Topical vocabulary

Family: a husband, a wife, a mother-in-law, a father-in-law, a brother-in-law, a sister-in-law, a daughter-in-law, a son-in-law, an aunt, an uncle, a child (an only child), a family man, to adopt, to bring, to raise, a widow, a grass widow, a widower, to be widowed, to get widowed, an orphan, a spinster, an old maid, a bachelor, to be single, to be pregnant with a child (to carry a child, to be in a family way, to expect a baby), the baby is due on, to give birth to, to deliver a baby.

Relations: to be (un)related to smb. on one’s mother’s\father’s side, to be distantly related, a relative, the only living relative, a distant relative, a remote kinsman(woman), parents, parenthood, a mother, a stepmother, a father, a stepfather, a foster father, a foster mother, a God father, a God mother, ancestors, grandparents, a grandmother(Granny, Grandma), a grandfather(Grandpa, Granddad), ancestry, grandchildren, a granddaughter, a grandson, a cousin, a second cousin, a distant cousin, a nephew, a niece, a baby, a new-born baby, a kid, a toddler, a grown-up son, a grown-up daughter, to be breast-fed, to rock the baby on one’s arms, to baby-sit, a baby-sitter, a nanny, a son, a daughter, a stepson, a stepdaughter, a senior(junior) son(daughter), a son(daughter) by one’s first marriage, a God son, a God daughter, a foster child, twins, a stepbrother(sister), a half brother, an elder brother, a younger brother, next to the older brother, to take after, to resemble, resemblance, to have a strong resemblance to, to be the image of, to be a copy of, to be a replica of, to inherit smth., the talent passed on him, to descend from.

Marriage: a date, to date smb. (to go out with smb.), a movie date, to make a date, a boy-friend, a girl-friend, to court smb., courtship, to fall in love, to propose, to be engaged to smb., an engagement, to break one’s engagement, a fiancé(e), to marry smb., to marry off a son(daughter), to marry into the family, to marry for love, a love match, to be married, to get married, a marriage, to consider marriage, a marriage certificate, a marriage for convenience, an illegal marriage, marriage bonds, a misalliance, dowry, to bring dowry to one’s marriage, a wedding, a wedding service (a wedding ceremony), a civil marriage, a silver wedding, bride, a bridegroom, a wedding ring, a mate, a spouse, a prenuptial agreement, a bridesmaid, a best-man, new(ly)-weds, a honeymoon, a divorce, to get a divorce, to file for a divorce, an ex-wife, an ex-husband, to argue, to have a row, to quarrel, to share housework.

People’s occupations (professions): an agriculturist, an artist, a baker, a businessman, a book-keeper (an accountant), a bricklayer, a builder, a butcher, a carpenter, a chemist, a chief, a clerk, a college graduate, a colonel, a composer, a conductor, a cook, a cosmonaut, a customer, a dentist, a dressmaker, a driver, an economist, an engineer, an eye specialist, a gardener, a fitter (a locksmith), a guide, a housewife, an interpreter, a journalist, a lawyer, a lecturer, a librarian, a linguist, a maid, a manager, a manicurist, a mechanic, a military man, a milk-maid, a musician, a nurse, an owner, a painter, a pensioner, a pianist, a pilot, a photographer, a physician, a physicist, a playwright, a plumber, a poet, a post-graduate, a postman, a professor, a research worker, a salesman, a saleswoman, a sailor, a scientific worker, a scientist, a servant, a shop-assistant, a shop-girl, a singer, a shoemaker, a soldier, a schoolboy, a schoolgirl, schoolchildren, a secretary, a smith (a blacksmith), a spaceman, a sportsman, a surgeon, a tailor, a teacher, a tennis-player, a tooth specialist, a tractor-driver, a trade union worker, a trainer, a turner, a typist, a worker (workman), a writer.

Verbs and verbal collocations: to act, to bake, to be against, to be glad, to be good at smth., to be good at doing smth., to be in (out), to be (un)well, to belong to smb., to be married to smb., to be on (a) pension, to be born, to be on sale, to be tactful (to have tact), to bring up, to build, to call, to choose, to come from, to compose, to conduct (an orchestra), to cook, to correct a mistake, to design, to do research work, to do an exercise, to do lessons, to drive a car (a tractor), to feed, to feel bad (good), to follow (to take) smb.’s advice (example), to get married, to go to sea, to graduate from an institute (a college, a university), to grow crops, to have a (bad) cold, to have a break, to have a smoke (swim, talk), to introduce smb. to smb., to keep business accounts, to look after smb., to make a dress (a suit), to make good progress in smth., to make a mistake, to make a good teacher (sportsman, etc.), to make money, to marry smb., to master a profession, to mean, to miss smth., smb., to miss a mistake, to name, to nurse, to own, to paint smth. white (blue, etc.), to play a game, to play the piano (the guitar, the violin), to (mis)pronounce, to raise smth., to raise animals, to repair (put smth. right), to respect, to retire from one’s work, to sail, to serve, to say smth. to smb., to sell, to skate, to ski, to strike (a match).

Some useful phrases: What do you do for a living? What are you? What is your profession (trade, job, occupation)? He works in the capacity of an engineer. He works in (at) an office.

If you’d like to give somebody advice or make a suggestion, you may say: Why don't you...? If I were you, I'd... I advise you to... You'd better (not)... I suggest you should... I think you should... You must (not)... Have you ever thought of...? You could always... I think it might be a good idea... .

If you want to refuse or accept somebody’s advice/suggestion, you can say: No, thank you, I don’t feel like it. I’d rather not. Thank you. Why should I? I’d like to, but... I wish I could, but... That might be good, but... I’m afraid... I wish I could follow your advice. I’d like to very much. That’s a good idea! I think you are right. I don’t mind. I’d love to. It’s a wonderful idea. I think it’s a really good idea. It’s great.