Welcome to LIVE CONVERSATIONS “ROME: 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: So, in this next picture, this is inside the coliseum. And that’s the…You’re seeing kind of below the floor level. You can see that, in the background, what looks like part of a floor?

Greg: Right.

Mark: Yeah, so then they haven’t – I don’t know if they’re building that out, and they’re going to maybe cover more of it? Because it looked like they were doing work. But in any case, you’re seeing the below ground, where your beloved lions were kept. And that’s where the gladiators’… I don’t know, like, I don’t know, the locker room, or whatever, you know?

Greg: Right.

Mark: The backstage.

Greg: Very interesting, though. How…How big is that? Like, you see off to the left there’s kind of a hole, it looks like?

Mark: Are you saying “below,” like in the basement level you see some sort of hole?

Greg: Yeah. If you look to the very left of picture, and look at the railing.

Mark: Ahh..

Greg: Just above that.

Mark: I see. I gotchya (got you). That’s a doorway, I’m sure. And that would probably be twice the height of a man so it’s…It’s a big stadium.

Greg: Okay, I see.

Mark: Yeah. But what’s funny is very few of the seats survived. Just a couple. The rest just… I don’t know….Either people stole the bricks, or whatever. But this…This thing has probably been whittled away over 2,000 years. Like, “Hey, I need some brick. Where should I go?” You know?

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1.

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to build something out = to expand something

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

My University is expanding this part of the library to add on a computer lab.
My University is building out this part of the library to add on a computer lab.

We are expanding our warehouse to hold more products.
We are building out our warehouse to hold more products.

I recently expanded my garage to hold both of my cars.
I recently built out my garage to hold both of my cars.

I don’t know if they’re expanding that floor, and they’re going to cover more of the basement.
I don’t know if they’re building out that floor, and they’re going to maybe cover more of the basement.

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2.

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but in any case = but the point is

Remember, the 2nd version (using “in any case”) is how a native speaker will probably say these sentences.

I’m not sure how many seats it will have, or when they will start, but the point is, they are building a new stadium downtown.
I’m not sure how many seats it will have, or when they will start, but in any case, they are building a new stadium downtown.

They might bring in a different plane, or get us tickets with a different airline, but the point is, our flight has been canceled.
They might bring in a different plane, or get us tickets with a different airline, but in any case, our flight has been canceled.

The food here is very expensive and it’s not very good, but the point is we’re eating here because it’s the only restaurant that’s open.
The food here is very expensive and it’s not very good, but in any case we’re eating here because it’s the only restaurant that’s open.

I don’t know if they’re still building that floor, the point is, you’re seeing the below ground, where your beloved lions were kept.
I don’t know if they’re still building that floor, but in any case, you’re seeing the below ground, where your beloved lions were kept.
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3.

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gotchya = I understand

NOTE: This is a very American thing to say! You will hear this many times each day in your conversations with Americans.

Let’s meet right here at 3 o’clock, okay? — I understand.
Let’s meet right here at 3 o’clock, okay? — Gotchya.

Yes, I understand. You want me to turn off all the lights except the one in the kitchen.
Yes, gotchya. You want me to turn off all the lights except the one in the kitchen.

(Getting directions)
I go straight for two miles, then turn south onto Highway 29. I understand! Thanks.
I go straight for two miles, then turn south onto Highway 29. Gotchya! Thanks.

I see. I understand. That’s a doorway, I’m sure. And that would probably be twice the height of a man so it’s…It’s a big stadium.
I see. I gotchya. That’s a doorway, I’m sure. And that would probably be twice the height of a man so it’s…It’s a big stadium.

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4.

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what’s funny is = what’s surprising is

What’s surprising is, the harder I try, the worse I do.
What’s funny is, the harder I try, the worse I do.

He’s a great leader, but what’s surprising is he was very shy as a kid.
He’s a great leader, but what’s funny is he was very shy as a kid.

She loves ketchup, but what’s surprising is she hates tomatoes!
She loves ketchup, but what’s funny is she hates tomatoes!

It’s somewhat surprising that very few of the seats survived. Just a couple.
What’s funny is very few of the seats survived. Just a couple.
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5.

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to whittle away = to slowly remove pieces from

The artist slowly removed pieces from the block of marble, as he made his sculpture.
The artist whittled away the block of marble, as he made his sculpture.

The building has slowly eroded over the past few years.
The building has whittled away over the past few years.

My father’s criticisms slowly eroded away my confidence.
My father’s criticisms whittled away my confidence.

This thing has probably had small pieces gradually removed over 2,000 years.
This thing has probably been whittled away over 2,000 years.

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Easy: My University is expanding this part of the library to add on a computer lab..

Advanced: My University is ______ ___ this part of the library to add on a computer lab.

Easy: I’m not sure how many seats it will have, or when they will start, but the point is, they are building a new stadium downtown.
Advanced: I’m not sure how many seats it will have, or when they will start, ___ __ ___ ____, they are building a new stadium downtown.

Easy: Let’s meet right here at 3 o’clock, okay? — I understand.

Advanced: Let’s meet right here at 3 o’clock, okay? — ________.

Easy: What’s surprising is, the harder I try, the worse I do.

Advanced: _____ ______ __, the harder I try, the worse I do.

Easy: The artist slowly removed pieces from the block of marble, as he made his sculpture.

Advanced: The artist _______ ____ the block of marble, as he made his sculpture.