1095 – How to Use “Pretty” in Everyday English

1095 – How to Use “Pretty” in Everyday EnglishIt’s pretty good. I’m pretty sure. That was pretty expensive. We’re pretty busy today. That’s pretty much it. Pretty is a very common word in everyday English, and I’m not talking about pretty meaning beautiful. In conversation, pretty often means something like fairly, quite, or rather, and we use it all the time to soften or adjust how strong an adjective sounds. Have you wondered about expressions like pretty good, pretty sure, or pretty much? If so, you’re in luck—because today, we’re going to look at how you can use pretty naturally in everyday English.The Happy English PodcastHelping people speak English better since 2014Over 1,000 episodes • 8 million downloads📘 Get free weekly English lessons plus instant access to my FREE Vocabulary Workshop.:https://learn.myhappyenglish.com/free-english-lessons🎥 Watch video versions of the Happy English Podcast on YouTubehttps://www.youtube.com/@HappyEnglishNY/podcasts🌐 Learn more about my English lessons and courseshttps://www.myhappyenglish.com

The thing is, I’m busy tomorrow. Here’s the thing... That’s the thing. The funny thing is, I actually liked it. The good thing is, nobody was hurt. One thing I like about this neighborhood is how quiet it is. The word Thing is pretty basic word, but in daily English conversation, we use it in a lot of useful ways that go far beyond simply talking about an object. We use this word in phrases like the thing is, here’s the thing, that’s the thing, and, funny thing! So for today's English lesson podcast, we’re going to look at some very natural ways you can use the word thing in everyday English.The Happy English PodcastHelping people speak English better since 2014Over 1,000 episodes • 8 million downloads📘 Get free weekly English lessons plus instant access to my FREE Vocabulary Workshop.:https://learn.myhappyenglish.com/free-english-lessons🎥 Watch video versions of the Happy English Podcast on YouTubehttps://www.youtube.com/@HappyEnglishNY/podcasts🌐 Learn more about my English lessons and courseshttps://www.myhappyenglish.com

Anyway, what were you saying? Anyway, I should get going. I didn’t really want to go, but I went anyway. It was expensive, but I bought it anyway. Anyway is one of those very common conversational words that can do a few different jobs. Sometimes we use it to return to the main topic. Sometimes we use it to move a conversation forward or bring it to an end. And sometimes we use it to mean that something happened despite a reason for it not to happen. Have you ever wondered about the different ways we use anyway? If so, you’re in luck—because today, we’re going to look at all the ways you can use anyway naturally in everyday English.The Happy English PodcastHelping people speak English better since 2014Over 1,000 episodes • 8 million downloads📘 Get free weekly English lessons plus instant access to my FREE Vocabulary Workshop.:https://learn.myhappyenglish.com/free-english-lessons🎥 Watch video versions of the Happy English Podcast on YouTubehttps://www.youtube.com/@HappyEnglishNY/podcasts🌐 Learn more about my English lessons and courseshttps://www.myhappyenglish.com

That’s fair. That’s not fair. Fair enough. To be fair, he did warn us. Give her a fair chance. Let’s split it fairly. Fair is a common word in everyday English, but we use it in several different ways. Sometimes it means reasonable or acceptable. Sometimes it means treating people equally. And sometimes we use expressions like fair enough and to be fair to react to what someone says or add balance to a conversation. Have you been confused by these different uses of fair? If so, you’re in luck—because today, we’re going to look at how you can use fair naturally in everyday English.The Happy English PodcastHelping people speak English better since 2014Over 1,000 episodes • 8 million downloads📘 Get free weekly English lessons plus instant access to my FREE Vocabulary Workshop.:https://learn.myhappyenglish.com/free-english-lessons🎥 Watch video versions of the Happy English Podcast on YouTubehttps://www.youtube.com/@HappyEnglishNY/podcasts🌐 Learn more about my English lessons and courseshttps://www.myhappyenglish.com

That’s fair. That’s not fair. Fair enough. To be fair, he did warn us. Give her a fair chance. Let’s split it fairly. Fair is a common word in everyday English, but we use it in several different ways. Sometimes it means reasonable or acceptable. Sometimes it means treating people equally. And sometimes we use expressions like fair enough and to be fair to react to what someone says or add balance to a conversation. Have you been confused by these different uses of fair? If so, you’re in luck—because today, we’re going to look at how you can use fair naturally in everyday English.The Happy English PodcastHelping people speak English better since 2014Over 1,000 episodes • 8 million downloads📘 Get free weekly English lessons plus instant access to my FREE Vocabulary Workshop.:https://learn.myhappyenglish.com/free-english-lessons🎥 Watch video versions of the Happy English Podcast on YouTubehttps://www.youtube.com/@HappyEnglishNY/podcasts🌐 Learn more about my English lessons and courseshttps://www.myhappyenglish.com

