In this episode: Grammar: The Imperative, American colloquial English, listener idioms and your feedback and questions

Listener Feedback:

Maite: Hi boys! I’m a new listener of your podcast and I’d like to give you thanks for this (correction: THESE) fantastic conversations, learn (correction: LEARNING) English language is very important for me and you make it easier and funnier than other methods.
I’m from Asturias then I have a question, have you tasted Asturian desserts? If not, I will think about a solution. Bye and greetings for your podcasts.

natillas = custard

Hello teachers I am Franz from Bolivia.
I am so glad to hear you, I WOULD only like saying (correction: TO SAY) that you are the best teachers I have had, am I right?

Analia: Excelente!!!! Gracias!!!

Alberto: Dear Craig and Reza,

I am writing to you just because I have realized that in Podcast 28 and 29 there is no option to download them.

I have to spend a lot of time driving in my car and is very useful for me to be able to download the podcasts, record them into a CD and listen to them in the stereo of my car.

You are really fantastic and the trip I have to do everyday seems to be shorter listening to you so I would like to know if there is any other way to download your last two podcasts, 28 and 29.
Thanks in advance, I hope you can help me.

We will be changing the website soon so that you can download the podcasts MP3 files directly from your computer. http://www.inglespodcast.com/
You can use these apps for your mobile phones, tablets etc:

iTunes  (search for La Mansion del Ingles)
Stitcher (search for La Mansion del Ingles)

Fran: Congratulations!!…very good work. Un curso realmente bueno, perfecto en ritmo y contenido, habéis logrado conseguir el “tempo” perfecto para que se entienda y a la vez resulte exigente porque si no…claro no se aprende. Gracias!.

Elvia: Gracias, los ejemplos son del todo ilustrativos!!!

Alejandro: Good podcast

Alejandro: what can I say, I´m sure with this podcast (CORRECTION: I feel confident with these podcasts / They are reliable). Thanks of to connect whit people to know more. (CORRECTION: Thanks for connecting with people)
I will change my vocabulary and pronunciation later to going on. (CORRECTION: I will improve gradually/bit by bit)
Thanks.

Alicia: It’s great to listen (CORRECTION: TO) you and I’m learning a lot. Thanks.

Alex: I like this, and enjoy more English language every day.

Alicia: Hi, This post has been very interesting, your jokes are funny, but it’s dificult for me to understand how sound differents ankle and uncle. (CORRECTION: IT’S DIFFICULT FOR ME TO UNDERSTAND HOW ‘ANKLE’ AND ‘UNCLE’ SOUND DIFFERENT)
I know the writing but…I listen (CORRECTION: HEAR) the same, why?. Could you teach me it again?
Thanks and I’ m looking forward to hearing from you soon.

‘Ankle’ has the same vowel sound as ‘hat’ and ‘cat’ and ‘sat’

‘Uncle’ has the same vowel sound as ‘up’, ‘bus’ and ‘cut’

Listen again to Episode 22 

The difference is almost always clear in the context:

‘My uncle is coming for dinner.’ (tío)

‘My ankle hurts’ (tobillo)

Marian: Hi! Very happy for listening (CORRECTION: TO LISTEN) to you again. Thank you for this feed-back. I really feel you very close to me when you pronounce my name as if I were a known person for you.
By the way, leopards have “manchas” and zebras “rayas”.
Keep in touch.

Thank you again for your interesting comments. It´s cool to listen to people from Mexico. I have been in Elche once and I could visited (CORRECTION: WAS ABLE TO VISIT) the museum with the original  “Dama de Elche” that had been moved from Madrid Museum. It was exhibited in a glass urn with tight security. I liked “El huerto del cura” and I was fascinated by the palm trees.
Cheerio, Marian

Paco Viudes: Hola os quería felicitar por vuestro blog y vuestros podcasts, son muy útiles para mis viajes entre Murcia y Sevilla (donde trabajo).

Solamente una idea, en el blog deberíais de incorporar un widget de suscripción al blog por email y RSS para que, como es mi caso, pueda recibir vuestros post en mi email sin necesidad de acudir a vuestro blog.

Es muy fácil en la plantilla que tenéis lo tiene que tener por defecto. Me he suscrito a vuestros podcast en itunes.

Enhorabuena, a ver si con vosotros en 5 horas de viaje en coche aprovecho el tiempo.
Un saludo.

Esperanza Rey: Hi Reza and Craig,
I’ve been having a very good time listening to your podcast; it was my first time and I found it fun and profitable.
Now that I know you I’ll listen your fabulous podcast always I can (CORRECTION: WHENEVER I CAN).
Thanks

Carlos: Very good! It’s great this page! Thanks for your help!
I hope improve (CORRECTION: TO IMPROVE) my English every day with this website!
Greetings! from Carlos Carasco

Listen to Episode 14 and Episode 15 for more help with gerunds and infinitives.

“Last year, I hoped to learn more Spanish.” – It hasn’t happened.

With verbs like “hope”, “plan”, “intend”, “wish”, “want”, “expect” etc. use the infinitive. You are speaking about an action happening AFTER.

Last year I INTENDED TO STUDY more, but I didn’t. (A past intention that didn’t happen – use the infinitive)

Remember to close the door when you leave. (future)

Did you remember to turn off the gas? (asking about an action that happened before)
Hola, hace mucho que no practico el inglés y me cuesta mucho. He descubierto vuestra pagina, y he empezado desde el capitulo primero. Me parece genial lo que haceis. Os escuchamos mi marido y yo y nos encanta.
Seguid asi,
Thank you, Pilar

 

Grammar: The imperative 

“Go!”

“Eat!”, “Drink!”

“Eat, drink and be merry, for tomorrow we may die.”

“Don’t eat that!”

The imperative is the base form of the verb (the infinitive without ‘to’: “eat”, “drink”, “Stop”, “go” etc.)

“Don’t walk on the grass” (the negative)

“Don’t be silly”

“Do not do that!”

“Do not leave your clothes on the floor!”

Vocabulary: American colloquial English

Mobile (or mobile phone) (UK) – Cell (or cell phone) – (US)

“Where you at?” (Where are you? – ¿Dónde estas?)

the check (la cuenta) (US) / the bill (la cuenta) UK

Your check will be $42 (Your check is $42) But in UK we say “That’ll be …. or It’ll be…..”

“Would you like a bag today, sir?” – No, but I’ll have one tomorrow!

“True that!” (That’s true – tienes razón, eso es verdad) True dat!

Idioms:

Rafael: Hi! everyday I find a new podcast which is to me a reason of joy (CORRECTION: A REASON TO BE HAPPY), I have heard all of them a few times.
You must to be both, two very good teachers of English, you make it easy and fun.
I like specially those idioms or proverbs and I realise that each one of them has an equivalent in Spanish.

For instance ” You can’t have your cake and eat it too”
“Teta y sopa no caben en la boca” or “No se puede estar en misa y repicando” (you can’t be in mass and ringing the bells)

And this other one… “Never in a month of Sundays” ” Cuando las ranas crien pelo” (when frogs grow some hair)
Thank you for everything
KEEP LISTENING! (Imperative)
Send us an email, or a sound file (mensaje de voz en mp3) with a comment or question to craig@inglespodcast.com or belfastreza@gmail.com.
The music in this podcast is by Pitx. The track is called See You Later – licensed by creative commons under a by-nc license at ccmixter.org.