Podcast Directory

Download the mp3 filelength: 3 min 38 secsfile size: 3.33 Mb

__________

In today's episode we'll be looking how "used to" is used with "-ing" form. There are basically two ways of doing that. Each of these ways carries a distinct meaning. We can form sentences with verb "be" + "used to" + "-ing" or with "get" or "become" + "used to" + "-ing". If you want to know more about "used to", you can also check out the episode called "routine in the past with used to".

Well, let's look at some examples with the first form - which is verb "be" + "used to" + "-ing".

1) I was used to getting up early in the morning, but nowadays I usually stay in bed until 10 o'clock.

2) George is used to working late, he won't mind if you ask him to finish the report today.

3) In a few days, everyone will be used to following the company's new policy on energy saving.

As you can see, verb "be" can be used in different tenses to form sentences with "used to". In these examples the meaning is basically related to "being accostumed" to doing something - which means it is pretty much like a routine, something easy to be done. Now, if the activity you are talking about is already part of the context in the conversation, you might as well omit the "-ing" form and the complement coming afterwards. For instance, in the third example, you might just say.. "In a few days, everyone will be used to it".

Now let's see some examples with the second structure, which is "get" + "used to" + "-ing".

1) John got used to getting up early after a couple of weeks in the army.

2) Julia gets used to taking on new responsibilities very easily, she's very adaptable.

3) Don't worry, I will get used to following the new health and safety recommendations.

In this case, again, verb "be" can be used in different tenses and the meaning here is related to the transition between "not being accostumed" and "being accostumed" - that is, "becoming accostumed". Of course, then, in these three examples we could also use "become" instead of "get". Like in the first form, we can also omit the "-ing" and the complement coming afterwards if the activity you are talking about is already part of the context in the conversation. In this case you would just say.. "I will get used to it soon".

Download the mp3 filelength: 3 min 10 secsfile size: 2.90 Mb

__________

In today's episode we'll be looking at the different spellings and different meanings of 'sometimes' (spelled altogether with an 's'), 'some times' (spelled separately with an 's'), 'sometime' (altogether without an 's') and 'some time' (separate without an 's').

Let's have a look at the following sentences.

1) John sometimes visits his parents on Sundays.

2) George told us he is going to come over sometime next month.

3) Laura needed some time to figure out what she was going to do.

4) Maria told me that her computer didn't work, but after I tried to restart it some times, her computer finally started up normally.

Download the mp3 filelength: 2 min 31 secsfile size: 2.31 Mb

__________

In today's episode we'll be looking at the difference between 'alone' and 'lonely'. The basic difference between 'alone' and 'lonely' is that when you 'feel lonely', you feel unhappy about it. The meaning of 'alone', on the other hand, basically refers to having no one else around you. It is also interesting to observe that even though their meanings are very closely related, they are used in distinct contexts. 'Lonely' is generally an adjective while 'alone' can be either an adjective or an adverb.

Let's have a look at the following sentences.

1) Susan is alone in her bedroom.

2) George is a very lonely old man.

Download the mp3 filelength: 3 min 58 secsfile size: 3.74 Mb

__________

Hello, in today's episode we'll be looking at how to talk about routine in the past in English. One of the easiest ways to do that is to use the verb 'used to'. We can describe how things were back when we were younger or how different we were. For instance, "When I was younger I used to get up very early to go to school". In this case I am referring to a routine I had in the past, most of the times this routine isn't true anymore or stopped happening a while ago.

'Used to' is generally used in two different situations. One is when we refer to a fact in the past and the other when we refer to a repeated activity in the past. Look at the following examples:

1) We used to live in Rio when I was a kid.

2) My father used to travel abroad every month for work.

As we can see, in the first example 'used to' is describing a fact while in the second example it is referring to a regular activity in the past - routine in the past.

There are basically three structures to remember. The affirmative, the negative and the interrogative forms. Let's look at the other forms then.

