Happy English Podcast (Natural American English)

I’m looking forward to seeing you. I’m used to getting up early. I’m committed to improving my language skills.

Wait a minute. Why do we have ING after to? You probably learned expressions like “I want to go,” “I need to study,” and “I hope to see you,” where to is followed by a base verb. But sometimes to works differently. Have you ever wondered why we say looking forward to seeing you instead of looking forward to see you? If so, you’re in luck - because today, we’re going to look at five common expressions where to is followed by a noun or an ING form.

The Happy English Podcast
Helping people speak English better since 2014
Over 1,000 episodes • 8 million downloads

📘 Get free weekly English lessons plus instant access to my FREE Vocabulary Workshop.:
https://learn.myhappyenglish.com/free-english-lessons

🎥 Watch video versions of the Happy English Podcast on YouTube
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🌐 Learn more about my English lessons and courses
https://www.myhappyenglish.com

When you’re working on a project, studying something new, or just trying to get through a busy day, there are lots of natural ways to talk about the progress you’re making. So today, we’re going to look at six useful expressions you can use when something is moving forward.

One down, one to go. So far, so good. We’re getting there. Halfway there. Almost there. One step at a time. 

The Happy English Podcast
Helping people speak English better since 2014
Over 1,000 episodes • 8 million downloads

📘 Get free weekly English lessons plus instant access to my FREE Vocabulary Workshop.:
https://learn.myhappyenglish.com/free-english-lessons

🎥 Watch video versions of the Happy English Podcast on YouTube
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🌐 Learn more about my English lessons and courses
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Oh, hi there. I'm glad you're still up.

Up is a very simple word, but in everyday English, aside from referring to a higher place or position, the word up appears in a lot of common expressions with completely different meanings. Have you been wondering what up really means in phrases like: Are you up? Are you up for dinner? What are you up to? I think he’s up to something. The service wasn’t up to par? If so, you’re in luck - because today, we’re going to look at five natural ways you can use up in everyday conversation. 

The Happy English Podcast
Helping people speak English better since 2014
Over 1,000 episodes • 8 million downloads

📘 Get free weekly English lessons plus instant access to my FREE Vocabulary Workshop.:
https://learn.myhappyenglish.com/free-english-lessons

🎥 Watch video versions of the Happy English Podcast on YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/@HappyEnglishNY/podcasts

🌐 Learn more about my English lessons and courses
https://www.myhappyenglish.com

You know what? Yesterday instead of driving, I took the train. Let’s stay home instead. I ordered tea instead of coffee. Don’t complain. Try fixing it instead. 

Instead is a very useful word when we choose one thing in place of another. And one of the most important things to notice is the difference between instead and instead of. Have you been wondering how to use instead naturally? If so, you’re in luck - because today, we’re going to look at how you can use instead in everyday English.


The Happy English Podcast
Helping people speak English better since 2014
Over 1,000 episodes • 8 million downloads

📘 Get free weekly English lessons plus instant access to my FREE Vocabulary Workshop.:
https://learn.myhappyenglish.com/free-english-lessons

🎥 Watch video versions of the Happy English Podcast on YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/@HappyEnglishNY/podcasts

🌐 Learn more about my English lessons and courses
https://www.myhappyenglish.com

There’s a chill in the air. The leaves are starting to change. It’s getting dark earlier. It really feels like fall. You can tell winter is coming. 

Fall gives us a lot of easy, natural ways to talk about the weather and the changes happening around us. So today, instead of focusing on one word or phrase, we’re going to look at five natural ways you can talk about fall in everyday English.
Welcome to another Happy English Podcast, coming to you from New York City - and here’s your English teacher, Michael!


The Happy English Podcast
Helping people speak English better since 2014
Over 1,000 episodes • 8 million downloads

📘 Get free weekly English lessons plus instant access to my FREE Vocabulary Workshop.:
https://learn.myhappyenglish.com/free-english-lessons

🎥 Watch video versions of the Happy English Podcast on YouTube
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🌐 Learn more about my English lessons and courses
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A lot of my students tell me that starting a conversation is easy, compared to ending one. Sometimes ending a conversation can feel a little awkward. You’re ready to leave or stop talking, but you don’t want to suddenly say, “Okay, bye!” So what can you say instead? Today, we’re going to look at three natural ways to end a conversation politely: I should get going, I won’t keep you, and I’ll let you get back to it.

The Happy English Podcast
Helping people speak English better since 2014
Over 1,000 episodes • 8 million downloads

📘 Get free weekly English lessons plus instant access to my FREE Vocabulary Workshop.:
https://learn.myhappyenglish.com/free-english-lessons

🎥 Watch video versions of the Happy English Podcast on YouTube
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🌐 Learn more about my English lessons and courses
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Sometimes you need someone to wait - but simply saying “Wait!” can sound a little strong. The good news is, there are several easy, natural ways to ask someone to wait in everyday conversation. Have you been wondering what you can say instead of just “Wait”? If so, you’re in luck - because today, we’re going to look at three natural ways to ask someone to wait: hang on a second, give me a minute, and just a sec.

The Happy English Podcast
Helping people speak English better since 2014
Over 1,000 episodes • 8 million downloads

📘 Get free weekly English lessons plus instant access to my FREE Vocabulary Workshop.:
https://learn.myhappyenglish.com/free-english-lessons

🎥 Watch video versions of the Happy English Podcast on YouTube
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🌐 Learn more about my English lessons and courses
https://www.myhappyenglish.com

At first, I didn’t like it. At first, I thought he was joking. It was difficult at first, but I got used to it. 

At first is a very useful phrase when we talk about the beginning of a situation and then show that something changed later. Have you been wondering how to use at first naturally? If so, you’re in luck - because today, we’re going to look at how you can use at first in everyday English.


The Happy English Podcast
Helping people speak English better since 2014
Over 1,000 episodes • 8 million downloads

📘 Get free weekly English lessons plus instant access to my FREE Vocabulary Workshop.:
https://learn.myhappyenglish.com/free-english-lessons

🎥 Watch video versions of the Happy English Podcast on YouTube
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🌐 Learn more about my English lessons and courses
https://www.myhappyenglish.com

Have you ever been there? Do you ever cook? If you ever need help, call me. Best pizza ever! I hardly ever watch TV. 

Ever is a small word, but it shows up in a lot of everyday conversations. And depending on the sentence, it can add ideas like at any time, at any point, or even stronger emphasis. Have you been wondering how to use ever naturally? If so, you’re in luck - because today, we’re going to look at how you can use ever in everyday English.


The Happy English Podcast
Helping people speak English better since 2014
Over 1,000 episodes • 8 million downloads

📘 Get free weekly English lessons plus instant access to my FREE Vocabulary Workshop.:
https://learn.myhappyenglish.com/free-english-lessons

🎥 Watch video versions of the Happy English Podcast on YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/@HappyEnglishNY/podcasts

🌐 Learn more about my English lessons and courses
https://www.myhappyenglish.com

We’ll figure it out somehow.  Somehow, I lost my keys again. Somehow, he always knows. 

Somehow is a very useful word in everyday English because we use it when we don’t know exactly how something happened, or when we believe something can happen even if we don’t know the exact way. Have you been wondering how to use somehow naturally? If so, you’re in luck - because today, we’re going to look at how you can use somehow in everyday English.
English.


