Speaking vocabulary · Topic 15 of 46
Friends
Model answers to every Part 1 question on this topic, with natural B2–C1 vocabulary and idiomatic phrasal verbs to help you answer in your own words.
In this lesson you will
- read and listen to model answers to 9 Part 1 questions about friends
- learn 10 natural phrases, including idiomatic phrasal verbs
- practise them in a gap fill, drag-the-word, multiple-choice and crossword
- answer the questions yourself and record your answers
Step 1
Key vocabulary
- hang outspend time relaxing with friends
- catch uptalk to someone you haven't seen for a while about recent news
- get on wellhave a friendly relationship
- drift apartgradually become less close
- open uptalk honestly about your feelings
- close-knitclose and supportive (of a group)
- lifelonglasting all your life
- low-keyrelaxed and not too exciting
- someone you can count ona person you can rely on to help you
- lose touchstop communicating with someone
Step 2
Model answers
Read and listen. The highlighted phrases are the vocabulary for this topic: hover over or tap them to see what they mean. Notice how each answer gives a reason or an example, not just “yes” or “no”.
Is there a difference between where you meet friends now and where you met them in the past?
Yes, quite a big one. When I was at school, we used to hang out in parks or at each other's homes, because we didn't have much money. Now we usually meet in cafés or restaurants, since everyone is earning a bit.
Why are some places better than others for meeting friends?
It mostly depends on how noisy a place is. If you want to catch up properly, you need somewhere quiet where you can hear each other, whereas a noisy bar is better for a party.
Do you prefer to spend time with one friend or with a group of friends?
I prefer one-to-one, because people tend to open up more when it's just the two of you. In a group, the conversation usually stays on the surface, since nobody wants to share anything too personal.
Do you ever invite friends to your home?
Yes, I often do, because it's more low-key than going out and I enjoy cooking for people. Since my flat is quite small, I can only invite four or five friends at once.
How important are friends to you?
Extremely important, because my family lives in another city and my friends are the people I see every day. A good friend is someone you can count on when things go wrong, which matters a lot when you live far from home.
Do you often go out with your friends?
Probably once or twice a week. Since we've been friends since secondary school, we're quite a close-knit group, and we try to meet up whenever we have a free weekend.
Where do you usually meet?
Usually at a little hotpot restaurant near our old school, because it's cheap and nobody minds if we stay for hours. It's also the place where we've celebrated most of our birthdays.
What do you usually do with your friends?
We mostly eat, chat and play board games, which can get very competitive. If the weather's nice, we sometimes go hiking in the hills outside the city.
Do you have a friend you have known for a long time?
Yes, my best friend and I have known each other since we were six, so it's a lifelong friendship, and we've always got on well. Although a lot of school friends drift apart or lose touch after graduation, we've made an effort to stay close.
Step 3
Practise the vocabulary
Match the meanings
Choose the phrase that matches each meaning.
- relaxed and not too exciting
- stop communicating with someone
- a person you can rely on to help you
- talk to someone you haven't seen for a while about recent news
- have a friendly relationship
- spend time relaxing with friends
- talk honestly about your feelings
- gradually become less close
- lasting all your life
- close and supportive (of a group)
Gap fill: use the right form
Complete the answers with phrases from the box. You may need to change the form (e.g. drag on → dragged on, struggle with → struggling with).
Is there a difference between where you meet friends now and where you met them in the past?
Yes, quite a big one. When I was at school, we used to in parks or at each other's homes, because we didn't have much money. Now we usually meet in cafés or restaurants, since everyone is earning a bit.
Do you prefer to spend time with one friend or with a group of friends?
I prefer one-to-one, because people tend to more when it's just the two of you. In a group, the conversation usually stays on the surface, since nobody wants to share anything too personal.
How important are friends to you?
Extremely important, because my family lives in another city and my friends are the people I see every day. A good friend is when things go wrong, which matters a lot when you live far from home.
Do you have a friend you have known for a long time?
Yes, my best friend and I have known each other since we were six, so it's a friendship, and we've always . Although a lot of school friends or after graduation, we've made an effort to stay close.
Drag the words
Drag each phrase into the right gap. On a phone, tap a phrase and then tap the gap. Tap a filled gap to empty it.
Why are some places better than others for meeting friends?
It mostly depends on how noisy a place is. If you want to properly, you need somewhere quiet where you can hear each other, whereas a noisy bar is better for a party.
Do you ever invite friends to your home?
Yes, I often do, because it's more than going out and I enjoy cooking for people. Since my flat is quite small, I can only invite four or five friends at once.
Do you often go out with your friends?
Probably once or twice a week. Since we've been friends since secondary school, we're quite a group, and we try to meet up whenever we have a free weekend.
Choose the right phrase
Which phrase completes each sentence?
- When I was at school, we used to ______ in parks or at each other's homes, because we didn't have much money.
- If you want to ______ properly, you need somewhere quiet where you can hear each other, whereas a noisy bar is better for a party.
- I prefer one-to-one, because people tend to ______ more when it's just the two of you.
- Yes, I often do, because it's more ______ than going out and I enjoy cooking for people.
- A good friend is ______ when things go wrong, which matters a lot when you live far from home.
- Since we've been friends since secondary school, we're quite a ______ group, and we try to meet up whenever we have a free weekend.
Crossword
Write the phrases without spaces or hyphens. The numbers in brackets show the length of each word, e.g. kill time (4,4) → KILLTIME.
| 1 | 2 | |||||||||
| 3 | ||||||||||
| 4 | ||||||||||
| 5 | 6 | |||||||||
| 7 | ||||||||||
| 8 | ||||||||||
| 9 | ||||||||||
Across
- 1 stop communicating with someone (4,5)
- 5 spend time relaxing with friends (4,3)
- 9 close and supportive (of a group) (5-4)
Down
- 2 talk honestly about your feelings (4,2)
- 3 gradually become less close (5,5)
- 4 talk to someone you haven't seen for a while about recent news (5,2)
- 6 have a friendly relationship (3,2,4)
- 7 lasting all your life (8)
- 8 relaxed and not too exciting (3-3)
Step 4
Now you answer
Pick a question, then answer it out loud in two or three sentences. Try to use at least two phrases from this lesson, and give a reason or an example. Record yourself and listen back: did you sound natural? Did you extend your answer?
Press Record, answer out loud, then listen back.
Questions: frequently reported IELTS Speaking Part 1 topics. Model answers and exercises written for Tips4IELTS.