Human body (Человеческое тело)
Parts of the body (Части тела)
| head | голова | chest | грудь |
| forehead | лоб | arm | рука |
| eyes | глаза | hand | кисть |
| eyebrow | бровь | wrist | запястье |
| ears | уши | fingers | пальцы |
| nose | нос | thumb | большой палец на руке |
| cheek | щека | elbow | локоть |
| mouth | рот | shoulder | плечо |
| lips | губы | knee | колено |
| chin | подбородок | leg | нога |
| neck | шея | foot | ступня |
The outer part of the body is covered in skin. Too much sun is bad for your skin.
Physical actions (Физические действия)
People breathe trough the nose or mouth, and breathe in and out 12-15 times a minute. People smile when they’re happy, and sometimes smile at people to be polite. Funny things make people laugh – e.g. (2) when someone tells a joke. People sometimes cry if they’re unhappy or receive bad news. They yawn when they’re tired or bored. People in some countries nod their head to mean “yes”, and shake their head for “no”.
Describing people’s appearance (описание внешности)
General descriptions (общие выражения)
| man | woman |
| handsome | beautiful, pretty (often for describing a girl) |
| good-looking, attractive | |
| ugly (very negative), plain (negative but more polite) |
Height and build (рост и телосложение)
| height | build |
| tall | slim, thin (more negative meaning) |
| medium height | medium build |
| short | muscular |
| fat (not very polite), overweight (a bit less rude) |
Hair (волосы)
| blond(e) | блондин | long | длинные |
| fair | светлый | short | короткие |
| brown | каштановый | straight | прямые |
| dark | темный | wavy | волнистые |
| black | черный | curly | кудрявые |
| red | рыжий | ||
| grey | седой |
Special features (Особые приметы)
This man has very pale skin (= light skin). He also has broad shoulders, with a scar on his right forehead. The other man has dark skin. He also has a beard and moustache.
Возможно употребление слов about и roughly («более или менее», «около»), когда говорится о росте, весе или возрасте.
- What does she look like? - She’s tallish, with short fair hair.
- How tall is she? - About 1 metre 65.
- How much does she weigh? - I don’t know - roughly 50 kilos, I guess.
Суффикс –ish употребляется в конце некоторых прилагательных и означает «почти», «более или менее», «около».
She’s got longish hair.
He’s twentyish.
She’s roughly 40.
Describing character (Описание характера)
Features of character (Черты характера)
| positive | положительные | negative | отрицательные |
| warm, friendly | дружелюбный | cold, unfriendly | недружелюбный |
| kind | добрый | unkind | недобрый |
| nice, pleasant | приятный | horrible, unpleasant | неприятный |
| generous | щедрый | mean | скупой |
| optimistic | оптимистичный | pessimistic | пессимистичный |
| easy-going | спокойный | tense, nervous | нервный |
| sensitive | чувствительный | insensitive | бесчувственный |
| honest | честный | dishonest | нечестный |
| good fun | веселый | boring | скучный |
| broad-minded | широко-мыслящий | narrow-minded | узколобый |
| hard-working | трудолюбивый | lazy | ленивый |
| punctual | пунктуальный | not very punctual | не очень пунктуальный |
| clever | умный | stupid | глупый |
My parents are great and don’t mind what I wear – they are very broad-minded. When I tried on the dress, the shop assistant said it would look better on a younger person. I know she was trying to be honest, but it was a bit insensitive of her.
NOTE! Слово “sympathetic” в английском языке значит «сочувственный», а не «симпатичный».
He’s very self-confident. (= feels he can do things, and is relaxed in social situations).When you first meet her she seems shy. (= finds it difficult to talk to people and make conversation). She doesn’t show her feelings. (= you don’t know what she is thinking or feeling). He’s got a great sense of humour. (= laughs a lot and sees the funny side of life). She made a very good impression at her interview. (= had a positive effect on the interviewer). My first impression of him was a bit negative. She comes across as (= appears to be) quite serious.
Family and friends (Семья и друзья)
Relatives (Родственники)
| male | мужчины | female | женщины |
| father | отец | mother | мать |
| brother | брат | sister | сестра |
| son | сын | daughter | дочь |
| grandfather | дед | grandmother | бабушка |
| uncle | дядя | aunt | тетя |
| cousin | кузен, двоюродный брат | cousin | кузина, двоюродная сестра |
| father-in-law | тесть, свекор | mother-in law | теща, свекровь |
| son-in-law | зять | daughter -in-law | невестка |
| nephew | племянник | niece | племянница |
| widower | вдовец | widow | вдова |
| stepfather | отчим | stepmother | мачеха |
| stepson | пасынок | stepdaughter | падчерица |
I’ve got two brothers and a sister. My brothers are twins (= two children born to one mother at the same time), and they are three years younger than me. I’m the oldest and I take after my father (= I am similar to him in appearance and\or character). My sister takes after my father in some ways, but she looks like my mother (= her appearance is similar to my mother’s). We’re a close family (=we have a good relationship\see each other a lot). My best friend Pete is an only child (= without brothers and sisters); he spends a lot of time with us and he’s almost one of the family.
Your parents give you a first name. Your family name, usually called surname, is the one that all family have. Your full name is all the names you have.