The Happy English Podcast
Helping people speak English better since 2014
Over 1,000 episodes • 8 million downloads

📘 Get free weekly English lessons plus instant access to my FREE Vocabulary Workshop.:
https://learn.myhappyenglish.com/free-english-lessons

🎥 Watch video versions of the Happy English Podcast on YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/@HappyEnglishNY/podcasts

🌐 Learn more about my English lessons and courses
https://www.myhappyenglish.com

I’ll probably stay home tonight. He’s probably busy. Probably not. You should probably call her. 
Probably is a very common word in everyday English, and we use it when we think something is likely, but we’re not completely certain. But probably can also help make advice and opinions sound softer and more natural. Have you been wondering how to use probably naturally? If so, you’re in luck—because today, we’re going to look at how you can use probably in everyday English.


The Happy English Podcast
Helping people speak English better since 2014
Over 1,000 episodes • 8 million downloads

📘 Get free weekly English lessons plus instant access to my FREE Vocabulary Workshop.:
https://learn.myhappyenglish.com/free-english-lessons

🎥 Watch video versions of the Happy English Podcast on YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/@HappyEnglishNY/podcasts

🌐 Learn more about my English lessons and courses
https://www.myhappyenglish.com

Leave now. Otherwise, you’ll miss the train. Wear a jacket. Otherwise, you’ll be cold. The room was a little small, but otherwise the hotel was great. Unless I hear otherwise, I’ll see you Friday. 

Otherwise is a very useful word because it can connect ideas in two different ways. Sometimes it means if not, and sometimes it means apart from that. Have you been wondering how to use otherwise naturally? If so, you’re in luck - because today, we’re going to look at how you can use otherwise in everyday English.


The Happy English Podcast
Helping people speak English better since 2014
Over 1,000 episodes • 8 million downloads

📘 Get free weekly English lessons plus instant access to my FREE Vocabulary Workshop.:
https://learn.myhappyenglish.com/free-english-lessons

🎥 Watch video versions of the Happy English Podcast on YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/@HappyEnglishNY/podcasts

🌐 Learn more about my English lessons and courses
https://www.myhappyenglish.com

Really? Not really. I really like it. Do you really think so? I don’t really know. 

Really is one of those extremely common words in everyday English that does a lot more than simply mean very. We use it to show surprise, interest, doubt, strong feeling, and sometimes to soften what we say. Have you been wondering how to use really naturally in conversation? If so, you’re in luck-because today, we’re going to look at how you can use really in everyday English.


The Happy English Podcast
Helping people speak English better since 2014
Over 1,000 episodes • 8 million downloads

📘 Get free weekly English lessons plus instant access to my FREE Vocabulary Workshop.:
https://learn.myhappyenglish.com/free-english-lessons

🎥 Watch video versions of the Happy English Podcast on YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/@HappyEnglishNY/podcasts

🌐 Learn more about my English lessons and courses
https://www.myhappyenglish.com

Apparently, they’re moving. Apparently, the restaurant closed last month. He’s not coming, apparently. Apparently not. 

Apparently is a very useful word in everyday English because it lets us share information that we learned, heard, or have reason to believe, without saying that we know it for certain. Have you been wondering how to use apparently naturally? If so, you’re in luck—because today, we’re going to look at how you can use apparently in everyday English.


The Happy English Podcast
Helping people speak English better since 2014
Over 1,000 episodes • 8 million downloads

📘 Get free weekly English lessons plus instant access to my FREE Vocabulary Workshop.:
https://learn.myhappyenglish.com/free-english-lessons

🎥 Watch video versions of the Happy English Podcast on YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/@HappyEnglishNY/podcasts

🌐 Learn more about my English lessons and courses
https://www.myhappyenglish.com

I don’t like it at all. Did you sleep at all? Does that bother you at all? Are you hungry at all? Not at all.

At all is one of those small expressions that can be easy to overlook, but it adds an important feeling to a sentence. We often use it in negative sentences and questions to mean something like even a little, in any way, or to any degree. Have you been wondering how to use at all naturally? If so, you’re in luck—because today, we’re going to look at how you can use at all in everyday English.


The Happy English Podcast
Helping people speak English better since 2014
Over 1,000 episodes • 8 million downloads

📘 Get free weekly English lessons plus instant access to my FREE Vocabulary Workshop.:
https://learn.myhappyenglish.com/free-english-lessons

🎥 Watch video versions of the Happy English Podcast on YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/@HappyEnglishNY/podcasts

🌐 Learn more about my English lessons and courses
https://www.myhappyenglish.com

So far, so good. How’s the trip going so far? I’ve watched three episodes so far. So far, we haven’t had any problems. That’s the best one so far. 

So far is a very common expression in everyday English, and we use it when we talk about what has happened up to the present point. Sometimes we’re talking about progress, sometimes results, and sometimes comparing what has happened until now. Have you been wondering how to use so far naturally? If so, you’re in luck - because today, we’re going to look at how you can use so far in everyday English.


The Happy English Podcast
Helping people speak English better since 2014
Over 1,000 episodes • 8 million downloads

📘 Get free weekly English lessons plus instant access to my FREE Vocabulary Workshop.:
https://learn.myhappyenglish.com/free-english-lessons

🎥 Watch video versions of the Happy English Podcast on YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/@HappyEnglishNY/podcasts

🌐 Learn more about my English lessons and courses
https://www.myhappyenglish.com

We’re already here, so we might as well go inside. It’s raining, so we might as well stay home. If you’re making coffee, you might as well make me one too. 

Might as well is one of those common conversational phrases that can be difficult to translate word for word, but once you understand the feeling behind it, it becomes much easier to use. We use might as well when there isn’t a strong reason not to do something, so doing it seems reasonable. Have you been wondering how to use might as well naturally? If so, you’re in luck - because today, we’re going to look at how you can use might as well in everyday English.


The Happy English Podcast
Helping people speak English better since 2014
Over 1,000 episodes • 8 million downloads

📘 Get free weekly English lessons plus instant access to my FREE Vocabulary Workshop.:
https://learn.myhappyenglish.com/free-english-lessons

🎥 Watch video versions of the Happy English Podcast on YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/@HappyEnglishNY/podcasts

🌐 Learn more about my English lessons and courses
https://www.myhappyenglish.com

What are you up to? What have you been up to lately? It’s up to you. That’s not up to me. Up to 50 people can attend. 

Up to is another one of those common conversational phrases that looks simple, but has a number of different meanings depending on the situation. Do you often use up to in your daily English conversations? Have you been wondering about the different ways we use up to? If so, you’re in luck - because today, we’re going to look at how you can use up to naturally in everyday English.

The Happy English Podcast
Helping people speak English better since 2014
Over 1,000 episodes • 8 million downloads

📘 Get free weekly English lessons plus instant access to my FREE Vocabulary Workshop.:
https://learn.myhappyenglish.com/free-english-lessons

🎥 Watch video versions of the Happy English Podcast on YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/@HappyEnglishNY/podcasts

🌐 Learn more about my English lessons and courses
https://www.myhappyenglish.com

Exactly! That’s exactly what I mean. What exactly happened? Where exactly are we meeting? Not exactly. 

