Read the NEWS in English | Advanced Vocabulary and Grammar

Did you hear that TikTok was banned in the  United States, but only for a few hours.

That's what we'll discuss in today's  Learn English with the news lesson.

Welcome back to JForrest  English, of course, I'm Jennifer.

Now let's get started.

Our headline TikTok is back online  after Trump pledged to restore it.

The use of back is important here  because it suggests that TikTok was gone,  

wasn't available, but now  it's back, it is available.

So it suggests that transition  from not to TikTok is back online.

And notice you have the verb is conjugated  with TikTok third person singular.

That's because the expression  is to be back, to be back.

You might say my boss is back after  a 2 week vacation notice here.

Two week is an adjective, which  is why you don't have an S there.

I see many mistakes with that.

After a 2 week vacation, after all vacation  and then the adjective describes it.

Now you could just say my boss is back  because it's obvious that you mean to work.

But you could also say my boss is back to work.

You could use a location here they use online.

I could say my boss is back  at the office, for example,  

to use a location now you could also  say I hope the power comes back soon.

So if TikTok isn't available, you can  say, oh, I hope it comes back soon.

So I hope it returns soon.

Of course you can use this for people.

I hope my friend comes back soon.

I hope the power This means electricity.

I hope the electricity, the power comes back soon.

So it implies right now you do not have power.

Let's review pledge.

So the verb is to pledge to do something.

That's the sentence structure.

So you use the infinitive after.

Now here it's in the past.

Simple, of course, let's  review that pronunciation.

Pledged A very soft D and you need  that pledge pledged, pledged now.

When you connect it to the next sound, you  may not hear that D Pledge to restore it.

Pledge to restore it so you  don't hear it in spoken English.

It's the context that will make  it obvious that it's in the past.

Simple.

I'll pledge to do something is a formal  promise or commitment is often used by  

politicians or people with authority,  such as business leaders as well.

It's not common to say I pledge to  help you clean the garage this weekend.

It sounds too formal.

It sounds like we have a contract and I wrote  down a contract and signed it to clean the garage.

So in this context, it just sounds too formal.

So what would you say?

I promise, I promise.

You can simply say I promise,  I promise to help you.

So really we use pledge in a very formal way.

You can think of it as having a contract.

Don't worry about taking notes because I  summarize everything in a free lesson PDF.

You can find the link in the description.

Let's continue.

Around 12 hours after shutting itself  down in the United States, TikTok is back.

So now you know what this means.

You could say TikTok has  returned, so here it's to be back.

But if you use the verb return, it's to return.

So you could put that in the present perfect,  

because it's a completed pass  action with a result in the present.

What's the result in the present?

You can use TikTok again.

Let's review shut down now.

The fact that there's itself is important because  

it means that TikTok did the action  so TikTok wasn't forced to directly.

You could say the government shut it down.

It being TikTok.

The government shut TikTok down.

The government shut it down because  TikTok is specified here now.

This sounds like the government showed  up at Tik Tok's corporate office and  

started unplugging everything  so it was no longer available.

But in this case, it sounds like TikTok  

the company unplugged everything  so it's no longer available now.

The phrasal verb to shut down means to close, but  it's used with both temporarily or permanently.

It depends on context.

And we commonly use this with  stores, companies, offices.

For example, the store shut  down after the scandal.

This could be temporary, it could be permanent.

We would need more context to understand  the store shut down for rent renovations.

This sounds like it's temporary  because they're renovating,  

they're changing the appearance  and then they'll reopen.

They'll reopen.

So you could say we're back after  they could have a social media  

post that says we're back after  shutting down for renovations.

We're back, we are back.

Come visit us.

And shut is an regular verb.

The three forms base, past  and past participle are shut.

So this is in the past.

Simple.

Because grammatically that's what makes sense.

TikTok is back almost like it  never left, attributing its return.

So attributing its return.

This is the reason for its return to a move  by President Donald Trump to save the app.

So you could say TikTok is back almost like it  never left because Donald Trump saved the app.

Using the verb attribute, you might say we  can attribute our success to the renovations.

Remember, this is the store that  was shut down for renovations.

So they renovated it looks beautiful.

More customers came.

So this is the reason why the store is successful.