In some parts of the world couples may live together but do not get married. In this relationship they often call each other their partner. Where the child or children live(s) with just one parent, especially after the parents have separated (= they don’t live together any more), these are sometimes called single-parent families.
Friends (Друзья)
An old friend (=someone you have known for a long time)
A close friend (= a good friend\ someone you like and trust)
Your best friend (the friend you feel closest to)
Classmates (=other people in your class)
Flatmates (= people you share a house/ flat with, who are not your family)
Colleagues (= people you work with; they may or may not to be friends)
Ex- (Бывшие)
The children stay with my ex-husband at the weekend.
I saw an ex-girlfriend of mine at the disco last night.
Ages and stages (возраст и период)
| age | stage |
| 0-1 approximately | baby |
| 1-2 | toddler |
| 2-12 approximately | child – this period is your childhood |
| 13-17 approximately | teenager |
| 18+ | adult |
| 20-29 | in your twenties |
| 30-39 | in your thirties |
| 40+ | middle-aged |
| 60 or 65 | retirement (= when people stop work; they are retired) |
| 75+ | old age |
Sam was born in Scotland but when he was two, his father got a new job in Los Angeles, and grew up in California. He went to university at 19 where he met Anthea. He went out with her (= she was his girlfriend; he was her boyfriend) for three years, but towards the end had lots of rows (= arguments) and finally they split up (= separated\ended their relationship). In his mid-twenties he met Marie. They fell in love and got married within six months. One year later she got pregnant and they had their first child, a boy. But the marriage was not a success. Sam left two years afterwards and they got divorced (= the marriage ended officially). Four years later Marie remarried (= got married again), and she is now expecting a second baby (= she’s pregnant).
Daily routines (Распорядок дня)
During the week I usually wake up at 6.30 am. I sometimes lie in bed (= stay in bed) for 5-10 minutes but then I have to get up (= get out of bed and put on clothes). Most evening I go to bed about 11.30 pm, and usually go to sleep\ fall asleep very quickly. If I have a late night (= go to bed very late; opp (3) an early night), it’s easy to oversleep (= sleep too long) the next morning, then I may be late for work. If I can I have a sleep (= for a short period) in the afternoon. At weekends I often have a lie-in (= stay in bed until later).
In the week I have breakfast at 7.00am, lunch at 1.00 pm and dinner around 7pm. I also have one or two snacks (= food eaten between meals) during the day. As I live alone\ on my own (= without other people), I have to make my own breakfast and dinner (= prepare meal for myself), but during the week I don’t bother (= don’t make an effort) to cook very much. I also have to feed (= give food to) my cats twice a day.
In summer I have a shower in the morning but in winter I often have a bath instead. Sometimes I have a shave at the same time, or I shave when I have a wash and clean\brush my teeth after breakfast. I wash my hair two or three times a week.
In the morning I leave home about 8.15 am and get to work (= arrive at work) by 9 pm. I have a lunch break (= period when I stop work for lunch) from 1-2 pm and usually a couple of short breaks (= periods to relax) during the day. I leave work around 5.30 and get home about 6.15.
In the week I usually stay in (= stay at home) and watch TV or read in the evening. At the weekend I go out (= leave the house for social reasons), but I also have friends for dinner (= invite friends to my house and cook dinner for them), or friends come round (= visit me at the house) to play cards.
I do the shopping (= buy the food and household goods) on Saturday. Fortunately\ Luckily (= it is lucky for me) I have a cleaner (= a person who cleans) and she does most of the housework: she does my washing (= washes my clothes), she does the washing-up (= washes the dishes) and most of the ironing.
The place where you live (Место, где ты живешь)
Location (Месторасположение)
I live on the outskirts of town. (= on the edge of town, near the country)
I live in the suburbs. (= areas where people live outside the centre of town)
I live in a residential area. (= a nice area of houses\flats, with no factories)
I live quite close to the station. (= near the station)
I live right in the centre. (= exactly in the centre)
I live in a block of flats. My brother lives on the ground floor, I have a flat on the third floor. Unfortunately there is no lift, so I have to climb (= go up\ walk up) three flights of stairs to reach my flat. But I have a balcony with a great view of the park opposite the building.
House (Дом)
| roof | крыша | fence | ограда |
| chimney | дымоход | gate | ворота |
| front door | входная дверь | path | дорожка |
| doorbell | звонок | garden | сад |
| garage | гараж | steps | ступеньки |
NOTE! в английском языке слово «steps» используется для обозначения ступеней снаружи или внутри публичных зданий, а слово «stairs» для обозначения ступеней внутри жилых домов.
My parents own their house (= they bought it/ it belongs to them). I rent a flat near my university (= I don’t own it; I pay money every week to the owner). The rooms are tiny (= very small, opp huge\ enormous), but they’re light (opp dark) because they’re on the top floor and get lots of sun. The flats on the ground floor are dark and also noisy (opp quiet) because they are nearer to the traffic. Some rooms are droughty (= cold air comes in through windows and under doors), and are expensive to heat (= keep warm); but I’ve got central heating (= system of heating every room in a building) and the flat is in good condition.
