5 things native English speakers NEVER say!

(light electronic music)

(ترجمة خالد العيسى من سوريا )

- Hello everyone, and welcome back to English with Lucy.

مرحبا جميعا , واهلا بعودتكم الى الاتكليزية مع لوسي

Today, I'm going to talk you through the five

اليوم, ساتحدث عن خمسة

words and phrases that you need to stop saying immediately.

كلمات وعبارات عليكم التوقف عن قولها حالا

Nah, it's not that serious. (chuckles)

ناا, انها ليست خطيرة

Before we get started, I would just like to thank

قبل ان ابدأ , اريد ان اشكر

the sponsor of today's video, it is italki.

الراعي لفيديو هذا اليوم ,italki

If you haven't heard of italki before,

اذا لم تسمعو ب italki قبلا

it's a huge online database of both native

انها قاعدة بيانات ضخمة ,لكلا من الناطقين المحليين

and non-native speakers who give one-to-one

وغير الناطقين بها حيث يعطي دروس واحد الى واحد

video lessons 24/7.

دروس فيديو 24/7.(يعني ع مدار الساعة بالاسبوع)

You can learn English, and over 100 other languages

يمكنكم تعلم الانكليزية , واكثر من 100 لغة اخرى

from anywhere in the world,

من اي مكان في العالم

as long as you have a stable Internet connection.

طالما لديكم اتصال مستقر بالانترنت

It's an incredibly affordable way of learning a language,

انه منطقي بشكل لا يصدق كطريقة لتعلم اللغة ،

way cheaper than an offline tutor

طريقة أرخص من التعليم بدون انترنت

or an offline language academy.

او اكادمية لتعليم اللغة

I have so many people message me each day

لدي الكثير من الناس يراسلوني كل يوم

asking how they meet, and talk to,

يسالون كيف يمكنهم ان يقابلو

and practise with native speakers.

وممارسة والتدريب مع الناطقين بها.

Italki is a really good option

Italki هوا حقا خيار جيد

because they have qualified teachers,

لان لديهم اساتذه مؤهلين

but they also have community teachers,

ولكن لديهم ايضا مجتمع من الاساتذة

which will practise conversation with you.

والذين سوف يتمرنون على المحادثات معكم

They've given me an offer to pass onto you,

you can $10 worth of italki credits for free

when you make your first lesson purchase.

All you have to do to get started

is click on the link in the description box.

Right, let's get on with the lesson.

Okay, so the title is pretty shocking,

The Words and Phrases You Must Never Say.

But honestly, if you do want to sound like a native speaker,

or even sound like a very accomplished English student,

you should avoid saying these words and phrases.

Because when students say them,

I immediately think they're at a lower level.

The first phrase that you must never say is,

have you ever been in?

And then the location.

Have you ever been in Italy?

Have you ever been in Istanbul?

Whenever I do a live on Instagram,

I always get asked this exact question.

Of course, I answer it, because I love talking about Italy,

and I have been to Istanbul,

but it shouldn't be in, it's the wrong preposition.

It's not that it doesn't make sense,

it's just not commonly said.

We understand what you're trying to say,

you want to know if I've ever visited or travelled to

Italy, or Istanbul, or wherever it may be,

but, we don't say in, we say to.

Have you ever been to Italy?

Have you ever been to Istanbul?

So yes, really watch out for that one.

Number two, this is another comment I get a lot on Instagram

especially when I upload photos with my boyfriend.

They ask me, is he your husband?

Are you married?

Are you married with Will?

Although it makes sense,

and we understand what you're saying,

married with a person isn't correct,

it should be married to.

It's weird when you think about it.

You should be married with someone,

not to that sounds too formal,

but we say I am married to my husband.

Now, this is why.

If we're using with, I'm married with my husband,

what if I say I am married with kids,

that sounds like I am in a marriage with some children.

However, with in this case, means and also have.

I am married, and I also have kids.

I am married with kids.

Number three.

If I ever ask my students how long

they've been learning English,

I sometimes get the response,

I've been learning English since two years.

Don't worry if you say that to a native,

they're not going to say, what?

They'll understand what you're trying to say,

but it's incorrect.

It should be since a fixed point in time,

so I've been learning English since 2016.

Duration, it needs to be for.

I have been learning English for two years, since 2016.

Another common mistake we can add on to that is during.

I know in some languages like Spanish,

you would say durante dos anos,

but it doesn't work in English.

I wouldn't say I've been learning English during two years,

doesn't work, for.

Talking about for, let's move on to number four.

Teacher Lucy. (chuckles)

Right, it actually makes me sad to talk about this one,

because I think it's so sweet and cute.

But students will often address me as Teacher Lucy,

like hey Teacher Lucy, how are you?

But I feel obliged to tell you guys

that in the UK, if you're trying to learn British English,

we don't address our teachers as Teacher and then name.

Now, I'm not saying don't ever say this,

because obviously in your own country,

it might be very rude not to address your teacher

as Teacher Mary, Teacher Mohammed.

But if you're in the UK, and I think in the US as well,

it's not common to use this to address your teachers.

In a school environment, we would say,

Miss, Misses, Mister, or Mizz.

Mizz is if a woman doesn't want to disclose

if she's married or not, and then the surname.

Or if they've got specific qualifications,

professor or doctor.

In informal language schools,

I would just want to be addressed as Lucy.

If I was teaching in a formal school,

I would be called Miss Earl.

Any other place, Lucy.

Teacher Lucy just isn't used over here.

The last one, number five.

I love it when I receive this question in my classes,

but it's often said incorrectly.

Can you explain me this, can you explain me that?

Now, it should be can you explain this to me?

Can you explain that to me?

Explain me is wrong, explain to me is right.

I would never say explain me your answer,

I would say either explain to me your answer,

or much better, explain your answer to me.

Now there is an exception to this,

and this is pretty advanced,

explain me can exist in one specific context.

So, you have to explain an object.

Explain the object to me,

or explain to me the object.

Now, if me is the object, then yes explain me can exist.

For example, if I was going to see a therapist,

and I was reclining on his sofa,

as I don't understand myself.

Explain me to me. (chuckles)

Yes that would work, but that's quite advanced.

Just know that explain needs an object.

Right, that's it for today's lesson.

Those are the five things that you need to stop saying,

and make a conscious effort to avoid and correct.

Don't forget to check out italki,

the link is in the description box.

You can click on it

and claim your $10 worth of italki credits

for free when you make your first lesson purchase.

Don't forget to connect with me on all of my social media.

I've got my Facebook, I've got my Instagram,

and I've got my Twitter.

I will see you soon for another lesson.

This is another comment I get a lot on Instagram,

especially when I upload photos with my boyfriend.

Boyfriend.

Boyfriend.

You can learn English, and many. (groans)

I sometimes get the response,

I've been learning Englidge.

Lid, Englidge. (groans)

Look at me trying to teach English,

I can't even say my own language.

(chuckles)

(soft electronic music)