90% FAIL this Vocabulary Test, will you?

0:00 Hardly any of my English students can get

0:04 12 out of 12 on this English vocabulary test.

0:08 Can you?

0:09 In today's free English lesson,

0:11 you are going to test yourself and see if you have not just beginner,

0:16 not just intermediate, but advanced level English vocabulary.

0:20 These are words that real English speakers

0:22 use in real English conversations every day.

0:26 These are not outdated textbook too formal expressions.

0:30 Instead, these are expressions for daily life.

0:34 If you're new here, hi, I'm Vanessa from over the past 10 years

0:41 to more than 7 million of you here on YouTube,

0:45 I have been teaching real life English

0:47 that real English speakers use in everyday conversations.

0:51 Plus, each week, including today, I create for you a free PDF worksheet.

0:57 This is the the teacher part of me that wants to continue helping you.

1:02 In this worksheet, you will find the entire vocabulary

1:05 test you're about to take plus a lot of sample

1:08 sentences for each of the expressions so that you

1:11 can see all of the context and use them yourself.

1:15 Talking about using them yourself, there are two bonuses in this worksheet.

1:19 The first one, I don't know if you can see this well,

1:22 is an exercise activity where you are going to see if

1:26 you can find the correct words to use in this story.

1:30 And the second one is a bonus speaking practice.

1:35 You're going to follow along with my voice and use

1:38 all of the vocabulary you're going to learn today.

1:41 It is essential to use what you have learned.

1:45 Don't just listen to this lesson, but be active and actually use it.

1:50 So, how can you get this free PDF worksheet

1:52 plus the bonus exercise plus the bonus speaking practice?

1:56 All you have to do is click on the link in the description,

1:59 enter your name and email address, and voila,

2:02 just like that, I will send you this worksheet plus the two bonuses so that you

2:07 can remember what you've learned and go out

2:10 into the real world and use it yourself.

2:12 That's the goal, right?

2:13 Well, don't forget to click on the link

2:14 in the description to get this worksheet today.

2:17 All right, let's get started with our vocabulary test.

2:21 All of these words are real expressions

2:24 that real English speakers use in daily life.

2:27 How do I know?

2:28 I've got the proof.

2:30 All of these words were used in last week's lesson where

2:33 my husband Dan and I had a natural conversation talking about childhood.

2:38 In the conversation, we just spontaneously used all of today's expressions,

2:43 and I want you to be able to use them, too.

2:45 So, are you ready?

2:47 Let's start with four beginner-level vocabulary questions.

2:51 I'm going to show you the first letter of each word,

2:55 and I want to see if you can guess what it is.

2:57 Let's take a look at number one.

2:59 Number one, we often say that the gets forgotten in the family.

3:05 You've got 5 seconds to answer.

3:11 We often say that the middle child gets forgotten in the family.

3:17 My son Freddy is the middle child, and I try really hard to not forget about him

3:22 and to include him as much as every other child in my family.

3:27 All right, let's watch the original clip where we used middle child so that you

3:32 can see how it was originally used and proof that we really use this.

3:36 Let's watch.

3:37 Yeah, but even for Freddy, for our 5-year-old,

3:40 um he has adapted to that really well.

3:42 He's the reason that we started the rules Yes.

3:45 in the first place.

3:46 That was you as a child, maybe.

3:48 middle children.

3:49 Middle middle children.

3:51 Yeah.

3:51 Beginner vocabulary number two.

3:54 Want to go shopping this afternoon?

3:57 I Want to go shopping this afternoon?

4:06 I guess.

4:07 You can see this hesitation in my voice.

4:10 We often use this phrase, I guess,

4:12 when we're not really wanting to say yes or no, but we're going to do it anyway.

4:17 Let's watch the original clip of how this was used.

4:21 My mom's also the type she's like, "Wait,

4:22 he can play it on a road trip, and he can play it outside.

4:26 He can take it anywhere." I mean, maybe you could.

4:29 of true, I guess.

4:30 Yeah.

4:30 Beginner vocabulary question number three.

4:33 I know it might rain, but I brought an umbrella for us.

4:43 I know it might rain, but don't worry, I brought an umbrella for us.

4:47 We use this phrase, don't worry,

4:49 when we want to make someone feel more comfortable,

4:52 less stressed, and less worried.

