Personal Relationships – Vocabulary and Communication
This comprehensive worksheet focuses on vocabulary and communication skills for discussing personal relationships at an intermediate level. You’ll practice essential terms, common expressions, and practical communication strategies through 10+ interactive exercises. The content covers family relationships, friendships, romantic relationships, and professional connections.
1. Relationship Vocabulary
Family Relationships
| Term | Definition | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Immediate family | Your closest relatives (parents, siblings, children) | “My immediate family consists of my parents and two sisters.” |
| Extended family | Relatives beyond your immediate family (aunts, uncles, cousins) | “We visit our extended family during the holidays.” |
| Sibling | A brother or sister | “I have three siblings: two brothers and a sister.” |
| In-laws | Relatives through marriage | “I get along well with my mother-in-law.” |
| Blended family | A family with children from previous relationships | “After my mom remarried, we became a blended family.” |
Friendships
| Term | Definition | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Close friend | A very good friend you share personal things with | “Maria is my close friend; we tell each other everything.” |
| Acquaintance | Someone you know but not very well | “He’s more of an acquaintance than a real friend.” |
| Childhood friend | A friend you’ve had since childhood | “My childhood friend and I still keep in touch.” |
| Mutual friend | A friend that you and another person both know | “We met through a mutual friend at a party.” |
| Fair-weather friend | Someone who is only a friend when things are going well | “I realized he was just a fair-weather friend when he disappeared during my difficult times.” |
Common Mistake Alert
Many learners confuse “sibling” with “relative.” Siblings are specifically brothers and sisters; relatives can include aunts, uncles, cousins, etc. Also, “in-laws” refers only to relatives through marriage, not blood relations.
Vocabulary Matching
Match each term with its correct definition:
1. Immediate family
2. Sibling
3. Extended family
4. Close friend
5. Acquaintance
Fill in the Blanks
Click each gap, then choose the correct relationship term:
1. My (mother’s sister) is coming to visit next week.
2. After my father married again, I gained two (children from his new wife’s previous marriage).
3. Sarah isn’t just a coworker; she’s my – we share all our secrets.
4. At the reunion, I met many cousins and other members of my family.
5. I don’t know him well; we’re just who say hello at the gym.
2. Relationship Communication
Common Expressions
| Expression | Meaning | When to Use |
|---|---|---|
| “We’re on the same wavelength.” | We think similarly or understand each other well | When you agree with someone or share similar perspectives |
| “We had a falling out.” | We had a disagreement that damaged our relationship | When explaining why you’re no longer close to someone |
| “We go way back.” | We’ve known each other for a long time | When introducing someone you’ve known for years |
| “We’re just acquaintances.” | We know each other but aren’t close friends | When clarifying the nature of a relationship |
| “We’ve grown apart.” | We were once close but aren’t anymore | When explaining why you’re not close to someone anymore |
Relationship Verbs
| Verb | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Get along with | Have a good relationship with someone | “I get along well with my coworkers.” |
| Look up to | Admire and respect someone | “I’ve always looked up to my older sister.” |
| Fall out with | Have an argument that damages a relationship | “She fell out with her best friend over a misunderstanding.” |
| Make up with | End an argument and become friendly again | “After their fight, it took them weeks to make up.” |
| Drift apart | Gradually become less close | “After college, many friends drift apart.” |
Communication Tip
When describing relationships, pay attention to the prepositions that follow verbs. For example, we “get along with someone,” “look up to someone,” and “fall out with someone.” Using the wrong preposition can change the meaning of your sentence.
Expression Matching
Match each expression with its correct meaning:
1. “We’re on the same wavelength.”
2. “We had a falling out.”
3. “We go way back.”
4. “We’ve grown apart.”
5. “We’re just acquaintances.”
Verb Completion
Click each gap, then choose the correct relationship verb:
1. Even though we’re sisters, we don’t always well. (have a good relationship)
2. After their big argument, it took months for them to . (become friendly again)
3. Many high school friends after going to different colleges. (become less close)
4. I really my grandfather; he’s my role model. (admire and respect)
5. She with her roommate over cleaning duties. (had an argument)
3. Describing Relationships
Adjectives for Relationships
| Adjective | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Close-knit | Very close and supportive of each other | “We’re a close-knit family who shares everything.” |
| Toxic | Unhealthy and harmful | “She ended the toxic friendship that was making her unhappy.” |
| Superficial | Not deep or meaningful | “Their relationship was superficial, based only on appearances.” |
| Strained | Difficult or tense | “After the argument, their relationship became strained.” |
| Mutual | Shared by both people | “Our respect for each other is mutual.” |
Phrases for Describing Relationships
- “We have a lot in common.” (We share interests/opinions)
- “We see eye to eye on most things.” (We usually agree)
- “We’re like two peas in a pod.” (We’re very similar)
- “We butt heads sometimes.” (We sometimes argue)
- “We complement each other well.” (Our differences balance each other)
Cultural Note
In English-speaking cultures, people often use idioms to describe relationships. While these expressions are common in casual conversation, they might be confusing for learners. It’s usually better to use literal language in formal writing unless you’re very confident with the idiom.
Adjective Selection
Click each gap, then choose the correct adjective:
1. After the financial dispute, their once-friendly relationship became quite .
2. The Smiths are a family who always support each other.
3. Their friendship was , based only on going to parties together.
4. She realized the relationship was when she noticed how unhappy it made her.
5. The admiration between the mentor and student was ; they both respected each other greatly.
Idiom Matching
Match each relationship idiom with its correct meaning:
1. “Like two peas in a pod”
2. “See eye to eye”
3. “Butt heads”
4. “Have a lot in common”
5. “Complement each other”
4. Relationship Scenarios
Read each scenario and answer the questions that follow.
Scenario 1: Family Conflict
Mark and his older brother have always had a competitive relationship. Recently, they had a serious argument about borrowing money. Mark feels his brother doesn’t respect him, and his brother thinks Mark is irresponsible. They haven’t spoken in three weeks.
Comprehension Questions (Scenario 1)
1. What is the nature of Mark’s relationship with his brother?
2. What caused their recent conflict?
3. How would you describe their current relationship status?
Scenario 2: Changing Friendship
Sarah and Emma have been best friends since elementary school. However, after Sarah got married and had children, while Emma focused on her career and travels, they found they had less in common. They still meet occasionally but don’t share their personal thoughts like they used to.
Comprehension Questions (Scenario 2)
1. How long have Sarah and Emma been friends?
2. What changed in their lives that affected their friendship?
3. What phrase best describes their current friendship?
5. Writing Practice
Email Writing
Write a short email (5-7 sentences) to a friend you haven’t seen in a long time. Include:
- A reference to how you know each other
- A reason you haven’t been in touch
- A suggestion to meet up
Sentence Rewriting
Rewrite each sentence using the word in brackets, keeping the same meaning:
1. My sister and I have a very good relationship. (get)
2. We stopped being close friends after high school. (apart)
3. I really admire my English teacher. (up)
4. Our families know each other through marriage. (laws)
5. We had an argument but then became friends again. (up)