Inside (Внутри)
The living room or lounge (= where you sit, relax and watch TV); the dining room; the kitchen; the bedroom(s); and the bathroom(s). Some people have a study (= room with a desk where you work) and a spare room (room you don’t use every day, and where guests can sleep).The entrance area in a house or flat is called the hall.
The living room
| video recorder | видеомагнитофон | curtains | шторы |
| stereo system | стереосистема | blinds | жалюзи |
| СD player | СD плеер | armchair | кресло |
| speaker | колонка | sofa | диван, софа |
| coffee table | кофейный столик | carpet | ковер, ковровое покрытие |
| vase | ваза | rug | половик |
| lamp | лампа | cushion | диванная подушка |
While the cat was asleep in the armchair, I sat on the sofa and had a look at the paper. Then I turned on the TV to watch the news.
The kitchen
| washing machine | стиральная машина | oven | духовка |
| fridge | холодильник | kettle | чайник |
| freezer | морозилка | cup | чашка |
| microwave | микроволновая печь | saucer | блюдце |
| dishwasher | посудомоечная машина | saucepan | кастрюля |
| sink | раковина | frying pan | сковорода |
| tap | смеситель | knife | нож |
| grill | гриль | spoon | ложка |
| cooker | плита | fork | вилка |
I put the meat in the oven, then I made myself a coffee and put the milk back in the fridge. After that, I put some cups and saucers in the dishwasher.
The bedroom
| bed | кровать | pillow | подушка |
| wardrobe | шкаф | sheet | простыня |
| bedside table | тумбочка | blanket | одеяло |
| alarm clock | будильник | pyjamas | пижама |
I put on my pyjamas, got into bed, and read a book for half an hour. Then I set the alarm clock, switched off the light and went to sleep.
| mirror | зеркало | shower | душ |
| washbasin | умывальник | bath | ванна |
| towel | полотенце | toilet | унитаз |
I didn’t have time for a bath, but I had a wash, cleaned my teeth, and then I went to work.
Clothes (Одежда)
| hat | шляпа | jumper | джемпер |
| coat | пальто | shirt | рубашка |
| scarf | шарф | tie | галстук |
| jacket | жакет | socks | носки |
| suit | костюм | tights | колготки |
| skirt | юбка | gloves | перчатки |
| blouse\top | блузка\ топ | shoes | туфли |
| jeans | джинсы | boots | ботинки |
| collar | воротник | карман | |
| button | пуговица | earrings | серьги |
| zip | «молния» | necklace | ожерелье |
| belt | пояс, ремень | handbag | сумочка |
I got up at 7.30 had a shower, got dressed (= put on my clothes), and had breakfast. It was a cold morning so I put on my coat, do up\undo its buttons and left home about 8.20. When I got to work I took my coat off and hung it up behind the door. It was hot in the office so I took my jacket off as well. During my lunch break I had a look round the shops. I saw a nice jacket in one place and tried it on, but it didn’t fit me – it was too small and they didn’t have the right size. When I got home I took off my suit and changed into jeans and a T-shirt.
Shops and shopping (Магазины и поход по магазинам)
Types of shops and what they sell (Типы магазинов, и что они продают)
| name of shop | what they sell |
| department store | almost everything (furniture, clothes, electrical appliances, e.g. TV and washing machine; toys, e.g. dolls, games; jewellery, e.g. rings, earrings) |
| supermarket | most things, especially food and household goods, e.g. cleaning products and kitchen equipment, etc (1). |
| newsagent | newspapers, cigarettes, stationery, e.g. writing paper, envelopes |
| butcher | meat |
| chemist | medicine, baby products, shampoo, soap, toothpaste, etc. |
| off-licence | Specialist shop for wine, beer and soft drinks |
NOTE! в английском языке в большинстве остальных случаев в названии типа магазина просто добавляется «shop», например: «shoe shop» - обувной магазин.
Where’s the shop-assistant? (= person who works in a shop; also called sales assistant)
The shoes were in the shop window. (= the window at the front of the shop)
We went to the new shopping centre. (= a place with many shops, outside or indoor)
I just went window shopping. (= looking round the shops without buying anything)
Did you make a shopping list? (= a list of things to buy)
I went shopping yesterday. (= I bought things, e.g. clothes, CDs, a present for my sister)
I did the shopping yesterday. (= I bought food and things for the house)
You have to shop around for the best prices. (= go to different shops to find best prices)
In a clothes shop
ASSISTANT: Can I help you?
CUSTOMER: Yes, I’m looking for (= I want) a blue jumper.
No, I’m just looking, thanks. (= I don’t need help)
I’m being served, thanks. (= another assistant is serving me)
ASSISTANT: What size are you? (Large? Small? Medium? 14? 18?)
CUSTOMER: Where’s the changing room\fitting room? (the room where you try on clothes)
ASSISTANT: It’s down there on the right.
CUSTOMER: Yes, I’ll take this one \these.(= I want to buy)
No, I’ll leave it (= I don’t want to buy)
Where do I pay for these?
ASSISTANT: Over at the cash desk\till.
CUSTOMER: And can I pay by credit card?
