Happy English Podcast

Do you mind if I sit here? Would you mind closing the window? I don’t mind. Never mind. Keep that in mind. It slipped my mind. Mind is one of those small words that appears in a lot of everyday expressions, and the meaning changes depending on the situation. Sometimes it means that something bothers you. Sometimes it refers to your thoughts or memory. And sometimes we use it to make a polite request. Have you been confused by the different ways we use mind? If so, you’re in luck—because today, we’re going to look at how you can use mind naturally in everyday English.The Happy English PodcastHelping people speak English better since 2014Over 1,000 episodes • 8 million downloads

I saw Lisa at the station. We watched a movie last night. Look at this photo. Look, I understand what you’re saying. See, watch, and look are all connected to using our eyes, so it’s easy to mix them up. But there are some important differences. Sometimes something simply comes into view. Sometimes we choose to pay attention to something for a period of time. And sometimes we use look without talking about our eyes at all.Have you been confused by see, watch, and look? If so, you’re in luck—because today, we’re going to check out the different ways you can use see, watch, and look naturally, in everyday English.The Happy English PodcastHelping people speak English better since 2014Over 1,000 episodes • 8 million downloads

"Do you like living in New York?" "It depends." "Should I buy a new laptop?" "Well...it depends." "Is English difficult?" "That depends.""It depends" is one of those little English expressions that we use all the time in everyday English. But did you know that the phrase, "It depends" has a number of different meanings and uses? Most of the time, "it depends" means,  "there isn't one simple answer." In other words, the answer changes depending on the situation.Today, we're going to look at how you can really use "it depends" in everyday conversation.The Happy English PodcastHelping people speak English better since 2014Over 1,000 episodes • 8 million downloads

Can you bring me a coffee? I'm only taking one suitcase. What should I bring? Don't forget to take your umbrella. Bring your laptop. Take this to the office.Bring and take seem like simple words, but they're easy to mix up. You've probably learned that bring means "move something toward the speaker" and take means "move something away from the speaker." That's a helpful place to start, but in real conversations we usually aren't thinking about grammar rules. Instead, we picture the situation. So today, we're going to look at how you can naturally use bring and take in everyday English.The Happy English PodcastHelping people speak English better since 2014Over 1,000 episodes • 8 million downloads

I heard a strange noise. Listen to this song. Can you hear me? Are you listening to me?Hear and listen. These words are both connected to sound and ears, so it's easy to mix them up. But there’s an important difference. Hearing usually happens naturally. A sound reaches your ears, even when you’re not trying. Listening is active. You choose to pay attention to the sound. Have you been confused by hear and listen? If so, you're in luck - because today, we’re going to look at the different ways you can use hear and listen in everyday English.The Happy English PodcastHelping people speak English better since 2014Over 1,000 episodes • 8 million downloads

Come back. Call back. Pay back. Give back. Get back. Write back.What do all of these expressions have in common? Well, of course, they all use the word back. But here's the interesting thing. In many of these phrasal verbs, back gives us the idea of returning - returning to a place, returning a phone call, returning money, returning something to someone, or returning a message. And these aren't unusual expressions that you'll only find in a textbook. They're expressions that we all use every day. So today, we're going to look at five  phrasal verbs with back that you'll actually use.The Happy English PodcastHelping people speak English better since 2014Over 1,000 episodes • 8 million downloads

Go ahead. Go ahead and start without me. You go ahead. I'll catch up. Go right ahead. Go ahead, I'm listening.Go ahead. Two simple words that you'll hear all the time in everyday American English. Sometimes we use it to give someone permission. Sometimes it means start or continue. Sometimes we use it to tell someone to go before us. And depending on your tone of voice, "Go ahead" can even sound like a challenge. So today, we're going to look at what "go ahead" really means and how you can use it in everyday conversation.The Happy English PodcastHelping people speak English better since 2014Over 1,000 episodes • 8 million downloads

Come on, let's go. Oh, come on! Come on, you can do it. Come on in. Come on over.Come on. Two simple words, right? But depending on the situation and your tone of voice, those two little words can mean hurry up, I don't believe you, you can do it, enter, visit me, or even... that's ridiculous. It's one of those expressions you'll hear all the time in movies, TV shows, and everyday American conversation. So today, we’re going to look at the different ways you can use “come on” in everyday English.The Happy English PodcastHelping people speak English better since 2014Over 1,000 episodes • 8 million downloads

I missed the bus. I lost my keys. I forgot my wallet. I left my phone at the office.These four words seem similar because they all describe situations where something goes wrong. But they don't mean the same thing. Did you fail to catch something? Did you no longer have something? Did you forget something in your mind? Or did you leave it somewhere? Once you understand the difference, you'll avoid some very common English mistakes. So today, we're going to look at how native speakers really use miss, lose, forget, and leave.The Happy English PodcastHelping people speak English better since 2014Over 1,000 episodes • 8 million downloads

I guess so. I guess not. I guess you're right. Let me guess. Guess what?You probably learned that the verb guess means to answer a question when you don't know the answer. And that's true. But in everyday American English, guess has several other meanings. In fact, when native speakers say, "I guess," they're usually not making a guess at all. They're softening an opinion, showing they're not completely certain, or saying something in a more relaxed way. So today, we're going to look at how Americans really use guess.The Happy English PodcastHelping people speak English better since 2014Over 1,000 episodes • 8 million downloads