We can attribute something,  attribute our success in this case,  

attribute its return, Tik Tok's return.

Let's continue.

TikTok welcomed users back with a notification  That said, thanks for your patience and support.

Again, this use of back is important because if  it wasn't there and it just said TikTok welcomed  

users with a notification, it would sound  like these are new users to the platform.

If it says TikTok welcome users back,  

it sounds like these are returning  users, so they're existing customers.

That's why at a restaurant, if you're seeing  someone for the first time, you would say welcome.

But if the same customer comes again  the next day, you can say welcome back.

You must have loved the food.

You're here again, welcome back.

It's nice to see you again.

What about for you, would I say welcome back to  J4 is English because you're a returning viewer,  

a returning student, a returning subscriber?

Or would I say welcome because you're new?

So if you're new, say I'm new  and welcome, welcome to you.

I love new students and if you're  returning and I say welcome back,  

put that's me because you're an existing  student and I love my existing students as well.

So share which one you are in the comments.

That's me.

If you're returning or I'm new.

If you're new, notice here.

Thanks for now.

After 4, you can have a noun, which we have here,  

your patience and support, or  you can have a gerund verb.

Thanks for because 4 is a preposition, so you  can almost always change your nouns to verbs,  

but then you have to think about  what's required grammatically.

Thanks for being patient.

So patience is the noun,  

patient is the adjective, and then with patient  you use the verb to be, which is the gerund.

Thanks for being patient and supporting us.

You can't just say supporting.

It's incomplete.

So thanks for supporting.

Thanks for supporting me.

Thanks for supporting my YouTube channel.

Thanks for supporting us.

You need the object and the verb is to support.

So here you just take support  and you put it in the ING form.

Thanks for your patience and support.

Thanks for being patient and  supporting us as a result of  

President Trump's efforts here instead  of as a result of you could say because  

of if you use because you still need that  of because of President Trump's efforts.

The efforts belong to President Trump, which  is why you have this possessive TikTok is back.

Now you know how to use this  TikTok is back in the US.

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Now, let's continue with our lesson.

The whiplash move to bring the app back comes  

after TikTok became unusable for  Americans late Saturday night.

Let's talk about the whiplash move.

Whiplash is when something moves  very suddenly in One Direction  

and then very suddenly in the reverse direction.

The best image is this is what happens  in car accidents and it can result in  

serious injuries because in a car accident,  your head can move very suddenly in One  

Direction and then instantly move very  suddenly back in the other direction.

So that is visually what you can  imagine and that's what they call it.

She's she suffers from whiplash, so  I can't work because of whiplash.

My neck is so sore.

So that is what they would  call it in that situation.

Now in this case, it means the whiplash move.

So TikTok is gone and then  it's back in only a few hours.

So it was a very sudden decision.

Let's continue.

Users who tried to open the app at  that time, so late Saturday night,  

at that time, we're met with a message saying  it was offline and asking users to stay tuned.

To stay tuned.

Do you know what this means?

What if someone told you stay tuned?

Stay tuned means to wait for updates, but  while you're waiting, remain attentive.

So how can you remain attentive?

You can keep checking the app.

You can go on tick tops website to  see if they've posted anything new.

You can sign up for their e-mail alerts.

So you're actively looking For more  information as you wait for updates.

For example, stay tuned For more  information about the deadline.

This is something that your boss or your  Co worker, your client could say to you.

So they're asking you to wait.

But also keep checking your  e-mail or keep your phone nearby.

Remain attentive.

It's very common to use these two words as  a stand alone at the end of your sentence.

So you could say more information about  the deadline will be available soon.

Stay tuned.

And then you add on these words.

Stay tuned to remind that  person to remain attentive.

Keep your phone nearby, check  your e-mail, stay tuned.

Let's review to be met with something.

This is a great expression.

It means to encounter  something often unexpectedly.

So you go to use TikTok as you always  do and you encounter you see a message.

You weren't expecting it.

You were met with a message letting  you know TikTok isn't available.

You could say his idea was met with resistance.

He shared his idea and then he  received back he encountered  

criticism or resistance, and it was unexpected.

His idea was met with resistance.

It's a very powerful expression.

Or you could say she was met with cheers.

