Prague Lesson 5

Welcome to LIVE CONVERSATIONS “PRAGUE: Lesson 5!” Any questions or comments? Please write us at: support@realenglishnow.com

Please watch the video below. Remember: Don’t write anything. Just watch and listen. By the end of the lesson you will understand everything!

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Mark: This next picture you can see, what are all these people gathering for? This is still from the clock tower.

Matt:　To look up at the clock.

Mark: Which does what?

Matt: I think—you know, strangely enough, as many times as I’ve been to Prague, I never stood there and watched that clock.

Mark: There’s a little kind of puppet show, I guess I would call it.. I don’t even think the figures themselves move, but they’re on a track, that kind of circular track….

Matt: Yeah.

Mark: So they all come out on display and maybe they bend over a little bit and it’s probably the height of special effects technology in the 1400’s.

Matt: Oh, absolutely!

Mark: Now, it’s not quite up to par with a 3D, you know, Jurassic Park part 5 movie.

Matt: Universal Studios Orlando.

Mark: You just have to pretend that you’ve just come out of the village making, you know, um, horseshoes with the iron, and you know, this is your big entertainment for the month.

Matt: Sure!

Mark: Feels like, “Wow! Look at that thing!”

Matt: Ah-huh!

Mark: So you’re kind of participating in the past, I think, by watching it, as opposed to the pure “wow” factor (= when something is presented in an unusual and amazing or spectacular way) of watching dolls.

Matt: Exactly.

Mark: But every hour, I guess it happens and you… look at that! That’s a very typical crowd.

Matt: Oh yeah!

Mark: It was five (degrees) below! These people are waiting…

Matt: Exactly! I was there at midnight a week ago, and I was just walking across the Old Town Square, and I forgot it was like two minutes to twelve. All of a sudden there’s throngs of people. And I was sitting on a bench, just people watching (= looking at people and noticing interesting points about them) and I was like, “Oh, that’s the clock going on,” But I couldn’t see it. The angle I was at, and I’m like, “By the time I sprint over there…”

Mark: Too late.

Matt: Yup, too late.

Mark: It’s fun. It’s quite the tourist draw – hover – attraction.

Matt: Oh, yeah.

Mark: There must be 50,000 videos on YouTube from every conceivable mathematical angle of people filming that clock.

Matt: Filming that clock. You know, I’m sure there are.

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Step 1

Listen to Audio #1 below.
Listening before reading is very important. Please, DO NOT read the text yet. If you don’t understand the audio, that’s okay. Listen now, at least two times.

step2

Click below (where it says, ‘Click to reveal #1’) and compare the sentences. See the highlighted phrases? They both have the same meaning. But the 1st one is what students of English say. (For example: “It might be unusual but….”) The 2nd one is what native speakers say, (“Strangely enough.”). Listen one more time, and then go to Step #3.

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strangely enough = it might be unusual but

It might be unusual but, although I like peanuts, I hate peanut butter.
Strangely enough, although I like peanuts, I hate peanut butter.

It might be unusual but, I’ve never seen STAR WARS.
Strangely enough, I’ve never seen STAR WARS.

I’ve lived in New York my whole life but, although it might be unusual, I’ve never been to the Statue of Liberty.
I’ve lived in New York my whole life but, strangely enough I’ve never been to the Statue of Liberty.

You know, it might be unusual but, as many times as I’ve been to Prague, I never stood there and watched that clock.

You know, strangely enough, as many times as I’ve been to Prague, I never stood there and watched that clock.

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step3

Make a study card. Write one of the example sentences on your card, and underline the new word. On the other side of the card, write the translation in your first language. Please make these flashcards now, as you go through the lesson. Then repeat Steps 1 – 3 for each word below.

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up to par with = as good as
Remember, the 2nd version (using “up to par”) is how a native speaker will probably say these sentences.

The Lexus LS is not quite as good as the Mercedes S class.
The Lexus LS is not quite up to par with the Mercedes S class.

Are these replacement parts as good as the original ones?
Are these replacement parts up to par with the original ones?

James Cameron’s latest film isn’t as good as some of his earlier ones.
James Cameron’s latest film isn’t up to par with some of his earlier ones.

It’s not quite as good as a 3D Jurassic Park movie.
It’s not quite up to par with a 3D Jurassic Park movie.

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as opposed to = instead of

I like to take one long vacation instead of many short vacations.
I like to take one long vacation as opposed to many short vacations.

I prefer to study English every day for a short time instead of once per week for many hours.
I prefer to study English every day for a short time as opposed to once per week for many hours.

I like to eat five small meals instead of three big ones.
I like to eat five small meals as opposed to three big ones.

So you’re kind of participating in the past instead of the pure “wow” factor of watching dolls.
So you’re kind of participating in the past as opposed to the pure “wow” factor of watching dolls.

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all of a sudden = suddenly

Suddenly her dad comes home and so I climbed out her bedroom window.
All of a sudden her dad comes home and so I climbed out her bedroom window.

Suddenly it started raining, so we ran inside.
All of a sudden it started raining, so we ran inside.

Suddenly the cops knock on the door.
All of a sudden the cops knock on the door.

Suddenly there’s throngs of people.
All of a sudden there’s throngs of people.

Moving to Prague requires a lot of things to do related to administration.
Moving to Prague requires a lot of red tape.

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by the time = when

When you’re old enough to drive, gas will cost ten dollars per gallon.
By the time you’re old enough to drive, gas will cost ten dollars per gallon.

When the cops get here, the burglars will be gone.
By the time the cops get here, the burglars will be gone.

When you get this message I’ll already be gone.
By the time you get this message I’ll already be gone.

When I sprint over there it will probably be too late.
By the time I sprint over there it will be too late.

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(It) really is a = (It’s) quite the

He really is an artist.
He’s quite the artist.

She really is a dancer.
She’s quite the dancer.

Your grandfather really is a gentleman.
Your grandfather is quite the gentleman.

It really is a tourist draw.
It’s quite the tourist draw.

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every conceivable = every possible

We tried every possible password but still couldn’t get in.
We tried every conceivable password but still couldn’t get in.

That kid has every possible toy he could ever want.
That kid has every conceivable toy he could ever want.

I’ve looked in every possible place but I can’t find my keys anywhere.
I’ve looked in every conceivable place but I can’t find my keys anywhere.

There must be 50,000 videos on YouTube from every possible mathematical angle.
There must be 50,000 videos on YouTube from every conceivable mathematical angle.

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Step 1.

First, read the “Easy” sentence. Then, try to think of the advanced expression that we learned which has the same meaning as the highlighted expression.

Easy: It might be unusual but, although I like peanuts, I hate peanut butter.

Advanced: _____ _____, although I like peanuts, I hate peanut butter.

Step 2.

Play the audio file to check your answer.

Step 3.

Play the audio again, and repeat, until you can say it from memory.

Step 4.

Repeat Steps 1 – 3 for each set below.

Easy: The Lexus LS is not quite as good as the Mercedes S class.
Advanced: The Lexus LS is not quite __ __ ___ ___ the Mercedes S class.

Easy: I like to take one long vacation instead of many short vacations.
Advanced: I like to take one long vacation __ ______ __ many short vacations.

Easy: Suddenly it started raining, so we ran inside.
Advanced: ___ __ __ ______ it started raining, so we ran inside.

Easy: When you’re old enough to drive, gas will cost ten dollars per gallon.
Advanced: __ ___ ____ you’re old enough to drive, gas will cost ten dollars per gallon.