Food (Пища)
| fruit | фрукты | vegetables | овощи |
| apple | яблоко | potato | картофель |
| orange | апельсин | tomato | помидор |
| pineapple | ананас | carrot | морковь |
| grapes | виноград | cucumber | огурец |
| banana | банан | onion | лук |
| pear | груша | garlic | чеснок |
| lemon | лимон | peas | горох |
| peach | персик | aubergine | баклажан |
| plum | слива | cabbage | капуста |
| melon | дыня | red pepper | болгарский перец |
| water-melon | арбуз | lettuce | салат |
| cherries | вишня | broccoli | брокколи |
| strawberry | клубника | cauliflower | цветная капуста |
| raspberry | малина | mushrooms | грибы |
You normally peel oranges and bananas (= remove the skin) before you eat them. I peeled the potatoes and chopped the carrots (= cut into small pieces). A salad is usually a mixture of uncooked vegetables. In Britain it often contains lettuce; also contain tomato, cucumber and other things. We often put salad dressing (usually a mixture of oil and vinegar, or oil and lemon juice) on salad.
Meat (Мясо)
| animal | животное | meat |
| cow | корова | beef |
| calf | теленок | veal |
| lamb | ягненок | lamb |
| pig | свинья | pork |
| chicken | цыпленок | chicken |
Fish and seafood (рыба и морепродукты)
| salmon | лосось | mussels | мидии |
| prawn | креветка | lobster | лобстер |
| oyster | устрица | crab | краб |
Cooking (Приготовление пищи)
Ways of cooking food (Cпособы приготовления)
Boil: in water, e.g. potatoes or rice
Fry: in oil or butter above the heat, e.g. sausages
Grill: under the heat, e.g. toast or meat
Roast: in the oven using oil, e.g. meat
Bake: in the oven without oil, e.g. cakes
Taste the sauce (= try a bit to see if it’s good) and add salt if necessary. You can really taste the garlic in this. It’s very tasty (=lots of flavour).
Describing food and drink (Описание еды и напитков)
| salty | lots of salt |
| hot\spicy | lots of spices, e.g. curry, chilli |
| sweet | lots of sugar |
| bitter | e.g. very strong coffee |
| sour | e.g. lemon |
| fresh | recently produced or picked, e.g. fresh bread, fresh fruit |
| fattening | food which makes you put on weight\ get fat, e.g. cream, cakes, etc |
| healthy | good for your health\ fitness, e.g. salad or fruit |
| chilled | very cold, e.g. white wine is usually chilled |
| still | water without gas |
| sparkling | water with gas |
Health (Здоровье)
Common problems (Общие проблемы)
| She’s sneezing | Она чихает |
| She’s coughing | Она кашляет |
| She’s got a sore throat | У нее болит горло |
| She’s blowing her nose | Она сморкается |
| She’s got a temperature | У нее температура |
- I don’t feel well.
- What’s the matter?
- I’ve got a sore throat and I keep sneezing.
- You’ve probably got a cold or flu. You should go to bed.
- Yes, I think I will.
| What’s the matter? | The symptoms | Cause of illness |
| I’ve got a cold. | Sneezing, a sore throat, a cough | A virus |
| I’ve got flu. (= like cold but more serious) | Same as for a cold + high temperature | A virus |
| I’ve got diarrhea. | I keep going to the toilet | Often food, or a virus |
| I feel sick. | I want to vomit (= be sick) | Many, e.g. food, illness |
| I’ve got a hangover. | Headache, feel sick | Too much alcohol |
For illnesses you can go to a doctor or a chemist (= pharmacy). The doctor may give you a prescription (= paper with an order for medicine) that you get from the chemist.
NOTE! в английском языке используется существительное «ache», когда говорят о боли в спине (backache), желудке (stomachache), ушах (earache), головной (headache), зубной боли (toothache), a остальных случаях используют существительное «pain». Оба слова используются с глаголом «get».
I’ve got a terrible headache. I often get backache.
I woke up with a terrible pain in my chest. I get a pain in my leg when I run.
«Ache» также может быть глаголом - при описании несильной боли, которая продолжается долгое время.
By the end of the day my feet were aching.
«Hurt» - глагол, который описывает сильную или внезапную боль.
Where does it hurt? My throat hurts when I speak.
«Painful» - прилагательное, которое употребляется чаще других.
Did it hurt when you had the fillings (= when the dentist fills a hole\ cavity in the tooth)?
It was quite painful when she gave me the injection.
Serious illness (Серьезные заболевания)
| heart | сердце | lungs | легкие |
| liver | печень | stomach | желудок |
Smoking is a major cause of lung cancer. He had a heart attack and died almost immediately. Hepatitis is a disease affecting the liver. Many people suffer from (= have the illness of) asthma (= chest illness causing breathing problems).
Injuries (Повреждения)
An injury is damage to part of your body.
| What’s the matter? | How did it happen? | result | solution |
| She cut her finger | Using a knife | It’s bleeding | Put a plaster on it |
| He twisted his ankle | Running for a bus | He can’t walk | Put a bandage on it |
| She’s got a bruise | She hit her ankle when she fell over | It’s swollen black and blue | Ice pack |
| He broke his arm | He fell off his bike | He can’t use it | A sling |
| She burnt her hand | On the kettle | It’s very painful | Put cream on it |
NOTE! «Hurt» - глагол, который используется при описании боли от повреждений, ранений.
I hurt my back in the garden.
