Correct the sentence:
You can listen me?
Can you hear me?
HEAR = passive, it happens without effort. LISTEN = active, you choose to focus. Can you hear me? = the natural question on a call. I love listening to podcasts. / I can hear music coming from next door.
Correct the sentence:
I thought how I can getting better?
I thought: how can I get better?
Direct questions keep their question word order: how CAN I get better? (not: how I can). I thought: what should I do next? / She asked herself: how can I improve?
Correct the sentence:
When I was younger, I don’t have enough money to go there.
When I was younger, I didn’t have enough money to go there.
DIDN’T + base verb for past negatives. When I was a student
Correct the sentence:
…and you get results, what has happened about you.
When talking about the health test device.
…and it shows you what’s happening inside your body / it analyses your blood and gives you a health report.
SHOWS YOU WHAT’S HAPPENING = natural way to describe what a test or result reveals. The scan shows what’s happening in the lungs. / The report shows what’s happening with the company’s finances.
Correct the sentence:
…and then you can decide if you go to the doctor.
…and then you can decide if it’s worth going to a doctor.
WORTH + -ing = it’s a good idea to do it, it has value. Is it worth going? / It’s worth checking. / It’s not worth worrying about.
Correct the sentence:
You put yourself, don’t sleep in the position you have.
You can’t just sit still and expect things to improve.
SIT STILL = stay in the same position without making changes. You can’t just sit still and hope it gets better. / Sometimes you have to act, you can’t just sit still.
What’s the word?
You go to an appointment and the doctor takes a small amount of blood from your arm using a needle. What do they take?
| Used in labs and medical tests
A blood sample
The doctor took a blood sample to check my iron levels. / We need a sample to run the tests.
What’s the word?
You want to say you usually do something, as a habit, without saying the word “usually”. What phrase do you use?
I tend to + verb
I tend to go to bed quite late. / She tends to avoid conflict. Pattern: I tend to + base verb.
What’s the word?
You want to strongly suggest something to a friend, more than just saying you like it. What phrase do you use?
| Three words. Stronger than ““I suggest””
I highly recommend + noun / -ing
I highly recommend visiting the old town. / I highly recommend this restaurant, the food is excellent.
What’s the word?
Something is going to take a long time and cost a lot of effort. You’re trying to decide if the time and energy is justified. What question do you ask yourself?
| Three key words: worth + doing
Is it worth it? / Is it worth doing?
It’s expensive but it’s worth it. / I don’t think it’s worth it at this price. Pattern: worth + it / worth + -ing.
