IELTS Speaking Lesson about Relationships
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Relationships in IELTS Speaking is a wide topic and can cover family, friends, colleagues and lovers.
In this lesson, we look at some essential vocabulary to talk about relationships and dating.
We will also look at how to talk about the difference between dating nowadays and in the past.
Table of Contents
IELTS Speaking vocabulary: Relationships
Here is some useful vocabulary to help you talk fluently on the topic of relationships.
- To relate to someone = to identify with or empathise with someone
- A relationship = a connection between 2 people / things
There are different kinds of relationships:
When it comes to verbs, notice the difference between ‘to have a relationship’ and ‘to be in a relationship’. The latter is romantic, the former is not.
- To be in a relationship = to have a boyfriend / or girlfriend
I’ve been in a relationship for several months.
I am not in a relationship , I’m single
- I have a good relationship =get on well with my friend / my boss / my colleagues
- To be related to someone = to have a family connection (e.g. brother, sister, father, cousin….)
- A relative (n.) = a family connection
- A relation (n.) = a family connection
IELTS Speaking vocabulary: Dating
When it comes to romantic relationships, all of these usually begin with a date, whether it is going to the cinema, going for a coffee together or something like that.
To date someone = to go out with someone (romantically)
To go on a date = to have one romantic meeting
A one-night stand = to just be with someone for one night
A short fling = a brief romantic relationship
A long-term relationship
To be / fall in love
Online dating
The following 4 phrases all mean ‘to get on well with someone’
- To click with someone
- To get on like a house on fire
- To be on the same wavelength
- To hit it off
When a couple stop seeing each other romantically, we can use one of the following verbs:
- To break up
- To split up
- To separate
- To go your separate ways
Mary and I have broken up
We have gone our separate ways
IELTS Speaking question:
How are relationships between young people today different from in the past?
In the past, people used to meet potential partners in a pub or even a disco. Nowadays, online dating is much more prevalent.
Whatever the generation, I think people still predominantly look for a partner at work or on campus.
Youngsters may use a dating app or even a dating agency these days.
Relationships are much faster these days. I mean people focus on short-term relationships rather than the long term.
For may young people, it’s all just about short flings, rather than looking for the ideal long-term relationship.
Find out why modern dating can be so challenging here:
https://hackspirit.com/reasons-modern-dating-makes-it-so-hard-to-find-someone/
Listening task
Watch and listen to this grandad talking about modern relationships.
Are these statements True or False, according to the passage?
- He thinks dating is harder these days.
- In the past, you would meet a girl or boy in a museum.
- In the past, you would take someone on a date to a cafe.
- In the past, people used to ghost a lot.
- He is jealous of young people today.
Click arrow to open/close answers Answers to the Listening task:
Tapescript
Click arrow to open/close transcript You see, when I was younger, dating was so much easier than nowadays. It was straightforward whether you wanted a one-night stand or a short fling or even a long-term relationship. You would just start by going down the disco meeting somebody or even going down the pub with some mates and usually your friends would introduce you to someone, a boy or a girl, and then you’d start going out. You’d start dating. Straightforward and sometimes you would just get on like a house on fire, or things would click, and if you clicked with someone, then great! You’d start going out, maybe you took them to the cinema, or for a coffee. Mind you, we didn’t have many coffee bars in those days. Maybe you’d invite them home for a cup of tea, but here’s the thing right, you would only ever invite a girlfriend home to meet the parents, if you were serious, I mean really serious about going the next step. About popping the question and getting engaged, ultimately to get married. But nowadays things things are different. Things are no longer the same, are they? People are either ghosting and if they’re not ghosting they’re orbiting and then suddenly, they’re submarining, and if people are not benching, then they’re getting into a situationship. Things have changed a lot, haven’t they? Now with online dating apps your swiping left, swiping right and who knows, I do not envy young people today trying to go on a date. It just seems super complicated. Anyway, to all of you young people, good luck!
The speaker uses quite a few modern words about relationships that have become popular in recent years, with the rise of social media. Such words as,
- Ghosting
- Submarining
- Orbiting
- Benching
- Situationships
Find out the meaning of these Modern relationship words here:
https://www.themanual.com/culture/modern-relationship-terms-explained/
Writing love messages
If want to write some love messages or text messages to your loved one, here are some good ones you can start with!
Reference: these are taken from the website Southern Living.
- I love you more than I did yesterday, but less than I will tomorrow ❤
- If Van Gogh had you as a subject, the sunflowers would have gone in the trash 🌻🌻🌻
- “If you wish to be loved, love.” – Seneca
- 🍊 you glad we found each other? You’re a great 🎣
Notice the ‘orange emoji + you’ here is connected speech and so pronounced almost the same as ‘aren’t you’.
This emoji 🎣 means ‘a catch’.
Find out lots more love messages for every occasion here:
https://www.southernliving.com/culture/romantic-love-messages-for-him-and-her
Idioms to talk about relationships
To fall head over heels in love = To fall madly/deeply in love
She fell head over heels in love with Carlos!
To walk in someone’s shoes = to try and understand someone
To have a good relationship, you really need to walk in your partner’s shoes
To be love at first sight = To fall instantly in love
When I met Anny, it was love at first sight!
To be a match made in heaven = to be a perfect match!
Mary and John get on so well together, they are a match made in heaven
To tie the knot = to get married
After 3 years of dating, Mary and John have decided to tie the knot!
To have ups and downs = to have good times and bad times
They are still happily married after 10 years, despite having some ups and downs
More Free Lessons
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FRIENDS in IELTS Speaking Listening practice about friends and essential vocabulary to talk about your friends.
