23:41 28/7/24 20220905 - Relationship RELATIONSHIP
Here is some useful vocabulary to help you talk fluently on the topic of
relationships. To relate to someone = to identify with or empathize with someone
A relationship = a connection between 2 people / things
There are different kinds of relationships: • Family relationships • Work relationships • Business relationships • Romantic relationships
When it comes to verbs, notice the difference between ‘to have a relationship’ and ‘to be in a
relationship’. The latter / læt.ə ˈ
r/ is romantic, the former is not.
To be in a relationship = to have a boyfriend / or girlfriend
I’ve been in a relationship for several months.
I am not in a relationship, I’m single
I have a good relationship = get on well with my friend / my boss / my colleagues To be
related to someone = to have a family connection (e.g. brother, sister, father, cousin….)
A relative (n.) = a family connection
A relation (n.) = a family connection
When it comes to romantic relationships, all of these usually begin with a date, whether it is
going to the cinema, going for a coffee together or something like that.
To date someone = to go out with someone (romantically) /roʊˈmæn.t ɪ.kəl.i/
To go on a date = to have one romantic meeting
A one-night stand = to just be with someone for one night
A short fling = a brief romantic relationship A long-term relationship To be / fall in love Online dating about:blank 1/7 23:41 28/7/24 20220905 - Relationship
The following 4 phrases all mean ‘to get on well with someone’ • To click with someone
• To get on like a house on fire
• To be on the same wavelength • To hit it off
When a couple stop seeing each other romantically, we can use one of the following verbs: • To break up • To split up • To separate • To go your separate ways Mary and I have broken up
We have gone our separate ways
How are relationships between young people today different from in the past?
In the past, people used to meet potential partners in a pub or even a disco. Nowadays, online
dating is much more prevalent.
Whatever the generation, I think people still predominantly look for a partner at work or on campus.
Youngsters may use a dating app or even a dating agency these days.
Relationships are much faster these days. I mean people focus on short-term relationships rather than the long term.
For may young people, it’s all just about short flings, rather than looking for the ideal long-term relationship.
to break up: to end a romantic relationship
to drift apart: to become less close to someone
to enjoy someone’s company: to like spending time with someone to fall for: to fall in love
to fall head over heels in love: to start to love someone a lot to fall out with:
to have a disagreement and stop being friends to get on like a house on about:blank 2/7 23:41 28/7/24 20220905 - Relationship
fire: to like someone’s company very much indeed
to get on well with: to understand someone and enjoy similar interests /ˈɪn.trɪst/
to get to know: to begin to know someone
to go back years: to have known someone for a long time
to have a lot in common: to share similar interests
to have ups and downs: to have good and bad times
a healthy relationship: a good, positive relationship
to hit it off: to quickly become good friends with
to be in a relationship: to be romantically involved with someone
to be just good friends: to not be romantically involved
to keep in touch with: to keep in contact with
to lose touch with: to not see or hear from someone any
longer love at first sight: to fall in love immediately you meet
someone to pop the question: to ask someone to marry you
to see eye to eye: to agree on a subject
to settle down: to give up the single life and start a family
to strike up a relationship: to begin a friendship
to tie the knot: to get married
to be well matched: to be similar to
to work at a relationship: to try to maintain a positive relationship with someone
Idioms to Talk about Relationships
To fall head over heels in love = To fall madly/deeply in love
She fell head over heels in love with Carlos!
To walk in someone’s shoes = to try and understand someone To have a
good relationship, you really need to walk in your partner’s shoes about:blank 3/7 23:41 28/7/24 20220905 - Relationship
To be love at first sight = To fall instantly in love
When I met Anny, it was love at first sight!
To be a match made in heaven = to be a perfect match!
Mary and John get on so well together, they are a match made in heaven
To tie the knot = to get married
After 3 years of dating, Mary and John have decided to tie the knot!
To have ups and downs = to have good times and bad times
They are still happily married after 10 years, despite having some ups and downs Q & A Part 1:
Do you see your friends very often?
