Welcome to LIVE CONVERSATIONS “ROME: Lesson 11!” 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… And it is. It’s incredible. The main story, though, about the Trevi fountain is that: It’s said that if you come here on your last day, and you throw a coin over your shoulder — I guess you have to stand with your back to it — throw a coin over your shoulder, into the fountain, you will one day return. It guarantees your return to the city of Rome.

Greg: Okay. And one question about the buildings themselves: Are these buildings actually in use, or what…what’s going on? Are these offices? Because they look like they have shutters in the back, and I can’t imagine wasting a building like that. So what do you think is going on?

Mark: My guess is that it is indeed just in use. It’s just a fountain that’s been added onto this building. I…It probably at some point was someone’s private residence. And like you said, now it might just be an office building. I’m not sure of its current use. Let’s…Let’s go to the next picture, which is the same fountain. You got a better sense for what Trevi is about when you see these crowds.

Greg: Wow, that looks completely different. Like…But still nice. It looks like a great water park. I’d actually like to jump in there and swim around. I suppose that’s not, not cool though. Is this mostly tourists, you think? Or Romans? Or what?

Mark: I am sure it is 100% tourists. I mean, I can’t imagine a Roman person saying, “Yeah, let’s,” you know, “Let’s go here!” Of all…Of all the places. I mean, I suppose they might say, “Lets meet here,” if it was somehow convenient. But to actually go…This is just all about, you know, taking your picture at the fountain and throwing your coin in. That’s what this is about.

Greg: Okay. This looks like an impressive building, even just from the picture. What is it?

Mark: As I understand it, it is just a monument. So you know, in Washington DC, we have the Washington Monument, which is just an obelisk. And, you know, in Paris they have the Eiffel Tower. Well, they have this — I mean, I don’t want to use a corny word, but — magnificent structure. A lot of people, this is their favorite building and I, I completely understand why. And I don’t know…I don’t think it does anything. We went to the roof of it, which is – we can skip right to that. Go to that next picture and we are on the roof of that structure. And so you get a great view of Rome, but it doesn’t really do anything. There’s nothing….I don’t think there’s any purpose to it. It’s just a monument.

Greg: Wow, great view though.

Mark: Mm-hmm.

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1.

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It’s said = People say
Remember, in these four groups of sentences below, a native speaker will usually use the 2nd version. So, “It’s said” is the advanced phrase we want to learn.

People say that we all evolved from a common ancestor.
It’s said that we all evolved from a common ancestor.

People say that chicken noodle soup will help when you are sick.
It’s said that chicken noodle soup will help when you are sick.

People say there are ghosts in that house.
It’s said there are ghosts in that house.

People say that if you come here on your last day, and you throw a coin over your shoulder, you will one day return.
It’s said that if you come here on your last day, and you throw a coin over your shoulder, you will one day return.

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2.

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in use = being used
Remember, the 2nd version (using “in use”) is how a native speaker will probably say these sentences.

“I’m sorry, Sir,” said the flight attendant. “Both bathrooms are being used.”
“I’m sorry, Sir,” said the flight attendant. “Both bathrooms are in use.”

Is the phone being used?
Is the phone in use?

This house may look old, but it is still being used.
This house may look old, but it is still in use.

Are these buildings actually being used?
Are these buildings actually in use?

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3.

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to waste = to not use (something) productively

That kid is not using his life productively!
That kid is wasting his life!

He is not using his money productively.
He is wasting his money.

He is not using his food productively, because he keeps throwing much of it away.
He is wasting his food, because he keeps throwing much of it away.

I can’t imagine not using a building like that productively.
I can’t imagine wasting a building like that.

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4.

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indeed = truly _____, as I mentioned

“You said you would be at home, but you didn’t answer the door when I knocked.”
“I was truly at home as I mentioned, but I was taking a shower.”
“You said you would be at home, but you didn’t answer the door when I knocked.”
“I was indeed at home, but I was taking a shower.”

It is truly raining, as I mentioned, so bring an umbrella.
It is indeed raining, so bring an umbrella.

The price of this apartment is truly $400 per month, as I mentioned.
The price of this apartment is indeed $400 per month.

My guess is that it is truly in use, as I mentioned.
My guess is that it is indeed in use.

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5.

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sense = understanding

I don’t speak Turkish, so I couldn’t get an understanding of what was happening.
I don’t speak Turkish, so I couldn’t get a sense of what was happening.

He spoke too fast, so I couldn’t get an understanding of what his speech was about.
He spoke too fast, so I couldn’t get a sense of what his speech was about.

The book was too difficult to read. I couldn’t get an understanding of the plot.
The book was too difficult to read. I couldn’t get a sense of the plot.

You get a better understanding for what Trevi is about when you see these crowds.
You get a better sense for what Trevi is about when you see these crowds.

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6.

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not cool = not something that other people would be happy about
To talk on your cellphone in a movie theater is not something that other people would be happy about.
To talk on your cellphone in a movie theater is not cool.

Chris borrowed your DVD and didn’t return it? That is not something that other people would be happy about.
Chris borrowed your DVD and didn’t return it? That is not cool.

He insulted your mom? That is not something that other people would be happy about.
He insulted your mom? That is not cool.

I’d actually like to jump in there and swim around. I suppose that’s not something other people would be happy about.
I’d actually like to jump in there and swim around. I suppose that’s not cool.

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7.

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skip to = go to (NOTE: Sometimes, “skip right to = go right to”)
Let’s go to the third song on the CD.
Let’s skip to the third song on the CD.

You can go to the next chapter in the book. This chapter isn’t important.
You can skip to the next chapter in the book. This chapter isn’t important.

Let’s just go right to the important part of this speech.
Let’s just skip right to the important part of this speech.

We can go right to the next picture.
We can skip right to the next picture.

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Easy: People say that we all evolved from a common ancestor.

Advanced: ___ ____ that we all evolved from a common ancestor.

Easy: “I’m sorry, Sir,” said the flight attendant. “Both bathrooms are being used.”
Advanced: “I’m sorry, Sir,” said the flight attendant. “Both bathrooms are __ ___ .”

Easy: That kid is not using his life productively!

Advanced: That kid is ______ his life!

Easy: It is truly raining, as I mentioned, so bring an umbrella.

Advanced: It is _____ raining, so bring an umbrella.

Easy: He spoke too fast, so I couldn’t get an understanding of what his speech was about.

Advanced: He spoke too fast, so I couldn’t get an _____ of what his speech was about.

Easy: To talk on your cellphone in a movie theater is not something that other people would be happy about.

Advanced: To talk on your cellphone in a movie theater is ___ ____ .

Easy: You can go to the next chapter in the book. This chapter isn’t important.

Advanced: You can ____ _____ __ the next chapter in the book. This chapter isn’t important.