Chunks 3

In previous lessons, we have learned a few essential chunks. Chunks play a significant role in any language, be it Chinese, Urdu, Spanish, French etc. In this lesson, we are going to learn a few more essential chunks. But, before jumping onto them, let’s revise the definition of chunks in English.

Definition: Chunks are a group of words, which are found together as fixed expressions. They can be words that are always used together as fixed collocations. Such as:

• I’d rather die.
• By the way.
• Like it or not. 
• You see. 

Chunks are also known as, language chunks, lexical chunks, lexical bundles, lexical phrases, and collocations. We can use chunks in speaking and writing.

Important Chunks

There are many essential chunks in English, out of which we have learned a few in chunks 1 and chunks 2.  In this lesson we will cover 12 more important chunks. 

Quite frankly/ Frankly speaking / To be honest/ Honestly Speaking 

These three to four chunks are considered meaningful chunks because we usually use them daily. All of them mean the same. We use these chunks when we want to give someone our opinion.  These chunks mean: the truth is that, as far as I am concerned or in fact, to tell you the truth. Let’s look at some examples:

Example: 

Sentences: 

• Quite frankly, I didn’t understand anything in today’s lecture. 
• To be honest, I didn’t like your new dress. 
• Frankly speaking, I don’t care if he talks to me or not. 
• Honestly speaking, I don’t want to go to his birthday party. He’s so boring.

Conversation: 

• Alice: Did you like my new mobile?

Den: honestly speaking, I didn’t like it because you could buy a mobile phone with a better camera quality than this one. 

There you go. 

"There you go" is a significant chunk. It is also used in speaking. It means "I told you so" or "this was the case". It is a way of pointing to the similarity of something which you or someone else said before with what is said just now.

Example: 

Sentences: 

• He will be here in a minute. (After a while he arrives). There you go! (He is here)
• There you go! I knew you would forget your bag on the bus. 

Conversation: 

• Tom: Do you understand what Economic engineering is all about?

Bella: No, I tried to make notes for it, but I couldn't.

• Tom: Last weekend, I tried to make notes too but couldn't find any book for reference. 

Bella: There you go! 

For God sake / For Heaven’s sake 

"For God's sake" or "for Heaven's sake" is also a spoken chunk that we use when we are annoyed. It is an expression of frustration, annoyance, or anger to emphasize what you are saying or to a question. 

Example: 

Sentences: 

• For God sake, will you stop taking my random pictures?
• For heaven's sake, Aleeza, stay quiet for a while.
• For God sake, don't mention his name in front of me. 
• For Heaven sake, take your stuff out of the room. It's all messed up because of your clothes and books.

Conversation: 

• Tom: Do you mind if I borrow your shoes for tonight?

Bella: For God sake, Bella, not this time. You have asked me for shoes a lot of times. 

Count me in 

"Count me in" is a chunk which means "Consider me too" or "include me too". It merely points to include someone in some activity.  

Example: 

Sentences: 

• I want to go to the concert with you and your friends-count me in!
• I will participate in the final year project exhibition with your team-count me in!

Conversation: 

• Alice: who is going to Islamabad as a volunteer for the orphanage program?

Bill: Count me in. 

That makes two of us. 

“That makes two of us” is a chunk which we use when we say that “you have same thoughts or feeling as mine about something” or “someone has the same opinions as yours”.

Example: 

Conversation: 

• Alice: I am thirsty.

Bill: That makes two of us. 

• Alice: I don’t like watching movies. 

Bill: That makes two of us.

Me neither / Neither am I.

“Me neither” is used to say, “that I agree with the negative statement someone said.” Me neither and Neither am I are interchangeable. 

Example: 

Conversation: 

• Alice: I am not going to college today. 

Bill: Me neither. 

• Tom: I am not having dinner now, 

Archie: Neither I am. 

• Jack: She is not attending makeup classes. 

Sara: Me neither/ Neither I am.

Sleep on it. 

“Sleep on it” is an informal chunk that means “ to think deeply about something overnight and then decide about it”. This chunk is often used to say in response to some offer or before saying something about anything in a reaction. 

Example: 

Sentence: 

• You should sleep on it and let me know your decision tomorrow.
• She said she would sleep on it after hearing my offer.

Conversation: 

• Alice: I think the older man is offering you a good salary. 

Bill: yes, I will sleep on it.

Mark my words.

“Mark my words” is a chunk that you can say to someone when you are sure about something, and you are emphasizing that something that you just told them will happen.

Example: 

Sentence: 

• You are going to fail in life with this attitude—Mark my words.
• This man is a cheater—Mark my words.

Conversation: 

• Elsa: You will fail the examination if you don’t start studying now.

George: I will never fail. Mark my words.

You took the words right out of my mouth.

This chunk is as easy as pie. It simply means “you just said what I was thinking”. 

Example: 

Conversation: 

• Elsa: This city is so strange.

George: You took the words right out of my mouth.

Conclusion:

These are a few important chunks in English.  Chunks can help you sound like native speakers. More chunks are on the way in the next lesson.