Learn how talk about roommates and every day speaking
First
conversation: Talking about roommates
Tom: So, Adrian, what’s your new roommate like?
Adrian: Well, if you have all day, I’ll describe him
for you. He’s quite the character.
Tom: I don’t have all day, dude but basically, do you
get along with him?
Adrian: Actually, yea but that’s only because we
hardly ever see each other. The guy sleeps all day. Sometimes he gets up just
to go to his classes, and then he comes back to the room and goes back to bed.
Then he’ll get up at midnight and study all night.
Tom: Really? You don’t eat together, then?
Adrian: The truth is, I don’t even know when he eats,
or where.
Tom: Then at least he doesn’t leave a mess in the
kitchen.
Adrian: No! The
guy is incredibly neat. He actually leaves the bathroom clean every day and he
doesn’t seem to have dirty clothes. He’s like a ghost.
Tom: Man, I think you have the perfect roommate!
Adrian: What about yours? What’s he like?
Tom: Well, he is exactly the opposite of yours. We’re
a lot alike, and we’re together a lot. I mean, we have two classes together and
we’re in the same fraternity, so we’re really good friends.
Adrian: Sounds to me like you have the ideal roommate!
Tom: Well, yes and no. Mine is a disaster in the
house. In the first place, he always leaves a mess in the kitchen; he doesn’t
wash the dishes or take out the trash. Plus, he throws his clothes all over the
place. No to mention how he leaves the bathroom…
Adrian: Come on, Tom he sounds a lot like you. No
wonder you get along so well!
SO
So has many different uses, in the example
conversation, it is used to begin a question that is not surprising and may
have even been expected.
-So how much
do you want for the car? (You know I’m interested in buying it.)
-So when are
we leaving? (We both know we are going somewhere
together.)
Another use of is to mean extremely.
I can’t wait to get there. I’m so excited.
TO BE LIKE
Like asks for a description of a person, place, or
thing.
-What’s his
wife like? Is she nice? Yes, she’s
very nice
-What’s your
new house like? It’s big,
with four bedrooms and three baths
7
Different ways to use like
WILL
Will—usually
in contraction form (I’ll)—is often used to make an offer to do something in
the future.
-I’ll go to
the store for you.
-We’ll wash
the dishes.
The same contraction can be used to emphasize that an
activity is habitual.
-Sometimes
when I’m alone I’ll go for a long walk
-In the
summer, he’ll stay up late every night playing poker with
his friends
WELL
Well indicates that what you plan to say next may need
a little explanation.
-Did
you write this letter? Well,
yes, but I was upset at that time, and I really didn’t mean everything I wrote.
-How
are you? Well,
I’m ok now, but I’ve had a terrible week.
Dude
Dude is an informal, friendly way of calling a male
friend or acquaintance instead of using his name.
-Dude, what
time are we leaving tomorrow?
Basically
Basically indicates a summarized or generalized
opinion
-What’s
your teacher like? Well,
basically, he’s the worst
teacher in the whole school.
Actually/the
truth is
The terms actually and the truth is indicate that the
speaker is telling the truth, even if it is surprising.
-Do
you like your new job? Actually,
yes—even though I work nine hours a day.
Another expression that means the same thing is “as a
matter of fact”
-Are
you moving? As
a matter of fact, I am!
Learn how to use
the expression:
“As a matter of
fact”
Hardly ever
Hardly ever means almost never.
-You hardly
ever call me anymore. Are you mad at me?
At least
At least indicates that a situation could be worse.
-It’s so cold
outside today! Well at least it isn’t raining.
What about…?
What about…? Is a way to ask the same question about a
different topic.
-Are you
going to the game? Yeah,
Jack and I are going.
-What about
Joe? No,
he can’t go.
In the first
place
In the first place is used to present the first
example of why you do or don’t like something. Second/ in the second place or
plus can precede the second examples. A final example can be preceded by not
mention that.
-We’re not
happy in the suburbs.
In the first
place, it takes us almost two hours to get to work.
In the second
place, when we get home, we’re exhausted.
Plus, we
spend so much on gas.
No to mention that the kids are in day care for
more than ten hours!
Then
Then can introduce a logical conclusion.
-I’ve
got my ticket, and my bags are packed. Then
you’re all ready to go.
Come on
Come on is a way to say that someone is exaggerating a
little bit.
-I
have to lose twenty pounds. Come
on, Alex, you’re not that overweight!
-I’m
going to drive home. Come
on, dude, you’ve had too much to drink. Give me your keys.
Wonder
I wonder express an unanswered question or doubt. The subject-verb order is different from that
of a question.
-Where
Ellie? I
wonder where Ellie is.
-Is
Jon married? I
wonder if John is married.
No wonder indicates that something is obvious.
She’s smart, energetic, well educated, and charming.
No wonder you like her
Quite the
character
To be quite the character is to be unusual in some
way.
-She never
stops talking but can always make me laugh.
+Yeah, I hear
she’s quite the character.
-He’s really
quiet and never talks to anybody, yet the girls all like him
+He must be
quite the character
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