英语(English)，属于印欧语系中日耳曼语族下的西日耳曼语支，是由古代从丹麦等斯堪的纳维亚半岛以及德国、荷兰及周边移民至不列颠群岛的盎格鲁、撒克逊和朱特部落的日耳曼人所说的语言演变而来，并通过英国的殖民活动传播到了世界各地。由于在历史上曾和多种民族语言接触，它的词汇从一元变为多元，语法从“多屈折”变为“少屈折”，语音也发生了规律性
根据以英语作为母语的人数计算，英语是最多国家使用的官方语言，英语也是世界上最广泛的第二语言，也是欧盟，最多国际组织和英联邦国家的官方语言，拥有世界第三位的母语使用者人数，仅少于汉语和西班牙语母语使用者人数。
在19至20世纪的，英国和美国在文化、经济、军事、政治和科学在世界上的领先地位使得英语成为一种国际语言。如今，许多国际场合都使用英语做为沟通媒介。英语也是与电脑联系最密切的语言，大多数编程语言都与英语有联系，而且随着网络的使用，使英文的使用更普及。英语是联合国的工作语言之一。 一些人认为低地苏格兰语是与英语最接近的一个独立语言，而一些人则认为它是英语的一个方言。与古英语最接近的是古弗里西语，这种语言现在仍然德国北部和荷兰的弗里斯兰省使用。苏格兰语、低地撒克逊语、丹麦语、德语、荷兰语、南非荷兰语和英语也很接近。拥有丹麦血统的法国的诺曼人于11世纪征服英格兰王国，带来数万法语词汇和拉丁语词汇，很大程度地丰富了英语词汇外，相对也驱使不少原生的日耳曼语汇作废。
英语小故事
《告诉他们不要把帽子给我》
Tell Them Not to Bring My Hat Here
Mr Smith is a shopkeeper and has a few shops in the town .He managed them well and got much money until ha was hurt in a traffic accident .After he came out of hospital ,people find he often forgets something and he isn’t as able as before .
One day he was told that it would be an important officials birthday the next day .He told his secretary to buy some expensive presents .And later on he forget the date and that afternoon ,when he was having lunch ,his secretary told him about it .He became angry and told the woman to call his driver at once .He made the man drive as fast as possible .Bad luck !An accident happened and they had to stop to wait .When they got to the restaurant where the birthday was held ,it was two .And the party had been on for half an hour .He hurried to get off .Suddenly he stopped to tell his driver ,“Oh ,dear !I have left my hat at home .It isn’t polite to go to the party without a hat .Go and ring them up .Tell them to bring it here at once !”
“But you’re wearing your hat ,Mr Smith ,”said the driver .
The man touched his head and found his driver was right .So he said ,“Well ,then .Go and tell them on the telephone not to bring my hat here .”
《我们是我们班最温和的》
We’re the Most Modest in Our Class
Peter lives next to Herry and they study in the same class .They go to school and come home together .They like playing football and spend much time on it .When they’re in the classroom ,they hardly listen to what their teacher’s say .Of course they only concern themselves about the football matches .Of course they fall behind their classmates .
The summer holiday began last week .Peter’s grandma called the boy and said it was cool in her village and told him to go there .He hadn’t seen her for years and missed her very much .He asked Herry to go there with him .The boy had never lived in the country and agreed .After a four-hour bus they got to a small village between a river and a few mountains .The old woman was very happy when she saw them .She brought out some fruit and nuts before she cooked the chick and fish .After a good dinner Peter showed his friend around the village .And they had a good swim in the cool river .
After supper the old woman began to ase Peter about his life in the school .Of course he said he was the best in the class .It made the best in the class .It made his grandma happy .She sai ,“Be modest ,Peter !”
“You’re right ,granny ,”said the boy .“Herry and I are the most modest in our class !”