Lesson 1: The Little Word After the Verb

Some English verbs want a small word after them — listen to, look for, depend on. Others refuse one — discuss, enter, reach, ask. You cannot hear which is which, so most learners guess. These eight are the ones people guess wrong.

How to use this lesson. Read each conversation aloud, slowly, two or three times. Do not worry about speed — clear is better than fast. Notice the expressions under each conversation, then try the practice at the end. If you can, read with a friend and take turns playing each person.

1. Say That Again

Mira: You're not listening to me.

Ken: I am. The bus times.

Mira: Listen to the second half.

Ken: Right. Platform four, not two.

Mira: That's the part that matters.

Useful expressionsYou're not listening to me.Listen to the second half.Platform four, not two.That's the part that matters.

2. Not on the Table

Nils: What are you looking for?

Bea: My keys. I've checked twice.

Nils: Look at the hook by the door.

Bea: Empty. I looked there first.

Nils: Coat pocket, then.

Bea: Found them. Coat pocket.

Useful expressionsWhat are you looking for?I've checked twice.Look at the hook by the door.Coat pocket, then.

3. It's Not Fixed Yet

Tariq: Are we still going Saturday?

Wren: It depends on the weather.

Tariq: And if it rains?

Wren: It depends on you too. You're driving.

Tariq: Sunday works either way.

Wren: Sunday, then.

Useful expressionsIt depends on the weather.Are we still going Saturday?It depends on you too.Sunday works either way.

4. The Second Part

Pia: Can you explain the form to me?

Otto: Which part?

Pia: The second part. The dates.

Otto: Start date, then the date you moved out.

Pia: Explain that last box to me as well.

Otto: That one's your signature.

Useful expressionsCan you explain the form to me?Which part?Start date, then the date you moved out.That one's your signature.

5. Ten Minutes on This

Hana: We need to discuss the budget.

Rui: Now, or after lunch?

Hana: Now. Ten minutes.

Rui: Do we discuss the staffing too?

Hana: That's a separate meeting.

Rui: Good. Budget only.

Useful expressionsWe need to discuss the budget.Now, or after lunch?Ten minutes.That's a separate meeting.

6. Wait for the Light

Ada: Can we go in?

Sol: Don't enter the studio while the light's red.

Ada: How long does it stay red?

Sol: Till they stop recording. Two minutes.

Ada: I'll stand out here.

Sol: Green now. Enter the studio quietly.

Useful expressionsDon't enter the studio while the light's red.Can we go in?Till they stop recording.Enter the studio quietly.

7. What Time Did You Get In?

Kofi: What time did you reach the airport?

Lena: Half nine. The traffic was kind.

Kofi: And the flight?

Lena: I reached the hotel at three.

Kofi: Long day.

Lena: Long, but fine.

Useful expressionsWhat time did you reach the airport?The traffic was kind.I reached the hotel at three.Long, but fine.

8. Ask the Man at the Desk

Zeb: Nobody knows the code.

Ivy: Ask the man at the desk.

Zeb: I asked him twice.

Ivy: Then ask his manager.

Zeb: She's the one who sent me to him.

Ivy: Circles. I'll ring the office.

Useful expressionsAsk the man at the desk.Nobody knows the code.I asked him twice.I'll ring the office.

Words to know

listen to	listen keeps to before the person or thing you are hearing Listen to the second half.
look for	look for means try to find. look at means point your eyes at something What are you looking for?
depend on	depend always takes on before the thing that decides the answer It depends on the weather.
explain to	the pattern is explain something to someone — never explain me Can you explain the form to me?
discuss	discuss takes the topic straight after it, with no about We need to discuss the budget.
enter	enter takes the place straight after it, with no to Enter the studio quietly.
reach	reach takes the destination straight after it, with no to I reached the hotel at three.
ask	ask takes the person straight after it, with no to Ask the man at the desk.

Quick practice

Each line below has one small word too many or one missing. Say the whole line correctly out loud, then check the answers.

1. Not: You're not listening me.
    Say: _______________

2. Not: What are you looking?
    Say: _______________

3. Not: It depends of the weather.
    Say: _______________

4. Not: Can you explain me the form?
    Say: _______________

5. Not: We need to discuss about the budget.
    Say: _______________

6. Not: What time did you reach to the airport?
    Say: _______________

Show the answers

1. You're not listening to me.   2. What are you looking for?   3. It depends on the weather.   4. Can you explain the form to me?   5. We need to discuss the budget.   6. What time did you reach the airport?

Common mistakes

Not: The company changed it's policy.

Say: The company changed its policy.

its shows possession. it's is short for it is or it has. If you can say it is in the same place, keep the apostrophe.

Not: Your very kind.

Say: You're very kind.

you're is short for you are. your goes in front of a noun: your bag, your idea.

Not: My phone is older then yours.

Say: My phone is older than yours.

than compares two things. then is about time or what happens next.

Your turn

Say these five aloud. If the small word feels wrong, say the whole line twice more until it stops feeling wrong.

• Ask someone for help with a form, using explain it to me.
• Name one thing in your week that depends on the weather.
• Say what you were looking for the last time you lost something.
• Say one thing you need to discuss with someone this month, with no about.
• Say what time you reached home yesterday, with no to.

Quick review

Sort the eight into two piles. Needs a small word: listen to, look for, depend on, explain to. Takes none: discuss, enter, reach, ask. Say each pile out loud three times tonight. Knowing which pile a verb lives in is the whole lesson — after that the sentence builds itself.