Exactly is a very common word in everyday English, and we use it in several useful ways. Sometimes it shows strong agreement. Sometimes it makes a question more precise. Sometimes it means something is completely correct. And not exactly is a very natural way to soften a correction. Have you wondered about the different ways we use exactly? If so, you’re in luck - because today, we’re going to look at how you can use exactly naturally in everyday English.


The Happy English Podcast
Helping people speak English better since 2014
Over 1,000 episodes • 8 million downloads

📘 Get free weekly English lessons plus instant access to my FREE Vocabulary Workshop.:
https://learn.myhappyenglish.com/free-english-lessons

🎥 Watch video versions of the Happy English Podcast on YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/@HappyEnglishNY/podcasts

🌐 Learn more about my English lessons and courses
https://www.myhappyenglish.com

Whatever you want. Whatever works. Whatever happens, call me. I’ll eat whatever you’re having. Whatever! 

Whatever is one of those words that can sound friendly, relaxed, flexible, or even annoyed depending on how you use it. Sometimes it means “anything is okay.” Sometimes it means “it doesn’t matter which one.” Sometimes it introduces the idea that the result won’t change. And sometimes, with the right tone, Whatever! can mean, “I’m done arguing about this.” Have you wondered about the different ways we use whatever? If so, you’re in luck - because today, we’re going to look at how you can use whatever naturally in everyday English.


The Happy English Podcast
Helping people speak English better since 2014
Over 1,000 episodes • 8 million downloads

📘 Get free weekly English lessons plus instant access to my FREE Vocabulary Workshop.:
https://learn.myhappyenglish.com/free-english-lessons

🎥 Watch video versions of the Happy English Podcast on YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/@HappyEnglishNY/podcasts

🌐 Learn more about my English lessons and courses
https://www.myhappyenglish.com

I’m supposed to meet her at six. You’re not supposed to park here. It’s supposed to rain tomorrow. I was supposed to call you yesterday. What am I supposed to do?

Supposed to is one of those expressions you hear all the time in everyday English, and we use it for several different situations. We can talk about plans and expectations, rules, things people say are true, and even things that were planned but never happened. Have you wondered about the different ways we use supposed to? If so, you’re in luck—because today, we’re going to look at how you can use supposed to naturally in everyday English.


The Happy English Podcast
Helping people speak English better since 2014
Over 1,000 episodes • 8 million downloads

📘 Get free weekly English lessons plus instant access to my FREE Vocabulary Workshop.:
https://learn.myhappyenglish.com/free-english-lessons

🎥 Watch video versions of the Happy English Podcast on YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/@HappyEnglishNY/podcasts

🌐 Learn more about my English lessons and courses
https://www.myhappyenglish.com

Does it matter? I think it doesn’t matter. What matters is that we finish on time. That really matters to me. No matter what, I’ll be there. 

Matter - it's a simple word that reminds me of my high school physics class. But in everyday conversation, we use matter in a number of different ways. Sometimes it means something is important. Sometimes it means something is not important. And sometimes we use set phrases like what matters is... and no matter what... to talk about priorities and determination. Have you been wondered about the different ways we use matter? 
If so, you’re in luck—because today, we’re going to look at how you can use matter naturally in everyday English.


The Happy English Podcast
Helping people speak English better since 2014
Over 1,000 episodes • 8 million downloads

📘 Get free weekly English lessons plus instant access to my FREE Vocabulary Workshop.:
https://learn.myhappyenglish.com/free-english-lessons

🎥 Watch video versions of the Happy English Podcast on YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/@HappyEnglishNY/podcasts

🌐 Learn more about my English lessons and courses
https://www.myhappyenglish.com

In this English lesson podcast, Michael welcomes a special guest - Lindsay McMahon from All Ears English. We are going to talk about what it means to be “warm,” in English. You know, being inviting, being someone other people want to talk to, supporting people, and making them feel heard. 

And we are going to show you how to use the following three phrases in your daily English conversations: “How’s everything on your end?” “I know what you mean.” “Tell me more about that.” 


The Happy English Podcast
Helping people speak English better since 2014
Over 1,000 episodes • 8 million downloads

📘 Get free weekly English lessons plus instant access to my FREE Vocabulary Workshop.:
https://learn.myhappyenglish.com/free-english-lessons

🎥 Watch video versions of the Happy English Podcast on YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/@HappyEnglishNY/podcasts

🌐 Learn more about my English lessons and courses
https://www.myhappyenglish.com

Go Right. That’s right. We’re meeting at seven, right? All right, let’s go. I’ll do it right away. I need it right now. 

Right is a very common word in everyday English, and in conversation, it does a lot more than talk about direction. We use it to show that we understand, to confirm information, to ask for agreement, to say okay, and to talk about something happening immediately. Have you wondered about the different ways we use right in conversation? If so, you’re in luck - because today, we’re going to look at how you can use right naturally in everyday English.


The Happy English Podcast
Helping people speak English better since 2014
Over 1,000 episodes • 8 million downloads

📘 Get free weekly English lessons plus instant access to my FREE Vocabulary Workshop.:
https://learn.myhappyenglish.com/free-english-lessons

🎥 Watch video versions of the Happy English Podcast on YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/@HappyEnglishNY/podcasts

🌐 Learn more about my English lessons and courses
https://www.myhappyenglish.com

You know, I keep putting off cleaning the garage. They called off the game because of the rain. I’ll drop you off at the station. What time does your flight take off? My alarm went off at five. 

Off is one of those little words that shows up in a lot of phrasal verbs, and the meaning can change quite a bit depending on the verb. Have you been confused by expressions like put off, call off, drop off, take off, and go off? If so, you’re in luck - because today, we’re going to look at five useful phrasal verbs with off that you can use in everyday English.


The Happy English Podcast
Helping people speak English better since 2014
Over 1,000 episodes • 8 million downloads

📘 Get free weekly English lessons plus instant access to my FREE Vocabulary Workshop.:
https://learn.myhappyenglish.com/free-english-lessons

🎥 Watch video versions of the Happy English Podcast on YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/@HappyEnglishNY/podcasts

🌐 Learn more about my English lessons and courses
https://www.myhappyenglish.com

It’ll take at least an hour. At least nobody was hurt. You could at least say thank you. At least I tried. 

At least is a very common expression in everyday English, and we use it in several different ways. Sometimes it means the minimum amount. Sometimes it helps us look at the positive side of a bad situation. And sometimes we use at least to tell someone, hey! You could have done something! Have you ever wondered how you an use at least? If so, you’re in luck - because today, we’re going to look at all the ways you can use at least naturally in everyday English.


The Happy English Podcast
Helping people speak English better since 2014
Over 1,000 episodes • 8 million downloads

📘 Get free weekly English lessons plus instant access to my FREE Vocabulary Workshop.:
https://learn.myhappyenglish.com/free-english-lessons

🎥 Watch video versions of the Happy English Podcast on YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/@HappyEnglishNY/podcasts

🌐 Learn more about my English lessons and courses
https://www.myhappyenglish.com

1095 – How to Use “Pretty” in Everyday English

It’s pretty good. I’m pretty sure. That was pretty expensive. We’re pretty busy today. That’s pretty much it. 

