Daily Exercises
A new Phrasal Verb is “Hold down.” The English Grammar focuses on Wh-Clefts.
Abel: “How does that work?”
Grant: “It’s simple. Just hold the end down with your foot, and pull up on the sides.”
Abel: “Oh, I see. Duh.”
Grant: “Look at this. I’ve got several new contraptions from the store.”
Abel: “What does that one do?”
Grant: “That works your abs. It’s good for your core.”
Abel: “I like what you’ve got here.”
Grant: “I can do a lot just in my garage. Then I go running afterwards.”
Abel: “So it’s a combination of power and cardio.”
Grant: “That’s right, and that’s what we need.”
VOCABULARY WITH IDIOMS
Hold down as a phrasal verb means to push down on something to prevent it from moving or shifting. See online Idioms Dictionary.
Contraption means device, gadget. The dictionary says it may be a blend of contrivance, trap, and invention. See online Dictionary.
Cardio means cardiovascular exercises. See online Dictionary.
ENGLISH GRAMMAR
Suggested Topic for Comments: Wh-Clefts
“That’s what we need.” In the Wh-cleft sentence, there is a pivotal form of “to be” (as distinguished from free relative constructions) and the initial Wh-clause is elaborated after the copula. It is also worth noting that the Wh-clefts can be reversed: “What we need is that.”
INTERMEDIATE-ADVANCED DIALOGUE
Tony and Aaron discuss daily exercises. The Grammar focuses on the Conditional.
Aaron: “There’s a big open space over there, not too many people.”
Tony: “Great, do you want an umbrella? I can call the guy over.”
Aaron: “Sure, why not? Are you going swimming?”
Tony: “I have to exercise today.”
Aaron: “I always eat like a horse when I swim.”
Tony: “If I don’t swim, I have to run to stay in shape.”
Aaron: “Walking would do just as well.”
Tony: “Walking is great, but maybe not enough.”
Aaron: “What do you mean?”
Tony: “I have to get some kind of aerobic thing going. Running is better.”
Aaron: “Fast walking works.”
Tony: “Not for me. It reminds me of those older folks in the park on Sundays.”
Aaron: “That’s cruel. Everybody has to exercise.”
Tony: “I would be a fish out of water doing that. I’m too young.”
Aaron: “Well, they didn’t run when they were younger, so walking is the best they can do now.”
Tony: “Such wisdom!”
Aaron: “I don’t know, I just play it by ear. Today I swim.”
VOCABULARY WITH IDIOMS
Call over means to request that someone come to where one is. See online Idioms Dictionary.
Eat like a horse means to eat large quantities of food. See online Idioms Dictionary.
In shape means in good, robust health; strong or fit. https://idioms.thefreedictionary.com/in+shape.
A fish out of water means a person who is in a completely unsuitable environment or situation. https://idioms.thefreedictionary.com/a+fish+out+of+water.
Play it by ear means to decide how to act in or deal with a particular situation in an adaptive, flexible, or improvised way, based on the circumstances. https://idioms.thefreedictionary.com/play+it+by+ear.
ENGLISH GRAMMAR
Suggested Topic for Comments: Conditionals
It’s either that or long-distance running, if you want to stay in shape. The clauses can be reversed, and the sentence re-worded to: If you want to stay in shape, it’s either that or long-distance running. This is what is known as a Generic Factual Conditional, which is very frequent in scientific writing: If you freeze water, it turns to ice. These constructions express relationships that are true and unchanging, and therefore normally take the present tense in both clauses.
GAPFILL EXAM for this lesson
Learn Conversational English
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