Shadowing Practice: How to Use PUT, PUT ON, PUT OFF, PUT AWAY & PUT UP WITH in Real English Conversations - Learn English Speaking with Video
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1
Michael, I think I just said something completely wrong in English.
2
Wait, what did you say?
3
I used one simple verb.
4
Okay, what is the verb?
5
The verb is put.
6
Put?
7
What is wrong with that?
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Nothing, until people started adding little words to it.
9
Ah, I see exactly where this is going.
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First, I heard someone say put on.
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Mm-hmm.
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Then I heard put off.
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Right.
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Then put away.
15
Uh-huh.
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And then someone yelled, I can't put up with this.
17
Oh, wow.
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Now I understand your confusion.
19
Exactly.
20
How can one little verb have so many different meanings?
21
Don't worry, Olivia.
22
It happens to every English learner.
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It is so frustrating.
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Today, we are going to completely solve the mystery of put.
25
Finally, I really need this.
26
And by the end, these expressions will feel completely natural to you.
27
I really hope so.
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But first, if you want to master real English verbs...
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You should subscribe to the channel and like this video.
30
Exactly.
31
Now, let's solve this mystery.
32
So, Michael, do I need to memorize five long definitions?
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No, definitely not.
34
What about ten boring examples?
35
No way.
36
No lists either.
37
Then how am I supposed to remember all of them?
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We are going to create a picture for each one.
39
A picture?
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But this is an audio lesson.
41
Yes, a picture in your mind, using your imagination.
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Oh, I get it.
43
Painting pictures with words.
44
Exactly.
45
Your brain remembers situations much better than lists.
46
That makes total sense.
47
Here's the golden rule.
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Don't memorize the translation.
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Remember the situation.
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Spot on.
51
First, remember the basic idea of the verb put.
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To place something somewhere.
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Exactly.
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Like I put my phone on the table.
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Perfect.
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You moved your phone.
57
So what happens when we add a small word?
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The small word just changes the direction or the idea.
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The direction changes.
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Okay, I'm listening.
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Let's start with the most common one, put on.
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Put on, like I put on my jacket.
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Exactly.
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Picture it in your mind.
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It is freezing outside.
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Yes, so you move the jacket onto your body.
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I put on my jacket.
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I put on my shoes.
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Brilliant.
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She put on her glasses.
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That is easy.
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Put on means to wear something.
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Yes, but in B1 and B2 English, there's another meaning.
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Oh no, here we go.
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It's an easy one.
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Imagine you're relaxing at home.
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Okay, I'm on the sofa.
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It's too quiet, so you say, put on some music.
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Ah, put on some music.
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Yes, here, put on means to start playing something.
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Like pressing the play button.
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Exactly, you can put on the radio.
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Or I can put on my favorite podcast.
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You bet, or she put on a movie.
85
I love that.
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Wear clothes or press play.
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But wait, there's one more common use for put on.
88
Let me guess.
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It's about food?
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Close.
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It's about your body.
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Put on weight.
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Oh, wow.
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So put on can also mean to gain?
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Absolutely.
96
Imagine stepping on a scale.
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Yikes.
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I put on five pounds over the holidays.
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We all do.
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So put on is adding something.
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Adding clothes, adding music, or adding weight.
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Excellent summary.
103
Now, let's change the direction.
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Okay, what is next?
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Let's talk about put off.
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Put off.
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This one always tricks me.
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Close your eyes and imagine this scenario.
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Okay, my eyes are closed.
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You have a very important meeting today at 2 p.m.
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Okay, I am ready for it.
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But suddenly a huge storm hits the city.
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Oh, wow.
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Heavy rain everywhere.
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No one can come to the office.
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So the meeting cannot happen today.
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Right.
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You have to move it to tomorrow.
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Ah, I put off the meeting.
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Exactly.
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Put off means to delay something to a later time.
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So I just moved it to the future.
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Yes.
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I keep putting off my English homework.
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I know some students who do that.
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We had to put off the wedding because of the rain.
