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Thread: Other ways of saying "having a general command of English"?

  1. 27-Jan-2013, 07:29 #1
    thincat
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    Default Other ways of saying "having a general command of English"?

    Hi,

    When someone asks how good my English is and I would like to tell him/her that I only have a general command of the language, but do not want to use this phrase as I think it is a bit too formal in conversational context, what should I say?

    I only have "general English"? I only have "average English"? Or are there any more idiomatic ways of saying?

    Thank you!
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  2. 27-Jan-2013, 10:06 #2
    thincat
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    Default Re: Other ways of saying "having a general command of English"?

    (By the way, I do not know if it is correct to say "general English" or "average English" in describing language ability)
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  3. 27-Jan-2013, 10:22 #3
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    emsr2d2
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    Default Re: Other ways of saying "having a general command of English"?

    Quote Originally Posted by thincat View Post
    Hi,

    When someone asks how good my English is and I would like to tell him/her that I only have a general command of the language, but do not want to use this phrase as I think it is a bit too formal in conversational context, what should I say?

    I only have "general English"? I only have "average English"? Or are there any more idiomatic ways of saying?

    Thank you!
    "General English" and "average English" are unnatural. I'd say:

    - I've got a pretty good command of English.
    - My English is quite good.
    - I'm about intermediate level in English.
    anhnha, Rover_KE, thincat and 1 others like this.
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