❇️ Podcast 136
♦️ NEXT and LAST in Time Expressions
Welcome to Podcast 136 of ESL Aloud. In the previous lesson you learned how to express indefinite duration in expressions like for a few hours and for several months. You learned not to use the word some in this type of expression. In this lesson you will learn how to avoid another common type of error made by English learners when they are expressing duration.
Listen to these incorrect sentences:
In the next days we will accomplish a great deal.
During the last months we have had no rain.
When you are expressing duration it is incorrect to form an expression of time made up of the word next or last followed directly by units of time. So it is wrong to say in the next days and it is wrong to say during the last months. You have to add an indefinite adjective like few or several or an exact number. So instead of the incorrect in the next days you could say in the next few days or in the next couple of days. Instead of the incorrect during the last months you could say during the last several months or during the last five months.
Now listen to these three sentences which have exactly the same meaning.
During the last few weeks we have had many storms.
In the last few weeks we have had many storms.
Over the last few weeks we have had many storms.
For the last few weeks we have had many storms.
In these sentences it doesn’t matter whether you use during, in, over or for. The same can be true for expressions of duration containing next instead of last. Just listen.
We’ll be working had during the next couple of months.
We’ll be working hard in the next couple of months.
We’ll be working hard over the next couple of months.
We’ll be working hard for the next couple of months.
Here are two more things to remember about expressing duration with next and last:
👉 1. Using for and over is much more common than using during and in.
👉 2. Although the words with during, in, over and for are very often interchangeable, you cannot always substitute one for the other.
During the last few weeks we have had many storms.
In the last few weeks we have had many storms.
Over the last few weeks we have had many storms.
For the last few weeks we have had many storms.
We’ll be working hard during the next couple of months.
We’ll be working hard in the next couple of months.
We’ll be working hard over the next couple of months.
We’ll be working hard for the next couple of months.
For the next few hours there will be no phone service.
Our business grew 50% over the last couple of years.
In the last few months water quality has improved.
My work will be evaluated over the next six weeks.
During the next several years they sold all their land.
Over the last couple of days she sent many text messages.
For the next few minutes I need total silence.
She totally changed her life in the last couple of years.
For the last several weeks I have followed her on Facebook.
Over the next few years we expect our sales to triple.
During the last several days the situation has worsened.
I want to just read for the next couple of hours.
In the last three years he has rebuilt his life.
@Nanonet1
♦️ NEXT and LAST in Time Expressions
Welcome to Podcast 136 of ESL Aloud. In the previous lesson you learned how to express indefinite duration in expressions like for a few hours and for several months. You learned not to use the word some in this type of expression. In this lesson you will learn how to avoid another common type of error made by English learners when they are expressing duration.
Listen to these incorrect sentences:
In the next days we will accomplish a great deal.
During the last months we have had no rain.
When you are expressing duration it is incorrect to form an expression of time made up of the word next or last followed directly by units of time. So it is wrong to say in the next days and it is wrong to say during the last months. You have to add an indefinite adjective like few or several or an exact number. So instead of the incorrect in the next days you could say in the next few days or in the next couple of days. Instead of the incorrect during the last months you could say during the last several months or during the last five months.
Now listen to these three sentences which have exactly the same meaning.
During the last few weeks we have had many storms.
In the last few weeks we have had many storms.
Over the last few weeks we have had many storms.
For the last few weeks we have had many storms.
In these sentences it doesn’t matter whether you use during, in, over or for. The same can be true for expressions of duration containing next instead of last. Just listen.
We’ll be working had during the next couple of months.
We’ll be working hard in the next couple of months.
We’ll be working hard over the next couple of months.
We’ll be working hard for the next couple of months.
Here are two more things to remember about expressing duration with next and last:
👉 1. Using for and over is much more common than using during and in.
👉 2. Although the words with during, in, over and for are very often interchangeable, you cannot always substitute one for the other.
During the last few weeks we have had many storms.
In the last few weeks we have had many storms.
Over the last few weeks we have had many storms.
For the last few weeks we have had many storms.
We’ll be working hard during the next couple of months.
We’ll be working hard in the next couple of months.
We’ll be working hard over the next couple of months.
We’ll be working hard for the next couple of months.
For the next few hours there will be no phone service.
Our business grew 50% over the last couple of years.
In the last few months water quality has improved.
My work will be evaluated over the next six weeks.
During the next several years they sold all their land.
Over the last couple of days she sent many text messages.
For the next few minutes I need total silence.
She totally changed her life in the last couple of years.
For the last several weeks I have followed her on Facebook.
Over the next few years we expect our sales to triple.
During the last several days the situation has worsened.
I want to just read for the next couple of hours.
In the last three years he has rebuilt his life.
@Nanonet1
پدرم از من راضی است.
Anonymous Quiz
55%
My father is satisfied from me.