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That is a great visual.
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Put off equals delay.
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Don't put it off until tomorrow.
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Do it today.
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So if I say I put off the meeting...
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The meeting did not happen when planned.
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It was delayed.
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That is so clear now.
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But Olivia, get ready for a B2 level twist.
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Oh gosh, another meaning for put off?
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Yes, and this one is used all the time in real life.
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Okay, paint a picture for me.
139
Imagine you are walking into a seafood restaurant.
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Okay, I am hungry.
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I want fish.
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But as soon as you open the door...
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What happens?
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A terrible, rotten smell hits your nose.
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Ugh, that is disgusting.
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Do you still want to eat the fish?
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No way.
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I want to leave immediately.
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Exactly.
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The smell really put you off.
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Oh, wow.
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Put me off.
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Yes.
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Here, to put someone off means to make them dislike something.
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Or to make them lose interest.
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Spot on.
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The bad smell put me off my food.
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Exactly.
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You lost your appetite.
160
That is such a good expression.
161
Imagine a very rude waiter.
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His rude attitude really put me off.
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Perfect.
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You don't want to be there anymore.
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Don't let one bad mistake put you off learning English.
166
Brilliant example, Olivia.
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That is native-level English right there.
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I love this.
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It makes so much sense now.
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So we have put on and put off.
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Wear things, delay things, or get disgusted.
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Yes.
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Now let's move to our third one.
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Let's do it.
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What is the next mystery?
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Imagine opening the door to your bedroom.
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Okay, I am opening the door.
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It is a complete disaster.
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Oh no!
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What did I do?
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There are clothes everywhere on the floor.
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Yikes!
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Books are on the bed, shoes are on the desk.
184
That sounds like a teenager's room.
185
Exactly.
186
Now you need to clean it up.
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So I pick up the clothes.
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And where do you put them?
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In the closet.
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Their proper place.
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Exactly.
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You return them to where they belong.
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I put them away.
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Yes.
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Put away.
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Ah.
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Put away means to return something to its proper place.
198
You got it.
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Put your clothes away.
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Please put your phone away during the movie.
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Excellent.
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You move it out of sight.
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I need to put these books away on the shelf.
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Perfect.
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It is all about cleaning up and organizing.
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I really like how visual that is.
207
Wait, there is a very useful money expression here too.
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Oh, money?
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I'm listening.
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Imagine you get your salary at the end of the month.
211
Okay, I am happy.
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You don't spend it all.
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You take a little bit.
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And I hide it in a bank account.
215
Exactly.
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You put it in a safe place for the future.
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I put some money away every month month.
218
Yes, put away money means to save it.
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That is so smart.
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I put away $50 a week.
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Awesome.
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You are building good financial habits and English habits.
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Thanks.
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So put away is for cleaning and saving.
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Exactly.
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Now are you ready for the hardest one?
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The hardest one?
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I thought they were all easy.
229
This one confuses almost every English learner.
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Okay, don't scare me.
231
What is it?
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Put up with.
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Oh, yes.
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This one makes no sense to me.
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Three words together.
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Put up with.
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What exactly are we putting up?
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Nothing physical.
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There's no physical movement here.
240
Okay, so I need a really strong mental picture.
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Close your eyes again.
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Closed.
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You're trying to study for an important exam.
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I am focused.
245
But your neighbor decides to practice the drums.
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Oh, no. Bang, crash, Boom!
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Very loud, and he is terrible at it.
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I am getting angry just thinking about it.
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You hate the noise.
250
You want it to stop.
251
But I can't stop him.
252
Exactly.
253
You just sit there, suffering.
254
I tolerate it.
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Yes, you put up with the noise.
256
Oh, put up with means to tolerate something unpleasant.
257
Spot on.
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You don't like it, but you accept it.
259
I can't put up with this noise anymore.
260
Perfect emotion.
261
How do you put up with that loud neighbor?
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I don't know.
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I just use headphones.
264
She puts up with a lot of stress at work.
