English Recordings

We expected to be late.

We expected Dan to be late.

Would you like to go now?

Would you like me to go now?

He doesn't want to know.

He doesn't want anybody to know.

Do you want me to come with you?

Can you help me to move this table?

Can you help me move this table?

Can you remind me to call Sam tomorrow?

Who taught you to drive?

I didn't move the piano by myself. I got somebody to help me.

Joe said the switch was dangerous and warned me not to touch it.

I was warned not to touch the switch.

Jane suggested that I ask your advice.

I wouldn't advise staying in that hotel.

I wouldn't advise anybody to stay in that hotel.

They don't allow parking in front of the building.

They don't allow people to park in front of the building.

Parking isn't allowed in front of the building.

You aren't allowed to park in front of the building.

I made him promise that he wouldn't tell anybody what happened.

Hot weather makes me feel tired.

Hot weather causes me to feel tired.

Her parents wouldn't let her go out alone.

Her parents wouldn't allow her to go out.

Let me carry your bag for you.

We were made to wait for two hours.

They made us wait for two hours.

It was late, so we decided to take a taxi home.
Simon was in a difficult situation, so I agreed to help him.
How old were you when you learnt to drive?
How old were you when you learnt how to drive?
I waved to Karen, but failed to attract her attention.
We decided not to go out because of the weather.
I promised not to be late.
I enjoy reading.
Andy suggested meeting for coffee.
Are you thinking of buying a car?
I wouldn't dare to tell him.
I wouldn't dare tell him.
I daren't tell him what happened.
They seem to have plenty of money.
I like Dan, but I think he tends to talk too much.
Ann pretended not to see me when she passed me in the street.
I pretended to be reading the paper.
I pretended that I was reading
You seem to have lost weight.
It seems that you have lost weight.
Joe seems to be enjoying his new job.
It seems that he is enjoying it.
We asked how to get to the station.
Have you decided where to go for your holidays?
I don't know whether to apply for the job or not.
Do you understand what to do?
Can somebody show me how to use this camera?
Ask jack. He'll tell you what to do.

I enjoy reading.
Would you mind closing the door?
Chris suggested going to the cinema.
Suddenly everybody stopped talking. There was silence.
I'll do the shopping when I've finished cleaning the flat.
He tried to avoid answering my question.
I don't fancy going out this evening.
Have you ever considered going to live in another country?
They said they were innocent. They denied doing anything wrong.
When I'm on holiday, I enjoy not having to get up early.
I've given up reading newspapers. I think it's a waste of time.
Catherine doesn't want to retire. She wants to go on working.
Catherine doesn't want to retire. She wants to carry on working.
You keep on interrupting when I'm talking!
I can't imagine George riding a motorbike.
You can't stop me doing what I want.
Did you really say that? I don't remember you saying that.
Sorry to keep you waiting so long.
I don't mind being kept waiting.
I don't mind people keeping me waiting.
They admitted having stolen the money.
They admitted stealing the money.
I now regret saying what I said.
I now regret having said what I said.
They denied that they had stolen the money.
They denied stealing the money.
Chris suggested that we went to the cinema.
Chris suggested going to the cinema.

So far in this series of articles I have given information and advice on language learning that is of specific interest to parents of ESL children. The task of learning to function in a foreign language situation is not one restricted to ESL families, however. Everyone at Frankfurt International School - adults and children, teachers and parents - is confronted with the challenge of learning and using a foreign language, whether at school, at work or in their day-to-day life in the German community. Some fortunate people seem to master the difficulties of language learning with great success and little effort, while for others the task is neither an enjoyable nor a successful one. Why should this be the case? What is it that makes learning a new language so easy for some and so difficult for others? In the next few articles I would like to explore answers to these questions, starting this time with a discussion of language learning styles.

B. Read and Practice.

a few: not many; a small number of things or people
There are a few Iranian cheetahs.

human: a person
All humans must take care of nature.

instead: in place of someone or something else
There’s no coffee. Would you like a cup of tea instead?

future: the time after now
Everyone needs to plan for the future.

I'm not far from your house, so I'll be there before you know it.

Before you know it, you'll be graduating, so start thinking about your future now.

Don't beat yourself up over it.

He said he had a stomach ache.

She picked a fight with him.