Hospital treatment (Лечение в больнице)
John fell out of his window and hit his head on the ground. His wife called an ambulance but John was still unconscious when it arrived. He was rushed to hospital (= taken to hospital very quickly) and when he came round (= become conscious), he didn’t know where he was.
Two players jumped for the ball and bumped into each other (= hit each other but it was an accident). One cut his head and had to go to hospital. He needed ten stitches.
NOTE! Существительные «wound» и «injury» описывают телесные повреждения, но слово «wound» обычно употребляется при описании ранений от оружия, полученных в драке или на войне. Глаголы «wound» и «injure».
He was seriously (= badly) injured in a car crash.
Two of the soldiers were wounded.
Someone shot him (with a gun).
He got into a fight and he was beaten up.
City life (Жизнь в городе)
| commercial centre | area with lots of banks and company offices |
| shopping centre | place with many shops, either indoors or outdoors |
| car parks | places to leave many cars |
| factories | buildings where you make\ manufacture things |
| skyscrapers\ high-rise buildings | buildings with many floors |
| libraries | places where you can borrow books |
For many people the worst time of day is the rush hour (= the time when people travel to and from work). At this time of day the public transport system (= trains and buses) has to cope with (= manage something which is difficult) the people who live in the city, and also commuters (= people who live in the country but travel into the city for work). The roads get congested (= busy and full of cars) and people are always in a hurry (= want to get to another place very quickly). For many, this is very stressful (= makes you nervous and anxious).
I live and works in the suburbs, but I usually go into town (=the town centre) two or three times a week. In the evening, it is pretty lively (= lots of people and lots of things happening), and there’s plenty to do (= lots of possibilities, e.g. bars, discos, etc). One problem is that there’s nowhere to park in the centre, so I usually get/ take a bus into town and take\get a taxi home if I’m late.
The best things about living in a city are:
There’s good nightlife (= places to go at night, e.g. bars, discos, cinemas)
There’s a wide range of shops (= many shops selling different things)
You can get whatever you want (= buy everything you want)
There are lots of cultural activities (e.g. museums, concerts, films)
It’s cosmopolitan (= full of people from many countries and cultures)
There are more job opportunities (= easier to find work)
The worst things about living in a city are:
It’s very crowded (= full of people)
People are more aggressive (= seem angry and very unfriendly)
It can be noisy (opp quiet) and dangerous (opp safe)
The streets are often dirty (opp clean) and it’s polluted (= dirty air)
There’s traffic congestion (= too many cars) and parking is difficult.
There’s a high crime rate (= number of crimes)
You have a higher cost of living (e.g. houses are more expensive, so is transport)
Life in the country (Жизнь в деревне)
I grew up (= spent my childhood) in a rural area (= an area in the country; opp an urban area). It was quiet a remote area (= an area far from towns), and we lived in an old cottage (= a type of house, often small, you find in the country). My sister and I played a lot in the woods (= an area of trees like a small forest), not far from the nearest village (= a place smaller than a town). I loved being in the country.
A lot of land in the country\ countryside is used for agriculture\ farming. Some farms grow crops (e.g. wheat, apples, potatoes) and some keep animals (e.g. cows, sheep, pigs). When I was younger I worked on a farm during my school holidays.
The best things about living in the country are:
You get peace and quiet (a common phrase to describe a place that is quiet and calm).
You get fresh air (= air outside a building or town which is clean)
You’re surrounded by lovely scenery and you can walk in the countryside.
The pace of life (= the amount of activity in life) is slower and more relaxed.
The worst things about living in the country are:
There isn’t much nightlife.
Public transport is hopeless (= terrible)
You don’t get many shops.
There isn1t much privacy (= private life) because everyone knows what you are doing.
Work: duties, pay and conditions (Работа: обязанности, оплата и условия)
| questions | answers |
| What do you do? | I’m a banker\an engineer… (I’m + a(an)+ job) |
| What’s your job? | I work in a bank\ marketing (work in + place or type of work) |
| What do you do for a living? | I work for Union Bank\ Fiat (work for + name of company) (= I’m employed by Union Bank\Fiat) I’m self-employed (= I work for myself) |
When people ask you explain your job, they want to know your responsibilities (= your duties\ what you have to do), or something about your daily routine (= what you do every day). They can ask like this: What does that involve? (= What do you do in your job?)
General duties\ responsibilities
I’m in charge of\ responsible for security in the factory (= the place where a product is made). I deal with\ handle customer complaints (= take all necessary actions when customers unhappy). I run the coffee bar in the museum (= I’m in control of it\ I manage it).
Daily duties\routines
I have to go to\ attend a lot of meetings. I visit\ see\ meet clients (= people I do business with, who pay for my service). I advise clients (= give them help and my opinion). My job involves travelling [! the “-ing” form after involve]
For many people in Britain working hours are 8.30-9.00 am to 5.00-5.30 pm, so people often talk about a nine-to-five job (= regular working hours). Some people do flextime (= they can start work earlier or finish later); and some do shiftwork (= work at different times, e.g. during the day one week, at night the next). Some people work\ do overtime (= work extra hours for more money).
