eng8-V4· Vocabulary· ~13 min

Manners & Rules

Words for polite behaviour, etiquette and rules.

Manners and rules help us live together peacefully. Words like 'polite' and 'considerate' describe how we treat others. 'Etiquette' refers to the formal rules of behaviour in different situations and cultures. Learning these words will help you talk about how to behave well in English.

Key terms

polite — Showing good manners and respect for others in social situations.
etiquette — The set of formal rules for correct and polite behaviour in a society or group.
queue — A line of people waiting for their turn, for example at a shop or bus stop.
forbidden — Not allowed; strictly against the rules.
apologise — To say sorry to someone for something you did wrong.
considerate — Thinking carefully about other people's feelings and needs before acting.
Word Groups for Manners & Rules
CategoryWords
Behaviour Adjectivespolite, rude, respectful, considerate, thoughtful
Rules & Permissionetiquette, manners, custom, queue, permission, forbidden, allowed
Action Verbsapologise, behave, respect, greet, interrupt

This table groups the vocabulary into three helpful categories.

✎Using Manners Words in a Conversation
  1. 1Situation: You accidentally bump into someone in a crowded place.
  2. 2Polite Response: Say 'I'm sorry' to apologise. This is polite and shows good manners.
  3. 3Rude Response: If you say nothing and walk away, people may think you are rude and disrespectful.
🚫Common mistake

Don't confuse 'respectful' (showing respect to others) with 'respected' (receiving respect from others). 'He is respectful' means he shows respect; 'He is respected' means others respect him.

💡Note

In British culture, queuing is very important. People stand in a queue and wait for their turn. Jumping the queue — going ahead of others — is considered very rude.

⚠️Caution

'Forbidden' is stronger than 'not allowed'. If something is forbidden, it is strictly against the rules, often with serious consequences.

Rules

  1. 1Adjectives like 'polite', 'rude', 'considerate', 'thoughtful', and 'respectful' describe how people behave towards others.
  2. 2Use 'apologise to someone for something' — for example: 'He apologised to his teacher for being late.'
  3. 3'Etiquette' refers to the formal rules of polite behaviour in a society, profession or group.
  4. 4In British English, people 'stand in a queue' or 'join a queue'. In American English 'stand in line' is more common.
  5. 5'Forbidden' and 'allowed' are often used with 'is/are' + 'to': 'It is forbidden to smoke here.' / 'You are allowed to enter.'
  6. 6The verb 'respect' takes a direct object: you 'respect someone' or 'respect the rules'.

Practice

10 easy · 10 medium · 10 hard

10 random questions per test

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