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: Then in this next picture, you see their dining room.

Greg: Nice!

Mark: Next picture is just that same room, but just a different angle. You know, just…The whole house is like these rooms. It’s entirely white. White carpet, or white marble throughout the entire floor. And seemingly (it seems like, looks like) —I’ll just say, because I didn’t ask them but—seemingly very expensive artwork you know, in every appropriate place. You get the feel that some designer did the whole place.

Greg: Yeah, I would imagine a designer did it because the average person doesn’t usually do this well.

Mark: Yeah.

Greg: My mother’s an interior designer and so I’ve seen “before and afters” (images that show something before it is altered, and images that show something after it is altered) and this definitely looks like a professional touch.

Mark: Mmm-hmm (sound of agreement, yes, that’s right). If we were to do a picture tour of the whole house, you know, we would be doing this for two hours just to show their house. But I just wanted to get a feel for where we were at.

Greg: So what does he do to have such an awesome house and everything?

Mark: He is a lawyer and she is a designer, actually. A clothes designer. But really, what they got their money from was they both…Well, Greg bought an apartment in White Plains, which is the biggest city outside of Manhattan. And so that’s maybe 25 minutes from Manhattan. And so he had an apartment there. Which, you know, he’d been paying off (paying for it gradually) for twenty years. And then she had an apartment in Manhattan, which, you know, she’d also been paying off for about twenty years. And so they both sold their apartments when they got married. That was, you know, a million (dollars) right there. This house cost $1.2 million. And so their mortgage is only — I say “only” — but their mortgage is only $200,000. And the other million was the equity from their two apartments.

Greg: Cool!

Mark: So this next picture is…He drove us to their local park, and we did a Great American Cookout. (did a classic American barbeque)

Greg: Okay, looks good. Good eatins! slang – (looks like good food) You have corn, potatoes—sweet potatoes, I guess….and shish kebab. Cool!

Mark: Yeah, it was great! It was a good time!

– – – –

Greg: So, I see the sign there that says, “Road closed. No through traffic.” So, did you guys walk here? Or did…How did you get here?

Mark: Yeah, this was—This is Wall Street. And, gosh…We took the subway down to—this is also on the southern tip, the…”Lower Manhattan.” And, yeah, we took a subway close. And it was tough to get here, as I recall, because this is near, you know, where the twin towers had fallen. And that area is still a nightmare for traffic and pedestrian stuff. So you really had to read a map carefully, and wind through this and that walkway (various walkways), and stuff. And then you come out and you’re near Wall Street. So this was definitely on foot at some point from the—I forgot which subway stop it was, actually. But this is the heart of (center of) Wall Street. That building—

Greg: Yeah, what is that, that we’re looking at?

Mark: That is the New York Stock Exchange.

Greg: Ah, I see. If you look really closely. Really closely, above the flag, “New York Stock Exchange” is written. I see.

Mark: Yup. We did not go inside. I don’t even know if you can. You probably can not. But that’s where, you know, I think it’s the largest, as measured by the value of the companies on it, it is the largest stock exchange, at least in America. I don’t want to say the world, but it could easily be (the largest) in the world, as well. So that’s the New York Stock Exchange. This is where, you know the….Not far from here is that big statue of that bull, which we associate with—

Greg: Oh, right.

Mark: Yeah. I don’t know if—I don’t know how much you’re into stock things. Do you know why they have the bull and the bear, and how that relates to stock markets?

Greg: Don’t you have to be, like, living in a cave to not know that?

Mark: Oh, okay. I didn’t know. Then explain to our listeners. I am sure our listeners do not know why. What the difference is between a bull market and a bear market.

Greg: I’ll let you do the honors. I do know the difference though. But go ahead.

Mark: The bull, because when a bull attacks you, he gores you from—he moves his head upwards. And so if it’s a bull market, that means its going up, just the way a bull’s head would be. Whereas a bear market: Bears, when they swipe at you, their arm comes in a downward motion. So a bear market is bad, because the arm—the motion —is going downwards.