Most workers are paid (=receive money) every month. This is called a salary. We can also use the verbs earn\ make. I earn $ 60,000 a year (= My salary is $ 60,000 a year). Some people are paid for the hours they work. The lowest amount for one hour’s work is called the minimum wage. This amount is decided by the government. With most jobs you get 4-6 weeks` paid holiday; you also get sick pay (= pay when you are ill). The total amount of money you receive in a year is called your income. This could be your salary from one job, or the salary from two different jobs. You have to pay part of your income to the government – this is called income tax.
Manual job (Ручной труд)
These are jobs where you work with your hands and these are all skilled (= need a lot of training).
| bricklayer | builds walls with bricks |
| carpenter | makes things using wood |
| plumber | installs and repairs water pipes, etc. |
| electrician | installs and repairs electrical things |
| mechanic | repairs cars |
Professional people (Профессионалы)
| architect | designs buildings |
| lawyer | represents people with legal problem |
| engineer | plans the building of roads, bridges, machines, etc |
| accountant | controls the financial situation of people and companies |
| university lecture | teaches in a university |
| stockbroker | buys and sells stocks and shares (e.g. on Wall Street) |
| sales\personnel manager | responsible for sales or personnel staff |
The medical profession (Медицинская профессия)
Doctors, nurses and surgeons (= specialist doctors who operate on people) work in hospitals. GPs (= general practitioners – doctors who treat people with general problems), dentists and vets (= animal doctors) work in places called surgeries. All of theses people treat (= give medical help, e.g. advice, medicines) and look after (= care for\ take care of) people or animals.
The armed forces and the emergency services (Вооруженные силы и службы скорой помощи)
| soldier | in the army |
| sailor | in the navy |
| pilot | in the air force |
| police officer\ policeman(women) | in the police force |
| firefighter\ fireman | in the fire brigade |
In the office (В офисе)
| computer | компьютер | desk | письменный стол |
| monitor | монитор | swivel chair | стул (крутящийся) |
| keyboard | клавиатура | notice board | доска для заметок |
| calculator | калькулятор | files | папки |
| diary | ежедневник | cabinet/ drawers | тумбочка\ ящики |
| briefcase | портфель | wastepaper basket | корзина для бумаг |
Brian works for a company which produces (= makes\manufacturing) furniture. He works in an office, opposite the factory where the furniture is made. This is how he spends his day: He works at a computer most of the time, where he types letters and reports, and sends lots of e-mails. He sends invoices (= paper showing products sold and the money to pay) to customers, and does quite a lot of paperwork, e.g. filing reports (putting them in a file\ filling cabinet), etc. Occasionally he shows people round the factory. He has to make appointments for his boss and put them in the diary. He also arranges meetings for managers from different departments and types the agenda (= list of things to discuss at a meeting). Sometimes he has to attend (= go to) meetings and take the minutes (= write down everything that is said during the meeting).
Office problems (Проблемы в офисе)
Like most people who work in an office, Brian has his problems: The photocopier is broken. The printer isn’t working. We’ve run out of paper (= the paper is finished). The computer’s down (= not working) at the moment. One of my colleagues is off (= not at work) today and we’ve got loads of work (= a lot of work) to do.
Transport (Транспорт)
Vehicles (Транспортное средство)
| bus | автобус | coach | автобус междугороднего сообщения |
| car | автомобиль | taxi | такси |
| van | фургон | motorbike | мотоцикл |
| bicycle | велосипед | lorry | грузовик |
- How did you get here?
- I came by bus.
- And the others?
- Sue and John came by car.
- And Paul?
- He missed the bus, so he had to get a taxi.
| bus | train | plane |
| driver | driver | pilot |
| drive | drive | fly |
| fare | fare | air fare |
| get/ catch/ take | get/ catch/ take | get/ take |
| get on\ off | get on\ off | get on\ off |
| journey | journey | flight\ journey |
| bus station | railway station | airport |
| taxi | bicycle | car |
| driver | cyclist | driver |
| drive | ride | drive |
| fare | ----- | ---- |
| get/ take | go on (my) | go in (my) |
| get in\ out (of) | get on\ off | get in\ out |
| ---- | ride | journey |
| taxi rank | ---- | ---- |
Trains (Поезда)
These are things train passengers often to say or ask:
Single to London, please (= a ticket to London)
Return to Glasgow, please (= a ticket to Glasgow and back)
Does this train go to Oxford?
Do I have to change (= change to another train)?
Is it a fast train or a stopping train?
Which platform for Liverpool and when is the train due to arrive (= timetable to arrive)?
Buses (Автобусы)
Sometimes buses are punctual (= arrive at the correct time) but not always. Where I live, buses should run (travel\ operate) every ten minutes, but sometimes I wait at the bus stop for half an hour in a queue (= line of people), and then three buses come together, and they’re all full up (=full of people). Other times the bus is early and I miss it (= I don’t catch it).
Taxis (Такси)
Taxis show what you have to pay on the meter. When you want the driver to stop, you can say this: Could you drop me here? (= Could you stop here?) People often give taxi drivers a tip (= extra money as well as the fare).