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Exactly.
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She tolerates a difficult situation.
267
So does put up with mean I agree with it?
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Not at all.
269
That is a great B2 question.
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Then what is the exact difference between accept and put up with?
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If you accept something, you are okay with it.
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But if I put up with it?
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You hate it, but you do not fight it.
274
I get it.
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I don't like it, but I tolerate it.
276
Exactly.
277
You suffer in silence.
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I refuse to put up with bad coffee.
279
Me too.
280
Life is too short for bad coffee.
281
So, we have covered four amazing expressions.
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Yes, but I have a bonus one for you today.
283
Ooh, a bonus.
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I love a good bonus.
285
It is incredibly useful for work or school projects.
286
Okay, tell me.
287
Put together.
288
Put together.
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Like building something?
290
Exactly.
291
Imagine a puzzle with a thousand pieces.
292
They are all scattered on the table.
293
You take the pieces and combine them.
294
I put the pieces together.
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Yes.
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Put together means to combine parts to make a whole.
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Oh, I see.
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Let's put the puzzle together.
299
Can I use this for work?
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Absolutely.
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Imagine you have data, charts, and text.
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I need to make a presentation for my boss.
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Yes.
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So you combine them.
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I put together a great presentation.
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Excellent!
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You built it from different parts.
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The manager put together a fantastic new team.
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Perfect!
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He gathered different people to make one group.
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Wow!
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One verb, so many directions.
313
Now it is time for the smartest part of our lesson.
314
Oh, the smart comparison?
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Exactly!
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We will use one simple idea to show the magic.
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I am ready!
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What is the trick?
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Think about your jacket.
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Put on your jacket.
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Wear it.
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Now think about the meeting.
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Put off the meeting.
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Delay it.
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Think about your messy room.
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Put your clothes away.
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Return them to their place.
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Think about the annoying drummer next door.
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I can't put up with this.
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Tolerate it.
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Think about the presentation for work.
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Let's put it together.
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Combine the pieces.
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That is amazing.
335
Same verb.
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Different direction.
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Different meaning.
338
Exactly.
339
Now it is time for the error lab.
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Oh boy, the place where I make all the mistakes?
341
Yes, but where we fix common learner errors together.
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Okay, give me a mistake to fix.
343
Imagine a student says this.
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I am listening.
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I am busy today.
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I need to put away the meeting.
347
Oh no, that sounds so weird.
348
Why is it wrong?
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You can't put a meeting in a closet.
350
Exactly.
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So what should they say?
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I need to put off the meeting.
353
Perfect.
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Put off means delay.
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Give me another one.
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My room is so messy.
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I need to put my clothes off.
358
No, no, no. What is the correct way?
359
I need to put my clothes away.
360
Exactly.
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You return them to the proper place.
362
If I put my clothes off, that just sounds like nonsense.
363
It really does.
364
Okay, one last error.
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Bring it on.
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My neighbor is so noisy, I can't put away the noise.
367
Ha ha.
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I wish I could put away the noise in a drawer.
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But you can't.
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So, I have to say, I can't put up with the noise.
371
Perfect.
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You cannot tolerate it.
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These mental pictures make it impossible to forget.
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Now it is time to prove it.
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Prove it?
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How?
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We are going to jump into some real conversations.
378
No explanations?
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Just real talking?
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Just natural English at natural speed.
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I am ready.
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Let's do the first one.
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Here is our first situation today, at home.
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Okay, I'm imagining a house.
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We are going to roleplay right now.
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Oh, a roleplay?
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That sounds really fun.
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Yes, no explanations, just real natural talking.
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I'm ready.
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Let's do it.
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I am the parent.
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You are the teenager.
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Haha, easy.
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I can definitely do that.
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Action.
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Olivia, why is your room so messy?
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I have been so busy all day.
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There are clothes all over the floor.
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I know, I know.
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I am sorry.
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Well, please put your clothes away.
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Okay, okay.
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I will do it.
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And put your shoes away, too.
