A randomly assigned, fixed male or female synthetic voice for each phrase or sentence · Slow playback at 0.7× preserves pitch.
Phrase 1 / 5Understand context
Mây brightens up after receiving a card with hearts. A small faded inset shows how sad she was before.
brighten up
Mia brightened up when she saw the card from her friends.
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Mia brightened up when she saw the card from her friends.
He was quiet at first, but he soon brightened up.
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He was quiet at first, but he soon brightened up.
View meaning & usage
Become happier
someone brightens up
Here the mood becomes happier, close to the meaning "cheer up". Phrases can also just make a room brighter or more beautiful; This lesson only learns the meaning of emotions.
Mây takes a rest and breathes slowly as her anger fades. Her face and hands relax; a small inset shows her earlier anger.
cool off
I need a few minutes to cool off before we talk.
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I need a few minutes to cool off before we talk.
After the argument, Ben went for a walk to cool off.
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After the argument, Ben went for a walk to cool off.
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Calm down / calm down
someone cools offcool off before doing something
In the lesson, “cool off” talks about reduced anger; No need to cool food. Different from “brighten up”: calm down is not necessarily cheerful.
Haven't studied yet
Mây regains her confidence after a disappointing piece of work and stands up with a fresh notebook beside her old work.
bounce back
Our team bounced back after losing the first game.
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Our team bounced back after losing the first game.
One bad result does not mean you cannot bounce back.
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One bad result does not mean you cannot bounce back.
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Recovering / regaining spirit after difficulties
bounce backbounce back from somethingbounce back after something
Refers to recovery after failure, illness or difficulty. In the lesson, it is about regaining morale after bad results; not the bouncing action of the ball.
Mây listens compassionately to Phúc, who feels sad about missing his old class, and gently rests a hand on his shoulder.
feel for
I really feel for Sam. He misses his old school.
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I really feel for Sam. He misses his old school.
We felt for our friend when she lost her favourite toy.
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We felt for our friend when she lost her favourite toy.
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Sympathize with people in difficulty
feel for someone
Expresses sympathy, not touching things. Do not separate the phrase: “feel for her”. The past tense of “feel” is “felt”.
Haven't studied yet
Mây offers a glass of water to Minh, who is resting in bed under a blanket.
care for
My uncle cares for my grandmother at home.
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My uncle cares for my grandmother at home.
We took turns caring for our dad while he was ill.
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We took turns caring for our dad while he was ill.
View meaning & usage
Caring for people in need
care for someone
In the lesson, it means direct care, close to the meaning "look after"; different from just sympathy in “feel for”. Do not split phrases. “Would you care for...?” is a polite invitation, in a different sense.
Haven't studied yet
The examples were written for this course. Usage was checked against Matt Errey’s book, pages 14, 28, 12, 44, 19. A2–B1 is the course’s intended level.
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Phrases
Actions in the pictures
Picture description
Mây brightens up after receiving a card with hearts. A small faded inset shows how sad she was before.
The picture could not load. Try loading it again before matching.
Picture description
Mây takes a rest and breathes slowly as her anger fades. Her face and hands relax; a small inset shows her earlier anger.
The picture could not load. Try loading it again before matching.
Picture description
Mây regains her confidence after a disappointing piece of work and stands up with a fresh notebook beside her old work.
The picture could not load. Try loading it again before matching.
Picture description
Mây listens compassionately to Phúc, who feels sad about missing his old class, and gently rests a hand on his shoulder.
The picture could not load. Try loading it again before matching.
Picture description
Mây offers a glass of water to Minh, who is resting in bed under a blanket.
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A conversation in context
Read the conversation and find the expressions you have learned.
Mai
She brightened up when you came to visit.
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She brightened up when you came to visit.
Alex
I hope she will bounce back after that difficult week.
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I hope she will bounce back after that difficult week.
Mai
We can show that we care for her without rushing her.
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We can show that we care for her without rushing her.
Compare the uses
brighten up / bounce back
“Brighten up” can describe becoming happier; “bounce back” stresses recovering after difficulty. A cheerful moment does not necessarily mean complete recovery.
Practice and check your answers
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 situation to apply what you have learned
A friend becomes more cheerful after a visit, but recovering from a difficult month will take longer.
Describe the immediate change.
Show the answer and explanation
She brightened up when her friend visited.
She became more cheerful during the visit, so she “brightened up”; this does not establish full recovery.
Give the past form: She brightens up after the visit.
Show the answer and explanation
She brightened up after the visit.
“Brighten” takes “-ed” to become “brightened”; keep “up” and the timing after the visit.
Write a patient message of support.
Show the answer and explanation
We care for you and will give you time to bounce back.
“Give you time to bounce back” allows recovery time while expressing continued care.
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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