Shadowing Practice: Stop overusing 'I think...' - say THIS instead - 21 more advanced alternative phrases - Learn English Speaking with Video
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- Hello everyone and welcome back to English with Lucy.
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Today I am going to give you 21 "advanced alternatives for I think." I think that I think.
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is very boring, overused, and it's just repetitive.
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In debates, in English classes, in conversation, we are always asked to give our opinion.
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And more often than not, I hear my students saying, "I think blah, blah, blah, blah, blah.
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"I think blah, blah, blah, blah.
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"I don't think blah, blah, blah, blah." If you really want to show that you have an incredible and profound and advanced vocabulary,
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then you need to find some other ways of saying I think.
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So I have got 21 advanced alternatives, ranging from formal to informal.
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So this video is really going to help you with your vocabulary, but if you want to improve your listening skills and your pronunciation skills even further,
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then I highly recommend the special method of reading an actual book whilst listening to the audio book version on Audible.
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"It might sound complicated, but it's not, "and it has helped
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so many of my English students." What you have to do is take a book that you have already read in English, or a book that you would like to read in English,
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I've got loads of recommendations down below in the description box, and read it whilst listening to the audiobook version on Audible.
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So as you are reading the words, you are also hearing the words.
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Reading alone will not help you with your pronunciation.
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English is not a strictly phonetic language.
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The way a word is spelt or written in English might not give you any indication as to how it is pronounced.
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If you listen to a word, as you read it, your brain will start making connections, and the next time you see that word, you'll know exactly how it's meant to sound,
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how it's pronounced, and the next time you hear that word, you'll know exactly how it's spelt or written.
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It is such an effective method, and the best part is, you can get one free audio book, that's a 30 -day free trial on Audible.
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All you've got to do is click on the link in the description box and sign up.
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Right, let's get started with the lesson.
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Number one is an informal one, it's I'm not going to lie, or I'm not gonna lie.
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I've got a video on wanna and gonna.
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It's a very helpful one actually.
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I'm not gonna lie.
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Sometimes just shortened down to not gonna lie, or abbreviated to NGL.
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So if we're texting NGL and then our opinion.
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An example, I'm not going to lie, I was pretty insulted to not be invited to my ex -boyfriend's wedding.
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I'm not going to lie, I was pretty insulted to not be invited to my ex -boyfriend's wedding.
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Number two is in all honesty, in all honesty.
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This is very commonly used nowadays.
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And I would say it's leaning towards informal.
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An example.
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In all honesty, I had every right to be there.
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In all honesty, I had every right to be there.
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Number three is, in my view, in my view, and this one is slightly more formal actually.
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Another example, in my view, I should have been invited, so it was totally fair for me to turn up on the day.
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In my view, I should have been invited, so it was totally fair for me to turn up on the day.
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A lot of these examples will use should have, would have, and could have.
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I've recently made a video about shoulda, woulda, and coulda, so I've shared that link in the description box and up here on a card.
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Number four is, if you ask me, if you ask me, An example.
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If you ask me, the church service was wonderful, but it was a shame I had to stand at the back.
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If you ask me, the church service was wonderful, but it was a shame I had to stand at the back.
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Number five is as far as I can tell.
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As far as I can tell.
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These past two have been fairly neutral, neither informal nor formal.
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As far as I can tell.
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An example?
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As far as I can tell, the bride wasn't really expecting me.
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As far as I can tell, the bride wasn't really expecting me.
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Number six is, to my mind.
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"To my mind," and this just means to me, but we're talking about our brain rather than ourselves, and it is more formal.
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An example, "To my mind, she should have been happier to see me and receive my support." To my mind, she should have been happier to see me and receive my support.
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Number seven, again, slightly more formal, as far as I'm concerned, as far as I'm concerned.
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An example, as far as I'm concerned, she totally overreacted and shouldn't have cried.
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As far as I'm concerned, she totally overreacted and shouldn't have cried.
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Again, more info on should have, would have, and could have in the description box is a really important lesson.
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Number eight the way I see things or the way I see it.
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You can use either or.
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An example, the way I see things, I made the family photographs a lot more interesting.
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- The way I see things, I made the family photographs a lot more interesting.