On the road (На дороге)
| traffic lights | светофор | road signs | дорожные знаки |
| junction | перекресток | lane | полоса |
| bend | поворот | bridge | мост |
| pedestrian crossing | пешеходный переход | motorway | дорога, трасса |
An accident (Авария, дорожное происшествие)
There was an accident on one of the main roads into town this morning. A lorry broke down (= stopped because of a problem) in the middle of the road. It was 8 o’clock, a busy time, and with the lorry blocking the road (= stopping things from moving in the road), there was soon a long tailback (= long line of cars that cannot move). One man in a Mercedes pulled out (= moved out to the centre of the road) to go round the lorry, but another car was coming in the opposite direction. The driver braked (= put his foot on the brake to stop the car), but he couldn’t prevent the accident (= stop it happening) - the Mercedes crashed into the front of his car. The driver of the Mercedes was OK, but the other driver was badly injured and both cars were badly damaged.
Cars and buses use the road; pedestrians (= people who walk) use the pavement. Cars mustn’t park on the pavement. The speed limit on motorways in Great Britain is 70 mph (120 kph). The police use speed cameras to catch people who are speeding\ breaking the speed limit (= going too fast). Most petrol stations (= places where you buy petrol) in Great Britain are self-service (= there are no people to put petrol in your car; you serve yourself and then pay). The other car was going very slowly, so I decided to overtake it (pass it on the outside).
Air travel (Воздушные путешествия)
Departure (Отправление)
When you arrive at the airport, you can look at the departure board which shows the flight numbers (e.g. BA735), departure times (e.g. 08.40) and destinations (e.g. London). At the check-in desk they weigh your luggage. Usually you can take about 20 kilos. If it is more you may have to pay excess baggage (= you pay extra). They also check your ticket and give you a boarding card for the plane with your seat number on it. Then you go through passport control where an official checks your passport and into the departure lounge. Here you can also buy things in the duty free, e.g. perfume or alcohol. About half an hour before take-off you go to a gate number, e.g. gate 14, where you wait before you get on the plane. When you board (= get on) the plane you find your seat. If you have hand luggage you can put it under your seat or in the overhead locker above your seat. If there are no delays (= when you have to wait until a later time for some reason), the plane moves towards the runway (= the area where planes take off and land).
NOTE! Слово «delay» может быть и существительным, и прилагательным:
There’s a two-hour delay on our flight. Why is the flight delayed?
What’s the reason for the delay? We were delayed at Athens airport.
The flight (Полет)
The captain (= the pilot) or cabin crew (= people who look after passengers) may say these things:
Please fasten your seat belt and put your seat in the upright position.
May we remind passengers (= to passengers: please remember) that there is no smoking now until you are inside the terminal building (= the part of the airport where passengers arrive and depart).
The cabin crew are now coming round with landing cards (cards you have to fill in when you enter certain countries).
Arrival (Прибытие)
When the plane lands (= arrives on the ground) you have to wait for it to stop. When the doors are open you get off the plane and walk through the terminal building and go to the baggage reclaim (= place where collect your luggage). You go through customs (GREEN – nothing to declare; RED – goods to declare). At most airports, you can hire a car (= rent a car).
Hotels and restaurants (Отели и рестораны)
Types of hotel accommodation (Типы гостиничного жилья)
| a single room | room for one person with a single bed |
| a double room | room for two people with one large bed |
| a twin room | room for two people with two single beds |
| full board | includes breakfast, lunch and dinner |
| half board | includes breakfast and dinner |
| B&B | just bed (= the room) and breakfast |
At busy times, e.g. the weekend, you may need to book (= reserve) a room in a hotel or a table in a restaurant in advanced (= before you go). When you arrive at a hotel you check in at reception (= tell the receptionist you have arrived); at a restaurant you ask for a table (e.g. Could we have a table for two? I booked a table for two. The name is Carter). In restaurants you can tip the waiter\ waitress (= give money for good service) if service is not included; in a hotel you may also give the porter (= person who carries luggage) a tip. At the end of a meal in a restaurant or the end of your stay in a hotel, you pay the bill.
In a restaurant (В ресторане)
You can see the food available on the menu, and choose wine (and other drinks) from the wine list. There are usually three parts to a meal: a starter (e.g. soup), a meal course (e.g. meat or fish) and a dessert (e.g. fruit or ice cream). A drink before the meal is often called an aperitif.
Useful words and expressions (Полезные слова и выражения)
In a hotel
GUEST: Are you fully booked (= completely full) next week?
Do you have any rooms available (= free rooms) this weekend?
Is breakfast\ dinner included? (= Does the price include breakfast\ dinner?)
Where’s the lift? (= the machine which takes you up or down a floor)
Excuse me. How do I get to the underground station from here?
There’s something wrong with (= there’s problem with) the heating in my room.
What time do we have to check out? (= leave the room on our last day)
In a restaurant
WAITER: Are you ready to order? (= Have you decided what you want?)
Would you like to try the wine? (= taste the wine to see if it is OK)
Is everything all right with your meal?
CUSTOMER: Are you fully booked?
I’ll have the soup to start (= as a starter)
Excuse me. Where’s the toilet?
Holiday in the city (Отпуск в городе)
| palace | дворец | statue | памятник |
| market | рынок | castle | замок |
| temple | храм | cathedral | собор |
Many people go on a sightseeing tour of a town (usually in a bus); they can also go on a tour of a castle, cathedral, etc. When you are sightseeing, it helps to buy a guidebook (= a book of information for tourists) and a map of the town you are visiting.
