· 6 min read
English Phrases for Daily Use: 47 Examples
By Language Lab editorial team
47 English phrases for daily use from British Council speaking lessons: apologising, giving instructions, talking about your job, asking a favour and more.
Daily English is made of a few situations that repeat: you say sorry, you explain how to do something, you talk about your work, you ask for help and you look after a visitor or new colleague. The 47 phrases below come from the British Council's free A2 and B1 speaking lessons and cover exactly those five situations. The quickest wins are I'm so sorry, Don't worry about it, What do I do next?, Have you got a minute? and Let me know if I can help at all. Learn them as whole phrases, say them aloud, and practise the reply as well as the question, because daily conversation is always an exchange.
Saying sorry, and answering
| English | Use it to |
|---|---|
| I'm so sorry! | Apologise |
| I'm really sorry! | Apologise strongly |
| It was my fault. | Take responsibility |
| I'm sorry too. | Share the blame |
| That's all right. | Accept an apology |
| Honestly, it's fine. | Reassure someone |
| Don't worry about it. | Tell someone it does not matter |
Giving and following instructions
| English | Use it to |
|---|---|
| First, you have to put the coffee here. | Give the first step |
| Then you press it down with this. | Give the next step |
| Next, you put this here. | Continue |
| After that, you just press this button. | Give a later step |
| I see. | Show you follow |
| Right, OK. | Show you follow |
| OK, that seems clear. | Say you understand |
| Is this OK? | Check you are doing it correctly |
| Like this? | Check by showing |
| Yes, that's right. | Confirm |
| You're doing well. | Encourage |
| What do I do next? | Ask for the next step |
| Is there anything else? | Check you have finished |
The order words carry the instruction: First, Then, Next, After that. Use them with any task.
Talking about your job
| English | Use it to |
|---|---|
| What do you do? | Ask about someone's job |
| What's your role in the company? | Ask about someone's position |
| I'm the head of design. | Say your position |
| I'm a content producer. | Say your job |
| I manage artists and graphic designers. | Say who you manage |
| I'm responsible for writing. | Say what you are in charge of |
| What about you? | Return the question |
| Do you like your job? | Ask for an opinion |
| Yes, I love it! | Answer warmly |
| What's the best part of your job? | Ask a follow-up question |
| Do you like the people you work with? | Ask about colleagues |
Asking a favour
| English | Use it to |
|---|---|
| Have you got a minute? | Check that someone is free |
| I need a favour. | Say you want help |
| What can I help you with? | Offer to help |
| I'm really sorry about this, but they want some changes. | Introduce a difficult request |
| Would you be able to work this afternoon? | Ask politely |
| Is there any chance you could work late? | Ask very politely |
| I'm not really sure if I can. | Hesitate |
| I would if I could, but I can't. | Say no politely |
Notice the long forms the speakers use for a difficult request: Would you be able to and Is there any chance you could.
Looking after a visitor or new colleague
| English | Use it to |
|---|---|
| It's so good to finally meet you in person. | Greet someone you know only online |
| It's great to put a face to a name. | Say you are glad to meet at last |
| How are you finding it? | Ask about a new experience |
| Has Emir set you up with an email address? | Check a practical detail |
| Is there anything else you need? | Offer more help |
| Let me know if I can help at all. | Make an open offer |
| What are you doing later? | Ask about plans |
| I haven't got any plans. | Say you are free |
How to learn them
- Watch the scene. Each British Council lesson has a short video in which the phrases are used.
- Repeat aloud after the presenter.
- Practise both sides: the request and the answer.
- Test yourself. Cover the English column and say the phrase from the description.
- Come back after a day, a week and a month.
Language Lab's English course is built around voiced real-life scenarios with an AI tutor, so you can use these phrases in conversation and hear the reply.
Frequently asked
What are useful English phrases for daily use?
I'm so sorry, Don't worry about it, What do I do next?, Have you got a minute?, What do you do? and Let me know if I can help at all cover apologies, instructions, favours, work and offers of help.
How do I apologise in English?
Say I'm so sorry or I'm really sorry, and add It was my fault if it was. To accept an apology, say That's all right or Don't worry about it.
How do I ask for a favour politely?
Start with Have you got a minute? and I need a favour, then ask with Would you be able to or Is there any chance you could.
How do I say no politely in English?
I'm not really sure if I can, or I would if I could, but I can't.
How do I ask about someone's job?
What do you do? is the usual question. What's your role in the company? asks about their position.
What level are these phrases?
They come from the British Council's A2 and B1 speaking lessons, the levels after elementary.
Sources: British Council, LearnEnglish, Speaking: A2 speaking: Apologising, Giving instructions and Talking about your job; B1 speaking: Asking a favour and Meeting face-to-face (video series What to Say!); Council of Europe, Common European Framework of Reference for Languages, Global scale. Checked on 13 October 2026. Photo: Early morning on the Thames, London, Pierre Blaché / CC0 (Wikimedia Commons).
