Making Decisions in English: Simple Choices for Everyday Life
Why is Making Decisions Important in English?
When you learn English, you want to use it in real life! Making decisions is something we do every day. From choosing what to eat for breakfast to deciding what to do on the weekend, we are always making choices. Learning how to make decisions in English is a very practical skill. It helps you communicate clearly and confidently in everyday situations.
This lesson will teach you simple phrases and vocabulary to help you make everyday English decisions. We will focus on easy phrases that are perfect for beginners and A1+ level learners. Let’s get started and learn how to talk about choices!
Simple Phrases for Making Decisions in English
There are many ways to make decisions in English. Here are some basic phrases you can use right away. We’ll look at asking for choices, expressing your preferences, and accepting or declining options.
Asking for Choices
When someone is offering you options, you need to understand the question! Here are some common ways people ask about your choices:
- What do you want? (Very direct and common)
- What would you like? (Polite and common)
- Would you like…? (Polite and used for specific items)
- Do you want…? (Common and used for specific items)
- Do you prefer…? (Used when there are two or more options)
Examples:
- Waiter: What do you want to drink?
- Friend: What would you like to do tonight?
- Host: Would you like tea or coffee?
- Shop assistant: Do you want a bag with that?
- Friend: Do you prefer to go to the cinema or the park?
Expressing Your Preferences
Now, how do you tell someone what you want? Here are some easy phrases to express your preferences and make simple English choices:
- I want… (Direct and clear)
- I would like… (Polite and common)
- I’d like… (Short form of ‘I would like’)
- I prefer… (Used when you have options)
- I’ll have… (Common when ordering food or drinks)
Examples:
- “I want a coffee, please.”
- “I would like some water, thank you.”
- “I’d like to go to the beach.”
- “I prefer tea to coffee.”
- “I’ll have the chicken sandwich.”
Accepting Choices
When you agree with a suggestion or choose an option, you can use these phrases to accept:
- Yes, please. (Polite and common)
- Sounds good. (Informal and positive)
- Okay. (Simple and common)
- Great! (Enthusiastic and positive)
- Sure. (Informal and agreeable)
Examples:
- “Would you like some cake?” – “Yes, please.“
- “Let’s go for a walk.” – “Sounds good.“
- “Do you want to watch a movie?” – “Okay.“
- “How about pizza for dinner?” – “Great!“
- “Can you help me?” – “Sure.“
Declining Choices
Sometimes you need to say ‘no’ politely. Here are some phrases to decline choices in a nice way:
- No, thank you. (Polite and common)
- Not for me, thank you. (Polite and gentle)
- Maybe later. (Suggests you might want it another time)
- I’m okay, thank you. (Polite and simple)
Examples:
- “Would you like more tea?” – “No, thank you.“
- “Do you want to go to the club?” – “Not for me, thank you.“
- “Cake anyone?” – “Maybe later.“
- “Can I get you anything else?” – “I’m okay, thank you.“
Vocabulary for Everyday English Decisions
To improve your English vocabulary for making decisions, let’s look at some common topics and words you might use.
Food and Drinks
- Food: breakfast, lunch, dinner, snack, fruit, vegetables, meat, fish, pasta, rice, bread, soup, salad, sandwich, burger, pizza, cake, ice cream, chocolate
- Drinks: water, juice, tea, coffee, milk, soda, lemonade, beer, wine
- Questions: eat, drink, have, order, choose, want
Example Conversations:
A: “What do you want to eat for lunch?”
B: “I’d like a sandwich, please.”
A: “Would you like some tea?”
B: “Yes, please.”
Activities
- Activities: watch a movie, go for a walk, go shopping, play games, read a book, listen to music, visit friends, cook dinner, relax at home, go to the park, go to the cinema
- Days/Times: today, tonight, tomorrow, this weekend, later, now
- Questions: do, go, play, watch, visit, stay
Example Conversations:
A: “What do you want to do tonight?”
B: “I want to watch a movie.”
A: “Do you want to go to the park this weekend?”
B: “Sounds good!”
Clothes
- Clothes: shirt, t-shirt, dress, trousers, jeans, skirt, jacket, coat, shoes, socks, hat, scarf, gloves
- Qualities: color, size, style, comfortable, warm, cool
- Questions: wear, buy, choose, like, prefer
Example Conversations:
A: “What shirt should I wear?”
B: “I think the blue one looks nice.”
A: “Do you prefer the red or the green dress?”
B: “I prefer the green one.”
Let’s Practice!
Now it’s your turn to practice! Complete the sentences below using the phrases we learned. This is great spoken English practice decisions!
- Waiter: “What _______ you _______ to drink?”
You: “I _______ _______ lemonade, please.” - Friend: “_______ you _______ to go to the beach or stay home?”
You: “I _______ _______ to go to the beach.” - Host: “_______ you _______ some more coffee?”
You: “_______, _______ _______.” - Shop assistant: “_______ you _______ a bag?”
You: “_______, _______ _______.” - Friend: “Let’s order pizza!”
You: “_______ _______!”
Answers to Practice
- Waiter: “What would you like to drink?”
You: “I would like lemonade, please.” - Friend: “Do you prefer to go to the beach or stay home?”
You: “I prefer to go to the beach.” - Host: “Would you like some more coffee?”
You: “No, thank you.“ - Shop assistant: “Do you want a bag?”
You: “Yes, please.“ - Friend: “Let’s order pizza!”
You: “Sounds good!“
Practice Speaking with Lingofrnd
Want to practice speaking and making decisions in English even more? Lingofrnd.com is your AI spoken English teacher! You can practice conversations and get instant feedback. It’s a fantastic way to build your confidence in everyday English decisions and improve your overall speaking skills.
Download the Lingofrnd app and start practicing today!
Learning to make decisions in English is a key part of becoming a confident English speaker. Keep practicing these simple phrases and your English speaking practice will improve quickly. Use Lingofrnd to practice even more and have fun learning English!