4:54 All right, let's see how that was originally used in the conversation.

4:58 What are our kids doing?

4:59 I don't know, maybe digging a hole.

5:01 They said they're looking for rocks.

5:02 enough space to do this, by the way.

5:03 It's not in anybody's walking path.

5:05 It's not a safety hazard.

5:07 Don't worry.

5:08 There's only a child buried in there, that's all.

5:11 Beginner vocabulary question number four, our final vocabulary question is this.

5:17 The house is a mess.

5:19 It's time to The house is a mess.

5:27 It's time to clean up.

5:30 This phrasal verb, to clean up,

5:32 is talking about putting away all of the items that shouldn't be out.

5:37 We often do this before guests come over to our house, right?

5:40 I do, at least.

5:41 All right, let's see how this was originally used in the conversation,

5:45 and then I'm going to see how you're doing.

5:47 We're starting to play around with like the kids feed the cats, they're starting

5:50 Got them to feed the cats.

5:51 the chicken eggs, they of course have to clean up

5:53 their own stuff like they always clean up their own their room,

5:58 their books, their toys, like that's important.

6:02 All right, we just finished the four beginner vocabulary questions.

6:07 How are you doing?

6:08 Did you get all four of these?

6:10 Are you catching on to how this test is working?

6:13 We're about to move on to four intermediate vocabulary expressions and I

6:18 want to see if you can get all four of these.

6:20 Intermediate vocabulary question number one.

6:24 When we were hiking,

6:26 we heard thunder and we knew we needed to turn around and go back home.

6:37 When we were hiking, we heard thunder and at that point,

6:42 we knew we needed to turn around and go back home.

6:46 We use this phrase at that point to talk about a specific time in the past.

6:52 When we heard thunder, immediately we knew it's not safe to be out here,

6:57 we need to go back home.

6:58 When we heard thunder, at that point, we realized let's go home.

7:02 Okay, let's see how this was used in the original conversation.

7:06 My best friend had a computer,

7:08 but we didn't have a I don't think we had a good computer at that point.

7:12 I remember we got a computer when I was in sixth grade.

7:15 Intermediate vocabulary question number two.

7:18 Sometimes teenagers try to the house at night.

7:28 Sometimes teenagers try to sneak out of the house at night.

7:33 This is when you leave somewhere secretly.

7:36 Maybe they go out a window, maybe they close the door very quietly.

7:42 Teenagers sometimes sneak out of the house at night.

7:45 All right, let's see how this was originally used in the conversation.

7:49 Proof that we really use these in real life.

7:51 Let's watch.

7:52 My mom sent me to my room and I was so sad that I hit her that I snuck out

7:58 of my room into her room and we were playing

8:01 with like our Barbie dolls and my mom found us.

8:04 All right, you are successfully halfway through this test

8:07 and I want to know, how are you doing?

8:10 Aren't these intermediate expressions just slightly

8:12 more challenging than the beginner ones?

8:15 But let's keep going.

8:16 We have two more intermediate phrases and four final advanced phrases.

8:21 I want to see if you can get that final phrase correct.

8:24 Intermediate vocabulary question number three.

8:28 When I watch someone solve a Rubik's Cube in 30 seconds,

8:33 I how they do it so quickly.

8:42 When I watch someone solve a Rubik's Cube in 30 seconds,

8:46 I can't fathom how they do it so quickly.

8:50 We use this beautiful phrase, can't fathom,

8:54 to talk about something that you cannot imagine.

8:58 I have never been able to solve a Rubik's Cube

9:00 in my life and I definitely can't solve one in 30 seconds.

9:04 I can't imagine how they do that.

9:06 It's so cool.

9:08 All right, let's see how this was used in the original conversation.

9:11 Yes, I think our generation can't fathom

9:16 that lack of control over our kids' well-being.

9:20 And our final intermediate vocabulary question is this.

9:25 I was so with making dinner that I

9:27 completely forgot I was supposed to call my grandma.

9:31 Oops.

9:37 I was so preoccupied with making dinner that I

9:42 completely forgot I was supposed to call my grandma.

9:46 This is a beautiful intermediate word, preoccupied.

9:50 We're talking here about being distracted by something.

9:54 My mind was focused on making dinner and I

9:57 totally forgot that I was supposed to call my grandma.