So cheers, woohoo, yay.

As she entered the room,  

maybe because it was a surprise party  for her and she received those cheers.

She encountered those cheers, and  she certainly wasn't expecting them.

So you can use this with something negative,  

something positive, or something just  simply neutral to be met with something.

Let's continue a law banning TikTok.

So if something is banned,  it means it is not allowed.

So legally, officially not allowed.

A law banning TikTok has been enacted.

Enacted is a formal way of saying it is in effect.

It applies has been enacted  in the US Unfortunately,  

that means you can't use Tiktok for  now, Tiktok's message read in part.

So because we have quotations here,  

we know this is someone else saying these  words and this is part of Tik Tok's message.

So this isn't the only thing that TikTok said.

This is some of it, a part of it.

I know that because it said Tik  Tok's message read in part in part.

This in part means that this is  all part of the full message.

The app was also unavailable on the Apple and  Google Play stores along with Lemonade and Cap  

Cut, which are also owned by Tik Tok's  China based parent company Byte Dance.

So by using along with it means Apple's  not available, Google's or the excuse me,  

the app isn't available on Apple, isn't available  on Google Play, but also this service Lemonade,  

this software or service and this software  or service Cap Cut are not available.

Let's continue.

Early on Sunday, Trump said he would  issue an executive order following  

his inauguration on Monday to delay  enforcement of the divest or ban law.

So following his inauguration on Monday,  

his inauguration is when he  officially became president.

So at this point when he said  this, he wasn't president yet.

He was president-elect, which  means he was officially elected,  

but the ceremony hadn't taken place.

As of now, it has taken place.

So he is president and let's  review this, the divest or ban law.

So this is an adjective.

It describes the law and this  is the name of the law that  

banned TikTok originally the divest or ban law.

I talk about this law when it was  enacted, enacted in another news review.

You can find the link in the description to learn  more about how this became a law in the 1st place.

Let's continue.

And within hours, so within hours  of Trump saying this, within hours,  

access to Tik Tok's app and web  page began to return for US users.

So if they use began to return, it means  it's in progress still because if it was  

a completed action, they would have just  said Tik Tok's app and web page returned.

They would have put the verb return in the past.

Simple.

So this means it's still in progress.

And notice here US comes before users,  which is the noun users is the noun.

It represents people who use  the app, most likely you.

Now US users means users  who are located in the US.

OK, so US is the adjective.

As the adjective, you don't need the  article the because it's the adjective.

But if you said 4 users in the US, the is  required because the the article that is required  

with the country United States, the  United States tick tocks restoration.

You could also say tick tocks  return restoration means return  

to its original state is commonly used  with fixing buildings, fixing cars,  

restoring artwork to its original  state, restoring antiques, for example.

So you could say we're restoring.

The verb is to restore.

In this case, tik toks restoration.

This is the noun form.

So tik toks return.

This is also the noun form.

Tik toks return, Tik toks restoration.

So this is the verb to restore.

We're restoring an old Mustang.

Mustang is a type of car, so  it sounds like it's very old.

Maybe you're going to repaint it,  you're going to fix the engine,  

you're going to return it to its original state.

Tik Tok's restoration or Tik Tok's  return will be welcome news for the apps.

170 million American users.

So here, notice American is also an adjective.

You could say US users.

In this case, they chose to change it to American.

Million American users.

And notice the plural is on the noun user.

American is an adjective.

Adjectives don't have plural  forms, so there's no S here.

The number doesn't take the  S, it doesn't take the plural.

It's the noun users that takes the plural.

170 million no S here, 170 million American users.

Now you can use American as a noun  to describe people from America.

And as a noun there's a singular or plural.

There were a lot of Americans.

There were 22102 thousand.

Thousand Americans at the conference.

So because this is the noun, it  represents people from America.

There's an S because nouns take singular  or plural, but adjectives don't.

Let's continue.

Many of whom?

So this represents many of the users, many of  whom use the app for hours every day to find news,  

entertainment and community, and  in some cases to make a living.

What does it mean to make a living?

To make a living?

What does that mean?

To make a living means that you earn  enough money to support yourself.

So it will pay for your rent, your food,  your car, your clothes, your family as well.

