English lessons and practice games are intended for people aged 13 and over.
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Lesson 44 / Thinking & practice
5 phrases · 12 minutes · Look, listen and try.
Understand the law, stay on task, and see the effort bring results.
Match words to pictures →Play What is She/He doing? →
A randomly assigned, fixed male or female synthetic voice for each phrase or sentence · Slow playback at 0.7× preserves pitch.
I did not understand the game at first, but I soon caught on.
I did not understand the game at first, but I soon caught on.
Show me one example, and I will catch on.
Show me one example, and I will catch on.
Here is the beginning of understanding; other than a trend becoming popular. Past tense “caught”.
Cambridge Dictionary · catch on
Let us get on with the puzzle before lunch.
Let us get on with the puzzle before lunch.
After a short break, I got on with my drawing.
After a short break, I got on with my drawing.
In the lesson, continue working; Not to be confused with “get along with” which refers to a harmonious relationship.
Cambridge Dictionary · get on with
This puzzle takes up most of the table.
This puzzle takes up most of the table.
The game took up the whole afternoon.
The game took up the whole afternoon.
The meaning here is to use an amount of space or time; different from starting a new hobby.
We got through all five puzzles before lunch.
We got through all five puzzles before lunch.
I can get through these questions with your help.
I can get through these questions with your help.
In this lesson, it's about completing a task, not connecting a call. Past tense “got”.
Our practice paid off, and we solved the puzzle.
Our practice paid off, and we solved the puzzle.
Keep practising. Your hard work will pay off.
Keep practising. Your hard work will pay off.
The meaning here is about results; “pay off a loan” is to pay off the loan in full. Past tense “paid”.
The examples were written for this course. Usage was checked against Matt Errey’s book, pages 20, 52, 129, 52, 95. A2–B1 is the course’s intended level.
One step forward every day
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Sentences using suggestions are counted as needing more practice. Review schedule based on each phrase's meaning.
OBSERVE · UNDERSTAND · MATCH
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Read the picture descriptions for more context. Similar expressions are accepted when they fit the particular scene.
Linh understands the rules of the game after a friend demonstrates them.
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Linh continued to put the puzzle pieces together after pausing to talk.
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Linh looked at the large jigsaw puzzle that took up most of the table.
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Linh completed the puzzle cards one by one in a small pile.
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Linh was happy when she solved the game after much practice.
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Choose a phrase to begin.
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Read the conversation and find the expressions you have learned.
I am starting to catch on to the rules.
I am starting to catch on to the rules.
Good. We can get on with the puzzle now.
Good. We can get on with the puzzle now.
Our practice should pay off when we reach the harder levels.
Our practice should pay off when we reach the harder levels.
“Catch on” means begin to understand; “get on with” a task means start or continue it. Understanding rules and performing the task are different steps.
Try answering before revealing the suggested answer. This practice is not scored.
The answers below are models. Other answers can also work if they preserve the facts, meaning and structure requested in the task.
A child finally understands a board-game rule. Now the group must continue a challenge that takes a long time.
Describe the moment of understanding.
The child has caught on to the rule.
“Has caught on to the rule” shows that the child has understood it, rather than merely heard it.
Complete: Let us get on ___ the challenge.
with
“Get on with the challenge” means continue it; keep “with” before the task.
Warn the group about the time needed.
This challenge may take up the rest of the afternoon.
“Take up the rest of the afternoon” warns that the challenge may occupy all the remaining afternoon.
The usage comparisons are checked against the Cambridge Dictionary entries linked beside the compared expressions. The additional conversations and exercises are written for this course.
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