Welcome to LIVE CONVERSATIONS “ROME: Lesson 12!” 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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Greg: So this looks really cool. To me you have what looks like…This is almost like an Audi car commercial, or something. You have this Audi emblem on the front of this car, and then another one behind it, like these are the main part of the picture. And the street is kind of shiny looking, just from the reflection. And off to the right, I think that’s just kind of cool. You have, there… These streets are so narrow that the guy had to park pretty much on the little bit of sidewalk that there even is. Right in front of the sign. And it’s probably…Actually, if you look past that, you can see that there are cars lined up that way. So it’s totally normal and acceptable to just park kind of anywhere, I guess. [NOTE: “pretty much” in AZ, and also on page 6]

Mark: Yeah, and if you can see…We’ll see in a future picture, that just as you get closer to the end of that street, just – people say the heck with it and they start walking in the street. Because there’s just too many people on the sidewalks. You know, again like New York’s 5th Avenue or Newbury Street in Boston, whatever. This is Via Del Corso. This is their shopping street. So it’s….I just see so much of Rome here. I see people sharing the streets with cars; hard to park; that’s a small car; I see the Vespa in the foreground; you see cafes, which is a – such a European thing, you know, outdoor cafes. And let’s go to that next picture. It’s that same street, but now taken from the other end. That was…Now we’re looking back, and you can see just this…Now just people and cars, just sharing the street, you know?

Greg: And that taxi! How frustrating would that be? (Mark: Oh my god…) Look at that! That taxi is completely surrounded! It’s like, crazy. That’s crazy.

Mark: I didn’t even notice that. Yeah, totally. And so, yeah. What those people are taking a picture of, and what everyone’s walking to, is…these steps.

Greg: Ahh, I see.

Mark: There’s a nice church behind it, and it’s just….I don’t know. It’s where you want to sit after making that long walk, and fighting with the cars, you know? This is where you want to finally just take a load off. And this really is a prime meeting spot because it’s hard to get lost. Like, at the Trevi fountain, you know, it’s….it’s broad enough that you might be searching for someone for a long enough time. Or at that Piazza Navonna, it’s so spread out. But here it’s just these steps, and you will find someone on these steps. So I think it became a good meeting spot.

Greg: Well, it looks pretty interesting, even though it is just steps. But it looks kind of ancient and cool. And I like how the, the buildings are…Is this kind of a hillside, and the buildings are just kind of built here and there? Like, the yellow building is not facing the same direction as the other buildings. And it’s kind of a…kind of nice, and different. I know when you go to the states, a lot of places have zoning, so everything’s very nicely lined up and perfect. I like this kind of older style.

Mark: I guess the term would be, like, organic. Because it just kind of grew, and just sprung up, yeah.

Greg: Yeah.

Mark: So, the organic feel to the city is…it’s definitely….It’s…I guess Rome would be the most organic city I’ve been to, in that way. Because it was not planned, with cars and pedestrians, you know what I mean? So that’s why you’re…That’s why it’s uncomfortable, is because it was organic. It wasn’t planned, like some of the U.S. cities. It’s for better or for worse, you know? I’m not saying it’s good or bad. It’s just how it is, you know?

Greg: So is that our….That’s our last picture, is that right?

Mark: This is where every tour of Rome ends, is the Spanish steps. So it was logical for me to end our tour here, as well.

Greg: Okay, so we’ll see you in the next city.

Mark: See you there!

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1.

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

You will see the name directly at the top of the paper.
You will see the name right at the top of the paper.

You will find the bicycle directly next to the store.
You will find the bicycle right next to the store.

The stadium is directly after the large yellow building.
The stadium is right after the large yellow building.

Directly in front of the sign.
Right in front of the sign.

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2.

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the heck with it = let’s ignore the rules
It was so hot that we said let’s ignore the rules, and jumped into the fountain!
It was so hot that we said the heck with it, and jumped into the fountain!

Let’s ignore the rules. This job needs to get done right now, and we can’t wait for the safety equipment.
The heck with it. This job needs to get done right now, and we can’t wait for the safety equipment.

The sign said “no fishing”, but we said “let’s ignore the rules”, and we fished in the river anyway.
The sign said “no fishing”, but we said “the heck with it”, and we fished in the river anyway.

As you get closer to the end of that street, people say let’s ignore the rules and they start walking in the street.
As you get closer to the end of that street, people say the heck with it and they start walking in the street.

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3.

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_____ thing = something that’s typical of _____

Making toasts during a meal is something that’s typical of Russians.
Making toasts during a meal is a very Russian thing.

Driving dangerously is something that’s typical of people living in Manhattan.
Driving dangerously is a Manhattan thing.

Drinking dark beer is something that’s typical of Germans.
Drinking dark beer is a German thing.

Outdoor cafes are something that’s typical of Europe.
Outdoor cafes are such a European thing.
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4.

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to take a load off = to relax

Sit down. Relax!
Sit down. Take a load off!

You’ve had a long day at work. Come in and relax.
You’ve had a long day at work. Come in and take a load off.

You look so tired. You should drink a beer and relax.
You look so tired. You should drink a beer and take a load off.

This is where you want to finally just relax.
This is where you want to finally just take a load off.

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5.

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prime = very good

This house is in a very good neighborhood for people who have kids.
This house is in a prime neighborhood for people who have kids.

This bus is very good for transporting a large amount of people.
This bus is prime for transporting a large amount of people.

This house has a very good view of the ocean.
This house has a prime view of the ocean.

This really is a very good meeting spot.
This really is a prime meeting spot.

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6.

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to spring up = to appear
In the U.S., a lot of businesses have appeared to help you sell your things on eBay.
In the U.S., a lot of businesses have sprung up to help you sell your things on eBay.

In the past few years, many protests have appeared in opposition to the war.
In the past few years, many protests have sprung up in opposition to the war.

Many new apartment buildings have appeared to provide housing for the growing population.
Many new apartment buildings have sprung up to provide housing for the growing population.

I guess the term would be, like, organic. Because it just kind of grew, and just appeared.
I guess the term would be, like, organic. Because it just kind of grew, and just sprung up.

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7.

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for better or for worse = not clearly good or bad
NOTE: Usually said regarding a big decision.

They’re building a new mall near our house….which isn’t clearly good or bad.
They’re building a new mall near our house….for better or for worse.

We bought that used van, which isn’t clearly good or bad.
We bought that used van, for better or for worse.

It isn’t clearly good or bad, but we’ve decided to move to New Jersey.
For better of for worse we’ve decided to move to New Jersey.

Rome has grown in an unplanned way, which isn’t clearly good or bad.
Rome has grown in an unplanned way, for better or for worse.

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Easy: You will see the name directly at the top of the paper.

Advanced: You will see the name _____ at the top of the paper.

Easy: It was so hot that we said let’s ignore the rules, and jumped into the fountain!
Advanced: It was so hot that we said ___ ____ ____ __, and jumped into the fountain!

Easy: Making toasts during a meal is something that’s typical of Russians.

Advanced: Making toasts during a meal is __ ______ _____.

Easy: You’ve had a long day at work. Come in and relax.

Advanced: You’ve had a long day at work. Come in and ____ __ ____ ___ .

Easy: This house is in a very good neighborhood for people who have kids.

Advanced: This house is in a _____ neighborhood for people who have kids.

Easy: In the past few years, many protests have appeared in opposition to the war.

Advanced: In the past few years, many protests have ______ __ in opposition to the war.

Easy: They’re building a new mall near our house….which isn’t clearly good or bad.

Advanced: They’re building a new mall near our house….___ _____ __ _____ .