook together and watch rubbish telly in the evenings. I love it. Then there's my best mate, Jess. She lives in Manchester now, but we send voice notes every day, and we meet up properly whenever she's in London. And my nan! I call her almost every day. They're all really different, but I can be myself with them. If something went wrong, they're the people I'd call first.
Phrases to borrow
meet up (with someone)
/ˈmiːt ʌp (wɪð ˈsʌmwʌn)/
meet friends, usually by arrangement
Shall we meet up for lunch on Friday?
be yourself
/biː jɔːˈself/
act naturally, without pretending
I can be myself with my old friends.
Natural
Lily's voice note
Probably my flatmate, Mia, my best mate, Jess, and my nan. Mia's easy, we bump into each other in the kitchen every evening and end up chatting for ages over dinner. Jess lives in Manchester now, but we send voice notes all day, and we get together whenever she's back in London. And I ring my nan almost every day, usually on the bus home. They're very different people, but they're the ones I'd call first if something went wrong, and I think that says a lot.
Phrases to borrow
bump into someone
/bʌmp ˈɪntə ˈsʌmwʌn/
meet someone by chance
I bumped into my old teacher at the shops.
say a lot (about something)
/ˈseɪ ə ˈlɒt (əˈbaʊt ˈsʌmθɪŋ)/
show something important about a person or situation
The way he treats waiters says a lot.
Advanced
Lily's voice note
Ha, a pretty small group, really. I spend most of my time with my flatmate, Mia, my best mate, Jess, and, weirdly, my nan. Mia and I cook together and watch rubbish telly most evenings. Jess lives in Manchester now, but we're in touch on a daily basis, voice notes, silly photos, the lot, and we make up for it whenever she's in London. And I ring my nan almost every day. What I love is that they keep me grounded. When work gets crazy, Jess just says, okay, breathe. They're very different people, but they've all got my back.
Phrases to borrow
spend most of your time with someone
/spend ˈməʊst əv jɔː ˈtaɪm wɪð ˈsʌmwʌn/
be with someone more than with anyone else
I spend most of my time with my colleagues.
on a daily basis
/ɒn ə ˈdeɪli ˈbeɪsɪs/
every day
I use this app on a daily basis.
keep someone grounded
/kiːp ˈsʌmwʌn ˈɡraʊndɪd/
help you stay calm, sensible and realistic
My family keeps me grounded.
have got someone's back
/hæv ɡɒt ˈsʌmwʌnz bæk/
be ready to help and support someone
Don't worry, I've got your back.
Your turn: answer Lily
Describe the people you spend the most time with.
Answer out loud, in your own words. Try one phrase you just borrowed.
People & relationships
get together
meet socially as a group
“We should get together before Christmas.”
heytardy