Welcome! This short lesson helps you use natural English phrases to give examples. Have fun — imagine you're a helpful explainer, not a textbook robot.
Level B1: In Lesson 42 you'll practice common frames for giving examples and showing similar situations. This CEFR-aligned lesson focuses on phrases like "Suppose you ___," "A typical case is when ___," and casual endings like "___, ___, and so on." You'll hear, repeat, and use these chunks in a short conversation and quick practice tasks.
After this lesson you'll be able to:
Recognize and use B1 example phrases to explain ideas clearly.
Practice these frames in a short conversation and in quick spoken drills.
Feel confident giving one or two examples, adding similar cases, and wrapping up with "and so on."
Ready? Let's go!
When you tap play on phrases, we track your progress through this lesson.
1. Reading + Listening Practice
Hear core phrases, repeat aloud.
Suppose you ___.
Introduce a possible situation as an example.
Meaning: Introduce a possible situation as an example.
When to use: Use this when you want listeners to imagine a situation.
Tip: Avoid using this frame with the wrong tense after it (keep the imagined action simple).
Suppose you moved to a new city — how would you meet people?
Suppose you moved to a new city — how would you meet people?
Suppose you forgot your password; what would you do?
Suppose you forgot your password; what would you do?
This happens with ___.
Give a category or situation where something occurs.
Meaning: Give a category or situation where something occurs.
When to use: Use this to connect a general point to a concrete situation.
This happens with start-ups that grow too fast.
This happens with start-ups that grow too fast.
This happens with winter sports because of icy roads.
This happens with winter sports because of icy roads.
You see this when ___.
Point to a situation where an idea can be seen.
Meaning: Point to a situation where an idea can be seen.
When to use: Use it to show a real-life instance.
You see this when customers get conflicting information.
You see this when customers get conflicting information.
You see this when people skip testing software.
You see this when people skip testing software.
A typical case is when ___.
Introduce a typical situation as an example.
Meaning: Introduce a typical situation as an example.
When to use: Say this to give a representative, common example.
A typical case is when a team ignores small bugs.
A typical case is when a team ignores small bugs.
A typical case is when traffic increases after holidays.
A typical case is when traffic increases after holidays.
I'm thinking of cases where ___.
Mention the kind of example the speaker has in mind.
Meaning: Mention the kind of example the speaker has in mind.
When to use: Use this to narrow a general point to certain cases.
I'm thinking of cases where users forget to update their profile.
I'm thinking of cases where users forget to update their profile.
I'm thinking of cases where deadlines overlap.
I'm thinking of cases where deadlines overlap.
The same thing happens in ___.
Show that a point also applies in another example area.
Meaning: Show that a point also applies in another example area.
When to use: Use it to add a parallel example or comparison.
The same thing happens in education, where teachers lack resources.
The same thing happens in education, where teachers lack resources.
The same thing happens in small businesses with limited staff.
The same thing happens in small businesses with limited staff.
___, ___, and so on.
Introduce a small set of examples without making a full list
Meaning: Introduce a small set of examples without making a full list.
When to use: Use this to give two or three quick examples.
Tip: Don't overuse this; it should suggest a short list, not replace clear details.
Emails, meetings, and so on can slow a project.
Emails, meetings, and so on can slow a project.
Fruits, vegetables, and so on are in that market.
Fruits, vegetables, and so on are in that market.
___, ___, and things like that.
Signal that the examples are not a complete list
Meaning: Signal that the examples are not a complete list.
When to use: Use it at the end of a list to show it's not complete.
We need forks, knives, and things like that for the event.
We need forks, knives, and things like that for the event.
Pens, paper, and things like that are in the kit.
Pens, paper, and things like that are in the kit.
It could be ___, for example.
Give one possible example while showing there are others
Meaning: Give one possible example while showing there are others.
When to use: Use it to suggest a single helpful example.
It could be poor training, for example.
It could be poor training, for example.
It could be a software bug, for example.
It could be a software bug, for example.
For a simple example, ___.
Introduce a concrete example to clarify a general point
Meaning: Introduce a concrete example to clarify a general point.
When to use: Use it to make an abstract idea clearer with a simple case.
For a simple example, imagine two friends swapping tasks.
For a simple example, imagine two friends swapping tasks.
For a simple example, think of a store offering a discount.
For a simple example, think of a store offering a discount.
2. Conversational Listening Practice
Hear phrases in a real mini-conversation.
Anna and David prepare examples for a short talk about communication problems.
What are Anna and David doing?
Anna
I'm thinking of cases where people don't share clear goals.
I'm thinking of cases where people don't share clear goals.
David
A typical case is when the manager assumes everyone understands the plan.
A typical case is when the manager assumes everyone understands the plan.
Anna
You see this when team members work on different priorities.
You see this when team members work on different priorities.
David
It could be poor communication, for example, or unclear deadlines.
It could be poor communication, for example, or unclear deadlines.
Anna
The same thing happens in student groups and small companies.
The same thing happens in student groups and small companies.
David
Right — emails, meetings, and so on, and things like that slow progress.
Right — emails, meetings, and so on, and things like that slow progress.
3. Guided Practice
Quizzes and matching to lock in meaning.
Which phrase is best to start a hypothetical example?
Which phrase signals you are giving a typical representative example?
Which phrase shows a point also applies elsewhere?
Which phrase ends a short list and indicates it's not complete?
To start a hypothetical example in a talk, you might say: 'Suppose you ___.'
To start a hypothetical example in a talk, you might say: '___'
If you want to show a similar situation in another field, say: 'The same thing happens in ___.'
If you want to show a similar situation in another field, say: '___'
To offer a single possible reason without committing, you can say: 'It could be ___, for example.'
To offer a single possible reason without committing, you can say: '___'
Match the core phrases
Match the extra phrases
4. Speaking Practice
Say phrases yourself (mic/recording).
Recording stays on your device only. Check speech uses your browser's speech tools when available.
Say this phrase out loud:
Suppose you ___.
Introduce a possible situation as an example.
Say this phrase out loud:
This happens with ___.
Give a category or situation where something occurs.
Say this phrase out loud:
You see this when ___.
Point to a situation where an idea can be seen.
Say this phrase out loud:
A typical case is when ___.
Introduce a typical situation as an example.
Say this phrase out loud:
I'm thinking of cases where ___.
Mention the kind of example the speaker has in mind.
Say this phrase out loud:
The same thing happens in ___.
Show that a point also applies in another example area.
Say this phrase out loud:
___, ___, and so on.
Introduce a small set of examples without making a full list.
Say this phrase out loud:
___, ___, and things like that.
Signal that the examples are not a complete list.
Say this phrase out loud:
It could be ___, for example.
Give one possible example while showing there are others.
Say this phrase out loud:
For a simple example, ___.
Introduce a concrete example to clarify a general point.