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Ugh, I'm doing it right now!
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Good.
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The room needs to be clean.
408
Hey, can I put on some music?
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Sure, you can put on some music.
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Awesome.
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I will put on my favorite band. And scene.
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That was completely natural.
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Wow!
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I used two phrasal verbs easily.
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Put away and put on.
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Excellent job!
417
The conversation flowed so smoothly.
418
Exactly!
419
You did not even have to translate.
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I just pictured the messy room in my head.
421
That is the magic of visual learning.
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It feels so much easier now.
423
Let's move to the second real situation.
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Where are we going now?
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We are going to the office.
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Okay, I am putting on my professional voice.
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Ha ha, perfect.
428
Action.
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Hey, Michael, are we having the meeting today?
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No, unfortunately.
431
We had to put it off.
432
Oh, really?
433
Why did we delay it?
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The manager is sick today.
435
Ah, I see.
436
Until when?
437
We put it off until next Monday.
438
That is totally fine.
439
I will update my calendar.
440
By the way, I put together the presentation.
441
Oh, wow.
442
You finished it already?
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Yes, I gathered all the data last night.
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Can I see it before the meeting?
445
Sure.
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I will send it to you now.
447
Brilliant.
448
Thanks for doing that. And scene.
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How did that feel, Olivia?
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Totally natural.
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Put off and put together.
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Delay the meeting and build the presentation.
453
Yes.
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The context makes the meaning so obvious.
455
You don't need a dictionary for this.
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Not at all.
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I just need my imagination.
458
Are you ready for the third situation?
459
Bring it on.
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The problem scenario.
461
Exactly.
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This one has a lot of emotion.
463
I love drama.
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Let's hear it.
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Action.
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Hey, Olivia.
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How is your new roommate?
468
Honestly?
469
Do you really want the truth?
470
Yeah.
471
Tell me.
472
Is there a problem?
473
He's a nice guy, but... But what?
474
What does he do?
475
He plays extremely loud video games every night.
476
Oh no, wow, that sounds terrible.
477
It is awful.
478
I cannot sleep at all.
479
That is a very tough situation.
480
I cannot put up with it anymore.
481
Have you talked to him about the noise?
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Not yet.
483
I hate starting conflicts with people.
484
You really should tell him how you feel.
485
I know.
486
I refuse to put up with this. And scene.
487
Brilliant emotion there, Olivia.
488
Ha, thanks.
489
I really felt the anger.
490
You tolerated the noise until you just couldn't.
491
Exactly.
492
Put up with is my favorite now.
493
It is incredibly common in spoken English.
494
I hear it in movies all the time.
495
Now you know exactly what it means.
496
Yes, suffering in pure silence.
497
Now let's lock this in your brain forever.
498
Yes, please.
499
How do we do that?
500
We are going to build a memory map.
501
Ooh, a map for my mind.
502
I like that.
503
Do not translate the words into your language.
504
Translation slows down my speaking anyway.
505
Exactly.
506
You should see the movement instead.
507
Visualize the direction of the verb.
508
Yes.
509
When I say put on.
510
I see movement onto my body, like clothes.
511
Or pressing a button to start some music.
512
Right.
513
Wear it or play it.
514
When I say put off.
515
I see moving an event into the future.
516
Or a bad smell pushing you away from food.
517
Ugh, yes.
518
Delay the event or feel disgusted.
519
When I say put away, I see returning messy things to their proper place.
520
Like cleaning a messy bedroom or desk.
521
Putting the books on the shelf, out of sight.
522
Exactly.
523
Returning order to a chaotic room.
524
Or saving money in a safe bank account.
525
When I say put up with, I see someone suffering and holding back anger.
526
Tolerating a very unpleasant or annoying situation.
527
Like loud noise, rude people, or bad coffee.
528
You just sit there and accept the pain.
529
Haha, exactly.
530
Pure, silent suffering.
531
And finally, when I say put together, I see scattered puzzle pieces joining into one image.
