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Pronunciation Guide
Today’s example shouldn’t give you any problems. It is all basic, common words. One thing to listen to and practice is how ‘for’ is swallowed a bit. When said clearly, it sounds just like the number four, but when it is said in a sentence, it usually becomes a short ‘fur’ sound. The same goes for ‘to’. It sounds more like ‘tuh’.
One last thing to remember is that some speakers, usually from the UK and Australia, say ‘come round’. Americans don’t do this as much, but remember that you might hear it.
Listen to the audio, try to shadow, and write your own notes. Then click ‘Compare’. Practice shadowing the audio with your notes.
Explanation
I’d like to focus on the phrasal verb ‘come around’. There are actually several definitions for ‘come around’ so let’s look at those.
The most common meaning for ‘come around’ is: someone comes to a place the speaker is. This could be your house. You can use it to invite people over to your house by simply saying,
“Come around to my place for tea.”
Or, if you’re a bar tender, and you talk about someone who comes to your bar a lot, you could say,
“My dad finally came around to the idea that I needed my own computer.”
Look at how ‘come around’ is used in all of these definitions and practice making your own sentences in the comments.
Situations & Examples
Read the situations, but write down your own sentence using today’s target. When you finish, click ‘Show Example’. Share your own sentences in the comments!
Situation #1
You bump into your best friend at your local coffee shop. She was with her new boyfriend she had been telling you about lately. You have been anxious to meet him, but hadn’t had the chance yet. After you chat for a few minutes, you invite him to come over with your friend Anne for dinner. You say,
Situation #2
Your two year old son came down with a high fever one day. None of the medicine you gave him lowered his temperature. He spent two days just sleeping most of the time. You are telling your friend about all of this and talk about how you were really worried. You say,
Situation #3
You’ve just joined a community chess club. On your first visit, you are going around trying to meet new people. One new friend is pointing out other members to you. He points to Bob, a skinny man who is in the middle of an intense game, and you ask your friend how long Bob has been coming around. He says,
Situation #4
Your sister got married when she was in her early twenties, and then divorced a few years later. After that, she was single until she turned forty. She finally met a great guy and they decided to get married. You tell her how happy you are for her, but she wishes she could have known him when you was younger. She says,
solesoleil19 May 17, 2012 at 6:26 pm
Hi, Mr. Hill !
Before I write sentence, I want to tell you about above passage. I guess that “whne” is “when” at line 4 in Situation 4.
#1 Come around to my house for dinner with Anne.
#2 My brother was gettig sick and just sleeping most of the time. I really worried about my brother. But, he comes around! So, I secure now.
#3 Bob comes around long time.
#4 I wish he has come around twenty years ago.
nate.hill May 20, 2012 at 11:09 am
@solesoleil19 Thanks for pointing out that typo! Good sentences. Take a look at my suggestions.
2. I was really worried about him. (Because you mentioned your brother first, you can just say him the second time.). Finally, he came around! I feel so relieved now.
3. Bob has been coming around for a long time.
4. I wish he would have come around twenty years ago.
Thanks!