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"an alternative as I see things or as I see it." An example: "As I see it,
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they obviously didn't take me into consideration when drawing up the seating plans." "As I see it,
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they obviously didn't take me into consideration when drawing up the seating plans."
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Now you might have noticed there's a bit of a story going on through the examples which I think is quite interesting.
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Fun.
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But you might need a little bit more explanation about British weddings.
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We always have a seating plan.
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So we'll have a list of all the table names for the meal, and it's called the seating plan, and everyone is put in a certain spot, and we have our name on the table.
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And we use drawing up because of the phrasal verb, to draw up normally a plan or a document.
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It means to write and prepare a document or plan.
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Now number 10 is it seems to me that.
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It seems to me that.
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quite a neutral one, maybe leaning on formal.
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An example, it seems to me that everyone overreacted when I tried to sit at the top table.
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It seems to me that everyone overreacted when I tried to sit at the top table.
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Now, another bit of info for you on British weddings, there is often a top table.
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Most weddings have round tables, and all the guests will sit on round tables, but there is a big, long table, a bit higher up,
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overlooking all of the other guests, where the bride, the groom, two people getting married, and their families sit, so it's the most important people,
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and the bridesmen and the groomsmen as well.
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Number 11, I believe.
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I believe.
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alternative for i think if you're in a pinch
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and you want to say i think and you don't know what else to say just say i believe An example, I believe they should have just made space for me in the first place.
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I believe that they should have just made space for me in the first place.
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Number 12 is I would say, or shortened down to I'd say, I'd say.
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An example, I'd say the food was very good, but it was a shame I had to share it with my neighbour.
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I'd say the food was very good, but it was a shame I had to share it with my neighbour.
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Now you might know the word neighbor as someone who lives next to you.
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If you are sitting at a table, then you might also say the word neighbor.
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Your teacher might say it when you're sitting at a desk.
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Swap your answers with your neighbor.
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Swap your answers with the person next to you.
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Number 13, I consider.
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I consider, normally followed by something then, to be.
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I consider something to be.
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An example, I consider it to be very rude
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that I was forced to sit down when I stood up to make a speech.
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I consider it to be very rude that I was forced to sit down when I stood up to make a speech.
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Number 14 is to me.
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To me, just another way of saying in my opinion.
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An example: To me, no one knows my ex better than I do, so I should have been able to tell all of his funny stories.
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To me, no one knows my ex better than I do, so I should have been able to tell all of his funny stories.
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My god, can you imagine?
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Can you imagine if this happened at your wedding?
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My wedding's coming up.
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I don't think we have any crazy exes. Yet?
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What do I mean by yet?
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Carry on, Luce.
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Carry on.
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Number 15 is from my point of view from my point of view.
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This again is slightly more formal, but can be used in both informal and formal situations.
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An example, from my point of view, the first dance was cringeworthy, so I did everyone a favour by joining in.
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From my point of view, the first dance was cringeworthy, so I did everyone a favour by joining in.
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Part of our wedding culture is to have a first dance together
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and everyone watches and then after that everyone can join in.
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But after they have finished or if they have said, come in, you do not butt in.
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The first chance.
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Number 16 is, it is my view that, or it is my belief that, both are more or less the same.
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An example, it is my view that the open bar made everything worse.
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It is my view that the open bar made everything worse.
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Now, a bit of extra info, an open bar is something that you really hope is at a wedding that you're attending.
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It's when the bar is already paid for.
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You don't have to pay anything at that bar.
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I'd say it's probably 30, 70 at weddings in the UK, you're most likely to have an open bar,
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but it just depends on the couple's financial situation.
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It's typical for the parents of the bride, of the lady getting married, to pay for the But if they're not in a good financial situation,
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or maybe the bride and groom are funding it themselves, they might not be in a position to offer an open bar.
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Number 17 is a very slang one.
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It's I reckon, I reckon.
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And I think that this is a very British one.
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If any Americans are watching, can you let me know, do you use reckon, I reckon, I think, in your...
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dialect.
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An example, I reckon the sixth gin and tonic tipped me over the edge.