Yes … we meet up most weekends … we all get on really well and have a lot in common so
we’re always happy doing the same things and going to the same places.
What do you like about your close friends?
I think we enjoy each other’s company … we see eye-to-eye on most things so we rarely fall out with each other.
Have you known each other long?
Most of them yes … although my closest friend Carrie … we struck up a relationship at college
and got on like a house on fire … but yes … my other friendships go back years to when we were at school.
What do you like about your close friends?
Well…I’m fortunate to have such amazing people in my life whom I call my friends. We’re mostly
ambivert individuals who enjoy ourselves and are confident in our skins. We like to help others
and have always seized every opportunity to volunteer for a good cause. We’ve always pushed
each other to be better human beings and to dream big. about:blank 4/7 23:41 28/7/24 20220905 - Relationship
How do you maintain friendships?
To be honest, maintaining friendships requires effort from both ends and if one person decides
to drift away, then it becomes very difficult to hold onto such friendships. Social Media has made
it easy to maintain friendships, especially the long-distance ones where it is not possible to meet
every often. I stay connected with all my friends on various social media platforms and we
regularly update each other about our respective lives, that way we feel we’re a part of their lives and stay closer. Part 2:
Describe a person you are very close to. You should say: who this person is when you met them where you met them
and say what it is about them you like so much.
I’d like to talk about my boyfriend … Jose … we got to know each other at University almost 4
years ago … we were in the same department … initially we were just good friends and used to
go out in a group with our other friends … when Jose went back to Spain for the holidays we
would keep in touch with each other … then one year he invited me to come to Spain with him …
and that’s when we fell for each other I think … so you couldn’t really say it was love at first sight
as it had been over a year since we’d met … but we really hit it off and by the time we got back
to university in September we were able to tell all our friends that we were in a relationship…
what do I like about Jose … well he’s very kind … very funny … and very supportive … and
we’re really well matched in our interests … he hasn’t popped the question yet though … we’ve
talked about getting married and I think we’re both ready to settle down and have children …
we’ll just have to wait and see … Part 3:
Do you think marriage is still as important as ever?
Yes … it certainly is in my country … I think the problem for some people is a lack of
commitment … all relationships have their ups and downs …. but some people prefer to break
up rather than working at the relationship.
What do you think is the ideal time to get married?
Personally … I think you should wait until you’ve found yourself first … decided if you want a
career … perhaps do some travelling … you should do this before tying the knot … although if
you fall head over heels in love plans like these can easily be forgotten. about:blank 5/7 23:41 28/7/24 20220905 - Relationship
Is it important to keep in contact with our friends when we’re in a relationship?
Absolutely … it’s so easy to drift apart from your friends when you fall in love … but I think both
partners should try not to lose touch with their friends … that’s the best way to have a healthy
relationship with your partner.
What is the best way to meet boyfriends or girlfriends?
I think there is no best way of meeting your loved ones. Because, I think when we are meeting
our loved ones, it is good if there is nothing hidden or put on to hide something. I would say, if
there is any, best way to meet, then it should probably be meet them as you are. Show them the
real you, the idiot you, the wise you, the ugly you, the beautiful you, the way you are, no
pretending, only the real you.
What do you think of double dates?
I think nothing of double dates. In my opinion, it is the most stupid thing one does, if people
involved in double date are not aware of it. Yes, if you tell the other person, that I am interacting
with other people as well then there shouldn’t be any problem, because in that case you are
getting to know lot of people and there is no romantic side to it. But, if there is trust and loyalty
involved, double dates is a miserable thing to do.
Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0NCHcZYGW7w HOMEWORK Part 1:
Do you see your friends very often?
What do you like about your close friends?
Have you known each other long? Part 2:
Describe a person you are very close to. You should say: who this person is when you met them where you met them
and say what it is about them you like so much. about:blank 6/7 23:41 28/7/24 20220905 - Relationship Part 3:
Do you think marriage is still as important as ever?
What do you think is the ideal time to get married?
Is it important to keep in contact with our friends when we’re in a relationship? about:blank 7/7