532
Combining different parts to make a great project.
533
Like building a strong team at the office.
534
Or creating a beautiful presentation from raw data.
535
I can clearly see all five pictures now.
536
Because put changes direction when the words change.
537
The little words totally control the direction.
538
Exactly.
539
Are you ready for a quick test?
540
Oh gosh, a test?
541
Right now?
542
It is a speed quiz, fast answers only.
543
Okay, okay, I am focused.
544
Let's go.
545
You need to delay the team meeting.
546
Put it off.
547
It is freezing outside.
548
Wear your heavy jacket.
549
Put it on.
550
Your clothes are on the floor.
551
Return them.
552
Put them away.
553
Your boss is screaming.
554
You just tolerate him.
555
I put up with him.
556
You combine great ideas for a new project.
557
I put them together.
558
You want to listen to a new podcast.
559
I put it on.
560
The milk smells terrible.
561
You lose your appetite.
562
It puts me off.
563
You save $50 from your weekly paycheck.
564
I put it away.
565
Wow, you got every single one perfectly right.
566
I did it.
567
I'm so happy.
568
Your brain is actively using the pictures now.
569
It really is.
570
No mental translation needed at all.
571
Let's turn up the heat for the final challenge.
572
Oh my gosh, even faster than before?
573
Yes, I will give you a real context.
574
Okay, I am listening very closely.
575
You guess the correct phrasal verb.
576
Ready?
577
Ready.
578
Bring on the challenge.
579
I have a dentist appointment, but I am scared.
580
You want to put it off.
581
Exactly.
582
I want to delay the pain.
583
I do not blame you at all.
584
Next one.
585
My little brother breaks things every day.
586
You cannot put up with him anymore.
587
Perfect.
588
Now, important guests are coming over soon.
589
Oh, no. Your house is a total mess.
590
Yes.
591
What do I need to do quickly?
592
You need to put everything away.
593
Spot on.
594
But it is raining outside today.
595
You must put your raincoat on.
596
Excellent.
597
We need a fun plan for the guests.
598
Let's put a fun plan together.
599
The guests brought food, but it smells rotten.
600
Ugh, gross.
601
It totally puts you off.
602
Whoa, you are a certified phrasal verb master.
603
I actually feel extremely confident right now.
604
That is because you understand the real situations.
605
Not just a boring, useless list of translations.
606
Exactly.
607
You are thinking in English now.
608
It feels amazing to finally understand this verb.
609
Let's do a fast final recap to finish strong.
610
Let's do it!
611
No extra fluff or filler.
612
I say the verb, you give the meaning.
613
Understood.
614
Hit me with the first one.
615
Put on.
616
Wear something on your body or start playing music.
617
Put off.
618
Delay an event to a later time.
619
Excellent!
620
Put away.
621
Return a messy item to its proper place.
622
Put up with.
623
Tolerate something really unpleasant, annoying, or loud.
624
And the last one, put together.
625
Combine different pieces to build one whole thing Five completely different expressions All coming from one tiny, simple little verb
626
And now the great mystery of put is solved I finally
627
understand the difference between all of them You will never be confused by these words again I am
628
so relieved English makes sense today Now it is time for our wonderful listeners to work Oh yes, now it is your turn,
629
guys We want you to practice right now in the comments.
630
Active practice is the absolute key to true fluency.
631
Write one complete real sentence using put on.
632
Tell us what you wear when it is freezing.
633
Or tell us what kind of music you put on.
634
I would write, I put on jazz music to relax.
635
Beautiful sentence.
636
Now write one sentence using put off.
637
Tell us what task or chore you are delaying today.
638
Everyone procrastinates something.
639
Be honest with us.
640
I would write, I always put off washing the dishes.
641
Me too.
642
They can wait until tomorrow.
643
Now, what about the hardest one, put up with?
644
Yes, write one sentence using put up with.
645
What annoying thing do you tolerate in your life?
646
Maybe a loud neighbor or terrible traffic in your city.
647
I would write, I put up with slow internet today.
