Listening transcript · Episode 172

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B1–B2Everyday EnglishAbout 15 min + dynamic ads5 PDF versions available
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A short study session

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Episode transcript

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Welcome back to Your English Toolbox.

I am Peter, and this is your weekly English recap.

Today we will practise thirty-two pairs of sentences from this week.

You will hear language about truth, feelings, songs, journeys, visits and deliveries.

First, listen to a sentence with a useful expression.

Then you will have four seconds to repeat it aloud.

After those four seconds, I will say the same idea using different words.

Listen for the meaning, not just the individual words.

You can repeat the second sentence during the pause that follows.

On your next listen, try shadowing my voice a little more closely.

There is no need to rush or sound exactly like me.

Keep the meaning, breathe comfortably, and let the rhythm develop.

Let us begin with the language that stays in your mind.

That song has been stuck in my head since breakfast this morning.

I have kept hearing that song in my mind since breakfast this morning.

The advert has a catchy tune that I remembered after hearing it once.

The advert has a tune that is easy to remember after just one listen.

Her name suddenly popped into my head while I was making dinner.

I suddenly thought of her name while I was making dinner.

I need to come clean about the message I forgot to send.

I need to admit that I forgot to send the message.

We took his explanation at face value without asking any more questions.

We accepted his explanation as true without asking any more questions.

Please get your facts straight before you accuse anyone of losing the parcel.

Please check that your information is correct before you blame anyone for losing the parcel.

The seller tried to pull the wool over our eyes about the broken engine.

The seller tried to deceive us about the broken engine.

Now we will practise feelings and the details of everyday journeys.

I was annoyed because someone kept tapping their pen during the meeting.

I felt irritated because someone kept tapping their pen during the meeting.

She felt frustrated because the website would not let her finish her application.

She felt upset because the website kept preventing her from completing her application.

He was furious when he discovered that someone had deliberately damaged his bike.

He was extremely angry when he discovered that someone had deliberately damaged his bike.

We are meeting at the station instead of outside the cinema this evening.

We are meeting at the station this evening, not outside the cinema.

I am running late, so please start the meeting without me.

I am behind schedule, so please start the meeting without me.

The train will depart from platform six, according to the latest announcement.

The latest announcement says that the train will leave from platform six.

Next come visits, kindness, and the different meanings of miss.

I might drop in to see my neighbour after work tomorrow.

I might make a short visit to my neighbour after work tomorrow.

We felt sorry for the runner who fell just before the finish.

We felt sympathy for the runner who fell just before the finish.

She decided to give away the winter coats she no longer needed.

She decided to let other people have her unwanted winter coats for free.

We left the house too late and missed the last bus home.

We left the house too late to catch the last bus home.

I miss having breakfast with my sister now that she lives abroad.

I feel sad that I no longer have breakfast with my sister because she lives abroad.

You noticed the small mistake, but I think you missed the point.

You noticed the small mistake, but I think you failed to understand the main idea.

Listen carefully to who keeps something, who collects it, and when.

The driver left the parcel with my neighbour because I was out.

The driver gave my neighbour the parcel to look after because I was out.

Could you pick up my coat from the cleaners on your way home?

Could you collect my coat from the cleaners on your way home?

Please bring the key back before six, when the office closes.

Please return the key earlier than six, because that is when the office closes.

Now some familiar expressions return in new situations.

Try to remember their meaning before you hear my second sentence.

She finally came clean about breaking the cup in the kitchen.

She finally admitted that she had broken the cup in the kitchen.

Let us get our facts straight before we share this story online.

Let us check our information before we share this story online.

I am frustrated because I have tried three times and still cannot log in.

I am upset because three attempts have still not allowed me to log in.

I walked home instead of waiting another hour for the next bus.

I chose to walk home rather than wait another hour for the next bus.

We dropped in on our friends while we were in their neighbourhood.

We made a short visit to our friends while we were in their neighbourhood.

They gave away the extra tickets because they did not want to sell them.

They let people have the extra tickets for free because they did not want to sell them.

I miss my old neighbours, even though I like my new flat.

I wish my old neighbours were still nearby, even though I like my new flat.

You can leave your keys with the receptionist while you go swimming.

The receptionist can look after your keys while you go swimming.

An idea popped into my head just as I was turning off the light.

An idea suddenly came to me just as I was turning off the light.

We need to pick up the parcel before the shop closes at seven.

We need to collect the parcel earlier than seven, when the shop closes.

You have now practised all thirty-two pairs.

Think about one small situation from your own week.

Were you running late, did you miss someone, or did an idea pop into your head?

Choose one expression and make it part of a true sentence about yourself.

You can pause the episode here if you would like more time.

Remember that frustrated describes blocked progress, while furious describes very strong anger.

And before six means earlier than six, not exactly at six.

Small differences can change the whole message.

The complete pairs, translations, vocabulary and practice are on yourenglishtoolbox.com.

Return to a few pairs tomorrow and see what you can remember.

Thank you for practising with me.

This is Peter, and I will see you next time.

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