Most people in your day are not friends or family. They are the neighbor, the colleague, the cashier, the landlord — and each one has its own word. Learn these eight words and you can talk about almost anyone.
1. Who Lives Next Door
Ana: Have you met the people next door?
Tom: Once. The neighbor on the left?
Ana: That's her. She's a nurse, I think.
Tom: She waved at me yesterday.
Ana: She's friendly. The whole street is.
Tom: Good to know.
2. Someone from Work
Leo: Who was that on the phone?
Mai: A colleague. We share an office.
Leo: Is he a friend too?
Mai: More of a work friend. We don't meet outside.
Leo: I know the type.
3. The Rest of the Family
Dora: Is Rafa your brother?
Sami: No, a cousin. We've got a big family.
Dora: How many came to the wedding?
Sami: Forty, maybe. Relatives from three countries.
Dora: That's a proper family.
Sami: It is. Loud, too.
4. Someone at the Door
Nina: There's someone at the door.
Ivo: Are you expecting anyone?
Nina: No. I don't know him.
Ivo: Don't open it, then. He's a stranger.
Nina: He's holding a parcel, actually.
Ivo: Ah. That's the delivery guy.
5. The Person at the Counter
Ken: Ask the woman at the counter.
Sara: The cashier?
Ken: No, the one in the blue shirt. She's staff.
Sara: All right. Excuse me, could you help me?
Ken: See? Easy.
6. Calling the Landlord
Priya: The heater's broken again.
Otto: Have you told the landlord?
Priya: I sent him a message this morning.
Otto: He's usually quick.
Priya: He is. He's a decent landlord.
Otto: You're lucky. Mine never answers.
7. People in My Class
Hugo: Do you know anyone in the class?
Lena: One classmate. We sit together.
Hugo: Is she at your level?
Lena: A bit ahead of me. She helps a lot.
Hugo: That's the best kind of classmate.
8. Someone You Both Know
Yara: What's Marco like?
Nils: Easy-going. Everyone gets on with him.
Yara: Is he the quiet one?
Nils: No, that's his brother.
Yara: Right. I always mix them up.
Nils: Everyone does.
Words to know
| neighbor | a person who lives near you The neighbor on the left is a nurse. |
| colleague | a person you work with A colleague. We share an office. |
| relative | any member of your family Relatives from three countries. |
| stranger | a person you do not know Don't open it. He's a stranger. |
| cashier | the person who takes your money in a shop Ask the cashier. |
| staff | the people who work at a place She's staff. |
| landlord | the person who owns the home you rent Have you told the landlord? |
| classmate | a person who studies in the same class as you One classmate. We sit together. |
Quick practice
Complete each sentence with an expression from the lessons.
1. A: Who was that on the phone?
B: A ________. We share an office.
2. A: Is Rafa your brother?
B: No, a ________. We've got a big family.
3. A: I don't know him.
B: Don't open it, then. He's a ________.
4. A: The heater's broken again.
B: Have you told the ________?
5. A: Do you know anyone in the class?
B: One ________. We sit together.
6. A: What's Marco ________?
B: Easy-going. Everyone gets on with him.
Show the answers
1. colleague 2. cousin 3. stranger 4. landlord 5. classmate 6. like
Common mistakes
Not: My neighbor is very kind person.
Say: My neighbor is a very kind person.
One person needs a or an in front, even when an adjective comes first.
Not: I have two relatives which live in Spain.
Say: I have two relatives who live in Spain.
Use who for people. Which is for things.
Not: He is a stranger for me.
Say: He's a stranger to me.
Stranger takes to, never for.
Your turn
Think about the people you saw yesterday. Say these five things aloud, using the words from this lesson.
- Name the person who lives closest to you and say one thing about them.
- Describe a colleague or a classmate in two sentences.
- Say who you would call first if something broke in your home.
- Think of someone you and a friend both know, and answer: What's he like?
- Name the last three people you spoke to and say what each one is to you.
Quick review
Pick five people you will see this week — not friends, not family. Say out loud what each one is: my neighbor, a colleague, the cashier at the corner shop. If you cannot find the word for someone, that is the word to learn next. These eight words cover almost everyone you will ever need to talk about.