45%
My father is satisfied with me.
❇️ Idiom
♦️ shrinking violet
آدم خیلی خجالتی
👉 A negative term for a very shy person.
✅ After years of being seen as nothing more than a shrinking violet, she decided to overcome her fears and start talking to strangers.
@Nanonet1
♦️ shrinking violet
آدم خیلی خجالتی
👉 A negative term for a very shy person.
✅ After years of being seen as nothing more than a shrinking violet, she decided to overcome her fears and start talking to strangers.
@Nanonet1
❇️ Idiom
♦️ like a bat out of hell
با سرعت خیلی زیاد و ناگهانی
👉 Very quickly or abruptly.
✅ His tires squealed as he drove out of the parking lot like a bat out of hell.
✅ He can solve math problems like a bat out of hell.
✅ The cat took off like a bat out of hell.
@Nanonet1
♦️ like a bat out of hell
با سرعت خیلی زیاد و ناگهانی
👉 Very quickly or abruptly.
✅ His tires squealed as he drove out of the parking lot like a bat out of hell.
✅ He can solve math problems like a bat out of hell.
✅ The cat took off like a bat out of hell.
@Nanonet1
❇️ How to train you voice
♦️ No one can know your limitations and ability to grow better than you do. You can't start singing like a pop star overnight. Set up realistic goals for yourself, which will help you focus on the right direction. Concentrate on the voice you have and the range you can take it to. Spend time polishing the qualities you possess, rather than setting up unattainable goals.
♦️ The first step you can take to improve your voice as a speaker or singer is to hear it yourself. You should know what you sound like when you are up on the podium. Listening to your own voice will help you judge your voice quality and will highlight the loopholes you need to fill up. Therefore, record your voice and play it for yourself till you pick out all the mistakes. Take help from some experts if you are not able to figure out what's wrong.
♦️ Make it a practice to record your voice during every practice session in order to judge your improvements and shortcomings. This practice will make you notice the changes in your voice and will definitely boost up your confidence levels. It will serve as a motivation to hear improvements in your voice with each tape.
♦️ Breathing practice is quite essential for a speaker, a singer or any profession that tests vocals. Deep breathing is an effective exercise for voice training. You can practice breathing from your diaphragm and exhaling gradually. This exercise will help you control your vocal cords and will ease up modulations.
♦️ Practice this breathing exercise at least once every hour to get a hold of your voice modulation and the pitch. Having a control over your modulation and pitch would give you an advantage of taming the voice and becoming proficient in both high and low pitching.
♦️ Humming is also a good exercise to practice whenever you can. Allow your pitch to rise at the end for the first few days of practice and then let your pitch lower in a way that you do when you doubt someone. If you feel a buzzing sensation in your nasal and eye area when your pitch goes high, you are performing the exercise the right way. When your pitch lowers you should feel the buzzing sensation move down your chest. Humming exercise stretches your vocal chords to avoid any strain when they are put to use.
♦️ In order to become a good singer, moderator or a speaker you need to do much more than just training your vocal chords. Staying healthy is a must for people who earn their living through their voice. It is essential on your part that you take good care of the physical self, along with your voice. Make sure that you exercise regularly to keep your body fit, since a healthy body will give you the strength to perform all other activities. Drink plenty of water to keep your chords lubricated. Also, make sure that while you practice singing or speaking, your posture is good in order to get more air into your lungs.
♦️ Train your voice in order to get your soft palate to a high pitch. Try not to block your throat while singing. Open your mouth wide and let the sound flow out without any strain. This is a simple technique to add volume and range to your voice.
♦️ Heard the proverb practice makes man perfect? Keep practicing all the vocal exercises and scales every day. Consistency in your practice is inevitable in order to master your vocal chords and voice range. Practicing the scales will not only make your voice sharper, but also help you memorize your notes.
@Nanonet1
♦️ No one can know your limitations and ability to grow better than you do. You can't start singing like a pop star overnight. Set up realistic goals for yourself, which will help you focus on the right direction. Concentrate on the voice you have and the range you can take it to. Spend time polishing the qualities you possess, rather than setting up unattainable goals.
♦️ The first step you can take to improve your voice as a speaker or singer is to hear it yourself. You should know what you sound like when you are up on the podium. Listening to your own voice will help you judge your voice quality and will highlight the loopholes you need to fill up. Therefore, record your voice and play it for yourself till you pick out all the mistakes. Take help from some experts if you are not able to figure out what's wrong.
♦️ Make it a practice to record your voice during every practice session in order to judge your improvements and shortcomings. This practice will make you notice the changes in your voice and will definitely boost up your confidence levels. It will serve as a motivation to hear improvements in your voice with each tape.
