Welcome to LIVE CONVERSATIONS “ROME: Lesson 6!” 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: Right. The seats were brick and they didn’t bother with wood, you don’t think?

Mark: That’s a good question. He… Okay, I got to admit: We…We paid the twenty euros to get in, and we immediately ditched the guy. I’m really just – I’m not a fan of tours, you know? Neither was Dasha. His English was kind of bad. And it was hard enough for me to understand, but it was a real struggle for Dasha. She wasn’t getting much out of it. And there was like thirty people crowding around him. And so we just — in our first opportunity, we just went our own way, and just made up our tour as we went, you know?

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1.

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I (have) got to admit = The truth is

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

The truth is, the movie was better than I thought it would be.
I got to admit, the movie was better than I thought it would be.

The truth is, I didn’t like your poem at all.
I’ve got to admit, I didn’t like your poem at all.

The truth is, I don’t know your name.
I got to admit, I don’t know your name.

Okay, the truth is: We paid the twenty euros to get in.
Okay, I got to admit: We paid the twenty euros to get in. and they’re going to maybe cover more of the basement.

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2.

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to ditch = to leave (someplace, or someone)

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

The party was not fun, so we left it and went home.
The party was not fun, so we ditched it and went home.

We didn’t like Bob, so we left him at the gas station.
We didn’t like Bob, so we ditched him at the gas station.

The movie was awful, so we left and got coffee.
The movie was awful, so we ditched it and got coffee.

Our tour guide was very hard to understand so we immediately left the guy.
Our tour guide was very hard to understand so we immediately ditched the guy.

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3.

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I’m not a fan of = I don’t like

I don’t like cheesecake.
I’m not a fan of cheesecake.

I don’t like Ben Affleck.
I’m not a fan of Ben Affleck.

My wife doesn’t like boxing.
My wife is not a fan of boxing.

I don’t like tours, you know?
I’m not a fan of tours, you know?

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4.

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hard enough = difficult

It’s difficult to pay all of our bills, and now you went and bought a new car?
It’s hard enough to pay all of our bills, and now you went and bought a new car?

It’s difficult to go to college full time, but I also have to work.
It’s hard enough to go to college full time, but I also have to work.

It’s hard enough to read this textbook, and now you turn on the television?
It’s difficult to read this textbook, and now you turn on the television?

The tour guide’s English was very bad. So, it was difficult for me to understand, and it was very difficult for Dasha to understand.
The tour guide’s English was very bad. So, it was hard enough for me to understand, and it was very difficult for Dasha to understand.

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5.

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a real struggle = very difficult

My dog hates medicine, so it is very difficult to make him eat these pills.
My dog hates medicine, so it is a real struggle to make him eat these pills.

Learning to read Chinese characters was very difficult for me at first. But now I have a system.
Learning to read Chinese characters was a real struggle for me at first. But now I have a system.

It’s very difficult to drive with this cast on my arm.
It’s a real struggle to drive with this cast on my arm.

The tour guide’s English was very bad, so it was very difficult for Dasha.
The tour guide’s English was very bad, so it was a real struggle for Dasha.

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6.

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to get much out of = to benefit from

I already knew most of the things the speaker was saying, so I didn’t benefit from his lecture.
I already knew most of the things the speaker was saying, so I didn’t get much out of his lecture.

How did the meeting go? Did you benefit from it?
How did the meeting go? Did you get much out of it?

I love to learn new things, but I never benefited from going to college.
I love to learn new things, but I never got much out of going to college.

Dasha wasn’t benefiting from the tour.
Dasha wasn’t getting much out of the tour.

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7.

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to go (one’s) own way = to do what (one) wants to

After high school, I didn’t want to go to college. I wanted to do what I wanted.
After high school, I didn’t want to go to college. I wanted to go my own way.

You need to follow orders, soldier! The army isn’t a place where you can do what you want to.
You need to follow orders, soldier! The army isn’t a place where you can go your own way.

This map of Rome has a guide route to follow, but I prefer to do what I want to.
This map of Rome has a guide route to follow, but I prefer to go my own way.

In our first opportunity, we did what we wanted to do and just made up our tour as we went.
In our first opportunity, we went our own way, and just made up our tour as we went.

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8.

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to make up = to create

When the teacher asked where my homework was, I created a story about my grandmother being in the hospital.
When the teacher asked where my homework was, I made up a story about my grandmother being in the hospital.

I don’t want to go to that party tonight. Can you create an excuse for me?
I don’t want to go to that party tonight. Can you make up an excuse for me?

After watching a video of the opposing team last night, I created a plan for how we can beat them.
After watching a video of the opposing team last night, I made up a plan for how we can beat them.

In our first opportunity, we went our own way just created our tour as we went.
In our first opportunity, we went our own way just made up our tour as we went.

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Easy: The truth is, the movie was better than I thought it would be.

Advanced: I got to admit, the movie was better than I thought it would be.

Easy: The party was not fun, so we left it and went home.
Advanced: The party was not fun, so we _____ it and went home.

Easy: I don’t like cheesecake.

Advanced: __ ___ _ ___ __ cheesecake.

Easy: It’s difficult to pay all of our bills, and now you went and bought a new car?

Advanced: It’s ____ _____ to pay all of our bills, and now you went and bought a new car?

Easy: My dog hates medicine, so it is very difficult to make him eat these pills.

Advanced: My dog hates medicine, so it is __ ____ ______ to make him eat these pills.

Easy: I already knew most of the things the speaker was saying, so I didn’t benefit from his lecture.

Advanced: I already knew most of the things the speaker was saying, so I didn’t ___ ____ ___ __ his lecture.

Easy: After high school, I didn’t want to go to college. I wanted to do what I wanted.

Advanced: After high school, I didn’t want to go to college. I wanted to __ __ ___ ____ .

Easy: When the teacher asked where my homework was, I created a story about my grandmother being in the hospital.

Advanced: When the teacher asked where my homework was, I ____ __ a story about my grandmother being in the hospital.