Greg: Oh, okay. So, I have to apologize for my sarcasm. I knew that the bull was good…a good meaning, related to a good market. And a bear market was not so good. But I did not have any idea that it had to do with the horns and the swiping of the paw.

Mark: Right. I didn’t think you did because a lot of people do not know that. So I was like wondering, “Gosh, does everyone really know that?” I don’t think most people in America know that unless they really follow that stuff.

Greg: Yeah, I just thought you’re asking if I knew that a bull market was good, and a bear market was bad, and that that related to the stock market. So, that I knew. Anyway. Okay!

Mark: So yeah, that was Wall Street. And then lets go to the last picture where we have, you know, kind of our favorite picture is Dasha in Times Square. You guys did Times Square, I’m assuming.

Greg: Yeah, we went—again, we just did the bus tour so we drove…drove through it. And I think it stopped for a few—well, actually, the bus tour we were on would stop and you could get out. And it was just a rotation of buses, so you wouldn’t necessarily get on the exact same bus you had been on, but the same company was running buses consistently. So you could expect the—you just look for the big, blue, double-decker bus, and you could get back on. So I believe we did get off here and took a look around, yes. (take a look around = looked at the area)

Mark: What do you remember? What was your feeling for Times Square?

Greg: I think my impression was all about—

Mark: –that was the word that I was looking for! That was the word! I am sorry. It was “impression.” What was your impression of Times Square?

Greg: My impression of Times Square was that there were a lot of neon signs and blinking signs and it was visually very busy (a lot of unorganized information, movement, or things to look at).

Mark: Yeah. Did they have the stands? You know, like that—I don’t want to say “stadium”—but stands for people who were just sitting. Did they have that at that time?

Greg: I am not sure what you mean, so I am not sure.

Mark: Just like, you know, when you go to a football game, they have the stands that you sit in to watch the game

Greg: Like “bleachers,” kind of thing? (NOTE: Mark is from the east coast of the U.S. where the word “stands” is used. Greg is from the west, where the word “bleachers” is more common.)

Mark: Bleachers, yeah! Bleachers. And so they had the bleachers or the stands there right in—it’s not visible in this picture, but that’s what they have. They’re bleachers where people just sit and look at advertising. And I knew it…it was a new thing. And so you had been there before us. It is conceivable it was put in even after you guys were there. But it really stands out now when you’re in Time Square, that: “My God! These people have put in bleachers for the mere—you know, for the sole reason (only for the reason) of sitting there and looking at, like you said, the busy, neon signs and the advertisements. It’s just hilarious.

Greg: That’s completely bizarre.

Mark: Yeah. And that people are sitting there!

Greg: And people actually just sit there and watch.

Mark: Yeah, it’s amazing. I mean, the ads are cool, you know? And I like the feeling of it just for that touristy feel. But I don’t think we ever sat in those stands, in those bleachers, just to look at the billboards. It’s just amazing

Greg: Wow. No, I didn’t…I don’t recall seeing those, so maybe not.

Mark: So I hope you, Greg, enjoyed the tour of Manhattan, as well as our viewers. And in city #2 we will head north (go north) to the city of Boston.

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a _____ touch = the style and influence of a _______

Remember, in these four groups of sentences below, a native speaker will usually use the 2nd version. So, "____ touch" is the advanced phrase we want to learn.

This kitchen has the style and influence of a woman.
This kitchen has a woman’s touch.

This room has the style and influence of a child.
This room has a child’s touch.

This garage has the style and influence of a man.
This garage has a man’s touch.

The design of their home has the style and influence of a professional.
The design of their home has a professional touch.

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gosh =  Wow ("Gosh" is an expression which emphasizes the statement that follows.)

Remember, the 2nd version (using "gosh") is how a native speaker will probably say these sentences.

Wow, this car is expensive. Let’s look at cheaper cars.
Gosh, this car is expensive. Let’s look at cheaper cars.

Wow, this room is cold.
Gosh, this room is cold.

Wow, this line is long.
Gosh, this line is long.

Wow, we took the subway close, but we had to walk the rest of the way.
Gosh, we took the subway close, but we had to walk the rest of the way.