I stopped at the store on the way home. By the way, did you call John? Either way, we need to decide today. No way! You won the tickets? This jacket is way too big. Way is a simple word, but it shows up in a lot of very natural everyday phrases. And in many of these expressions, the word way has very little to do with a road or direction. Have you been confused by expressions like by the way, either way, no way, and way too...? If so, you’re in luck—because today, we’re going to look at six everyday situations you can use way in conversational English.The Happy English PodcastHelping people speak English better since 2014Over 1,000 episodes • 8 million downloads📘 Get free weekly English lessons plus instant access to my FREE Vocabulary Workshop.:https://learn.myhappyenglish.com/free-english-lessons🎥 Watch video versions of the Happy English Podcast on YouTubehttps://www.youtube.com/@HappyEnglishNY/podcasts🌐 Learn more about my English lessons and courseshttps://www.myhappyenglish.com

No wonder you’re tired—you only slept four hours. No wonder the room is cold. The window is open. She practices every day, so it’s no wonder she’s improving. Well, no wonder! No wonder is a very common conversational phrase in everyday English, and we use it when new information explains something that seemed surprising, confusing, or unexpected before. Have you wondered... how to use no wonder? If so, you’re in luck—because today, we’re going to look at how you can use no wonder naturally in everyday English.The Happy English PodcastHelping people speak English better since 2014Over 1,000 episodes • 8 million downloads📘 Get free weekly English lessons plus instant access to my FREE Vocabulary Workshop.:https://learn.myhappyenglish.com/free-english-lessons🎥 Watch video versions of the Happy English Podcast on YouTubehttps://www.youtube.com/@HappyEnglishNY/podcasts🌐 Learn more about my English lessons and courseshttps://www.myhappyenglish.com

What do you mean? I didn’t mean to upset you. I’ve been meaning to call you. You mean a lot to me , but I guess it just wasn’t meant to be. This lesson is meant to help you speak English better.Mean is a small word, but we use it in a surprising number of everyday situations. We use it to ask for clarification, explain our intentions, talk about purpose, and even tell someone how important they are to us. Have you ever been confused by all these different uses of mean? If so, you’re in luck—because today, we’re going to look at the different ways you can use mean in everyday English.The Happy English PodcastHelping people speak English better since 2014Over 1,000 episodes • 8 million downloads📘 Get free weekly English lessons plus instant access to my FREE Vocabulary Workshop.:https://learn.myhappyenglish.com/free-english-lessons🎥 Watch video versions of the Happy English Podcast on YouTubehttps://www.youtube.com/@HappyEnglishNY/podcasts🌐 Learn more about my English lessons and courseshttps://www.myhappyenglish.com

I found out that the store is closing. I can’t figure out how this app works. We ran out of coffee. Everything worked out in the end. It turned out to be a great restaurant. Phrasal verbs with out show up everywhere in everyday English, and the meaning of out changes depending on the verb. Have you been confused by expressions like find out, figure out, run out of, work out, and turn out? If so, you’re in luck—because today, we’re going to look at five useful phrasal verbs with out that you can use in everyday English.The Happy English PodcastHelping people speak English better since 2014Over 1,000 episodes • 8 million downloads📘 Get free weekly English lessons plus instant access to my FREE Vocabulary Workshop.:https://learn.myhappyenglish.com/free-english-lessons🎥 Watch video versions of the Happy English Podcast on YouTubehttps://www.youtube.com/@HappyEnglishNY/podcasts🌐 Learn more about my English lessons and courseshttps://www.myhappyenglish.com

Does that make sense? That makes sense. I’m trying to make sense of this. It makes sense to do that. Financially, it makes sense. Sense is one of those words that appears in a lot of very natural everyday expressions, especially when we’re talking about whether an idea is clear, logical, or reasonable. Have you ever been confused by the different ways we use make sense? If so, you’re in luck—because today, we’re going to look at how you can use make sense naturally in everyday English.The Happy English PodcastHelping people speak English better since 2014Over 1,000 episodes • 8 million downloads📘 Get free weekly English lessons plus instant access to my FREE Vocabulary Workshop.:https://learn.myhappyenglish.com/free-english-lessons🎥 Watch video versions of the Happy English Podcast on YouTubehttps://www.youtube.com/@HappyEnglishNY/podcasts🌐 Learn more about my English lessons and courseshttps://www.myhappyenglish.com