Check it out!

Hi guys, you may have read my previous post about phrasal verbs using check:

http://phils-english.blogspot.com/2008/12/check.html

But, I've recently realized I left out a few of the meanings for CHECK OUT:

1- to look at something

Bob: Hey Tom! Check out that Lamborghini!

Tom: Man that's a nice car...

2- to try something

Bob: Yeah, I'd love to check out how fast how it drives.

Tom: speaking of checking something out. Why don't we check out that new cafe?

3- to finish a stay at a hotel and leave

Bob: Good idea, let's check out of the hotel first and drop off our bags at the station.

Tom: Sure, that sounds fine.

4- the cashier at a shop/convenience store/supermarket

talking at the cafe...

Bob: Don't you hate it when the check out line is so long?

Tom: Yeah, I don't know why Japanese supermarkets don't have express check out lanes... ...but why are you bringing that up now???

Bob: I was at the supermarket today and had to wait like 30 minutes to buy just 2 things!!!

Tom: Man, that sucks...|

5- to borrow a book from the library

later at at the library

Bob: I'd like to check out this book.

Librarian: Certainly, please return it in two weeks to avoid paying late fees.

Bob: No problem.

OK that's all for this month I think. Have a great weekend!

Phil

good TO you vs. good FOR you

Hi guys, do you know the difference between these two expressions? Well, after reading today's lesson you will! ^_^

good to someone

This means that someone is nice to you.

Your new husband's really good to you.

My company has been really good to me over the years.

good for someone

This means that it is something that will help you, it will make you better.

Carrots are good for you, they're good for your eyes.

I know exercise is good for you but I just don't have enough time.

My new girlfriend's really good for me, she has me learning and trying new things.

Have a nice Sunday!

Phil

I can't stand him!!!

Do you understand the title? Here's a quick lesson to explain it.

can't stand (something/someone)

This means HATE. It means you dislike something so much that you can't stand there, you just want to leave the room.

I can't stand my new boss he's a total jerk!

I can't stand it when people lie.

You know she can't stand pickles, so make sure you order her burger without them.

You might also hear a small variation which is a bit stronger.

can't stand the sight of X

This means you HATE SEEING something. So it is often used for emphasis to make a statement stronger.

He couldn't be a doctor because he can't stand the sight of blood.

After we got divorced, I couldn't stand the sight of her.

Any questions? Have a nice sunny Thursday!

Phil

I tripped vs I took a trip

The other day one of my students mixed up these two expressions. Do you know the difference between them?

From an earlier lesson:

to trip = this is when you are walking and you catch your foot on something which makes you fall or almost fall down. The key thing when using this word is that you hit your foot on something...

You can see the rest of it here.

So if you use trip as a VERB you are talking about FALLING DOWN. But if you use it as a NOUN you are talking about GOING SOMEWHERE.

A: I took a trip to Seoul last month.

B: Oh really? How was it?

A: It was great! I ate great food, saw some cool sites and did some shopping.

---------------------

Jim: Ouch! What the...? Who left this in the middle of the hallway?

Jim's son: Sorry Dad, are you ok?

Jim: I almost tripped! Be careful!

Have a nice weekend!

Phil

Sorry, I lost track of time...

Hey everyone here's a quick lesson! Do you know what this expression means?

to lose track of time

This is when you are doing something and get really caught up in it, you are so focused on what you are doing that time flies by(seems to pass quickly)! It can be used in formal or informal situations.

A: Where were you??? I've been waiting for 30 minutes!

B: Sorry, I was reading a great book and I lost track of time.

A: Next time, email me to let me know you're gonna be late.

B: Ok, let me make it up to you-dinner's my treat.

A: Alright, I forgive. What book were you reading?

So remember to treat someone is to pay for them (in Japanese, 奢ります　おごります) and to make it up to someone means that when you do something bad you need to do something good to balance things out.

More posts soon!

Phil

Ya wanna go?

Do you understand the above question? For the first mini-lesson of the month I will explain the meaning so if you don't understand the question now you will in about 5 minutes!

In North American casual English between friends, people often drop words. Also, you will often become ya.

you ----> ya

What do you do? is formal

Whaddo you do? is standard

Whaddayado? is casual

So, what does "Ya wanna go?" mean?

A: Ya wanna go to the party?

B: Yeah! Sounds like fun.

Basically, DO has been dropped and you became ya. Of course, want to became WANNA. That means that in casual English Do you...? questions will often become YA...?

John: Ya like baseball?

Adam: Nah, I'm from Australia I prefer cricket.

--------------

Ed: Ya know anyone who's good with cars?

Bill: Huh? Um, maybe Joe is. Why?

Ed: My cars making a weird noise... ya think Joe'll come take a look at it?

Bill: Sure, no problem. He's a really nice guy.

Ya get it? (Do you get it - Do you understand)

Pretty simple, no? Now you are one step closer to understanding American TV shows and movies perfectly!

Have a good week,

Phil