The Nature of Human Relationships
Human beings form a variety of relationships, ranging from strong family ties to friendships and romantic partnerships. One of the most essential aspects of these connections is the emotional bond people create, which can provide both security and happiness. Friendships, for instance, often involve sharing experiences, giving each other a nickname, and supporting one another through a simple hug or encouraging words. In everyday life, young people often refer to a close friend as a mate, which highlights the informal and friendly nature of their bond.
Romantic life, however, is often more complex. When two people start dating, they often spend time together at social activities such as going to the cinema or having dinner, and each date helps to shape their developing relationship. Over time, their relationship may evolve, but it can also face challenges. Some couples, unfortunately, break up when differences become too strong. Others may struggle if one partner decides to cheat, meaning they become involved in an affair with another person. On the other hand, a healthy relationship requires partners to stand by one another, showing loyalty even in difficult circumstances, and to truly get on with each other in daily life.
In today’s society, family life is also increasingly diverse. A lot of people now grow up in mixed families, where different nationalities, cultures, and religions meet in one household. These families may face unique challenges, but they also create opportunities for greater understanding and respect between different backgrounds.
Key Vocabulary:
affair — [əˈfeər] — a romantic relationship, often secret or outside marriage (e.g., “a love affair”); dēka
bond — [bɒnd] — a close connection or strong feeling of friendship, love, or shared experience between people; saikne
break up — [breɪk ʌp] — when a couple ends their romantic relationship; izbeigt attiecības, izšķirties
cheat — [tʃiːt] — to be dishonest to a partner by secretly having another romantic or sexual relationship; krāpties
date — [deɪt] — a meeting between two people who are interested in each other romantically; randiņš; tikties (ilgākā laika posmā)
get on with someone (also: get along) — to have a good and friendly relationship with someone; labi satikt, sadzīvot ar kādu
hug — [hʌɡ] — the act of putting your arms around someone to show love, friendship, or comfort; apskāviens, apskaut
mate — [meɪt] — (informal, mainly British English) a friend; draugs (neformāla valoda)
mixed — [mɪkst] — used to describe a group, marriage, or relationship that includes people of different nationalities, races, cultures, or religions; jaukts
nickname — [ˈnɪk.neɪm] — an informal, often shorter or fun name that people use instead of someone’s real name; iesauka
relationship — [rɪˈleɪ.ʃən.ʃɪp] — the way two people or groups are connected, for example as friends, partners, or family; attiecības
stand by someone — to support and remain loyal to a person in both good and bad times; iestāties par kādu, atbalstīt, palikt lojālam
bond — [bɒnd] — a close connection or strong feeling of friendship, love, or shared experience between people; saikne
break up — [breɪk ʌp] — when a couple ends their romantic relationship; izbeigt attiecības, izšķirties
cheat — [tʃiːt] — to be dishonest to a partner by secretly having another romantic or sexual relationship; krāpties
date — [deɪt] — a meeting between two people who are interested in each other romantically; randiņš; tikties (ilgākā laika posmā)
get on with someone (also: get along) — to have a good and friendly relationship with someone; labi satikt, sadzīvot ar kādu
hug — [hʌɡ] — the act of putting your arms around someone to show love, friendship, or comfort; apskāviens, apskaut
mate — [meɪt] — (informal, mainly British English) a friend; draugs (neformāla valoda)
mixed — [mɪkst] — used to describe a group, marriage, or relationship that includes people of different nationalities, races, cultures, or religions; jaukts
nickname — [ˈnɪk.neɪm] — an informal, often shorter or fun name that people use instead of someone’s real name; iesauka
relationship — [rɪˈleɪ.ʃən.ʃɪp] — the way two people or groups are connected, for example as friends, partners, or family; attiecības
stand by someone — to support and remain loyal to a person in both good and bad times; iestāties par kādu, atbalstīt, palikt lojālam
Practice: you now have a set of discussion questions to study, and for each question an answer prompt is provided to help you practise giving structured, well-argued responses.
Discussion-Type Questions
1. Why do you think emotional bonds are vital in human relationships?
In my view, emotional bonds are essential because they provide people with a sense of security and belonging. One strong reason is that such connections reduce loneliness and stress, which improves overall well-being. For instance, when people have supportive friends or family, they often cope better with difficulties. Although I accept that independence is important, I still believe that emotional closeness gives people motivation to overcome challenges. Without these bonds, life would feel far more unstable and isolating.
