Functional Language For C1 Oral Test

Functional Language for the oral test Useful expressions to make you feel at ease

Finding time to think...

● That’s a difficult question, let me think for a second. ● That’s a very interesting question, let me think. ● It’s very difficult to know exactly, but I think /but I believe/perhaps…. ● It’s difficult to say, I think…. ● I don’t really know for sure, but I would say….

Expressing personal opinion

● Speaking for myself… / Personally speaking... ● In my view .../ For my part… / To my mind… ● As I see it… / It seems to me… ● As far as I’m concerned… / If you ask me… (to express your opinion when it’s slightly critical)

Expressing personal opinion (II)

● Frankly speaking... / To be frank… (to express slightly controversial opinions) ● I don’t have an opinion one way or another /on it. ● It’s not something I’ve given much thought to. ● It doesn’t concern me.

Expressing likes and dislikes

● I’m very fond of … ● I’m quite keen on ... ● I’ve never really been a fan of ... ● I’ve always had quite a soft spot for ... ● ... has never appealed to me ● I’m not really into ... ● I can’t stand (+ing)... ● I can’t bear (+ing)...

Expressing likes and dislikes (II)

● I kind of like … ● I really like / love … ● I find …. really fascinating/exciting… ● What I like most is… ● I (absolutely) hate / detest/loathe/can’t bear /can’t stand… ● I don’t fancy… ● I find … rather boring / dull

Comparing pictures

● The main connection / similarity between these pictures is that ... ● The most striking / obvious similarity is that… ● Both pictures show… ● It is clear / obvious that..

Contrasting pictures

● The main/significant/most important/most significant difference between the pictures is that… ● There are several differences between the pictures: firstly, ... ● In the first picture…

whereas/while in the second picture…

Expressing personal preference

● I’d much rather … than .... ● I don’t like the idea of …, so I would prefer to … ● I’m not so keen on ... , so I would choose to ...

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Speculation and hypothesis

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Judging from… he may / could / might be… I can’t tell for sure / be certain, but it looks as if she … He could well be a … I should think he’s either… or … because... She can’t possibly be … because… Although I can’t be sure, perhaps… You can tell from his/her face that he/she must be…

Discussing the cause of a problem

● It’s clearly/mostly/ down to… ● It’s not so much a result of … but rather of … ● It’s partly/largely/entirely due to … ● I believe … plays a small/great part as well. ● I think… has a lot to do with it. ● A key factor is … ● I fell that … is to blame ● The obvious culprit in this case is ...

Discussing the result of a problem

● This (often / invariably / directly) leads to / causes / brings about… ● As a result, / consequence, … ● Inevitably...

Talking about the past

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in the old days years ago a thing of the past in my grandparents’ time

Talking about the present

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Today whereas these days at the moment in recent years in the last few years recently becoming more and more

Talking about the future

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in a few years’ time in the not too distant future by the year 2050 in years to come years from now