Five ways around a word you do not know
You forgot the word. The other person is still waiting. This is the part nobody teaches: what to do in that second.
Most English classes answer this with learn more words. That answer is slow, and it does not help you now. There is a faster one.
Every missing word can be walked around. There are five ways to walk, and you already have the words for all of them. Native speakers do this many times a day and never notice.
They are in order. The first one works on almost anything, so try it first. The last one is for when the whole sentence is the problem, not one word.
Say what it does
Works for almost any object. Start here.
Could you pass me the stapler?
Could you pass me the thing that holds paper together?
The thermostat is broken.
The box on the wall that sets how warm the room is does not work.
I need a corkscrew.
I need the thing that opens a wine bottle.
Say what kind of thing it is
Shorter than move 1. Good when the other person only needs the family, not the name.
We sat under an oak.
We sat under a big old tree.
She plays the cello.
She plays a big music thing that you sit down with.
He is a cardiologist.
He is a doctor for the heart.
Give an example instead
Best for group words — the word that covers many things at once.
I do not eat poultry.
I do not eat chicken, duck, that kind of meat.
Bring your stationery.
Bring a pen, some paper, things like that.
The appliances are included.
The big machines come with the house — the one that washes clothes, the cold one for food.
Say what it is like
When the first three do not fit. Hang the new thing on a thing they already know.
We took the ferry.
We took a boat that works like a bus.
It is a hammock.
It is like a bed you hang between two trees.
He was being sarcastic.
He said the opposite of what he meant, as a joke.
Cut it into two sentences
For when no single word is the problem — the shape of the sentence is.
I regret to inform you that we are unable to accommodate your request.
I am sorry. We cannot do that.
Please do not hesitate to contact me should you require further assistance.
Just ask me. I am happy to help.
We will endeavour to facilitate the implementation at your earliest convenience.
We will start on it. Tell us when you are ready.
Pick something near you that you do not know the word for. Write it the long way. We will colour any word that is outside the common 1,000.
Now use them on real sentences
Reading the five moves takes three minutes. Making them come out of your mouth under pressure takes practice. That is what the cards are for.
Start practising