Learning English

Jackie

Hello. Welcome to How To with bbclearningenglish.com. I'm Jackie Dalton.

In this programme, we'll look at how to express anger and annoyance about something.

Of course, there are all sorts of very strong words in English used to show annoyance - some of which you probably already know!

But we'll be focusing on those expressions which aren't quite so offensive, so you don't find yourself upsetting people!

Let's hear our first one. I'm at a party drinking a glass of wine but then:

EXAMPLE

(Smash!)

Oh no!

Jackie

I drop my glass: Oh no! A simple reaction you can use in all kinds of situations when something bad has happened.

EXAMPLE

Oh no!

Oh no!

Jackie

You could also say, Oh dear! This means the same thing.

EXAMPLE

Oh dear!

Jackie

Let's hear those words in sentences with other expressions:

EXAMPLES

Oh dear! He missed his plane!

Oh no! I can't believe I've just done that!

Oh dear! I don't believe he's forgotten again!

Jackie

In those last sentences we heard another expression worth knowing: I can't believe or I don't believe. Again, a popular phrase when something bad has just happened.

EXAMPLES

Oh no, I can't believe I've just done that!

Oh dear! I don't believe he's forgotten again!

Oh, I can't believe it!

I can't believe that this is happening again!

Oh, I can't believe I've just done that!

Jackie

So those were our first three expressions: Oh no!, Oh dear! and, I can't believe it! Here's one you might use if something has gone wrong and it's happened to you before.

EXAMPLE

Why does this always happen to me!

Jackie

Why does this always happen! Here are some more examples:

EXAMPLES

I've lost my keys. Why does this always happen to me!

They missed the train - why does that always happen!

Jackie

Listen to this clip of an angry boss. What expression does he start with to show he's annoyed?

EXAMPLE

I mean, for goodness sake, he'd said he'd do it and now he hasn't done it, so that's just typical!

Jackie

For goodness sake! - something to say when you're annoyed!

EXAMPLE

Person 1

He said he can't help us!

Person 2

Oh for goodness sake!

Jackie

A variation on this is for heaven's sake!

EXAMPLE

Oh! For heaven's sake! Why is she so unreliable?

Jackie

One more handy and not too offensive expression is bother!

EXAMPLE

Person 1

Isn't he coming to the party?

Person 2

Oh bother! I forgot to invite him!

Jackie

A word that you might hear in similar contexts, but which some people might find a bit offensive is damn!

EXAMPLES

Oh damn, they've cancelled the flight!

Damn! I've forgotten my car keys!

Jackie

Again, this is only for informal situations and some people might be a bit offended by the word; so do be careful about how you use it.

Now, let's do a summary of the expressions we've looked at. Listen closely and try to remember as many as you can.

Oh dear!

Oh no!

I can't believe it!

Why does this always happen!

For goodness sake!

For heaven's sake!

Bother!

(And with caution) Damn!

Now, go on to practise the phrases we've looked at with the exercises on the website.