Have you ever found it difficult to talk about relationship such as love, friendship, family? In today’s post, I would like to share with you some phrases and expressions, which could make it easier for you to deal with the Relationship topic both in a real life situation and in a test environment.
At the very beginning, we will provide you with some collocations to describe the positive and negative effects of a relationship.
IELTS Speaking Vocabulary: Relationships
Friendship
1. To get to know: begin to know someone
Example: I have known Mary since I was a little boy, and we have been best friends until now.
Read the following IELTS-style questions and answers below and pay attention to the phrases in bold. Use the ‘Definitions’ section at the bottom of the page to check the meaning of any phrases you don’t understand.
2. To get on well with: to understand someone and enjoy similar interests Example: My girlfriend and I get on well with each other because we try to understand each other’s interests.
3. To hit it off (with someone): to quickly become good friends with
Example: As a sociable person, Peter can easily hit it off with Sara.
4. To go back years: to have known someone for a long time.
Example: Mary and I go back years and we always make sure to keep in touch with each other.
5. To strike up a relationship: to begin a friendship
Example: Mia and I struck up a relationship since we were high school students and until now we still keep in touch.
6. To enjoy someone’s company: to like spending time with someone
Example: We are best friends, and we always enjoy each other’s company
7. A healthy relationship: A good, positive relationship
Example: Tom and Mia have a healthy relationship, and they always help each other out of trouble.
8. To have a lot in common: to share similar interests
Example: we became best friends since we were ten because we had a lot in common.
9. To have ups and downs: to have good and bad times
Example: All relationships have ups and downs, but some people prefer to break up rather than work it out.
10. To keep in touch with: to keep in contact with
Example: Although we have not seen each other in person for a long time, we still keep in touch.
11. To lose touch with: to not see or hear from someone any longer
Example: My high school friends make a promise to try not to lose touch with each other.
12. To drift apart: to become less close to someone
Example: I really appreciate our friendship so I hope that I will never drift apart from her.
13. to fall out with: to have a disagreement and stop being friends
Example: Having a lot of arguments for ages, we fell out with each other
14. to work at a relationship: to try to maintain a positive relationship with someone
Example: All relationships have their ups and downs. The point is that we should work at the relationship rather than give up on it
15. to cement a friendship: to make a relationship stronger
Example: I always set aside time at the weekend to come over to visit my best friend to cement our relationship.
Love
1. To break up: to end a romantic relationship
Example: She decided to break up with her boyfriend because they didn’t have a lot in common
2. To fall for: to fall in love
3. fall head over heels in love: really love somebody
4. To be in relationship: to be romantically involved with someone
Example: He was not married, but he was in a stable relationship.
5. To love at first sight: to fall in love immediately you meet someone
Family
1. To see eye to eye: to agree on a subject
Example: My parents see eye to eye on many aspects of their lives, so they barely find themselves in conflict.
2. To start a family: To conceive or have a first child.
Example: After tying the knot for 2 years, we made up our mind to start a family.
3. To tie the knot: get married (= get hitched)
Example: John and Lisa tied the knot. They’re now on their way to their honeymoon.
4. Blood is thicker than water: family relationships come before any other relationship/priority.
Example: When anyone in the family gets into a problem, other members will help out because blood is thicker than water after all.
5. A close-knit family: a family get on well, support each other & see each other a lot
Example: Family is the most important thing in the whole world and we ought to prioritize to make it a happy and a close-knit family.
6. Flesh and blood: people who are part of your immediate family
Example: While she is not my flesh and blood, she is really like my sister
7. Pop the question: propose marriage
Example: They’re well matched in their interests, yet he hasn’t popped the question because both of them are not ready to settle down and have children.
IELTS Speaking Sample: Relationships
IELTS Speaking Part 1
Topic: Friendship
Do you see your friends very often?
You: Well, I used to hang out with my friends at least twice a weekbecause we enjoyed each other’s company & had a lot in common to talk about, but I am in last year of university now, so I am very busy with my study. For that reason, I don’t often have the chance to spend quality time with my friends any more.
Do you like to spend time with friends?