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I reckon the sixth gin
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and tonic tipped me over the edge to tip someone over the edge is to make someone either really sad
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or a bit crazy.
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or to lose the plot, to be crazy.
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So I might have been you know, tipsy or merry up until the sixth gin and tonic,
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and then it was that sixth one that tipped me over the edge and made me downright crazy.
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Number 18 is I honestly believe that.
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I honestly believe that.
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An example, I honestly believe that if I hadn't started cutting the cake, no one would have.
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I honestly believe that if I hadn't started cutting the cake, no one would have.
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In your culture, does the bride and groom have the first cut of the wedding cake together?
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Quite an important part of the day.
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19 is honestly speaking, honestly speaking, and this one is informal.
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An example, honestly speaking, I probably shouldn't have thrown my slice at the bride.
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Honestly speaking, I probably shouldn't have thrown my slice at the bride.
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Number 20 is I feel that, I feel, and that's another good one word alternative for think, just like believe.
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I feel, I think, I believe.
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An example, I feel that my ex could have found a more welcoming bride with a better sense of humour.
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I feel that my ex could have found a more welcoming bride with a better sense of humour.
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And number 21, the last one, this is again quite neutral, it's personally speaking, personally speaking.
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An example: Personally speaking, calling the police was a bit OTT.
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Personally speaking, "Calling the police was a bit OTT." OTT means over the top,
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too much, over the top we often shorten it down to OTT.
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Right, that is it for today's lesson.
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This is a new format.
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It just came to me whilst I was looking at all of these words and phrases, and I just thought it would be really, really fun if we could follow a ridiculous story through all of the examples.
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Did you enjoy it?
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Did it make you stay to the end?
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Well, if you're watching this, it did.
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Let me know your feedback in the description box.
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I'd happily do it again because I had a lot of fun writing it, especially now that my wedding's coming up this year.
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Don't forget to check out Audible.
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You can claim your free audiobook by clicking on the link in the description box.
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And don't forget to connect with me on all of my social media.
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I've got my Facebook, my Instagram, my Twitter, and my personal channel, Lucy Bella Earl, where I talk about everything that isn't related to English.
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I will see you soon for another lesson.
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Mwah!
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Woordenschat en spreektips bij deze les
Deze spreekles op niveau B2 is gebaseerd op de video “Stop overusing 'I think...' - say THIS instead - 21 more advanced alternative phrases”. Deze woorden komen het vaakst terug: example, blah, view, bride, wedding. Deze video bevat 173 zinnen en 2308 woorden om na te spreken. Het gesproken deel duurt 13:06. De spreker praat in een natuurlijk tempo van ongeveer 176 woorden per minuut, dicht bij een alledaags gesprek. 83% van de woorden hoort bij de 3.000 meest gebruikte Engelse woorden; de rest kun je beter vooraf bekijken.
Belangrijke woorden in deze video
De 15 moeilijkste woorden uit de video, met uitspraak en betekenis:
| Woord | Uitspraak | Betekenis |
|---|---|---|
| bride zelfstandig naamwoord | /bɹaɪd/ | bruid |
| neighbour zelfstandig naamwoord | /ˈneɪbɚ/ | buur, buurman |
| honesty zelfstandig naamwoord | /ˈɑ.nɪ.sti/ | eerlijkheid |
| audiobook zelfstandig naamwoord | /ˈɔdi.oʊbʊk/ | luisterboek |
| cringeworthy bijvoeglijk naamwoord | /ˈkɹɪnd͡ʒˌwɜːði/ | tenenkrommend, tenenkrullend |
| pronunciation zelfstandig naamwoord | /pɹəˌnʌn.siˈeɪ.ʃən/ | uitspraak |
| pronounce werkwoord | /pɹəˈnaʊns/ | uitspreken, verklaren |
| vocabulary zelfstandig naamwoord | /vəˈkæb.jə.lə.ɹi/ | woordenschat, vocabulaire |
| humour zelfstandig naamwoord | /ˈhjuːmɚ/ | humor |
| swap werkwoord | /ˈswɑp/ | ruilen, wisselen |
| insult zelfstandig naamwoord | /ɪnˈsʌlt/ | belediging |
| slice zelfstandig naamwoord | /slaɪs/ | plak, schijf |
| abbreviate werkwoord | /əˈbɹi.vi.eɪt/ | afkorten, verkorten |
| downright bijwoord | /ˈdaʊnɹaɪt/ | regelrecht, gewoonweg |
| phonetic bijvoeglijk naamwoord | /fəˈnɛt.ɪk/ | fonetisch |
Phrasal verbs die je zult horen
| Woord | Betekenis |
|---|---|
| sit down werkwoord | gaan zitten |
| check out werkwoord | onderzoeken |
Zinnen om te herhalen
Korte, volledige zinnen uit de video die je in alledaagse gesprekken kunt gebruiken:
- Right, let's get started with the lesson.
