Lesson 11. It’s a good one. Get your note-book ready!

Now, you will start to learn the advanced words and expressions naturally. You will learn the grammar through pattern recognition, and the meaning based on context, or the other words in the sentence. Do the steps exactly as stated and you will easily, quickly, learn the new material.

1.

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very surprised → blown away

I was very surprised by how good the food was at Big Burgers. I heard their hamburgers were good, but they were incredible, the best thing I’ve ever tasted.

I was blown away by how good the food was at Big Burgers. I heard their hamburgers were good, but they were incredible, the best thing I’ve ever tasted.

I was very surprised by Ted’s behavior. He was yelling and screaming at everybody. He is usually calm and quiet.

I was blown away by Ted’s behavior. He was yelling and screaming at everybody. He is usually calm and quiet.

I was very surprised by how cheap everything was. Large TVs were only $99, sofa’s and beds were only $50. It was amazing.

I was blown away by how cheap everything was. Large TVs were only $99, sofa’s and beds were only $50. It was amazing.

I was very surprised by the quality of the stadium.

I was blown away by the quality of the stadium.

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2.

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I’m not sure but I think → I believe it was

I’m not sure but I think the appointment was for 9:00. I don’t remember exactly, I’ll check my calendar.

I believe the appointment was for 9:00. I don’t remember exactly, I’ll check my calendar.

I don’t know exactly when the first man walked on the moon. I’m not sure but I think it was in 1968, but I’m not sure.

I don’t know exactly when the first man walked on the moon. I believe it was in 1968, but I’m not sure.

Somebody called and left a message. I couldn’t hear the message very well. I’m not sure but I think it was John’s voice. I’m not sure.

Somebody called and left a message. I couldn’t hear the message very well. I believe it was John’s voice. I’m not sure.

I saw the Diamondbacks versus the St. Louis Cardinals, I’m not sure but I think those were the two teams.

I saw the Diamondbacks versus the St. Louis Cardinals, I believe it was.

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3.

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gather your money and pay → pony up the dough

I owed John $20. I hadn’t seen him in about 6 months. I met him by chance at a bar, and he said, “Remember you owe me… well… it’s time to gather your money and pay me.

I owed John $20. I hadn’t seen him in about 6 months. I met him by chance at a bar, and he said, “Remember you owe me… well.. it’s time to pony up the dough.

It’s April 14th, tax day! Time to gather the money and pay.

It’s April 14th, tax day! Time to pony up the dough.

I’m sure it’s more of a corporate thing than just people gathering money and paying.

I’m sure it’s more of a corporate thing than just people ponying up the dough.

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4.

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a maximum of → at best

I can’t drink much alcohol, maybe a maximum of two glasses of wine. If I drink more than that I feel sick.

I can’t drink much alcohol, at best maybe two glasses of wine. If I drink more than that I feel sick.

There were around twenty people trying to get into the elevator. But it was a small elevator, it would only hold a maximum of ten people.

There were around twenty people trying to get into the elevator. But it was a small elevator, it would only hold, at best, ten people.

It was supposed to be a two hour event, but it was a maximum of one hour and thirty minutes. Much shorter than I expected.

It was supposed to be a two hour event, but it was at best one hour and thirty minutes. Much shorter than I expected.

what should be a… a maximum of, a one or two dollar bottle of beer…

what should be a… at best, a one or two dollar bottle of beer…

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5.

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six-pack, twelve-pack

A package that has six beers is called a six-pack, and a package that has twelve beers is a twelve-pack.

I bought an eight-pack of potato-chips. The package had eight cans of potato-chips in it.

Should I get a package that has six cokes, or a package that has twelve cokes for the party?

Should I get a six-pack of coke, or a twelve-pack of coke for the party?

…and get an entire quality package that has six bottles of Heineken for eight dollars.

…and get an entire quality six-pack of Heineken for eight dollars.

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6.

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something like that exists → such a thing

Something like that exists? A dinosaur living in the Amazon? I don’t believe it.

There is such a thing? A dinosaur living in the Amazon. I don’t believe it.

When I went to Japan I saw pizza with tuna, corn, and squid. Before that, I didn’t know something like that exists.

When I went to Japan I saw pizza with tuna, corn, and squid. Before that, I didn’t know there was such a thing.

My friend said he saw an alien. I said I didn’t believe something like that exists. I’ve never seen one.

My friend said he saw an alien. I said I didn’t believe there is such a thing. I’ve never seen one.

Oh, I didn’t know something like that exists.

Oh, I didn’t know there was such a thing.

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7.

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everywhere in various directions → every which way

We took our kids to Monkey Island last weekend. There were monkeys in the trees, on the ground, one even jumped on my daughter and stole her ice-cream. There were monkeys everywhere in various directions.

We took our kids to Monkey Island last weekend. There were monkeys in the trees, on the ground,one even jumped on my daughter and stole her ice-cream. There were monkeys every which way.

When the building started shaking, people panicked and started going everywhere in various directions.

When the building started shaking, people panicked and started going every which way.

All the animals escaped from the zoo. There were animals everywhere in various directions.

All the animals escaped from the zoo. There were animals every which way.

…at the height of school, it would just be jam-packed with students everywhere in various directions.

…at the height of school, it would just be jam-packed with students every which way.

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1a: Easy: It’s April 14th, tax day! Time to gather the money and pay.

1a: Advanced: It’s April 14th, tax day! Time to _______ _____ _____ ______.

2a: There were around twenty people trying to get into the elevator. But it was a small elevator, it would only hold a maximum of ten people.

2b: There were around twenty people trying to get into the elevator. But it was a small elevator, it would only hold, ___ ______, 10 people.

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

3a: My friend said he saw an alien. I said I didn’t believe something like that exists. I’ve never seen one.

3b: My friend said he saw an alien. I said I didn’t believe _____ ____ ____ ____. I’ve never seen one.

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

4a: We took our kids to Monkey Island last weekend. There were monkeys in the trees, on the ground, one even jumped on my daughter and stole her ice-cream. There were monkeys everywhere in various directions.

4b: We took our kids to Monkey Island last weekend. There were monkeys in the trees, on the ground, one even jumped on my daughter and stole her ice-cream. There were monkeys ________ ______ _____.

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

5a: I was very surprised by how good the food was at Big Burgers. I heard their hamburgers were good, but they were incredible, the best thing I’ve ever tasted.

5b: I was ______ ______ by how good the food was at Big Burgers. I heard their hamburgers were good, but they were incredible, the best thing I’ve ever tasted.

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

6a: Should I get a package that has six cokes, or a package that has twelve cokes for the party?

6b: Should I get a ____-______ of coke, or a twelve-pack of coke for the party?

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

7a: I don’t know exactly when the first man walked on the moon. I’m not sure but I think it was in 1968, but I’m not sure.

7b: I don’t know exactly when the first man walked on the moon. ___ _______ ____ ____ in 1968, but I’m not sure.

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