Pretty is a very common word in everyday English, and I’m not talking about pretty meaning beautiful. In conversation, pretty often means something like fairly, quite, or rather, and we use it all the time to soften or adjust how strong an adjective sounds. Have you wondered about expressions like pretty good, pretty sure, or pretty much? If so, you’re in luck—because today, we’re going to look at how you can use pretty naturally in everyday English.


The Happy English Podcast
Helping people speak English better since 2014
Over 1,000 episodes • 8 million downloads

📘 Get free weekly English lessons plus instant access to my FREE Vocabulary Workshop.:
https://learn.myhappyenglish.com/free-english-lessons

🎥 Watch video versions of the Happy English Podcast on YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/@HappyEnglishNY/podcasts

🌐 Learn more about my English lessons and courses
https://www.myhappyenglish.com

The thing is, I’m busy tomorrow. Here’s the thing... That’s the thing. The funny thing is, I actually liked it. The good thing is, nobody was hurt. One thing I like about this neighborhood is how quiet it is. 

The word Thing is pretty basic word, but in daily English conversation, we use it in a lot of useful ways that go far beyond simply talking about an object. We use this word in phrases like the thing is, here’s the thing, that’s the thing, and, funny thing! So for today's English lesson podcast, we’re going to look at some very natural ways you can use the word thing in everyday English.

The Happy English Podcast
Helping people speak English better since 2014
Over 1,000 episodes • 8 million downloads

📘 Get free weekly English lessons plus instant access to my FREE Vocabulary Workshop.:
https://learn.myhappyenglish.com/free-english-lessons

🎥 Watch video versions of the Happy English Podcast on YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/@HappyEnglishNY/podcasts

🌐 Learn more about my English lessons and courses
https://www.myhappyenglish.com

Anyway, what were you saying? Anyway, I should get going. I didn’t really want to go, but I went anyway. It was expensive, but I bought it anyway. 
Anyway is one of those very common conversational words that can do a few different jobs. Sometimes we use it to return to the main topic. Sometimes we use it to move a conversation forward or bring it to an end. And sometimes we use it to mean that something happened despite a reason for it not to happen. Have you ever wondered about the different ways we use anyway? If so, you’re in luck—because today, we’re going to look at all the ways you can use anyway naturally in everyday English.


The Happy English Podcast
Helping people speak English better since 2014
Over 1,000 episodes • 8 million downloads

📘 Get free weekly English lessons plus instant access to my FREE Vocabulary Workshop.:
https://learn.myhappyenglish.com/free-english-lessons

🎥 Watch video versions of the Happy English Podcast on YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/@HappyEnglishNY/podcasts

🌐 Learn more about my English lessons and courses
https://www.myhappyenglish.com

That’s fair. That’s not fair. Fair enough. To be fair, he did warn us. Give her a fair chance. Let’s split it fairly. 
Fair is a common word in everyday English, but we use it in several different ways. Sometimes it means reasonable or acceptable. Sometimes it means treating people equally. And sometimes we use expressions like fair enough and to be fair to react to what someone says or add balance to a conversation. Have you been confused by these different uses of fair? If so, you’re in luck—because today, we’re going to look at how you can use fair naturally in everyday English.



The Happy English Podcast
Helping people speak English better since 2014
Over 1,000 episodes • 8 million downloads

📘 Get free weekly English lessons plus instant access to my FREE Vocabulary Workshop.:
https://learn.myhappyenglish.com/free-english-lessons

🎥 Watch video versions of the Happy English Podcast on YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/@HappyEnglishNY/podcasts

🌐 Learn more about my English lessons and courses
https://www.myhappyenglish.com

That’s fair. That’s not fair. Fair enough. To be fair, he did warn us. Give her a fair chance. Let’s split it fairly. 

Fair is a common word in everyday English, but we use it in several different ways. Sometimes it means reasonable or acceptable. Sometimes it means treating people equally. And sometimes we use expressions like fair enough and to be fair to react to what someone says or add balance to a conversation. Have you been confused by these different uses of fair? If so, you’re in luck—because today, we’re going to look at how you can use fair naturally in everyday English.


The Happy English Podcast
Helping people speak English better since 2014
Over 1,000 episodes • 8 million downloads

📘 Get free weekly English lessons plus instant access to my FREE Vocabulary Workshop.:
https://learn.myhappyenglish.com/free-english-lessons

🎥 Watch video versions of the Happy English Podcast on YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/@HappyEnglishNY/podcasts

🌐 Learn more about my English lessons and courses
https://www.myhappyenglish.com

I stopped at the store on the way home. By the way, did you call John? Either way, we need to decide today. No way! You won the tickets? This jacket is way too big. 

Way is a simple word, but it shows up in a lot of very natural everyday phrases. And in many of these expressions, the word way has very little to do with a road or direction. Have you been confused by expressions like by the way, either way, no way, and way too...? If so, you’re in luck—because today, we’re going to look at six everyday situations you can use way in conversational English.


The Happy English Podcast
Helping people speak English better since 2014
Over 1,000 episodes • 8 million downloads

📘 Get free weekly English lessons plus instant access to my FREE Vocabulary Workshop.:
https://learn.myhappyenglish.com/free-english-lessons

🎥 Watch video versions of the Happy English Podcast on YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/@HappyEnglishNY/podcasts

🌐 Learn more about my English lessons and courses
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No wonder you’re tired—you only slept four hours. No wonder the room is cold. The window is open. She practices every day, so it’s no wonder she’s improving. Well, no wonder! 

No wonder is a very common conversational phrase in everyday English, and we use it when new information explains something that seemed surprising, confusing, or unexpected before. Have you wondered... how to use no wonder? If so, you’re in luck—because today, we’re going to look at how you can use no wonder naturally in everyday English.


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What do you mean? I didn’t mean to upset you. I’ve been meaning to call you. You mean a lot to me , but I guess it just wasn’t meant to be. This lesson is meant to help you speak English better.

Mean is a small word, but we use it in a surprising number of everyday situations. We use it to ask for clarification, explain our intentions, talk about purpose, and even tell someone how important they are to us. Have you ever been confused by all these different uses of mean? If so, you’re in luck—because today, we’re going to look at the different ways you can use mean in everyday English.


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I found out that the store is closing. I can’t figure out how this app works. We ran out of coffee. Everything worked out in the end. It turned out to be a great restaurant. 

Phrasal verbs with out show up everywhere in everyday English, and the meaning of out changes depending on the verb. Have you been confused by expressions like find out, figure out, run out of, work out, and turn out? If so, you’re in luck—because today, we’re going to look at five useful phrasal verbs with out that you can use in everyday English.


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Does that make sense? That makes sense. I’m trying to make sense of this. It makes sense to do that. Financially, it makes sense. 

Sense is one of those words that appears in a lot of very natural everyday expressions, especially when we’re talking about whether an idea is clear, logical, or reasonable. Have you ever been confused by the different ways we use make sense? If so, you’re in luck—because today, we’re going to look at how you can use make sense naturally in everyday English.


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Good point. You have a point. That’s the point. That’s not the point. What’s your point? My point is... What’s the point of arguing? 