For the negative form we need to add the auxiliary 'did' + 'not' and the infinitive of the verb 'use', like in the following sentences:

3) I didn't use to go to the beach when I was younger.

4) She didn't use to wake up early on weekends.

In these examples we are expressing that the activities did not happen, those habitual actions did not exist. Now, to form questions with 'used to' we have to invert the positions of the auxiliary verb and the subject. Look at the following examples.

5) Did you use to play any instruments when you were younger?

6) What language did you use to speak with your parents?

So, keep in mind that you can express routine in the past with 'used to'. You can describe facts or habitual actions, your routine in the past. Now, think about a few things that were different when you are a child and try to write down a few sentences using these structures. Repeat the sentences to yourself and try to do some exercises in case you still find it difficult.

Here are some more examples. Pay special attention to the pronunciation of 'used to':

7) I used to have very few friends when I lived in England.

8) My brother used to go to a very expensive school.

9) Jack didn't use to like it when we made fun of him.

10) Mary, did you use to look after your younger brother?

Well, thanks for listening!!! I'm Marcos Gazzana and this is English Language Podcast.

Stay tuned for the episode on how to respond to greetings.

Well, thanks for listening!!!

Subscribe to this podcast by visiting englishlanguagepodcast.blogspot.com

and send your comments either by e-mail or post them on the blog.

__________

2 - You shouldn't wear an everyday outfit to the wedding, it's a special occasion!

In the first example, we're talking about our routine and the meaning of "every day" is "each day", so it should be written in separately. However, in the second example "everyday" is modifying "outfit" - it means "ordinary" in this case, so it should be spelled in one single word.

A simple way for checking if you're using the right expression is to look carefully at your sentence and read it out loud substituting "ordinary" in the place of "everyday" (or "every day"). If it sounds ok, you should use the adjective "everyday", but if it doesn't work, try using "each day" or "regularly", then, in this case, the best option should be "every day" spelled separately.

Some other examples of "every day" spelled in two words are:

I see my son every day after work.

Every day Susan takes her children to school.

I drive to work every day.

And some examples of "everyday" spelled in one word are:

My problems at work are affecting my everyday life.

I'm tired of wearing these old everyday clothes - I need to go shopping.

For me, this is just an everyday situation - it happens all the time.

Well, thanks for listening!!!

Subscribe to this podcast by visiting englishlanguagepodcast.blogspot.com

and send your comments either by e-mail or post them on the blog.

__________

Words like after and before are also frequently used to talk about time. Check out the following phrases:

after lunch - before dinner - after work - before I go to the gym - after my wife gets home

Peter goes to the supermarket after worktwice a week.

Just a quick recap... When we talk about routine we should use Present Simple combined with adverbs of frequency and time adverbials or both. Also, remember to link your sentences with connectors to make them sound more natural.

Now, to finish this episode I'm going to talk about my routine to set an example for you. The idea is that you can also try to practice doing this either with some other learners or with your group of students if you are a teacher.

"Well, during the week I usually get up early, get dressed and leave home. I'm an English teacher and in the morning I teach private classes in my office. I usually teach 3 or 4 classes in the morning. Then, at lunchtime, I normally go home to eat something. After that I take my 2-year old son to the crèche and go back to my office. As soon as I get back to the office I check my e-mails and prepare my next classes. In the afternoon I generally teach one class in my office, and after that I drive to Canoas where I teach English in-company four times a week. Basically every day, but Friday. I leave Canoas at 7:00 pm and drive back to Porto Alegre where I live to pick up my son at the crèche. We finally get back home at about 8:15. Then, in the evening, I usually have a shower and after that I talk to my wife while she makes dinner. We have dinner together and then either I watch TV with my family or I go to my home office where I use the Internet to read or to prepare materials or even to talk to my friends."

Well, thanks for listening!!!

Subscribe to this podcast by visiting englishlanguagepodcast.blogspot.com

and send your comments either by e-mail or post them on the blog.

__________