2. Do you agree that friendships are just as important as family relationships?
On the whole, I would argue that friendships can be just as important as family ties, because friends often understand our personal interests better. A clear illustration of this is that we might share hobbies or goals with friends that our family members do not support. At the same time, family relationships usually last a lifetime, which makes them difficult to replace. While it is true that friendships can sometimes feel more supportive, it is also important to note that families provide stability and long-term care. In conclusion, both play unique and complementary roles in a person’s life.
3. Some people say that loyalty is the most important factor in a relationship. Do you agree?
To some extent, I agree that loyalty plays a crucial role, because it builds long-term trust between partners. The main point is that loyalty creates a sense of stability and reliability in the relationship. For instance, partners who remain loyal to each other during hard times usually strengthen their bond. Nevertheless, I tend to feel that respect and understanding are equally necessary, since loyalty alone cannot guarantee happiness. On the contrary, a balanced relationship requires several qualities working together, such as honesty, patience, and communication.
4. What are the advantages and challenges of growing up in a mixed family?
On the positive side, growing up in a mixed family allows children to learn about different cultures and traditions. A clear illustration of this is that children may celebrate more than one set of traditions at home, which broadens their world view. This can be seen in the way many young people from mixed families develop strong intercultural communication skills. However, it can also lead to conflicts about values or customs, which may be challenging to solve. On the one hand, such families face difficulties, but on the other hand, they also create opportunities for greater understanding. Overall, mixed families bring both challenges and opportunities, and the benefits often outweigh the difficulties.
5. How can relationships help people deal with difficulties in life?
I firmly believe that relationships play a vital role in helping people overcome challenges. One strong reason is that supportive friends or family can provide advice, encouragement, and comfort in stressful situations. For example, many people rely on close relatives during illness or personal crisis. Another factor to consider is that emotional bonds give people the strength and confidence to keep going when life becomes hard. All things considered, relationships are an important source of resilience in difficult times.
Learn: to make your answers even stronger, here is useful vocabulary for argumentation that you can include in your speaking or writing.
Argumentation Phrases:
Introducing arguments:
One strong reason is (that) … — use this to introduce your first main argument. It shows that your point is clear and important
One strong reason is (that) … — use this to introduce your first main argument. It shows that your point is clear and important
The main point is (that) … — use this when you want to highlight your most important idea / key argument
Another factor to consider is … — use this when adding a new argument after the first one. It makes your answer more developed and organised
It is often claimed (that) … — use this to introduce a general opinion or belief that many people have (not necessarily your own)
Giving examples:
For instance, … — very similar to for example, but slightly more formal. Good for variety in essays
For instance, … — very similar to for example, but slightly more formal. Good for variety in essays
This can be seen in … — use this when pointing to evidence or a real-life situation. Makes your example sound more academic
A clear illustration of this is … — use this to introduce a very specific or strong example. It highlights that the example proves your point well
To illustrate my point, … — use this to connect your argument directly with your example. It signals that the example explains your idea
Balancing / Partial agreement:
To some extent, I agree (that) … — use when you partly agree with an idea, but not completely
To some extent, I agree (that) … — use when you partly agree with an idea, but not completely
While it is true (that) …, it is also important to note (that) … — use when you admit one side is correct but immediately add another important point
Although I accept (that) …, I still believe (that) … — use when you admit the other side has some truth, but your opinion is stronger
On the one hand …, on the other hand … — used to introduce a point of view, fact, or situation, followed by another that typically contrasts with it
It cannot be denied that …; however, … — use when you accept a fact but still want to argue against it
Showing contrast / Counterarguments:
However, … — use to introduce an opposite idea or limitation
However, … — use to introduce an opposite idea or limitation
Nevertheless, … — similar to "however", but slightly more formal; shows that the opposite idea doesn’t completely cancel your point
On the contrary, … — use when you want to say the opposite is true
In contrast, … — use to compare two different situations
Yet, … — use to introduce a surprising opposite idea
At the same time, … — use when you accept one idea but add another that is also true