Yes absolutely. Usually, I spend much time with my friends. When we get together we have fun and learn to understand each other’s personalities.
Do you usually have conflicts with your friends?
Conflict is inevitable in every relationship. But I always try to maintain a healthy relationship to avoid drifting apart from my friends
Do you have a best friend?
I have a few best friends. Our friendship goes back years to when we were still young. Although they are by no means my flesh & blood, they are like sisters to me who always help me out in every matter.
How would you describe a “good relationship”?
I would say that all relationships have ups & downs but if you are on good terms with your friends, you can get over it & keep in touch with each other, and always try to work at the relationship to make it a long-lasting friendship.
Do you ever help a friend by giving advice?
Topic: Family
Do you live with your family?
Yes, I live in an extended family with my grandparents, parents & my younger brother.
How are you getting on with your parents?
I have to say that I’m the apple of my parent’s eyes. They always take care of me and give me helpful advice whenever I get into trouble.
Do you prefer to spend time with your family or with your friends?
On one hand, I always try to keep in touch & work at the relationship with my friends who I care for. On the other hand, I spend as much quality family time as I can to maintain our close knit family tradition.
Is family very important for you?
Of course, family is my first priority. They are my flesh and blood and always there to support me
If you were married, how many children would you choose to have?
If I decide to tie the knot and settle down, I will start a family when my husband & I see eye to eye on how many children we choose to have. For me, I prefer to have one daughter & son so I can raise them without being afraid of economic pressure.
IELTS Speaking 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.
Sample Answer
Well, I would like to talk about my soulmate Jess, who used to be my classmate in high school. She was one of the most impressive friends of mine and a really talented person.
I can say that our friendship goes back years when we were little kids. Being a gregarious girl, she was the person who started our very first conversation and then we stroke up our relationship and quickly hit it off with each other. I have to admit that I really enjoy Jess’s company because we can share a lot of things with each other have had a lot in common, which makes us can talk all day long.
For me, Jess is one of the most wonderful girls on earth. I feel that Van was really diligent. I still remember she was always the first to come and the last to leave our class though she was a grade-A student in the class. I was encouraged as well. She often told me that genius comes from one percent of inspiration and ninety-nine per cent of perspiration, and I really admire and appreciate her diligence and responsibility. What amazed me more was that she was so versatile. In addition to being an excellent student, she was also talented and good in other fields. For example, she was proficient in English and Japanese; she excels in playing the piano, and more surprisingly, she was even good at calligraphy. How impressive that was!
I’m constantly amazed by her open-mindedness – she’s never judgmental. I wish I could be like that. But she’s very reliable – if I call her or give her a message, she always responds. We’ve always got on well and we hardly ever fall out with each other.
Personally, she was the one I always wanted to be, and she set a good example for me to follow. All in all, those are why when I read the question you gave me, Jess is the first person that came to my mind.
IELTS Speaking Part 3
Question 1: Do you think marriage is still as important as ever?
From my perspective, marriage is always a turning point for anybody. In my country, when a couple falls heads over heels in love, they will tie the knot to show their commitment and demonstrate that they are ready to start a family and go through ups and downs with each other.
Question 2: Is it important to keep in contact with our friends when we’re in a relationship?
Sure … it’s so easy to drift apart from your friends when you fall in love. But we always need to have friends’ companies so try to keep in touch with them by spending weekends to hang out, writing some letters for them each month or giving them small gifts to cement the relationship.
IELTS Speaking Practice: Relationships
Part 1-style questions
Examiner: Do you see your friends very often?
Louisa: 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.
Examiner: What do you like about your close friends?
Anna: I think we enjoy each other’s company … we see eye-to-eye on most things so we rarely fall out with each other.
Examiner: Have you known each other long?
Amy: 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.
Part 2-style task
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.
Reiko: 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-style questions
Examiner: Do you think marriage is still as important as ever?
Cristine: 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.
Examiner: What do you think is the ideal time to get married?
Terry: 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.
Examiner: Is it important to keep in contact with our friends when we’re in a relationship?
Maria: 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.
Definitions
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 fire: to like someone’s company very much indeed
to get on well with: to understand someone and enjoy similar interests
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