Giving a Presentation: Speech (Elementary)
Listen to Course
0:00
0:00
EN: Use 'Good' followed by a time of day (morning, afternoon, evening) as a standard polite greeting.
Good afternoon, class.
EN: In English-speaking cultures, starting a presentation with a clear greeting like 'Good morning' is essential for building rapport with the audience.
EN: Use 'want to + verb' to express a desire or intention to do something.
I want to eat pizza.
EN: In English-speaking business or academic environments, it is common to start a presentation by clearly stating your topic using this exact phrase.
EN: Use 'be' verbs (am/is/are) followed by an adjective to describe the state or quality of a subject.
English is useful for travel.
EN: In Western business and academic culture, the ability to present ideas clearly is considered a vital soft skill for career and academic success.
EN: Use 'feel' followed by an adjective to describe an emotion or physical state.
I feel happy today.
EN: Public speaking anxiety is a very common topic in Western business culture, often discussed openly to encourage empathy and preparation.
EN: Use 'can' followed by a base verb to talk about ability or things that are possible to do.
You can learn to play the piano.
EN: In Western business culture, public speaking is considered a skill that can be developed through practice, rather than just a natural talent.
EN: Use 'will' followed by a base verb to talk about future plans or intentions.
I will call you tomorrow.
EN: In Western business presentations, it is common to explicitly state what you will cover at the beginning to help the audience follow along.
EN: Use 'Let's' (Let us) followed by a base verb to make a suggestion or invite others to do something together.
Let's start the meeting now.
EN: In English presentations, it is common to use 'signposting' words like 'First', 'Next', and 'Finally' to guide the audience through the structure of the talk.
EN: Use 'Keep + Object + Adjective' to describe maintaining a certain state or condition.
Keep the room clean.
EN: In Western business culture, 'Less is More' is a key principle for presentations. Overcrowded slides are seen as unprofessional because they distract the audience from the speaker.
EN: Use 'Don't' + 'Verb' to give a negative command or advice. 'Too much' is used with uncountable nouns like 'text' to show an excessive amount.
Don't add too much sugar to your coffee.
EN: In modern business presentations, the 'Less is More' principle is highly valued. Using minimal text helps the audience focus on the speaker rather than reading the screen.
EN: This sentence starts with a verb ('Use'), which is called an Imperative Sentence. It is used to give instructions, advice, or commands.
Eat more vegetables to stay healthy.
EN: In Western business presentations, 'less is more'. Using visuals like graphs instead of long paragraphs of text is highly encouraged to keep the audience engaged.
EN: Use 'should' to give advice or say what is a good idea.
You should drink more water.
EN: In modern business culture, 'Less is More' is a standard rule for presentations. Overloading slides with text is considered unprofessional and distracting.
EN: The verb 'help' can be followed by an object and then either a base verb (without 'to') or an infinitive (with 'to'). Both 'help people understand' and 'help people to understand' are correct.
Reading books helps me learn new words.
EN: In professional presentations, clarity is highly valued. Using the word 'better' emphasizes continuous improvement and the speaker's goal to be effective.
EN: Use 'Let's' (Let us) followed by a base verb to make a suggestion or invite others to do an activity together.
Let's start the meeting.
EN: In English presentations, it is common to use 'signposting' language like 'Now, let's...' to guide the audience through different sections of the talk.
EN: This sentence uses the 'Imperative' form, which starts with a base verb to give instructions or advice. There is no 'you' subject because it is understood.
Eat your vegetables.
EN: In Western business culture, a 'clear introduction' usually follows the 'hook-topic-roadmap' structure: grab attention, state the topic, and outline the talk.
EN: Use 'what' to introduce the topic or thing you are talking about. It acts like a bridge between the action and the content.
Show me what you bought.
EN: In Western presentations, it is standard practice to provide a 'roadmap' or outline at the beginning to help the audience follow along.
EN: Use 'in order' to describe doing things one after another, following a specific sequence or list.
Please line up in order of height.
EN: In Western business culture, logical structure and 'signposting' (using words like 'first', 'second') are highly valued to help the audience follow the speaker's logic.
