Episode 6
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Hi, everyone! I'm Georgiana, founder of SpeakEnglishPodcast.com. My mission is to help YOU speak English fluently.
In this episode:
SpeakEnglishPodcast.com/podcast >
I'll be discussing some of the most common phrasal verbs.
After, I will tell you a mini-story, using the Question & Answer technique. This mini-story will help you develop your speaking skills. We'll practice phrasal verbs here.
Ok, let's get started!
Most English students tend to get over-concerned about how to learn phrasal verbs. A phrasal verb is just a verb and a particle. For example, "get in."
There are thousands of phrasal verbs. Sometimes they may be confusing and counterintuitive.
Also, each phrasal verb can have multiple meanings.
Ok, this scenario doesn't seem very encouraging, and the million-dollar question is: How can I learn all those phrasal verbs?
Here's the good news: You just need to learn the most common ones. In other words, what people use most of the time.
Ok, so let's see some of the most common phrasal verbs, and later on, we'll practice them with a mini-story.
Turn on
It has two different primary meanings, and you have to be careful about how you use it, especially the second one.
Let's see the first meaning, the most obvious one. To "turn on," something means just to "start" something. For example:
Please, can you turn on the TV? I want to watch the news.
Please, turn on the computer. I need to check something.
You can also use "switch on" for the same purpose:
Please, can you switch on the TV? I want to watch the news.
Please, switch on the computer. I need to check something.
The second meaning of "turn on" is to arouse sexually. It's informal, and it's commonly used.
That girl turns me on.
Tall men turn me on.
Whatever turns you on, I'm not interested.
Turn off
When you want to "stop" something, you turn it off. You can also use "switch off." For example:
Please, turn off the TV; we are talking about something important.
Turn up
To intensify or increase volume, etc. For example:
Turn the volume up, please; I'd like to listen to the news.
Turn down
The contrary to "turn up" is "turn down. It means to reduce the volume, the brightness of something.
Please turn the music down. It's too loud.
Please turn the volume down", we are talking.
It also has an interesting meaning: it means to refuse an offer.
I don't want that job, so I am going to turn it down.
Please carefully consider the offer before turning it down.
Another phrasal verb is:
Turn out
This last one means to happen in a particular way or to have a specific result, usually an unexpected one. It's like discovering something. Let's see some examples:
It turns out that Jim doesn't want to buy a car.
It turns out that she's a vegetarian.
The job offer turned out to be a scam.
Things often don't turn out as one would like.
Speaking Practice
Mini-Story: Speaking Practice
Answer each question out loud, then listen to the answer and respond quickly. Don’t worry about mistakes.
Speaking practice
Let’s Start!
Alex wants to watch TV, so he turns it on.
Does Alex want to watch TV?
Yes, he wants to watch TV.
Does Alex turn the radio on?
No. Alex doesn't turn the radio on. He turns the TV on.
Does Alex turn up the TV volume?
No, no. He doesn't turn up the TV volume; he turns the TV on.
Does Alex switch the TV on?
Yes. He switches the TV on. He wants to watch TV.
Why is Alex turning on the TV?
Why is that?
Because he wants to watch TV, Alex turns the TV on because he wants to watch it.
When the news starts, Alex turns the volume up. He wants to listen better.
Does Alex turn the volume down?
No, no. Alex doesn't turn the volume down. He turns it up. He wants to listen better.
Why does Alex want to turn the volume up?
Because he wants to listen better, the volume is low, so he wants to turn the volume up to listen better.
Who wants to listen better?
Alex, he wants to listen better.
Does Alex switch the TV off because it's distracting?
No, no. Alex doesn't switch TV off. He wants to listen better.
What does Alex do with the TV volume?
He turns it up. He turns the volume up.
On the news, the presenter says IBM turned down an offer made by Microsoft.
Does the presenter say IBM turned down an offer?
Yes, he does. The presenter says IBM turned down an offer made by Microsoft.
Did IBM turn down an offer made by Microsoft?
Yes, IBM turned down an offer made by Microsoft.
Did Microsoft turn down an offer made by IBM?
No. Microsoft didn't turn down an offer made by IBM. It was IBM, not Microsoft.
It turns out that the news is boring, so Alex goes to sleep.
Does it turn out that the news is boring?
Yes, it turns out that the news is boring.
Is the news entertaining?
No. No. It turns out that the news is boring.
Where does Alex go?
To sleep. Alex goes to sleep.
Why does he go to sleep?
Because the news is boring, it turns out that the news is boring, so he decides to go to sleep.
Thanks for listening, and I’ll see you in the next episode.
Review
Vocabulary from This Episode
Review the most useful words and expressions before listening again.
01 turn on
start a device, machine, or service.
05 turn out
develop or be discovered in a particular way.
02 turn off
stop a device, machine, or service.
06 switch on
another way to say turn on.
03 turn up
increase volume, heat, or intensity.
07 counterintuitive
opposite to what you would naturally expect.
04 turn down
reduce something or refuse an offer.
08 scam
a dishonest plan intended to take money.
Im start to love this lesson. Hope i can speak english fluently one find day.
My lessons will help you to speak English fluently. Get more information here: http://method.SpeakEnglishPod.com
I wanna be a fluent English speaker.
To be honest i always was afraid of frasal verbs but now after listening your episodes about these verbs I have no any worry and I’m sure I can learn more common or it.thanks
Thanks so much teacher for your hard work thank a lot
You’re welcome dear Amboise!
Thanks alot mam…you are really working hard for us.My wish you get everything as you want.
I have studied spoken English by your podcast. I’ve never experienced English study fun before listening this podcast! Very thank you teacher ♥ . I will be fluent in English and help other people who cannot spaek English well.
Hi dear student! Keep up the good work! You’ll see how my lessons will help you to speak English fluently!
Hello Georgiana, I’m Paulo from Brasil.
Since I started to listen to your courses, I’d great improved in my English, but I continue to listen a lot almost every day.
Thanks so much for your help!
That’s wonderful Paulo!! Thanks for writing!
Hi Georgiana,
I would like to listen to the others audios..
Hi, dear Heidi.
Here you can find all the podcast episodes: https://speakenglishpodcast.com/podcast/
Hello teacher
My mane Is Hermes from colombia thanks for you help me to learn english Im greatifull with you . I lke very much her class
Thank
Hello teacher
My mane Is Hermes from colombia thanks for you help me to learn english Im greatifull with you . I lke very much her class
Hi Miss, Mi nombre es Pedro, soy estudiante de sus podcasts, tengo una duda con respecto a la palabra counterintuitive, no logro averiguar cual es el significado correcto, si me puede ayudar por favor, saludos.
Counterintuitive means contraproducente o contradictorio depending on the context. I hope I could help