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

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

  • words and phrases that you need to stop saying immediately.

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

  • Before we get started, I would just like to thank

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

  • If you haven't heard of italki before,

  • it's a huge online database of both native

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

  • video lessons 24/7.

  • You can learn English, and over 100 other languages

  • from anywhere in the world,

  • as long as you have a stable Internet connection.

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

  • way cheaper than an offline tutor

  • or an offline language academy.

  • I have so many people message me each day

  • asking how they can meet, and talk to,

  • and practise with native speakers.

  • Italki is a really good option

  • because they have qualified teachers,

  • but they also have community teachers,

  • which will practise conversation with you.

  • 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, Mrs, 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)

Hello everyone, and welcome back to English with Lucy.

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