Point is a really common word in everyday conversational English, especially when we’re explaining ideas, agreeing with someone, disagreeing with someone, or trying to get to the main idea of a conversation. Have you been confused by all these different uses of point? If so, you’re in luck—because today, we’re going to look at how you can use point naturally in everyday English.



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Do you mind if I sit here? Would you mind closing the window? I don’t mind. Never mind. Keep that in mind. It slipped my mind. 
Mind is one of those small words that appears in a lot of everyday expressions, and the meaning changes depending on the situation. Sometimes it means that something bothers you. Sometimes it refers to your thoughts or memory. And sometimes we use it to make a polite request. Have you been confused by the different ways we use mind? If so, you’re in luck—because today, we’re going to look at how you can use mind naturally in everyday English.


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I saw Lisa at the station. We watched a movie last night. Look at this photo. Look, I understand what you’re saying. 

See, watch, and look are all connected to using our eyes, so it’s easy to mix them up. But there are some important differences. Sometimes something simply comes into view. Sometimes we choose to pay attention to something for a period of time. And sometimes we use look without talking about our eyes at all.

Have you been confused by see, watch, and look? If so, you’re in luck—because today, we’re going to check out the different ways you can use see, watch, and look naturally, in everyday English.


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"Do you like living in New York?" "It depends." "Should I buy a new laptop?" "Well...it depends." "Is English difficult?" "That depends."

"It depends" is one of those little English expressions that we use all the time in everyday English. But did you know that the phrase, "It depends" has a number of different meanings and uses? Most of the time, "it depends" means,  "there isn't one simple answer." In other words, the answer changes depending on the situation.

Today, we're going to look at how you can really use "it depends" in everyday conversation.


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Can you bring me a coffee? I'm only taking one suitcase. What should I bring? Don't forget to take your umbrella. Bring your laptop. Take this to the office.

Bring and take seem like simple words, but they're easy to mix up. You've probably learned that bring means "move something toward the speaker" and take means "move something away from the speaker." That's a helpful place to start, but in real conversations we usually aren't thinking about grammar rules. Instead, we picture the situation. So today, we're going to look at how you can naturally use bring and take in everyday English.



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I heard a strange noise. Listen to this song. Can you hear me? Are you listening to me?

Hear and listen. These words are both connected to sound and ears, so it's easy to mix them up. But there’s an important difference. Hearing usually happens naturally. A sound reaches your ears, even when you’re not trying. Listening is active. You choose to pay attention to the sound. 

Have you been confused by hear and listen? If so, you're in luck - because today, we’re going to look at the different ways you can use hear and listen in everyday English.



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Come back. Call back. Pay back. Give back. Get back. Write back.

What do all of these expressions have in common? Well, of course, they all use the word back. But here's the interesting thing. In many of these phrasal verbs, back gives us the idea of returning - returning to a place, returning a phone call, returning money, returning something to someone, or returning a message. And these aren't unusual expressions that you'll only find in a textbook. They're expressions that we all use every day. 

So today, we're going to look at five  phrasal verbs with back that you'll actually use.


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Go ahead. Go ahead and start without me. You go ahead. I'll catch up. Go right ahead. Go ahead, I'm listening.

Go ahead. Two simple words that you'll hear all the time in everyday American English. Sometimes we use it to give someone permission. Sometimes it means start or continue. Sometimes we use it to tell someone to go before us. And depending on your tone of voice, "Go ahead" can even sound like a challenge. So today, we're going to look at what "go ahead" really means and how you can use it in everyday conversation.


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Come on, let's go. Oh, come on! Come on, you can do it. Come on in. Come on over.

Come on. Two simple words, right? But depending on the situation and your tone of voice, those two little words can mean hurry up, I don't believe you, you can do it, enter, visit me, or even... that's ridiculous. It's one of those expressions you'll hear all the time in movies, TV shows, and everyday American conversation. So today, we’re going to look at the different ways you can use “come on” in everyday English.



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I missed the bus. I lost my keys. I forgot my wallet. I left my phone at the office.

These four words seem similar because they all describe situations where something goes wrong. But they don't mean the same thing. Did you fail to catch something? Did you no longer have something? Did you forget something in your mind? Or did you leave it somewhere? Once you understand the difference, you'll avoid some very common English mistakes. So today, we're going to look at how native speakers really use miss, lose, forget, and leave.


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I guess so. I guess not. I guess you're right. Let me guess. Guess what?

You probably learned that the verb guess means to answer a question when you don't know the answer. And that's true. But in everyday American English, guess has several other meanings. In fact, when native speakers say, "I guess," they're usually not making a guess at all. They're softening an opinion, showing they're not completely certain, or saying something in a more relaxed way. So today, we're going to look at how Americans really use guess.


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I'm good. We're good. You're good. It's all good. You probably learned that good is the opposite of bad. So you might think, "I'm good" is simply a conversational reply to "How are you. And it is. But in everyday American English, I'm good has several different meanings. We use I'm good to politely refuse something, to say we don't need help, to tell someone everything is okay, and even to end a conversation. It's probably one of the most common expressions you'll hear in the United States. So today, we're going to look at how you can really use I'm good.

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I'm kind of tired. That's kind of expensive. It was kind of weird. I kind of forgot.

If you've ever listened to English speakers, you've probably heard the phrase kind of over and over again. But here's the interesting thing. Most of the time, when we say "kind of" we're not talking about a type of something. We're using kind of to make what we're saying softer, less direct, or less certain. It's one of those little expressions that can make your English sound much more natural. So today, let's look at how you can really use kind of.


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That works. Works for me. Does that work? That doesn’t work for my schedule.

Did you notice, these expressions all use the verb work, but they’re not about having a job. In everyday American  English, we often use work to talk about whether a time, a plan, an idea, or a solution is acceptable, convenient, or possible. So if someone says, “Friday works for me,” they don’t mean Friday has a job. They mean Friday is good for their schedule. And that’s what we’re going to look at today.


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Man! It’s hot as hell. It’s like an oven out there. I’m melting. Crank up the A/C. Time to beat the heat.

Hot weather. Everybody talks about it, right? But in English, especially in American English, we don’t only say, “It’s hot.” We have lots of natural expressions for hot days, humid days, uncomfortable days, and those summer days when you walk outside and immediately think, “Nope. I’m going back inside.” 

So today, we’re going to look at how Americans really talk about hot weather in everyday English.


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I'm all set. You're all set. Are we all set? We're all set.

Have you ever heard someone say, "I'm all set," and wondered what they meant? You won't find this expression in many English textbooks, but if you spend any time in the United States, you'll hear it everywhere. At restaurants, coffee shops, doctor's offices, airports, hotels - just about anywhere. So what does "all set" actually mean? Well, it depends on the situation. Sometimes it means, "I don't need anything else." Sometimes it means, "Everything is ready." And sometimes it's just a polite way to end a conversation. 

So today, we're going to look at how native speakers really use "all set."


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How much did it cost? How much did you spend? Did you pay cash? What did you buy?

Cost, spend, pay, and buy. These are four very common English words that are related to using money. and English learners often mix them up because they're all connected to money. But here's the thing. They don't focus on the same part of the situation. Sometimes we're talking about the thing we got. Sometimes we're talking about the money we used. Sometimes we're talking about the price. And sometimes we're talking about the person using the money. 

