Can You UNDERSTAND this Story in English? "THE WEDDING PLUS ONE"

this short story is called the wedding plus  one and it is perfect for you if you want to  

improve your English through story the story  will be on your screen so you can listen and  

read at the same time and stay until the  end because we're going to analyze the  

words and phrases from the story so you  can learn more English let's get started  

Sophie stared at her phone chewing her lip do I  really need to do this her cousin's wedding was  

in 3 days and her ex James would be there worse  he'd be bringing his new girlfriend Sophie could  

already imagine the awkward conversations the pity  and looks from relatives and the fakesmiles she'd  

have to give she needed a date someone Charming  confident and most importantly not real her best  

friend Lucy has suggested an app that let people  hire plus ones for events it sounded ridiculous  

but desperate times called for desperate measures  Sophie scrolled through the profiles until one  

caught her eye Tom 29 experienced plus one good  at small talk can dance perfect she hesitated  

for a second then tapped book now Sophie adjusted  her dress as she waited outside the hotel the air  

smelled of fresh cut grass and guests were already  arriving dressed in pastel colors then she saw him  

Tom he walked toward her with an easy confidence  wearing a suit that looked like it had been made  

for him he had a relaxed smile and sharp eyes that  missed nothing Sophie he asked stopping in front  

of her she nodded that's me he grinned nice to  meet you don't worry I've done this before just  

tell me what you need Sophie exhaled feeling her  nerves settle just pretend we've been dating for  

a few months be Charming laugh at my uncle's bad  jokes and she paused make it look like I've moved  

on Tom gave a small nod got it shall we they  walked inside together and Sophie could already  

feel people staring dinner went smoothly Tom was  in natural he Charmed Sophie his aunt complimented  

the bride and even pretended to remember childhood  stories from her cousins then came the moment  

Sophie had been dreading James walked over his  new girlfriend Khloe clung to his arm like she was  

afraid to lose him he had the same smug look he  always had when he thought he was winning Sophie  

James said smiling politely it's good to see you  Sophie kept her face neutral you too before James  

could say more Tom leaned in resting a casual hand  on the back of a chair so this is the famous James  

Tom said smoothly I've heard so much about you  James blinked clearly caught off guard oh all  

good things I hope Tom grinned depends who you  ask Sophie pressed her lips together trying not  

to laugh Chloe gave her a once over so how long  have you two been together Sophie hesitated a few  

months Tom nodded best few months of my life James  smile tightened for a second like he was trying  

to hide his irritation well he said adjusting  his tie it's great that you've moved on Sophie  

tilted her head yeah it is James and Khloe excused  themselves and as soon as they walked away Sophie  

let out a breath that she said turning to Tom  was brilliant Tom smirked it's what you hired me  

for after dinner the music started and the guests  moved to the dance floor tom held out his hand one  

dance he asked Sophie hesitated this was all fake  wasn't it just job for him but something about  

the way he looked at her made her want to say yes  she took his hand they moved easily to the music  

and for the first time all night Sophie stopped  thinking about James she wasn't pretending anymore  

she was just enjoying the moment you know Tom said  spinning her gently this is one of the better fake  

dates I've had Sophie laughed you mean you've had  worse oh much worse he grinned but I think this is  

my favorite she looked up at him her heart beaten  a little faster maybe this wasn't all fake after

all in the story we use words and phrases you  might not know go through these explanations  

and examples understand their meanings and  how to use them in everyday conversation  

and then listen to the story again let's get  started now the first one is scroll through and  

this means to look through a list or options  on a screen so a lot of people scroll through  

their phone and do those types of things these  days now in the story it said Sophie scrolled  

through profiles on the app before choosing Tom so  she looked through the different profiles before  

finding her favorite who we know is Tom another  example is I scrolled through my messages but  

couldn't find his number and that is incredibly  disappointing the next one is walk toward so on  

the video you can see people walking toward  they gay this means to move in the direction  

of something and you'll often hear walk towards  walk towards so in the story Tom walked toward her  

with confidence he was very confident about being  her wedding date and another example is she walked  

toward the exit without looking back so this is an  example from something else where you can imagine  

somebody is mad and she just walks toward the  exit without looking back next one is lean in lean  

in and this means to move closer often to speak  quietly or at intimate so in the story Tom leaned  

in resting a casual hand on the back of her chair  and another example is and you can see this in the  

photo she leaned in and whispered something funny  she leaned in and whispered something funny the  

next one is move on to move on and this means to  stop thinking about or being emotionally attached  

to something so the woman in the video hasn't  moved on as we're about to learn James assumed  

Sophie hadn't moved on from him so he assumed that  Sophie hadn't stopped thinking about him and it  

took her a while to move on after the breakup it  took her a while to move on after the breakup the  

next one is give a once over give a once over now  this means to quickly look at someone or something  

often to judge but not always okay so for example  in the story Chloe gave Sophie a once over to  

judge her to see what she's like to look at her  and think hm who are you what are you about and  

another example is he gave the contract to once  over before signing it so this is where you you  

quickly look at the contract before you sign it  the next one is hold out to hold out and in this  

case it means to extend something to someone Okay  so Tom held out his hand for a dance as you can  

see in the video it's showing you someone holding  out their hand Tom held out his hand for a dance  

which is like saying he is suggesting that Sophie  Dance with him she held out the keys and smiled  

she held out the keys and smiled the next one is  make it look like make it look like this means to  

create an impression of something that isn't true  for example in the story just pretend we've been  

dating for a few months make it look like I've  moved on and another example is we need to make it  

look like we're busy so they stop asking for help  so Sophie in the story to go back to that wants to  

make it look like that she has moved on she wants  to create that impression of something that isn't  

true the next one is is burst out laughing to  burst out laughing and this means to suddenly  

start laughing for example Sophie pressed her lips  together trying not to burst out laughing so she  

had to stop herself from bursting out laughing  and another example is she burst out laughing  

when he told her the story so the story must have  been funny which is a past modal must have been  

the story must have been funny so she  burst out laughing when he told her the

story and this one is change the subject to  change the subject it's very common and this  

means to talk about something different to avoid  a topic Sophie changed the subject before James  

could say more so she talked about a different  topic because she didn't want to talk about  

what James wanted to talk about and he quickly  changed the subject when he asked about his  

ex think about the last time you changed the  subject because you didn't want to talk about a

topic and this one is it's what you hired me for  it's what you hired me for this is a casual way  

to say this is my job or this is what I'm  supposed to do it's what you hired me for  

Tom said with a smirk so that was  from the story saying this is his  

job to do a really great job at being  a wedding guest and you're the best  

cook here you can respond it's what  you hiir me for it's what you hir me

for and then this one is shall we shall we and  this is a polite and natural way to to suggest  

starting something or doing something for example  shall we Tom said offering his arm so he invited  

Sophie to a dance just by saying shall we and then  shall we go inside is another example shall we go  

inside those are the key words and phrases from  the story what to do now is watch or listen to  

the story again and notice those words phrases  and then share this story with a friend thank  

you so much for being here watch another English  lesson with me and I'll speak you soon bye for now