Speaker 1: You want to sound more natural in English, I'm on it.
You want me to teach you that kind of lesson, Yeah,
we'll do. You need my help to speak better, gotcha?
That's what we're all about. Here.
Speaker 2: Welcome to another Happy English podcast, coming to you from
New York City. And here's your English teacher, Michael.
Speaker 1: All right, thank you, Jan and thanks everyone. It's Michael
here from Happy English and I help people speak English better.
And this is Happy English Podcast, Episode eight seventy one,
speaking naturally casual phrases that replace grammar. Thanks for tuning
in and welcome back to the Happy English Podcast. Let
me start with this. Have you ever heard someone say
something like yes, that's acceptable or no, thank you? I
do not want that. Yeah, I mean it's correct, but
it doesn't really sound like something you'd hear in everyday life. Right,
in real conversation, we usually don't speak like that. We
use more relaxed, casual phrases, and they're often shorter and
more natural sounding. So today I want to show you
some of those everyday expressions that native speakers use instead
of formal grammar. You'll sound more fluent and you'll feel
more confident too. Sound good let's dive in sounds good?
This one is super common. Let's say your.
Speaker 3: Friend says let's meet at the bar at six thirty.
Speaker 1: Answer, yes, that is acceptable. You're technically correct, but it
sounds like you're a robot lawyer. So instead just say
sounds good or sounds good to me. We use sounds
good to mean yeah, I agree with your idea, or
let's do that.
Speaker 3: Let's meet at the bar at six point thirty.
Speaker 1: Sounds good to me. It's friendly, simple, and you can
use it in almost any situation to confirm plans or
to accept an invitation, even at work.
Speaker 4: Can we have a meeting at ten?
Speaker 1: Sure? Sounds good. Next up is a great phrase you
can use for politely saying no. Here's how it works.
In standard English, the conversation might go like this, do you.
Speaker 3: Want another slice of pizza?
Speaker 1: No? Thank you? I do not want? Hmm formal right.
A more natural and casual phrase to politely say no
is I'm good. So instead of no or no thank you,
just say nah, I'm good or no thanks, I'm good.
Speaker 3: Like this, do you want another slice of pizza?
Speaker 1: Nah, I'm good?
Speaker 4: Or can I get you another beer?
Speaker 1: No thanks, I'm good. In this context, i'm good doesn't
mean I feel great. It means no thank you. Like
last weekend, I was at a friend's barbecue and someone
offered me another hot dog. I was already full, so
I just smiled and said, I'm good, perfectly natural. The
next one is something I personally use all the time. Gotcha,
which is a version of got it, which is the
U usual pronunciation of I got what you said. Gotcha.
This is what we say when we understand something like
when David was helping me with the computer, he said.
Speaker 4: Just press this button, then restart it.
Speaker 1: Ah, gotcha. Or when I asked for directions, the woman said.
Speaker 5: Walk up this street and at the second corner, turn right.
It's on the left side.
Speaker 1: Second corner, turn right. Gotcha. It's quick, natural and shows
you're paying attention. Does that make sense? Gotcha? When someone
asks you to do something, how can you reply?
Speaker 4: Your coworker asks, can you look over this report? I wrote?
Speaker 1: You could reply with yes, I will do that, but
the short form of that is much more common these days.
Will do?
Speaker 4: Can you look over this report? I wrote?
Speaker 1: Will do?
Speaker 3: Or can you go see if the mail came?
Speaker 1: Sure? Will do? And while we're on the topic of
saying yes to requests, you could also use you got
it or I'm on it?
Speaker 4: Can you help me move this desk?
Speaker 1: You got it?
Speaker 3: Do you think you can find a good restaurant for
the party?
Speaker 1: Sure, I'm on it. The next one is no worries.
This is a great multi purpose phrase. You can use
no worries when someone says sorry or thank you. Like
let's say your friend.
Speaker 4: Says, hey, sorry, I'm late.
Speaker 1: Instead of saying, oh, that's okay, just say no worries.
Or if they say.
Speaker 3: Thanks for helping me with my homework, you.
Speaker 1: Can say no worries, happy to help, no worries. It's chill,
friendly and super common. Let's talk about a great being
with someone on a plan or a time to meet.
If a friend says.
Speaker 4: Can we meet it three instead of two, you.
Speaker 1: Could say yes, that is acceptable. But the more natural
way to do it in English is with this phrase
that works. It's more relaxed than saying that is acceptable,
and we use it all the time.
Speaker 4: Like this, can we have a class on Saturday at nine?
Speaker 1: Yeah? That works?
Speaker 3: Do you want to try that new pizza shop for lunch?
Speaker 1: That works for me? Now you're sounding like a native speaker.
So there you have it. Six phrases that sound real,
sound natural, and sound like you when you're speaking English.
Let's run through them one more time.
Speaker 3: Do you want to have lunch tomorrow?
Speaker 1: Sounds good?
Speaker 4: How about another burger?
Speaker 1: Oh? I'm good.
Speaker 3: All you need to do is press here and the
door will open.
Speaker 1: Gotcha?
Speaker 4: Can you pick me up from the station?
Speaker 5: Yeah, well do Sorry I forgot to call you last night.
I got home late.
Speaker 1: Oh, no worries.
Speaker 4: Why don't we meet in front of the station that works.
Speaker 1: Try using one or two of these today. I'll bet
you'll feel like your English is already sounding more natural
and people will definitely notice. And Hey, if you want
to practice these with me and a group of other
awesome learners, come check out my podcast Learner's Study Group.
We meet once a week and practice these podcast lessons together.
It's a great way to build confidence and improve your speaking.
Just visit Myhappy English dot com and choose podcast episode
eight seventy one for more info, or click the link
below where you are listening to this podcast right now.
And remember, learning another language is not easy, but it's
not impossible, and I'm here to help you on your journey.
Speaker 2: This podcast is brought to you by Happy English. Please
visit myhappy english dot com. Show your support for Happy
English by leaving us a review. Get English, Get Happy,
Happy English.