So today, we're going to look at how people really use cost, spend, pay, and buy in everyday English.


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I noticed a strange noise. I realized I forgot my keys. She noticed he was quiet. She realized he was upset.

Notice and realize are two similar words in English, so they're are easy to mix up. And honestly, it's easy to understand why. Both words talk about becoming aware of something. But there's an important difference between them. When you notice something, you use your senses. When you realize something, you use your mind. Once you understand that difference, these two words become much easier to use naturally. And that is what we're going to look at today!


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Sure. Sure thing. Are you sure? I’m sure. Sure enough. Sure is one of those words that seems really simple, right? You probably learned that sure means certain. And that's true. But in everyday English, we use sure in a lot of different ways.  Sometimes it means certain. Sometimes sure means yes. Sometimes it means of course. And sometimes it's just a friendly way to agree with someone. So what's really going on with sure? That's what we're going to look at today.

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I’m fine. That’s fine. Fine with me. Fine.  Fine seems like such a simple word, right? You probably learned it very early in English class. “How are you?” “I’m fine, thank you. And you? I'm fine thank you.” Easy. 

But here’s the thing: Outside the classroom, in real English, fine can mean a lot of different things depending on the situation - and your tone of voice. Sometimes fine means okay. Sometimes it means acceptable. Sometimes it means, “I guess that’s okay.” And sometimes… when someone says, “Fine,” it definitely does not sound fine. So today, we’re going to look at how people really use fine in everyday English.

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You look tired. That sounds fun. He seems upset. Dinner looks amazing. Your voice sounds different.

Seem, look, and sound. These words seem simple, right? But English learners often mix them up. Can you say, “You seem tired,” and, “You look tired”? What’s the difference? Why do we say, “That sounds fun,” when we can’t actually hear fun? And when should you use seem instead? Yeah… there’s actually more going on here than you might think. So today, we’re going to look at how people really use seem, look, and sound in everyday English.


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I’m waiting for the bus. I’m expecting a package tomorrow. We’re expecting guests this weekend. My teacher expects me to do my homework.

Wait and expect. These seem like simple words, right? But they can be easy to mix them up. Like, what’s the difference between, “I’m waiting for you,” and, “I’m expecting you”? Why can we say, “I’m expecting a package,” but not, “I’m waiting a package”? And what does it mean when someone says, “We’re expecting  guests”? Or even, “She’s expecting”? Yeah… there’s actually a lot going on here with these two words. So today, we’re going to look at how people really use wait and expect in everyday English.


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Jack visited his parents last weekend. We went to Milan for vacation. I need to go to the doctor. I visited my friend in Brooklyn.

Visit and go to. Both words are used to talk about movement, but they are easy to mix up. Can you say, “I visited to New York”? Why do we say, “go to the doctor,” but, “visit the doctor”? And what’s the difference between, “I visited my friend,” and, “I went to my friend’s house”? Yeah… there’s actually more going on here than you might think. So today, we’re going to look at how people really use visit and go to in everyday English


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1062 - No Big Deal / No Biggie - English Tips in a Minute | Happy EnglishHey there! It’s Michael here - and welcome back to English Tips in a Minute from Happy English. 

Today, let’s look at two really common conversational responses - “no big deal” and “no biggie.”We use no big deal or no biggie to mean “it’s not a problem” or “don’t worry about it.” They’re casual, friendly ways to respond when someone apologizes or thanks you.

For example, imagine your friend says: “Sorry I’m a little late.”  You could reply: “No big deal.”
Or maybe a coworker says:  “Thanks for helping me with that report.”  You can say: “No biggie!”

We also use these phrases when something small goes wrong: “Oops, I spilled a little coffee.”  “Oh, no big deal.”

No biggie sounds a little more casual and playful, while no big deal is a bit more common for everyday situations.

Lemme know in the comments which one you’d use, and remember to follow or subscribe so you don’t miss the next Happy English Podcast and next week’s English Tips in a Minute.

Hey, thanks for listening — and until next time, keep learning and keep it cool.

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Thanks. Thank you so much. I really appreciate it. You’re the best. I owe you one.

Saying thank you in English seems easy, right? Just say, “Thank you.” But honestly, in everyday conversation, we don’t always use the same expression. If someone holds the door open for you, “I sincerely appreciate your kindness” sounds way too formal. And if your friend helps you move all day, just saying, “Thanks,” might not feel like enough. That’s because how we thank someone depends on the situation and how much we want to show appreciation. And that’s what we’re going to dive into today.

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Oops, sorry about that. My bad. I’m really sorry. I apologize for the confusion. No worries. Don’t worry about it.
Apologizing in English seems simple, right? You just say, “I’m sorry.” But actually, there are lots of different ways to apologize depending on the situation. If you bump into someone at the supermarket, you probably won’t say, “I sincerely apologize.” And if you accidentally send the wrong file to your boss, maybe “Oops, my bad” is not the best choice either. So today, we’re going to look at how people really apologize in English - naturally.


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I’m waiting for the bus. We waited to eat dinner. I’m waiting for my friend to call me back. Wait. Seems like a simple word, right? But even simple works can cause confusion. Can you say, “I’m waiting you”? Why do we say, “wait for the bus,” but “wait to leave”? And what’s the difference between, “I’m waiting at the station” and “I’m waiting for the train”?
Yeah… there’s actually more going on here than you might think. So today, we’re going to look at how people really use wait and wait for in everyday English.

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Hi! Nice to meet you. It's nice to see you!

Meet and see. These seem like simple words, right? They both relate to spending time with another person, but sometimes meet and see can be confusing. 
Can you say, “Nice to see you” the first time you meet someone? Or, “I’m meeting my friend for dinner” even though you already know them? And what’s the difference between, “I met Jack yesterday” and “I saw Jack yesterday”? Yeah… there’s actually more going on here than you might think.

So today, we’re going to look at how people really use meet and see in everyday English.



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Can you check the schedule? I just want to confirm our reservation. Make sure you bring your passport.

Check, confirm, and make sure. These words seem pretty similar, right? They all involve checking information somehow. But sometimes it's easy to mix them up. Can you say, “Please confirm the weather?” Or, “I checked that my friend came to the party”? Or maybe, “Make sure the reservation”? Hmm… something sounds a little strange there. So today, we’re going to look at how you can actually use check, confirm, and make sure in everyday English.


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Hey there! It’s Michael here — and welcome back to Speak Naturally in a Minute from Happy English. I’m here every week with a quick one-point lesson to help you improve your pronunciation, rhythm, and intonation.
Today, let’s talk about another very common sound change in American English: 
We generally pronounce  would you as wouldja.
That’s because when the D sound and the Y sound come together, they blend into a J sound: wouldja
We often use wouldja for making offers or invitations.
Wouldja like some tea?
Wouldja like to come with us?
We also use wouldja for polite requests.
Wouldja mind helping me?
Wouldja happen to know where the station is?
And we use wouldja for hypothetical questions too.
What wouldja do?
Where wouldja go?
Let's practice. Repeat after me. (I'll say blue. You say green)
Wouldja like some tea?
Wouldja mind helping me?
What wouldja do?
Nice and smooth — wouldja.
Hey, thanks for listening! And remember to follow and subscribe so you won’t miss the next Happy English Podcast and next week’s Speak Naturally in a Minute.  Until next time, keep learning and keep it cool.