♦️ Breathing practice is quite essential for a speaker, a singer or any profession that tests vocals. Deep breathing is an effective exercise for voice training. You can practice breathing from your diaphragm and exhaling gradually. This exercise will help you control your vocal cords and will ease up modulations.
♦️ Practice this breathing exercise at least once every hour to get a hold of your voice modulation and the pitch. Having a control over your modulation and pitch would give you an advantage of taming the voice and becoming proficient in both high and low pitching.
♦️ Humming is also a good exercise to practice whenever you can. Allow your pitch to rise at the end for the first few days of practice and then let your pitch lower in a way that you do when you doubt someone. If you feel a buzzing sensation in your nasal and eye area when your pitch goes high, you are performing the exercise the right way. When your pitch lowers you should feel the buzzing sensation move down your chest. Humming exercise stretches your vocal chords to avoid any strain when they are put to use.
♦️ In order to become a good singer, moderator or a speaker you need to do much more than just training your vocal chords. Staying healthy is a must for people who earn their living through their voice. It is essential on your part that you take good care of the physical self, along with your voice. Make sure that you exercise regularly to keep your body fit, since a healthy body will give you the strength to perform all other activities. Drink plenty of water to keep your chords lubricated. Also, make sure that while you practice singing or speaking, your posture is good in order to get more air into your lungs.
♦️ Train your voice in order to get your soft palate to a high pitch. Try not to block your throat while singing. Open your mouth wide and let the sound flow out without any strain. This is a simple technique to add volume and range to your voice.
♦️ Heard the proverb practice makes man perfect? Keep practicing all the vocal exercises and scales every day. Consistency in your practice is inevitable in order to master your vocal chords and voice range. Practicing the scales will not only make your voice sharper, but also help you memorize your notes.
@Nanonet1
Once in a blue moon
Anonymous Quiz
29%
خیلی به ندرت
32%
روزی روزگاری
6%
به طور همیشگی
33%
روزگاری در ماه
❇️ Vocabulary
🛑 contract (verb)
فعل contract را می توانید در موارد زیر استفاده کنید.
👉 to get an ilness (a virus)
مبتلا شدن به مریضی، به ویروس مبتلا شدن
✅ Many people have contracted Corona-Virus in the last two years.
✅ He contracted the flue.
👉 to become narrower or tighter
خورد شدن، منقبض شدن
✅ Metal contracts as it becomes cool.
✅ The economy has contracted by 2.5% in the last 5 years.
✅ His muscles behind the knee begin to contract.
👉 to officially sign an agreement to do something
✅ We are going to contract some new employees.
✅ They have contracted a new salesclerk recently.
@Nanonet1
🛑 contract (verb)
فعل contract را می توانید در موارد زیر استفاده کنید.
👉 to get an ilness (a virus)
مبتلا شدن به مریضی، به ویروس مبتلا شدن
✅ Many people have contracted Corona-Virus in the last two years.
✅ He contracted the flue.
👉 to become narrower or tighter
خورد شدن، منقبض شدن
✅ Metal contracts as it becomes cool.
✅ The economy has contracted by 2.5% in the last 5 years.
✅ His muscles behind the knee begin to contract.
👉 to officially sign an agreement to do something
✅ We are going to contract some new employees.
✅ They have contracted a new salesclerk recently.
@Nanonet1
❇️ Idiom
♦️ pick at
You can use this idiom in the following cases.
👉 To nag, hassle or berate someone, or to be very critical of something
کسی را خیلی مورد انتقاد قرار دادن، نق زدن
✅ My wife has been picking at me constantly since I lost my job.
✅ Don't you think you should stop picking at him? He is very sensitive.
✅ Why are you always picking at him?
👉 to pull something with fingertips
ناخنک زدن، به چیزی زیاد دست زدن
✅ If you keep picking at those scabs, they are not going to heal.
✅ I always pick at the bottom of my shirt when I get nervous.
👉 to eat a small amount of food with no appetite
بدون اشتها مقدار کمی غذا خوردن
✅ I think he is not fine, because he only picked at his dinner.
✅ Why are you picking at your food like that? Don't you like it?
@Nanonet1
♦️ pick at
You can use this idiom in the following cases.
👉 To nag, hassle or berate someone, or to be very critical of something
کسی را خیلی مورد انتقاد قرار دادن، نق زدن
✅ My wife has been picking at me constantly since I lost my job.
✅ Don't you think you should stop picking at him? He is very sensitive.
✅ Why are you always picking at him?
👉 to pull something with fingertips
ناخنک زدن، به چیزی زیاد دست زدن
✅ If you keep picking at those scabs, they are not going to heal.
✅ I always pick at the bottom of my shirt when I get nervous.
👉 to eat a small amount of food with no appetite
بدون اشتها مقدار کمی غذا خوردن
✅ I think he is not fine, because he only picked at his dinner.
✅ Why are you picking at your food like that? Don't you like it?
@Nanonet1