Smarten up your

English
This Levelty booklet is a great place to start if you want to sound just as smart in English
as you do in your native language. Evidently, selecting your words carefully will make
your speech more engaging and you’ll make a better impression on people. Plus, you
will understand subtle humour better :)

What does it mean exactly to speak smart?

Let’s see an example: two possible ways of telling your newcomer friend about the
people present at a barbecue party.

‘Mrs Zellweger, who is our host, you ‘Our host, Mrs Zellweger, throws the
know, organizes very good parties in the most wicked garden parties in town, all
summer.’ through the summer.’

‘Do you see that strange, confident man ‘Do you see that flamboyant chap over
over there? He’s very funny.’ there? He’s such an unforgettable
entertainer!’

‘Do you want to drink something? Red ‘How about a drink? Would you care for
wine maybe? a glass of red wine?’

Speaking smart means using more sophisticated formulas instead of overused ones -
concerning grammar, vocabulary and visual language. By visual language we basically
mean similes and metaphors, such as ‘I’m hungry like a wolf’ or ‘I’m so hungry that I
could eat up a whole lamb’ instead of simply saying ‘I’m very hungry’.

Needless to say, stick with live language - you do not want to sound obsolete. Chose
structures that are used in everyday conversations, yet are not as simple as the
phrases you learnt at your first English lessons.
SMARTER PHRASES FOR YOU

GRAMMAR

Simple version Smart version Remark

Maybe he’s free He might be free

tomorrow. tomorrow.

I’m going to leave I’m about to leave.

soon.

Do you maybe know Do you happen to

the time? know the time?

Can you tell me the

time by any chance?

Why did he leave? Why do you think he

What do you think? left?

Everybody says he He’s said to be

is friendly. friendly.

Would you like to go How about going to the

to the funfair? funfair?

Do you fancy going to

the funfair?
If you have any more Should you have any This is a standard,
questions, write to me. further questions, don’t elegant way to finish
hesitate to contact me. a formal letter or
email.

If I had known you Had I known you

before, I would have before, I would have
given the job to you. given you the job.

I know this is difficult, I want to do it despite

but I still want to do it. the difficulties.

VOCABULARY

I like painting. I enjoy painting. The first three are

I’m fond of painting. approximate

equivalents, the rest
I’m keen on painting.
are a bit more
I take delight in intense.
painting.

I’m crazy about

painting.

She’s very attractive. She’s attractive beyond

measure.

She’s breath-taking.
I travel long I commute every day.
between my
workplace and my
home every day.

I fell asleep on the I crashed out on the I fell asleep

sofa watching TV. sofa watching TV. suddenly and deeply

I nodded off on the I slowly drifted to a

sofa watching TV. light sleep

It was a very funny It was a hilarious

situation. situation.

Our company has Our company has

moved to the capital. relocated to the capital.

She was sick so she She was sick so she

couldn’t go to the couldn’t turn up at the
party. party.

I want to go to the I’m dying to go to the The first expression

party very much. party. is stronger.

I can’t wait to go to the

party.

I know he’s lying. I see through him.

I don’t believe it. I don’t buy that. It’s a bit more

informal.
Control your Get a grip on your
thoughts. thoughts.

I’m very very I’m ravenous.

hungry. I’m starving.

Yes Certainly Another smart way

Definitely to say yes or no is to

use tag answers.
Absolutely

Without a doubt

COLOURFUL SPEECH

Old version Smart version Remark

I’m hungry. I’m hungry like a wolf.

I’m so hungry that I could

eat up a whole lamb.

I believe you but... Don’t get me wrong. I

believe you but...

Is it already this late? Wow! Time flies by!

All the time Around the clock The first expression

24/7 means ‘all day’.

The second one
means that sg. is
 happening non-
stop.

What is this? What on Earth is this?

Try to find the positive Every cloud has a silver A proverb.

side of this hard lining. Proverbs are smart
situation. if you don’t use
them in a cliché
way.

The engine was very The engine was roaring

loud. like thunder.

This is nice-looking. It’s as pretty as a picture.

She is after She is fishing in troubled

something that is waters.
difficult to obtain.

My grandson hardly My grandson visits me

ever visits me. once in a blue moon.

It’s raining. It’s raining cats and dogs.

IMPORTANT NOTICE

It’s not enough to know how to speak and write smarter in theory. You need to use the
smart versions. You might wonder how you will be able to shift to smart English when
you are used to speaking simplified English.

Here’s how.

When you say something too simple or uninteresting, stop for a second. Think it over
- how could it be smartened up? Could you use smarter grammar, smarter phrases?
Could it be more expressive with the use visual language?

Alternatively, if you notice somebody using a cool structure that you would express in
a less interesting way, take notes of it.

Next time when you are just about to use your old, simple sentence, stop and continue
with the smart version that you came up with or jotted down previously.

At the beginning, this practice might make you a bit slower and less flowing, but if you
keep up the practice and turn it into a habit, you’ll experience miracles!

Are you getting the hang of it? Want to keep on working on making your English real
smart? Further inspiring materials are awaiting you on LeveltyBooks.com.

Levelty Books - For your smart English