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Lesson 55 / Weather
5 phrases · 12 minutes · Look, listen and try.
Realize the rain stops, the sky clears, and conditions affect outing plans.
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A randomly assigned, fixed male or female synthetic voice for each phrase or sentence · Slow playback at 0.7× preserves pitch.
Let us wait indoors until the rain lets up.
Let us wait indoors until the rain lets up.
The rain let up after lunch, but it did not stop completely.
The rain let up after lunch, but it did not stop completely.
Emphasize that the intensity decreases, not necessarily stopping completely. The past is still “let”.
The weather is clearing up, so we can go outside soon.
The weather is clearing up, so we can go outside soon.
It rained all morning, but it cleared up in the afternoon.
It rained all morning, but it cleared up in the afternoon.
Meaning of better weather; different from resolving misunderstandings in a previous lesson.
The wind died down in the evening.
The wind died down in the evening.
We waited for the noise to die down before speaking.
We waited for the noise to die down before speaking.
Talking about strong or noisy things gradually calming down does not mean that living things die. The past tense is written “died”.
Cambridge Dictionary · die down
Our picnic depends on the weather.
Our picnic depends on the weather.
The time we leave depends on when the bus arrives.
The time we leave depends on when the bus arrives.
In the lesson, the result changes according to conditions, not trusting one person.
I find it hard to put up with this heat.
I find it hard to put up with this heat.
We should find some shade instead of putting up with the hot sun.
We should find some shade instead of putting up with the hot sun.
Talk about enduring unpleasant things; does not mean forced to accept all problems. Do not split phrases.
The examples were written for this course. Usage was checked against Matt Errey’s book, pages 78, 23, 35, 35, 103. A2–B1 is the course’s intended level.
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Sentences using suggestions are counted as needing more practice. Review schedule based on each phrase's meaning.
OBSERVE · UNDERSTAND · MATCH
Drag a wire from the dot beside a phrase to the dot beside its matching picture. You can also tap a phrase, then a picture. Drag again to change a pair before checking.
Read the picture descriptions for more context. Similar expressions are accepted when they fit the particular scene.
Hạ watched from inside the house as the heavy rain reduced to a few drops.
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Hạ happily watched the rain clouds disappear and the blue sky began to appear outside the window.
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Hạ watched as the wind outside the window calmed down and the tree branches moved less.
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Hạ and Minh looked at the sky to decide whether they could go on a picnic or not.
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Hạ was uncomfortable because of the heat and was helped by Minh to rest under the shade of a tree with some water to drink.
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Choose a phrase to begin.
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Read the conversation and find the expressions you have learned.
Has the rain let up yet?
Has the rain let up yet?
A little, but we should wait for the wind to die down.
A little, but we should wait for the wind to die down.
Our route will depend on how wet the paths are.
Our route will depend on how wet the paths are.
“Let up” describes rain or a situation becoming less intense; “die down” often describes wind, noise, or emotion gradually decreasing. Consider the subject because uses can overlap.
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.
Rain is becoming less intense, but the wind remains strong. A group has not chosen a safe departure time.
What change has happened to the rain?
The rain has let up a little.
The rain has become less intense, so it “has let up”; this does not imply weaker wind.
Complete: We should wait for the wind to die ___.
down
“Die down” describes weakening wind; “wait for” shows the group is still awaiting that change.
Explain why the departure is still uncertain.
Our departure depends on the wind as well as the rain.
“Depends on the wind as well as the rain” retains both conditions, so lighter rain alone does not settle departure.
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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