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English in a Minute Series 4

Intermediate level

Verbs to use with 'language'

Episode 250114 / 14 Jan 2025

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Introduction

There are some words that we often use together with 'language'. These are called collocations. Learn some of the verbs that collocate with the noun 'language' with Phil in this video.

Common collocations with 'language'

speak a language
We often say we speak a language to say that we know that language and can use it. 

  • I think it's important to speak different languages. I can speak English, French and Russian.

study a language
If you study a language, it means that you do something to learn it.

  • Writing down new words that you have found in books is one way to study a language.

learn a language
If you have learnt a language, then it means that you know that language and can use it. If you are learning a language, that has a similar meaning to studying a language.

  • I learnt two languages at school. That meant I could study in Berlin and Paris.

know a language
If you know a language, it means you can use it successfully in written or verbal communication.

  • I know a few ancient languages. I used to be a history professor.

master a language
When you master a language, you can use it very well. 

  • It takes time to master a language, but it is really fulfilling.

express in (adjective) language
We often use this verb with an adjective before 'language'. If you express something in a type of language, you use a particular style of language.

  • The instructions wereexpressed in complicated language. We couldn't understand what we were supposed to do.

couch in (adjective) language
This verb is similar to 'express in'. We use it with an adjective before 'language' to describe the way that something is said or written. 

  • I'm going to couch this in simple language so that you don't misunderstand me.

enrichlanguage
If something enriches your language, it makes it more complex, elegant or beautiful.

  • Reading classic novels really enriched my language.

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TRANSCRIPT

Note: This is not a word-for-word transcript.

Phil
Learn verbs to use with language? Now you're speaking my language... If you want to be able to speak a language, then you need to study it and learn it.

I've been studyinglanguages for 30 years, and I've learned a few of them.
I know 8 languages. I speak some well, and some badly.

Maybe just learning a language isn't good enough for you. Maybe you want to master a language – that means speak it really well.

Living in a country is the best way to master its language.

Things can be expressed in, or be couched in simple language – it means the same. Maybe you want to enrich your language with some more complex expressions?

The letter was expressed in very direct language – we knew exactly what to do.
Reading poetry can enrich your language.

Let me couch this in simple language. Our videos will help you enrich your language and master English.

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