How to talk about Money in English
Can money make you happy?
If so, how much do you really need?
In this lesson, you’ll learn some useful words for talking about money.
Also, you’ll listen to someone talking about this topic. After watching the video, try the little quiz below to see how much you can remember.
Happy learning!
Level: Pre-Intermediate to Intermediate (A2-B1)
Video: YES!
CLICK HERE TO WATCH THE VIDEO – (Vocabulary list below)
Vocabulary
Here are some useful words related to the topic. They’ll help you understand the video too.
A note (banknote)
A “note” or “banknote” (or “bill” in US English) is paper money: “I paid for the food with a £20 note.”
A coin
A “coin” is a piece of metal money: “Do you have change for a £2 coin? I need a £1 coin for the machine.”
Cash
If you pay in “cash”, you use coins or bank notes (not a credit card, etc.) to pay for something: “I paid the supermarket bill in cash.”
To borrow
If you “borrow” money from someone, you accept the money from them and then pay it back later: “I borrowed £200 from her.”
To lend
If you “lend” someone money, you give it to them, and they return it later: “I lent her £50 so she could get a taxi home.”
To owe
If you “owe” money to someone or a bank, you must pay them that money because you borrowed it before: “I owe Jessica £70 because she lent it to me last week.”
A debt
If you have a “debt”, you owe money to a bank, a person, a company…: “I paid off all my debts last week.”
To waste money
If you “waste money”, you use it to buy things you don’t need: “I wasted my money on a really expensive car that doesn’t even work properly.”
Rewarding
If something is “rewarding”, it makes you feel happy because you’ve done something good for other people: “Working for a charity gives you a rewarding feeling.”
Selfish
Someone who is “selfish” only thinks about themselves and not other people: “He’s so selfish – he never does anything for anyone else!”
To end up
If you “end up” doing something, you do that thing eventually: “After studying to be a doctor, I ended up working in a bank.”
Financially unstable
If you’re “financially unstable”, you don’t have enough money to pay for things: “She’s financially unstable since she lost her job.”
Do you receive English classes in your company? Learn Hot English students get all of our fantastic materials within structured courses along with a dynamic, native English teacher. Why not ask us for a quote for online language classes today? Contact business@learnhotenglish.com or call 0034-914217886
Video quiz
You’re going to watch a video with someone talking about money. Watch it once and answer the questions. [answers below]
-
What does the speaker (Bill) say you should use your money to do?
-
What does he say that people don’t need? Name two things.
-
What does he say can happen if you use your money to buy stupid things?
Speaking
Now talk about this topic with a friend or classmate. Make notes and try to use as much of the new language as you can.
Video script
Can money make you happy?
Personally, for me, I think it depends how you use your money. A lot of people go out and waste their money on stupid things, like nobody needs 20 cars, or 20 gold chains, or anything like that… or ten beach houses. So…I think that, the best thing to do is to use your money to help other people because it gives you a really rewarding feeling, and if you use your money for stupid things you end up financially unstable and unhappy which never ends well. So, I think the best thing to do is to definitely use your money for good instead of being selfish with it.
Answers
Video quiz
-
What does the speaker (Bill) say you should use your money to do? He says you should use it to help other people.
-
What does he say that people don’t need? Name two things. He doesn’t think people need 20 cars or 10 beach houses.
-
What does he say can happen if you use your money to buy stupid things? He says you can end up financially unstable and unhappy.