648
Oh, slow internet is the absolute worst.
649
It really is.
650
I hate putting up with it.
651
Make sure you use situations from your real life.
652
Real life examples stick in your memory forever.
653
And try to use the visual pictures we discussed.
654
Exactly.
655
We will read your comments and reply.
656
I love seeing how creative our students can be.
657
I absolutely cannot wait to read your amazing sentences.
658
If this audio lesson helped you learn today, Please hit the like button and subscribe to the channel.
659
It really helps us create more free lessons for you.
660
And share it with an English learning friend, too.
661
Keep practicing these mental pictures every single day.
662
Because visual metaphors make spoken English so incredibly easy.
663
Never force yourself to memorize a long, boring list again.
664
Absolutely not.
665
I refuse to put up with lists.
666
Excellent use of the vocabulary right there.
667
See?
668
I am already using it naturally in conversation.
669
You really are.
670
I am so proud of your progress.
671
Thank you, Michael.
672
This lesson was exactly what I needed.
673
You are very welcome, Olivia.
674
You did a fantastic job.
675
I will never forget today's golden rule.
676
Don't memorize translations.
677
Understand the situation.
678
Exactly.
679
Learn the situation and the language becomes easier.
680
Keep listening, practicing, and speaking every day.
681
I'll definitely practice these verbs tonight.
682
That's the spirit.
683
Keep improving your English.
684
And don't put off your English homework.
685
Perfect ending.
686
See you in the next lesson.
687
Bye, everyone.
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Master "Put" Phrasal Verbs in Real Conversations: What You'll Practice
Ever felt confused when "put" gets paired with small words like "on," "off," or "away"? This lesson breaks down how to use put on, put off, put away, and put up with in everyday English. By the end, you’ll not only understand their meanings but also feel confident using them in your own speech—perfect for english speaking practice.
Key Vocabulary & Phrases to Focus On
- Put on: To wear (e.g., "I put on a jacket before leaving").
- Put off: To delay (e.g., "Let’s put off the meeting until tomorrow").
- Put away: To store (e.g., "Please put away the dishes").
- Put up with: To tolerate (e.g., "I can’t put up with the noise").
- Golden rule: Remember situations, not translations.
Practice Tips: Shadowing for Natural Speech
The video’s dialogue is conversational—perfect for shadow speak (repeating phrases aloud right after the speaker). Here’s how to make the most of it: Pause after short exchanges and mimic the tone and speed. Notice how "put on" is said quickly, almost like "puton," in casual talk. For "put up with," emphasize the stress on "up" to show frustration. Repeat tricky phrases 3–5 times until they flow naturally. This shadowspeak technique trains your brain to think in English and improves your pronunciation. Don’t worry about mistakes—focus on matching the rhythm. Soon, these phrasal verbs will feel as easy as "put" itself!
Grammar in this video
The structures the speaker uses most, with the exact words from the video:
| Structure | In the video |
|---|---|
| Present perfect have/has + past participle — a past action that still matters now | have put · have covered · have been |
| Passive voice be + past participle — the focus is on what happens, not who does it | is put · are closed · was delayed |
| Verb + -ing enjoy, keep, stop… + -ing — verbs that are followed by the -ing form | started adding · start playing · keep putting |
| Superlatives the -est / the most … — the top or bottom of a group | the most common · the hardest · the smartest |
What is the Shadowing Technique?
Shadowing is a science-backed language learning technique originally developed for professional interpreter training and popularized by polyglot Dr. Alexander Arguelles. The method is simple but powerful: you listen to native English audio and immediately repeat it out loud — like a shadow following the speaker with just a 1–2 second delay. Unlike passive listening or grammar drills, shadowing forces your brain and mouth muscles to simultaneously process and reproduce real speech patterns. Research shows it significantly improves pronunciation accuracy, intonation, rhythm, connected speech, listening comprehension, and speaking fluency — making it one of the most effective methods for IELTS Speaking preparation and real-world English communication.