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Hey there! It’s Michael here — and welcome back to English Tips in a Minute from Happy English. I’m here every week with a short, simple tip to help you speak English more naturally and confidently. 
Today, let’s look at a really common everyday phrase — “here you go.”
We use here you go when we give someone or hand someone something. It’s a natural, friendly phrase that native speakers use all the time.
For example, imagine your friend asks for the salt at dinner. You hand it to them and say:
 “Here you go.”
Or maybe someone buys a coffee at a café. The barista might say:  “Here you go — one latte.”
We also use here you go when helping someone or giving them information. Like: "Oh, you need his  email address? Here you go!"
It’s short, friendly, and super common in everyday English.
You might also hear “here you are.” It has basically the same meaning as here you go when giving someone something, but here you go is more conversational.
So remember, the next time you hand something to someone, try saying “here you go.” It’s simple, natural, and very conversational.
Lemme know in the comments where you hear this phrase, and remember to follow or subscribe so you don’t miss the next Happy English Podcast and next week’s English Tips in a Minute. Hey, thanks for listening — and until next time, keep learning and keep it cool.


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Do we have enough gas to get there? Don’t worry - we’ve got plenty. I don’t have enough time today. We have plenty of time. This pizza is good enough. Are you old enough to drive?

Enough and plenty. These words seem simple, right? They both talk about quantity. But what’s the difference between enough and plenty? How come you can say good enough but not plenty good? And why do people say, “Don’t worry, we’ve got plenty,” instead of “We have enough”? If you've ever had questions like this, then you're definitely going to want to listen to this English lesson podcast. That's because today, we’re going to look at how people really use enough and plenty in everyday English.


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Do you have any coffee? Would you like some coffee? Can I have some water? I don’t have any time today.

Some and any. These seem like simple words, right? Most English learners learn the basic rule: use some in positive sentences and any in negative sentences and questions. But then things start getting confusing. Why do we say, “Would you like some coffee?” and not any coffee? Why can someone say, “Can I have some help?” And what’s the difference between “Do you have some time?” and “Do you have any time?”

Yeah… there’s more going on here than grammar books usually explain. So today, we’re going to look at how people really use some and any in everyday English.

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Can you recommend a good restaurant? I suggest taking the train instead. My doctor recommended drinking less coffee. My friend suggested that I try yoga.

Recommend and suggest. These two words seem pretty similar, right? They both mean giving advice or giving an idea. But sometimes, when you try to use them, things can get confusing. Should you say, “I recommended him to try it”? Or, “She suggested me to go”? Yeah… those don’t sound quite right. So today, we’re going to look at how you can actually use recommend and suggest in everyday English - naturally.


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I stopped working. I stopped to get coffee. I stopped working to get coffee.
These sentences all use the word stop, but the meaning changes depending on what comes after stop. Sometimes the activity completely ends. Sometimes the activity pauses for a different action. And sometimes… one little infinitive completely changes the meaning of the sentence. 

I'm guessing you've probably learned this grammar, but I wonder if they show you how you can actually use these patterns in real conversation. Naturally. And that's what we're going to look at today.


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I have a dentist appointment tomorrow. Jack made a reservation for dinner. Oh, and we're having a meeting at 2:00. Sorry, I already have plans tonight.

Appointment, Reservation, Meeting, and Plans. These words all talk about arrangements, usually in the future, right? So why can’t you say, “I have a reservation with my dentist”? Or, “I have plans with my boss at work”? And what about this sentence: “I have a promise with my friend.” Yeah… that doesn’t sound natural.

So today, we’re going to clear all of this up and learn how to naturally use appointment, reservation, meeting, and plans in everyday English.

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Actually, I already ate. It’s actually pretty good. Well… actually, that’s not what I meant. What’s going on with this word actually? Sometimes it means “in fact.” Sometimes it softens what you say. And sometimes… it sounds rude if you use it the wrong way. So how can you really use actually in everyday conversation? Actually, that's what we're going to look at today.

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Say, tell, speak, talk… they all mean “to use words,” right? So why do we say, “Say something,” but “Tell me something”? Why is it “Talk to me,” but “Speak with someone”? 

If you’ve ever felt confused about these four verbs, you’re not alone. And today, we’re going to make this simple and clear. And here’s a simple way to think about it. Use say when you focus on the words. Use tell when you include the person. Use speak for formal situations or languages. And use talk for everyday conversation.


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You grab a coffee. You hit the gym. You head home after work. Wait a second… you hit the gym? You grab a coffee? If you learned English from a textbook, some of these phrases probably sound a little strange. But these are commonly used English expressions that you can learn to use every day. And that's what we're gonna look at today. 

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Hey there! It’s Michael here — and welcome back to Speak Naturally in a Minute from Happy English. I’m here every week with a quick one-point lesson to help you improve your pronunciation, rhythm, and intonation
Today, let’s talk about another small word that changes in natural American English:  our.
In everyday conversational English, this word is pronounced like: "are"

Our house is on the corner. Our house
Our dog is noisy. Our dog
Our friends are coming over.
Our teacher is late.
This happens because words like our, an, and the are usually unstressed in American English

Let's practice. Repeat after me. 
Our house is brown
Our dog is noisy.
Our car is in the driveway
Hey, thanks for listening! And remember to follow and subscribe so you won’t miss the next Happy English Podcast and next week’s Speak Naturally in a Minute.  Until next time, keep learning and keep it cool.


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Hey there! It’s Michael here - and welcome back to English Tips in a Minute from Happy English. I’m here every week with a short, simple tip to help you speak English more naturally and confidently. 

Today, let’s look at a really useful everyday phrase - “take turns.” 
We use take turns when two or more people do something one after another, instead of at the same time.

And there are two patterns. First, is people take turns
Like, We turns cooking dinner.
Or “They took turns driving on the trip.”

You can also say someone takes turns with another person.”
 Like:  “I take turns with my roommate doing the laundry.”
Or: Steve takes turns with Patty walking the dog.
 “We take turns with each other using the computer.”

Lemme know in the comments what you take turns doing, and remember to follow or subscribe so you don’t miss the next Happy English Podcast and next week’s English Tips in a Minute. Hey, thanks for listening - and until next time, keep learning and keep it cool.


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We’re going to have a meeting tomorrow. We’re having a meeting tomorrow. Maybe we’ll have a meeting tomorrow. All three of these sentences talk about the future… but they don’t feel exactly the same. So what’s the difference? 

If you’ve ever wondered when to use “going to have,” "having", or “will have,” today’s podcast English lesson is going to make this really clear.


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I’m recording this podcast right now. These days, I’m also working on a new pronunciation course. And tomorrow, I’m meeting a friend for coffee. Did you notice something? In all three sentences, I used the present progressive tense. But each one has a different meaning. So what’s going on here?

If you’ve ever wondered why we use “I’m doing” in different ways, today’s podcast English lesson is going to make this really clear.

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I wish I had more time. I wish I could travel more. I wish it wasn’t raining today. You’ve probably heard sentences like these before. Do you wish using the word wish wasn't so confusing. Should you say, “I wish I have more time”? Or “I wish I had more time”? And what’s the difference between wish and hope? If you’ve ever wondered about that, today’s podcast English lesson is going to make this really clear.

