The Importance of Learning Phrases in English 

By Author Giljonnys Dias da Silva 

 

Learning English, one of the most widely spoken languages in the world, is a valuable skill for personal, academic, and professional growth. For Brazilian learners and Portuguese speakers in general, it’s common to focus on vocabulary and grammar at first. While these are essential components of any language, there’s an even more powerful strategy to improve fluency and understanding: learning full phrases.

 

Phrases—short expressions that are commonly used by native speakers—play a crucial role in real-life communication. They help you sound more natural, confident, and fluent. Unlike isolated words, phrases are often ready-made blocks of speech that carry a clear meaning and can be used in many everyday situations. Below, we explore why learning phrases is so important and provide practical examples with their translations into Brazilian Portuguese.

 

1. Phrases Help You Communicate Faster and More Naturally

 

When you learn full phrases, you don’t need to construct sentences from scratch every time you speak. You can recall the phrase as a whole, which saves time and reduces hesitation.

 

How are you?

Como você está?

 

I’m just looking, thanks.

Estou só olhando, obrigado(a).

 

Can you help me?

Você pode me ajudar?

 

These expressions are short, useful, and commonly heard in everyday conversations.

 

2. They Prepare You for Real-Life Situations

 

Textbooks often teach formal or unnatural expressions that don’t match real-life language. Learning phrases exposes you to how English is actually spoken by natives—in shops, airports, hotels, schools, and informal settings.

 

I’m sorry, I don’t understand.

Desculpe, eu não entendo.

 

Where is the nearest bathroom?

Onde fica o banheiro mais próximo?

 

Do you take credit cards?

Vocês aceitam cartão de crédito?

 

By memorizing these types of phrases, you’re prepared for practical interactions when traveling or living abroad.

 

3. Phrases Improve Listening and Pronunciation

 

When you train yourself to recognize entire expressions, you improve your listening comprehension. This is especially useful when native speakers speak quickly and link words together.

 

What’s up?

E aí?

Tudo bem?

 

Take your time.

Fique à vontade. 

Sem pressa.

 

It’s up to you.

Você que sabe. 

Depende de você.

 

These are common in casual conversation, and hearing them in context helps you understand tone and rhythm.

 

4. You Learn Idiomatic and Cultural Expressions

 

Languages are full of idioms and cultural expressions that can’t be translated word-for-word. Phrases often carry meanings that go beyond the literal interpretation.

 

Break a leg!

Boa sorte!

 

Hit the books.

Estudar muito.

 

Under the weather.

Sentindo-se mal/doente.

 

Understanding these phrases brings you closer to the culture and helps you participate in conversations with more depth.

 

5. Phrases Help Build Confidence

 

When you already know useful phrases, you don’t have to worry so much about grammar or vocabulary gaps. This boosts your confidence and makes it easier to start and maintain conversations.

 

I’m learning English.

Estou aprendendo inglês.

 

Could you repeat that, please?

Você poderia repetir, por favor?

 

That’s interesting!

Que interessante!

 

These expressions give you tools to keep conversations flowing and show that you are actively engaged.

 

6. They’re Great for Memorization and Practice

 

Phrases stick in your memory better than isolated words because they have context and rhythm. When you practice phrases, you’re also practicing grammar structures, collocations, and pronunciation all at once.

 

I’ll be right back.

Volto já.

 

Nice to meet you.

Prazer em conhecê-lo(a).

 

Have a good day!

Tenha um bom dia!

 

These short, polite expressions are easy to remember and very effective in daily situations.

 

7. Useful Categories of Phrases

 

To get started, it’s helpful to learn phrases in categories:

 

Greetings:

 

Good morning.

Bom dia.

 

How’s it going?

Como vão as coisas?

 

Making Requests:

 

Can I have a coffee, please?

Posso tomar um café, por favor?

 

Could you help me with this?

Você poderia me ajudar com isso?

 

Expressing Opinions:

 

I think so.

Eu acho que sim.

 

In my opinion…

Na minha opinião…

 

Giving Thanks:

 

Thank you so much.

Muito obrigado(a).

 

I really appreciate it.

Eu agradeço muito.

 

In summary, learning phrases in English is one of the smartest and most effective ways to gain fluency, sound natural, and build real communication skills. It helps you move beyond memorizing individual words and into the world of expressive, confident conversation. Whether you're traveling, working, studying, or making friends from around the world, knowing key phrases empowers you to express yourself clearly and understand others with ease.

 

Start small: pick a few useful phrases each week and use them in context. The more you practice, the more comfortable you’ll become—and soon, speaking English will feel like second nature.

 

Bibliographic References 

 

Cowie, A. P. (Ed.). (1998). Phraseology: Theory and Applications. Clarendon Press.

 

Knappe, G. (2004). Idioms and Fixed Expressions in English Language Study before 1800. Peter Lang.

 

Welte, W. (1990). Englische Phraseologie und Idiomatik: Ein Arbeitsbuch mit umfassender Bibliographie. Peter Lang.

 

Gläser, R. (1998). 'On the Phraseology of Spoken English: The Evidence of Recurrent Word-Combinations'. In A. P. Cowie (Ed.), Phraseology (pp. 101-120). Clarendon Press.

 

Arnold, I. V. (1973). The English Word. Moscovo: Higher School Publishing House.