CBE 4.07 | King Henry VIII | Language focus: relative pronouns

How well do you know these 5 tricky English adjectives? In this episode of Coffee Break English, Nick puts your vocabulary to the test with words that look very similar to words in other languages but don't always mean the same thing in English. You'll hear each adjective in context, choose from three possible meanings, then find out why it catches so many learners out. Keep track of your score, then head to the video version to see the spellings and tell us how you got on.

When does "I want" sound completely natural in English, and when can it sound too direct? In this episode of Coffee Break English, Nick looks at the verb "want" in restaurants, job interviews and work emails, and explains why it works so well for your own desires, goals and intentions but can sound too strong when you use it to make requests. At the end of the episode you'll have the chance to test what you've learned and practise using "want" to talk about your own plans. So, what do you want to do in the next few months?

Do you use "I want" for everything in English? There's nothing wrong with it, but in some situations it can sound too direct or even demanding. In this episode of Coffee Break English, Nick introduces 6 natural alternatives that help you make polite requests and talk more precisely about your hopes, plans, ideas and preferences. He also explains when "I want" is exactly the right choice. Don't forget to download the free "I want" alternatives cheat sheet for extra examples and practice: click here to access it now.

Do you ever find yourself freezing in English because you need a moment to think? In this episode of Coffee Break English, Nick shares 8 simple phrases that help you keep a conversation flowing while you organise your thoughts, including everyday expressions like "let me think", "actually", "the thing is" and "well". By the end you'll have a small toolkit to fall back on when you're not quite sure what to say next.

Native English speakers react to each other constantly with short phrases like "No way!", "Fair enough" and "What a nightmare", but you rarely find them in a textbook. In this episode, Nick teaches twelve of these natural reactions, grouped into surprise, agreement and sympathy, and explains how your intonation can completely change the feeling of the same few words. There's a quick practice section too, so you can try them out straight away.