I'm good. We're good. You're good. It's all good. You probably learned that good is the opposite of bad. So you might think, "I'm good" is simply a conversational reply to "How are you. And it is. But in everyday American English, I'm good has several different meanings. We use I'm good to politely refuse something, to say we don't need help, to tell someone everything is okay, and even to end a conversation. It's probably one of the most common expressions you'll hear in the United States. So today, we're going to look at how you can really use I'm good.The Happy English PodcastHelping people speak English better since 2014Over 1,000 episodes • 8 million downloads

I'm kind of tired. That's kind of expensive. It was kind of weird. I kind of forgot.If you've ever listened to English speakers, you've probably heard the phrase kind of over and over again. But here's the interesting thing. Most of the time, when we say "kind of" we're not talking about a type of something. We're using kind of to make what we're saying softer, less direct, or less certain. It's one of those little expressions that can make your English sound much more natural. So today, let's look at how you can really use kind of.The Happy English PodcastHelping people speak English better since 2014Over 1,000 episodes • 8 million downloads

That works. Works for me. Does that work? That doesn’t work for my schedule.Did you notice, these expressions all use the verb work, but they’re not about having a job. In everyday American  English, we often use work to talk about whether a time, a plan, an idea, or a solution is acceptable, convenient, or possible. So if someone says, “Friday works for me,” they don’t mean Friday has a job. They mean Friday is good for their schedule. And that’s what we’re going to look at today.The Happy English PodcastHelping people speak English better since 2014Over 1,000 episodes • 8 million downloads

Man! It’s hot as hell. It’s like an oven out there. I’m melting. Crank up the A/C. Time to beat the heat.Hot weather. Everybody talks about it, right? But in English, especially in American English, we don’t only say, “It’s hot.” We have lots of natural expressions for hot days, humid days, uncomfortable days, and those summer days when you walk outside and immediately think, “Nope. I’m going back inside.” So today, we’re going to look at how Americans really talk about hot weather in everyday English.The Happy English PodcastHelping people speak English better since 2014Over 1,000 episodes • 8 million downloads

I'm all set. You're all set. Are we all set? We're all set.Have you ever heard someone say, "I'm all set," and wondered what they meant? You won't find this expression in many English textbooks, but if you spend any time in the United States, you'll hear it everywhere. At restaurants, coffee shops, doctor's offices, airports, hotels - just about anywhere. So what does "all set" actually mean? Well, it depends on the situation. Sometimes it means, "I don't need anything else." Sometimes it means, "Everything is ready." And sometimes it's just a polite way to end a conversation. So today, we're going to look at how native speakers really use "all set."The Happy English PodcastHelping people speak English better since 2014Over 1,000 episodes • 8 million downloads

How much did it cost? How much did you spend? Did you pay cash? What did you buy?Cost, spend, pay, and buy. These are four very common English words that are related to using money. and English learners often mix them up because they're all connected to money. But here's the thing. They don't focus on the same part of the situation. Sometimes we're talking about the thing we got. Sometimes we're talking about the money we used. Sometimes we're talking about the price. And sometimes we're talking about the person using the money. So today, we're going to look at how people really use cost, spend, pay, and buy in everyday English.The Happy English PodcastHelping people speak English better since 2014Over 1,000 episodes • 8 million downloads

I noticed a strange noise. I realized I forgot my keys. She noticed he was quiet. She realized he was upset.Notice and realize are two similar words in English, so they're are easy to mix up. And honestly, it's easy to understand why. Both words talk about becoming aware of something. But there's an important difference between them. When you notice something, you use your senses. When you realize something, you use your mind. Once you understand that difference, these two words become much easier to use naturally. And that is what we're going to look at today!The Happy English PodcastHelping people speak English better since 2014Over 1,000 episodes • 8 million downloads

Sure. Sure thing. Are you sure? I’m sure. Sure enough. Sure is one of those words that seems really simple, right? You probably learned that sure means certain. And that's true. But in everyday English, we use sure in a lot of different ways.  Sometimes it means certain. Sometimes sure means yes. Sometimes it means of course. And sometimes it's just a friendly way to agree with someone. So what's really going on with sure? That's what we're going to look at today.The Happy English PodcastHelping people speak English better since 2014Over 1,000 episodes • 8 million downloads

I’m fine. That’s fine. Fine with me. Fine.  Fine seems like such a simple word, right? You probably learned it very early in English class. “How are you?” “I’m fine, thank you. And you? I'm fine thank you.” Easy. But here’s the thing: Outside the classroom, in real English, fine can mean a lot of different things depending on the situation - and your tone of voice. Sometimes fine means okay. Sometimes it means acceptable. Sometimes it means, “I guess that’s okay.” And sometimes… when someone says, “Fine,” it definitely does not sound fine. So today, we’re going to look at how people really use fine in everyday English.The Happy English PodcastHelping people speak English better since 2014Over 1,000 episodes • 8 million downloads

You look tired. That sounds fun. He seems upset. Dinner looks amazing. Your voice sounds different.Seem, look, and sound. These words seem simple, right? But English learners often mix them up. Can you say, “You seem tired,” and, “You look tired”? What’s the difference? Why do we say, “That sounds fun,” when we can’t actually hear fun? And when should you use seem instead? Yeah… there’s actually more going on here than you might think. So today, we’re going to look at how people really use seem, look, and sound in everyday English.The Happy English PodcastHelping people speak English better since 2014Over 1,000 episodes • 8 million downloads