IELTS Relationships Vocabulary

Part 1-style questions

Examiner: Do you see your friends very often?
Louisa: Yes … we meet up most weekends … we all get on really well and have a lot in common so we’re always happy doing the same things and going to the same places.

Examiner: What do you like about your close friends?
Anna: I think we enjoy each other’s company … we see eye-to-eye on most things so we rarely fall out with each other.

Examiner: Have you known each other long?
Amy: Most of them yes … although my closest friend Carrie … we struck up a relationship at college and got on like a house on fire … but yes … my other friendships go back years to when we were at school.

Part 2-style task

Describe a person you are very close to. You should say:

• who this person is

• when you met them

• where you met them

and say what it is about them you like so much.

Reiko: I’d like to talk about my boyfriend … Jose … we got to know each other at University almost 4 years ago … we were in the same department … initially we were just good friends and used to go out in a group with our other friends … when Jose went back to Spain for the holidays we would keep in touch with each other … then one year he invited me to come to Spain with him … and that’s when we fell for each other I think … so you couldn’t really say it was love at first sight as it had been over a year since we’d met … but we really hit it off and by the time we got back to university in September we were able to tell all our friends that we were in a relationship … what do I like about Jose … well he’s very kind … very funny … and very supportive … and we’re really well matched in our interests … he hasn’t popped the question yet though … we’ve talked about getting married and I think we’re both ready to settle down and have children … we’ll just have to wait and see …

Part 3-style questions

Examiner: Do you think marriage is still as important as ever?
Cristine: Yes … it certainly is in my country … I think the problem for some people is a lack of commitment … all relationships have their ups and downs …. but some people prefer to break up rather than working at the relationship.

Examiner: What do you think is the ideal time to get married?
Terry: Personally … I think you should wait until you’ve found yourself first … decided if you want a career … perhaps do some travelling … you should do this before tying the knot … although if you fall head over heels in love plans like these can easily be forgotten.

Examiner: Is it important to keep in contact with our friends when we’re in a relationship?
Maria: Absolutely … it’s so easy to drift apart from your friends when you fall in love … but I think both partners should try not to lose touch with their friends … that’s the best way to have a healthy relationship with your partner.

Definitions

• to break up: to end a romantic relationship

• to drift apart: to become less close to someone

• to enjoy someone’s company: to like spending time with someone

• to fall for: to fall in love

• to fall head over heels in love: to start to love someone a lot

• to fall out with: to have a disagreement and stop being friends

• to get on like a house on fire: to like someone’s company very much indeed

• to get on well with: to understand someone and enjoy similar interests

• to get to know: to begin to know someone

• to go back years: to have known someone for a long time

• to have a lot in common: to share similar interests

• to have ups and downs: to have good and bad times

• a healthy relationship: a good, positive relationship

• to hit it off: to quickly become good friends with

• to be in a relationship: to be romantically involved with someone

• to be just good friends: to not be romantically involved

• to keep in touch with: to keep in contact with

• to lose touch with: to not see or hear from someone any longer

• love at first sight: to fall in love immediately you meet someone

• to pop the question: to ask someone to marry you

• to see eye to eye: to agree on a subject

• to settle down: to give up the single life and start a family

• to strike up a relationship: to begin a friendship

• to tie the knot: to get married

• to be well matched: to be similar to

• to work at a relationship: to try to maintain a positive relationship with someone