Tourist activities
We went sightseeing almost every day.
I didn’t do a lot of sightseeing in Warsaw.
We had a quick look round the shops.
I wanted to have a look round the art galleries.
I took hundreds of pictures on holiday.
I spent lots of money – too much.
We got lost almost every day in London.
They had a lovely time in Venice
On holyday we went out every night.
NOTE! Слово «place» может обозначать: здание, город, страну и т.д.
Bruges is a lovely place (= town) and we found a really nice place (= hotel) to stay. The town is full of interesting places (= areas\ buildings)
St Petersburg has lots of historic monuments (= important places built a long time ago). Many beautiful cities are now very touristy (= a negative word: two much tourism). Sao Paolo is a really lively place (= full of life and activity) and the nightlife is fantastic.
NOTE! Используйте выражение «be worth + ing or noun», если хотите сказать: что это место следует посетить; что-то следует сделать
If I go to Scotland, is it worth spending a few days in Edinburgh?
Yes, definitely – and Glasgow is worth a visit as well.
Holidays by the sea (Отпуск у моря)
When people go on holiday they stay in various places: some go to hotels; some rent an apartment (= a holiday flat); some prefer to go camping and sleep in a tent.
Many people spend their holiday in seaside resorts (= towns by the sea for tourists) where they can go to the beach every day.
You sometimes get a gentle breeze from the sea, which helps to cool you down on hot days, but it can also burn you.
Many people go to the beach to sunbathe (= lie in the sun) and get a suntan (= when the body goes an attractive brown colour from the sun; we can also say – be brown). This can be dangerous, and you should always put on suntan lotion (= cream or oil to stop your skin burning). This will also help you to get a tan and protect your skin (= keep your skin safe). If you don’t protect your skin you may get sunburn (= the skin becomes red and very painful).
Seaside activities
I like to go for a walk along the cliffs. On sandy beaches I often play volleyball. I sometimes go windsurfing\ snorkelling\diving. I don’t swim much but I like to have a paddle (= just put my feet in the sea). My sister likes to have a swim in the sea but not if it’s very rough (opp calm).
| the horizon | горизонт | diving | погружение с полным снаряжением |
| yacht | яхта | snorkelling | погружение с трубкой и ластами |
| waves | волны | windsurfing | плавание на доске с парусом |
Weather (Погода)
Weather conditions (Погодные условия)
| cуществительное | прилагательное |
| sun (солнце) | sunny |
| cloud (облако) | cloudy |
| fog (туман) | foggy |
| heat (жара) | hot |
| существительное | прилагательное |
| wind (ветер) | windy |
| ice (лед) | icy |
| shower (ливень) | showery |
| humidity (влажность) | humid |
It was very cloudy in the morning, but then the sun came out (=appeared) in the afternoon. The accident happened in the thick fog (= bad fog) on the motorway.
Rain (Дождь)
drizzle – light rain (= raining a bit). It was cloudy with a bit of drizzle.
pour – heavy rain (= raining a lot). It’s pouring outside.
shower – rain for a short period of time. We had several showers today – some quite heavy.
Temperature (Температура)
 |
boiling (very hot) hot warm not very warm cold (chilly) freezing (very cold)
How hot does it get in summer?
It can reach about 35 degrees.
How cold does it get in winter?
It often goes below 0. (zero)
Wind (Ветер)
a breeze a wind a strong wind a gale a hurricane
A breeze is gentle and pleasant; a hurricane is over 100 km per hour and can be dangerous. It was a hot day but there was a gentle breeze. Her hair was blowing in the wind. The trees were damaged in the gale last night. The hurricane destroyed many buildings.
Time (Время)
| At | a specific time | at 8 o’clock, at 3.30, at midnight |
| On | a day | on Monday, on July, on the second day |
| In | a period | in the morning, in April, in summer, in 1998 |
Exceptions: at Christmas, at night, at the weekend
12.00 – It’s 12 o’clock.
12.10 – It’s ten minutes past 12.
12.15 – It’s a quarter past 12.
12.30 – It’s a half past 12.
12.40 – It’s twenty minutes to 1.
12.45 – It’s a quarter to 1.
I’ll stay until she phones; I’ll be here until 4.30. (I’ll leave after she phones\ after 4.30).
I’ll be in office by 8.15 (= not later than 8.15).
I’ve worked in this office for six months. [for + a period of time]
I’ve worked here since May. [since + a point of time in the past]
I worked on farm during the summer\ the holidays. [when]
I worked on farm for two years. [how long (not: during two years)]
I’m going back to Brazil in ten days` time (= ten days from now; not: after ten days).
PAST
I’ve known this girl for ages. (= for a long time)
I haven’t been to the dentist recently\ lately. (e.g. in the last few months)
I saw Tom recently. (e.g. a few weeks ago\ not long ago)
I used to go skiing, but that was a long time ago. (e.g. 5-10 years ago)
My sister went to the zoo the other day. (= a few days ago, perhaps a week)
PRESENT
I don’t see my sister much these days. (= a period including the past and now)
FUTURE
This dictionary will be OK for the time being. (= for now\ the near future – but not long)
I’m sure I’ll go to America one day. (= in the future but I don’t know when)
NOTE! Глагол «take» используется в значении «занима