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Lesson 40 / Emotions & practice
5 phrases · 12 minutes · Look, listen and try.
Calm down, encourage you and keep trying when you encounter a difficult task.
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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.
The children settled down when the story began.
The children settled down when the story began.
Give me a moment to settle down after the game.
Give me a moment to settle down after the game.
In the lesson, it means becoming more peaceful or stable, not getting married or settling down.
We cheered our friend on during the race.
We cheered our friend on during the race.
Can you cheer me on while I try again?
Can you cheer me on while I try again?
“Cheer on” is to cheer while someone does an activity; “cheer up” means to make it more fun.
Cambridge Dictionary · cheer on
The puzzle is hard, but I do not want to give in.
The puzzle is hard, but I do not want to give in.
She did not give in when the task became difficult.
She did not give in when the task became difficult.
The meaning here is to no longer resist pressure or difficulty; no need to submit documents.
Cambridge Dictionary · give in
Your drawing is improving. Keep at it.
Your drawing is improving. Keep at it.
We kept at the puzzle until we finished.
We kept at the puzzle until we finished.
Emphasize continued effort on tasks that are difficult or require practice. Do not split phrases.
Let us try out this new way of drawing.
Let us try out this new way of drawing.
I tried the pen out before buying it.
I tried the pen out before buying it.
You test an object or method by using it to see whether it works or suits you. It differs from trying on clothes in “try on”.
The examples were written for this course. Usage was checked against Matt Errey’s book, pages 115, 22, 53, 71, 133. A2–B1 is the course’s intended level.
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OBSERVE · UNDERSTAND · MATCH
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Read the picture descriptions for more context. Similar expressions are accepted when they fit the particular scene.
Khoa sat still and calmed down on the carpet in the classroom.
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Khoa cheers on his friend who is participating in a school game.
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Khoa encountered a difficult puzzle but did not give up.
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Khoa persevered in making the craft through many tries.
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Khoa tried a new way of drawing on paper.
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Choose a phrase to begin.
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Read the conversation and find the expressions you have learned.
Could you cheer me on during the next round?
Could you cheer me on during the next round?
Of course. Keep at it even if the first attempt is difficult.
Of course. Keep at it even if the first attempt is difficult.
I will try out a different approach before I give in.
I will try out a different approach before I give in.
“Cheer on” means encourage someone making an effort; “give in” means yield or stop resisting. Encouragement can help someone continue rather than surrender.
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 learner struggles with a new puzzle. A friend encourages her, and she decides to continue rather than surrender.
Describe the friend’s encouragement.
Her friend is cheering her on.
The friend encourages her to continue the puzzle: “cheering her on”, with “her” before “on”.
Complete: I will keep ___ this puzzle for a little longer.
at
“Keep at this puzzle” means persist with the puzzle; “at” links the verb to that task.
Write a determined reply using give in.
I am not ready to give in; I want to try out another method.
“Not ready to give in” refuses surrender; “try out another method” gives a concrete next attempt.
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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