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I have a dog. I’m having fun. Two very simple sentences, right? But here’s the question… why can we say “I’m having fun,” but we can’t say, “I’m having a dog”? Yeah… that sounds strange. So what’s going on here? Why does have sometimes work in the progressive form, and sometimes not?

If you’ve ever wondered about that, today’s podcast English lesson is going to make this really clear for you.


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Both. Such a simple word, right? But when you actually try to use it in conversation… things can get a little tricky. Should you say, “Both of us went”? Or “We both went”? Or maybe… “Both we went”? Yeah… that one doesn’t sound right. So what’s the deal with both? Where do you put it in a sentence? And how do native speakers actually use it in everyday conversation? That’s what we’re going to look at today.

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I don’t smoke. Me neither. I don’t drink. I don’t either. Hmm… so which one is it? Either? Or neither? Or maybe a better question is - when should you use either, and when should you use neither? Should you say, “I don’t smoke either”? Or “Me neither”? Or maybe… “I don’t smoke neither”? Yeah… that last one doesn’t sound right. So what’s going on here?

If you’ve ever felt unsure about using either and neither, you’re going to want to listen to this lesson. Because today, we’re going to look at how to use these words naturally in everyday conversation.

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Hey there! It’s Michael here - and welcome back to Speak Naturally in a Minute from Happy English. I’m here every week with a quick one-point lesson to help you improve your pronunciation, rhythm, and intonation.

Today, let’s look at another very common reduction in American English:  “want to.”

In everyday conversation, want to becomes wanna.
Do you want to go? becomes Do you wanna go?

I want to eat. → I wanna eat.
They want to leave early. → They wanna leave early.
want to becomes wanna
BUT
wants to becomes wants-tuh: 
I wanna go, You wanna go, she wants-tuh go
Don't use wanna for he, she, or it!!!

Let's practice. Repeat after me. 
I wanna go.
They wanna have it
He wants-tuh do it.
She wants-tuh know why.

Hey, thanks for listening! And remember to follow and subscribe so you won’t miss the next Happy English Podcast and next week’s Speak Naturally in a Minute.

 Until next time, keep learning and keep it cool.


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At. In. These are small words, but as you saw in episode 1032, they can be a little tricky. We use both of them to talk about location, and sometimes the meaning feels the same. But there are also some very specific situations where we use at and in in different ways. Like, is it, "Jack is at the hospital"  or "Jack is in the hospital?" Or Both? Well, if you’ve ever wondered about that, don’t worry. I've got good news. We’re going to look at all of this today.

In the last episode, we talked about the basic idea: at is a point, and in is inside a space. Today, we’re going to build on that and look some other very specific uses for AT and IN.


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At. In. Two very small words, right? But these prepositions can be confusing, because we use both of them to talk about location. So how do you know when to use at and when to use in? Like, Jack is in the office. Jack is at the office?  If you’ve ever wondered about that, don’t worry - you’re not alone. And the good news is that’s what we’re going to look at today.

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Good at. Good in. These two phrases seem simple, right? But a lot of people get confused about when to use each one. Should you say, “I’m good in English,” or “I’m good at English”? And what’s the real difference between these two? If you’ve ever wondered about that, don’t worry.  Because that’s what we’re going to look at today.

Let’s start with a simple idea that will help you remember everything. We usually use good at to talk about ability or skill. And we use good in to talk about performance in school or social settings or specific situations.


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Hey there! It’s Michael here - and welcome back to English Tips in a Minute from Happy English. I’m here every week with a short, simple tip to help you speak English more naturally and confidently.

Today, let’s look at a really casual conversational use of the word “hit.” In everyday English, we use hit to mean go to or visit a place. It doesn’t mean you’re actually hitting something - it just means you’re going there, usually quickly or casually.

For example, you might say:  “I need to hit the restroom.” Or talking about your plans:  “I’m gonna hit the gym after work.” You’ll also hear things like:  “I need to hit the ATM”
 
This use of hit is very informal, so it’s perfect for casual conversations with friends and family.
So remember, when you want to talk about going somewhere in a casual way, try using “hit.” It’s short, natural, and very common in everyday English.
 
Lemme know in the comments where you’re gonna “hit” today, and remember to follow or subscribe so you don’t miss the next Happy English Podcast and next week’s English Tips in a Minute. Hey, thanks for listening - and until next time, keep learning and keep it cool.

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Work. Job. Two very common words, right? But a lot of people get confused about how to use them. Do you say, “I have a work,” or “I have a job”? Can you say, “I’m going to my work” or "I'm going to my job" I mean like, what’s the real difference between work and job? 

If you’ve ever wondered about that, don’t worry - you’ve come to the right place. Because that’s what we’re going to look at today.


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Bored. Boring. Two simple words, right? But this is something that a lot of people mix up all the time. Like, if the party wasn't so good, is it, “I’m boring,” or “I’m bored”? And what about if someone says, that teacher is so boring. If you’ve ever been confused about this, don’t worry - you’re not alone. So let's dive into this today!

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Borrow. Lend. Rent. Lease. Four simple words, right? But it seems like it's easy to mix these up. Is it , can you lend me a pen? Or can you borrow me... wait... can I borrow. So what IS the difference? When can we use borrow, lend, rent, and lease? And how do we actually use these in everyday English?

If you need help with this vocabulary, you've come to the right place. Because that’s what we’re going to look at today.

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Hey there! It’s Michael here - and welcome back to English Tips in a Minute from Happy English. I’m here every week with a short, simple tip to help you speak English more naturally and confidently. 

Today, let’s look at a really common conversational phrase - “the thing is…”
We use the thing is when we want to explain a situation or give a reason, especially when there’s a problem, a limitation, or something we need to clarify. It’s very similar to here’s the thing, but a little softer and more casual.

For example, someone might ask:  “Why didn’t you come to the party?”  You could say: “The thing is, I wasn’t feeling well.”

Or maybe you’re explaining a situation:  “The thing is, I already made other plans.”

We often use this phrase when we want to be honest, but also polite. It helps soften what we’re about to say.

Remember to follow or subscribe so you don’t miss the next Happy English Podcast and next week’s English Tips in a Minute. Hey, thanks for listening - and until next time, keep learning and keep it cool.

The Happy English Podcast
Helping people speak English better since 2014
Over 1,000 episodes • 8 million downloads

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Do you ever feel like people use the word like all the time… and you’re not really sure why? You hear things like, “I was like…” “It was like…” “He’s like, 50…” and sometimes it feels like that word is everywhere. So if you’re wondering - what does like actually mean in these situations, or, how can I use like like that, you’ve come to the right place. By the end of the podcast English lesson, you’ll learn several practical ways you can use like.

The Happy English Podcast
Helping people speak English better since 2014
Over 1,000 episodes • 8 million downloads

📘 Get free weekly English lessons plus instant access to my FREE Vocabulary Workshop.:
https://learn.myhappyenglish.com/free-english-lessons

🎥 Watch video versions of the Happy English Podcast on YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/@HappyEnglishNY/podcasts

🌐 Learn more about my English lessons and courses
https://www.myhappyenglish.com