For No Reason / Without Warning

For no reason is an expression used when a situation / emotion / action / reaction seemingly has no cause. It answers the question "Why?" when the "why" isn't known.

#1) We were having a conversation and he started crying for no reason.

#2) She and I were watching TV together and she got angry with me for no reason.

#3) The team leader left his position for no reason and he never gave an explanation.


Without Warning is used for a sudden event that gives no signs before occurring.

#4) The car stopped running without warning and it wouldn't start again.

#5) The police officer struck me without warning and threw me in the police car.

#6) The stock market collapse came without warning.

Spell It Out

When you're making a reservation over the phone, you will have to give your name. Your name might be difficult for English speakers to understand, in which case you should spell it to them. You can do this by giving the letter plus "as in" or "like" and a common English word. The example dialogue uses a common Korean name, but the whole alphabet is listed below.

Dialouge

Receptionist:Can I have your full name please?

Caller: Yes, my name is Jin Cheol Shin. Do you need me to spell it for you?

Receptionist: Yes, please.

Caller: First is J like james, next is I like ice cream, N like Norway, then space, then C like Cat, H like...

Jin Cheol Shin

J like James

I like Ice cream

N like Norway

C like Cat

H like Hat

E like Echo

O like Orange

L like Lion

S like Summer

H like Hat

I like Ice Cream

N like Norway

Alphabet
A - Apple
B - Banana
C - Cat
D - Dog
E - Echo
F - Flower
G - Good
H - Hat
I - Ice Cream
J - James
K - Kite
L - Lion
M - Money
N - Norway
O - Orange
P - People
R - Radio
S - Summer
T - Tiger
U - Umbrella
V - Violin
W - Water
Y - Yellow
Z - Zebra

Note: These are examples. Any clear and common English word is fine.
"Q" and "X" are omitted because they are rare and easily understood over the phone.

Vocabulary Focus: Spontaneous and Unpredictable

Spontaneous is used for a sudden and unplanned action, or for people who habitually do things without planning them beforehand.

Example: #1) The man suddenly lifted the computer monitor from his desk and threw it to the ground. It must have been a build up of emotion because it was so spontaneous. #2) The explosion seemed spontaneous. They don't know what triggered it. #3) He fell in love with his girlfriend because she was spontaneous. When they met, he didn't know what they would do together. It made her an exciting and attractive person.


Unpredictable is used for a person or force whose actions cannot be guessed beforehand.

Example: #1) Lately, the weather has been unpredictable, so I always carry an umbrella. #2) The stock market is so complicated that the results are unpredictable. #3) He broke up with his girlfriend because she was unpredictable. She would often get angry or sad for no clear reason, and it gave him a lot of stress.

Empathy

When sharing emotions or feeling an emotion towards someone, we can use these common expressions. Using the correct prepositions is especially important here. Look at the examples below:


to feel happy for someone - #1) He's going to a great university and I feel happy for him. #2) She's finally found true love and I feel happy for her.

to feel sorry for someone - #1) She was rejected by the university and I feel sorry for her. #2) His girlfriend betrayed him and I feel sorry for him.

to worry about someone - #1) My daughter is looking pale and thin. She doesn't eat and there are cuts on her arms. I'm really worried about her. #2) I'm worried about my husband because he never talks to me anymore.

to care about someone - #1) I care about my brother, but I don't know how to help him. #2) My ex-boyfriend is a liar and I don't care about him anymore.

to understand how someone feels - #1) His girlfriend is in another city for the summer and he's quite sad. I went through the same thing with my husband, so I understand how he feels. #2) She's desperate because she can't find a good job. It took me a long time to find my job too, so I understand how she feels.

to relate to something - #1) He's having difficult with his marriage. I went through a divorce myself and I can relate to his situation. #2) His father is a drug-addicted, sexually abusive monster. I can relate to his trauma because my ex-husband was the same way.

to feel the same way - #1) My coworker told me he was bored at his job and I told him that I feel the same way. #2) He looked into my eyes and told me that he loves me. When I looked at him, I realized that I felt the same way.