- My god, can you imagine?
- Can you imagine if this happened at your wedding?
- What do I mean by yet?
- Did it make you stay to the end?
Grammatica in deze video
De structuren die de spreker het meest gebruikt, met de exacte woorden uit de video:
| Structuur | In de video |
|---|---|
| Lijdende vorm be + voltooid deelwoord — het gaat om wat er gebeurt, niet om wie het doet | are always asked · is pronounced · be invited |
| Present perfect have/has + voltooid deelwoord — iets uit het verleden dat nu nog telt | has helped · have already read · I've shared |
Uitspraak om op te letten
De spreker gebruikt 54 samentrekkingen en verkorte vormen, zoals I'm, don't, I'd. Spreek ze kort uit, zoals je ze hoort.
- De klanken “sh” en “zh”: shorten /ˈʃɔɹtn̩/, pronunciation /pɹəˌnʌn.siˈeɪ.ʃən/, indication /ɪndɪˈkeɪʃən/, recommendation /ˌɹɛkəmɛnˈdeɪʃən/
- Lange woorden — let op de klemtoon: overreact /ˌoʊ.vəɹ.ɹiˈækt/, audiobook /ˈɔdi.oʊbʊk/, pronunciation /pɹəˌnʌn.siˈeɪ.ʃən/, vocabulary /vəˈkæb.jə.lə.ɹi/, abbreviate /əˈbɹi.vi.eɪt/
Klanken die Nederlandstaligen lastig vinden:
- Stemhebbende eindmedeklinker — /b/, /d/, /g/, /z/, /v/ niet verscherpen: bride /bɹaɪd/, overuse /ˌoʊvɚˈjuːz/, repetitive /ɹɪˈpɛtɪtɪv/, verb /vɝb/, profound /pɹəˈfaʊnd/
- /æ/ — opener dan de Nederlandse “e”: overreact /ˌoʊ.vəɹ.ɹiˈækt/, vocabulary /vəˈkæb.jə.lə.ɹi/, happily /ˈhæp.ə.li/
- /w/ — met ronde lippen: cringeworthy /ˈkɹɪnd͡ʒˌwɜːði/, swap /ˈswɑp/
Zo oefen je met deze video
- Luister de hele video één keer zonder te spreken en noteer de woorden die je niet kent.
- Begin op 0,75× snelheid, spreek zin voor zin na en ga terug naar normale snelheid zodra het makkelijk gaat.
- Neem jezelf op en vergelijk met het origineel; let daarbij op woorden als bride, neighbour, honesty.
Wat is de Shadowing-techniek?
Shadowing is een wetenschappelijk onderbouwde taalleermethode die oorspronkelijk is ontwikkeld voor professionele tolkentraining en gepopulariseerd door polyglot Dr. Alexander Arguelles. De methode is eenvoudig maar krachtig: je luistert naar native Engelse audio en herhaalt het onmiddellijk hardop — als een schaduw die de spreker volgt met slechts 1–2 seconden vertraging. In tegenstelling tot passief luisteren of grammaticadrills, dwingt shadowing je hersenen en mondspieren om echte spraakpatronen tegelijkertijd te verwerken en te reproduceren. Onderzoek toont aan dat het de uitspraaknauwkeurigheid, intonatie, ritme, verbonden spraak, luisterbegrip en spreekvaardigheid aanzienlijk verbetert — waardoor het een van de meest effectieve methoden is voor IELTS Speaking-voorbereiding en echte Engelse communicatie.