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a nightmare = a cause of many problems

I wish I never bought this used car! It’s been a cause of many problems for me.
I wish I never bought this used car! It’s been a nightmare for me.

This traffic is a cause of many problems.
This traffic is  a nightmare.

This homework is a cause of many problems.
This homework is a nightmare.

That area is still a cause of many problems for traffic and pedestrians.
That area is still a nightmare for traffic and pedestrians.

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to be living in a cave = to be uninformed and not know common things

It’s like he is uninformed and does not know common things. He said he didn’t know what an i-phone was.
It’s like he’s living in a cave. He said he didn’t know what an i-phone was.

You’ve never heard of Wi-Fi? Are you so uninformed that you do not know common things?
You’ve never heard of Wi-Fi? Have you been living in a cave?

I feel like I’m uninformed and do not know common things. I’ve never heard of ‘Angry Birds.’
I feel like I’ve been living in a cave. I’ve never heard of ‘Angry Birds.’

Don’t you have to be so uninformed and not know common things to not know what the bull and bear markets are?
Don’t you have to be living in a cave to not know what the bull and bear markets are?

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to do the honors = to do it
NOTE: This expression is usually used in relation to some formal procedure.

Would you like to open the doors on the first day of our new store? No, you do it.
Would you like to open the doors on the first day of our new store? No, you do the honors.

I’ll do it. I’ll cut the turkey for everyone.
I’ll do the honors. I’ll cut the turkey for everyone.

Paul, would you do it and open the wine?
Paul, would you do the honors and open the wine?

I do understand what the difference is, but I’ll let you do it.
I do understand what the difference is, but I’ll let you do the honors.

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to have to do with = to be related to

Tides are related to the pull of the moon’s gravity.
Tides have to do with the pull of the moon’s gravity.

Does that have anything relation to this project?
Does that have anything to do with this project?

It all is related to politics.
It all has to do with politics.

I did not have any idea that it was related to the horns and the swiping of the paw.
I did not have any idea that it had to do with the horns and the swiping of the paw.

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to stand out = to be noticeable

Most people wear dark coats, so your pink coat really is noticeable.
Most people wear dark coats, so your pink coat really stands out.

Her work really is noticeable.
Her work really stands out.

Your voice really is noticeable.
Your voice really stands out.

The bleachers in Times Square really are noticeable.
The bleachers in Times Square really stand out.

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to put in = to install

Tomorrow they are coming to install my satellite T.V.
Tomorrow they are coming to put in my satellite T.V.

Today they’re installing my new dishwasher.
Today they’re putting in my new dishwasher.

Yesterday they installed WiFi here.
Yesterday they put in WiFi here.

They installed bleachers in Times Square so people can look at the advertisements.
They put in bleachers in Times Square so people can look at the advertisements.

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Easy: This kitchen has the style and influence of a woman.

Advanced: This kitchen has ___ ___ ___ .

Easy: Wow, this car is expensive. Let’s look at cheaper cars.
Advanced: ___ , this car is expensive. Let’s look at cheaper cars.

Easy: I wish I never bought this used car! It’s been a cause of many problems for me.

Advanced: I wish I never bought this used car! It’s been ___  ___ for me.

Easy: It’s like he is uninformed and does not know common things. He said he didn’t know what an i-phone was.
Advanced: It’s like he’s ___  ___  ___  ___. He said he didn’t know what an i-phone was.

Easy: I’ll do it. I’ll cut the turkey for everyone.
Advanced: I’ll  ___  ___  ___ . I’ll cut the turkey for everyone.

Easy: Tides are related to the pull of the moon’s gravity.

Advanced: Tides ___  ___  ___  ___ the pull of the moon’s gravity.

Easy: Most people wear dark coats, so your pink coat really is noticeable.

Advanced: Most people wear dark coats, so your pink coat really ___  ___ .

Easy: Tomorrow they are coming to install my satellite T.V.

Advanced: Tomorrow they are coming ___  ___  ___ my satellite T.V.