So whatever your personal needs are,  if you make a living, you earn enough.

Because this probably isn't the  reality for a lot of people.

They probably would say I make money on  TikTok but not enough to make a living.

So just because you make money selling  something or posting on social media,  

it doesn't necessarily mean  that you make a living.

If you make a living, it means it's the  only source of income that you need.

Let's continue.

And it signaled that Trump may be poised  to score a major political victory  

by claiming responsibility for  bringing back the popular platform.

Of course, the popular platform is  TikTok, the subject of this article.

Now this.

And it signaled it being the  fact that TikTok was banned  

and then quickly returned in that whiplash move.

That's the IT the situation.

The situation signaled that  Trump may be poised to score.

If you're poised, repeat after me, Poised, oised.

If you're poised to do something,  it means you're ready to do it.

You're in a strong position to do it.

You're prepared to do it.

So you're poised to get the promotion.

You're in a strong position.

You're a strong candidate  and remembers to be poised.

So you need your verb to be.

You are poised and then you're infinitive to get  the promotion or the team, maybe a sports team.

The team is poised to win the World Cup.

They're in a strong position.

They're ready based on their performance  until now, they're poised to win.

And again, your verb to be, and in this case,  

it's poised to score, to score  a major political victory.

Here score is a verb and it means to achieve or  obtain but in a successful or significant way.

So for example, we just scored  the biggest client in the country.

So we achieved it, we obtained it, but  it was very significant, very successful.

We just scored the biggest client.

Or someone might ask you how did you  score front row seats to Taylor Swift?

So this is something significant  or very extraordinary.

So how did you get achieve  obtain this significant thing?

How did you score front row seats to Taylor Swift?

So let's review this again.

And it the situation signaled that Trump may be  poised ready to achieve something significant, a  

major political victory by claiming responsibility  for bringing back the popular platform.

But while Tik Toks shut down.

So notice here it's being used as a noun.

Tik Toks shut down.

But while the fact that TikTok was shut down.

So that would be the verb shut down to be shut  down because it's describing TikTok state.

So instead of having to say that, which  is quite wordy, you can use the noun form.

But while Tik Toks shut down  lasted just just a few hours,  

securing the apps long term future in the  United States is likely to be more complicated.

And here securing means ensuring or guaranteeing.

So guaranteeing ensuring the  apps long term future in the  

United States is likely to be more complicated.

Why will it be more complicated?

Well, it's because a law was passed to ban it.

So if you want to learn more about that  issue, remember that I reviewed another  

news article on that topic, so you  can find the link in the description.

And that's the end of the article.

So I'll read the article from start to finish,  and this time you can focus on my pronunciation.

TikTok is back online after  Trump pledged to restore it.

Around 12 hours after shutting  itself down in the United States,  

TikTok is back almost like it never left.

Attributing its return to a move by  President Donald Trump to save the app,  

TikTok welcomed users back with a notification  that said thanks for your patience and support.

As a result of President Trump's  efforts, TikTok is back in the US.

The whiplash move to bring the app back comes  

after TikTok became unusable for  Americans late Saturday night.

Users who tried to open the  app at that time were met with  

a message saying it was offline  and asking users to stay tuned.

A law banning TikTok has been enacted in the US.

Unfortunately, that means you can't use TikTok  for now, Tik Tok's message read in part.

The app was also unavailable on the Apple and  Google Play stores, along with Lemonade and Cap  

Cut, which are also owned by Tik Tok's  China based parent company Byte Dance.

Early on Sunday, Trump said he would  issue an executive order following  

his inauguration on Monday to delay  enforcement of the divest or ban law,  

and within hours, access to Tik Tok's app  and web page began to return for US users.

Tik Tok's restoration will be welcome news  for the apps 170 million American users,  

many of whom use the app for  hours everyday to find news,  

entertainment and community, and  in some cases, to make a living.

And it signaled that Trump may be  poised to score a major political  

victory by claiming responsibility for  bringing back the popular platform.

But while Tik Tok's shutdown lasted just  a few hours, securing the ABS long term  

future in the United States is  likely to be more complicated.

Do you want me to make another  lesson where we review trending  

current events to help you improve your English?

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And you can keep learning English with  the news with this lesson right now.