EN: Use 'like' to introduce examples. It helps the listener understand what kind of things you are talking about.
I like fruits like apples and bananas.
EN: In English presentations, using signposting words like 'first' and 'finally' is essential for clarity. It helps the audience follow the logic of the speech.
EN: Use a verb at the beginning of a sentence to give a command, instruction, or advice. This is called the imperative mood.
Start with a warm greeting.
EN: In Western presentation culture, a 'strong conclusion' often involves a call to action or a memorable summary to ensure the audience remembers the main message.
EN: Present Simple for General Truths: We use the base verb with an '-s' (repeats) when the subject is singular (a good conclusion) to describe something that is always true or a good rule.
A clear map helps the driver.
EN: In Western presentation styles, clarity and repetition of the main message are highly valued to ensure the audience remembers the core takeaway.
EN: Using '-ing' at the beginning of a sentence turns an action into a subject (Gerund).
Eating healthy food is good for you.
EN: In Western business culture, clarity and directness are valued more than complex vocabulary. Speaking slowly is seen as a sign of confidence, not a lack of skill.
EN: Use 'not' to show a contrast between two things. It tells the listener what to do instead of something else.
Drink water, not soda.
EN: In Western presentation culture, eye contact with the audience is seen as a sign of confidence and respect. Looking only at slides can make the speaker seem unprepared or disconnected.
EN: Imperative sentences are used to give instructions or advice. They start with a base verb and do not need a subject like 'you'.
Eat your vegetables and drink some water.
EN: In international business or educational settings, using 'simple words' is often seen as a sign of respect for the audience's time and understanding, rather than a lack of intelligence.
EN: This sentence uses the 'Imperative' form, which starts with a verb to give instructions or advice. There is no 'you' subject because it is implied.
Drink water after your exercise.
EN: In Western presentation culture, silence is seen as a powerful tool. Taking a break (pausing) allows the audience to process information and makes the speaker appear more confident.
EN: The verb 'give' can be followed by two objects: the person receiving (people) and the thing being given (time).
She gives me a book.
EN: In Western presentation culture, silence is seen as a powerful tool. Speakers are encouraged to pause to let the audience process information, rather than rushing through the speech.
EN: Imperative sentences start with a verb to give instructions or advice. There is no 'you' at the beginning.
Read the book before the class.
EN: In Western business and academic culture, 'the day' often refers to the specific day an event happens, such as 'the day of the presentation' or 'the big day'.
EN: Use 'Let's' (Let us) followed by a base verb to suggest doing something together.
Let's start the meeting now.
EN: In Western business culture, the Q&A session is a vital part of a presentation. Using 'Finally' helps the audience prepare their questions.
EN: Use 'will' followed by a base verb to talk about things that happen in the future.
I will call you tomorrow.
EN: In Western business and academic settings, the Q&A (Question and Answer) session is a standard part of a presentation. It is seen as a way to show interest and engage with the speaker.
EN: This is an imperative sentence used to give instructions or advice. It starts with a base verb (Listen) and omits the subject 'you'.
Read the book slowly.
EN: In professional presentations, listening fully before answering shows respect and ensures you address the actual concern of the audience member.
EN: Use 'If' to talk about a possible situation and what to do when it happens. The first part sets the condition, and the second part gives an instruction.
If you are tired, take a break.
EN: In English-speaking business or academic settings, it is considered polite and professional to ask for clarification if you don't understand something, rather than pretending to know.
EN: Imperative sentences start with a base verb to give instructions, advice, or commands. Use 'and' to connect two instructions.
Eat slowly and drink some water.
EN: In Western business presentations, being concise (keeping it short) is highly valued as it shows respect for the audience's time.
EN: Use 'If' to talk about a possible situation, followed by an instruction (imperative) telling someone what to do.
If you are tired, take a break.
EN: In Western business and academic culture, honesty is highly valued. Admitting you don't know something is often seen as more professional than giving a wrong answer.
EN: Use 'Thank [someone] for [something]' to express gratitude for a specific action or item.
Thank you for your help.
EN: In Western presentation culture, thanking the audience for their 'attention' is a standard way to show respect and signal that the speech has officially concluded.
—