10:01 So, you might even use this word when you finally do call your grandma.

10:04 Hi grandma, I'm so sorry that I didn't call you this earlier this afternoon.

10:09 I was preoccupied with making dinner.

10:12 And she'll say, "Oh, honey, it's okay.

10:14 I know that life gets busy." This is

10:18 a great phrase that you can integrate into your life,

10:20 especially if you have a busy life.

10:22 All right, let's see how it was used in the original conversation.

10:26 Uh I feel like a lot of kids are inside more,

10:28 but I don't know if that's really necessarily the parents are are

10:32 scared to send them out or they don't want to give them freedom.

10:35 I think I just think they're probably preoccupied with other things.

10:38 If I had to guess.

10:39 Possibly.

10:40 We might talk about what those other things are later.

10:43 Well, congratulations.

10:44 You have finished all the beginner vocabulary questions,

10:47 all of the intermediate vocabulary questions.

10:50 Now, can we level up again?

10:52 Of course we can.

10:53 All right, let's go on to our four advanced vocabulary questions

10:58 and let's see if you can get these, especially the last one.

11:01 Advanced vocabulary question number one.

11:04 Let's imagine that you're having a chat with a co-worker who says,

11:08 "Are you coming to the meeting at 10:00?" And you say,

11:12 "No, it's at 9:00." And your co-worker says,

11:16 "You should check your email." You might say

11:18 this, "I don't have to check my email.

11:21 I that the meeting starts at 9:00 a.m.,

11:25 not 10:00." "I don't have to check my email.

11:34 I distinctly remember that the meeting starts at 9:00 a.m., not 10:00 a.m.

11:40 This is an interesting phrase because you could use the word remember,

11:44 just a simple beginner word,

11:46 but oftentimes in English there are these fixed phrases,

11:50 distinctly remember, that are often linked together.

11:54 We use this word distinctly with remember,

11:57 and instead of saying I exactly remember,

12:01 I specifically remember, we often say distinctly remember.

12:06 I distinctly remember it said 9:00 a.m.,

12:09 but maybe you should check your email anyway.

12:12 All right, let's see how this was used in the original conversation

12:15 so that you can see native English speakers using distinctly with remember.

12:20 Let's watch.

12:21 And I remember my mom being like,

12:22 how why what on earth would compel you to do this?

12:26 Mhm.

12:26 Yeah.

12:26 Wait until you get home.

12:28 Oh, yeah.

12:28 Kind of thing.

12:29 And um yeah.

12:31 But I do remember distinctly one time my dad was going

12:35 to spank me and he could he just like started cracking up.

12:38 Advanced vocabulary question number two,

12:41 I'm going to give you a little hint with this one, is this.

12:45 It's a Saturday night.

12:46 If I I think that the restaurant will be pretty busy.

12:51 All right, I gave you if I I want you to guess the rest of this phrase.

12:57 Are you ready?

13:02 It's a Saturday night.

13:04 If I had to guess, I think that the restaurant will be pretty busy tonight.

13:10 Make sure you get the verb tense of this correct.

13:13 If I had to guess.

13:16 We're using this when you're making an assumption about something.

13:20 I'm not 100% positive, but you know what?

13:23 I'm pretty sure that the restaurant will be busy on a Saturday night,

13:27 so I can use this phrase.

13:29 If I had to guess, I think the restaurant

13:32 will be pretty busy tonight, but I don't care.

13:34 I love that restaurant.

13:35 I'm willing to wait.

13:37 Okay, let's see how this was originally used in the conversation.

13:41 Uh I feel like a lot of kids are inside more,

13:43 but I don't know if that's really necessarily the parents are are

13:47 scared to send them out or they don't want to give them freedom.

13:50 I think I just think they're probably preoccupied

13:52 with other things, if I had to guess.

13:54 Possibly, we might talk about what those other things are later.

13:58 Advanced vocabulary question number three is this.

14:02 At first, my parents said no to getting a dog,

14:06 but eventually they We're only looking for one word here.

14:12 Do you know what it is?

14:13 You've got 5 seconds.

14:19 At first, my parents said no to getting a dog, but eventually they caved.

14:25 Do you know what a cave is?

14:26 It's like that hole in a mountain that's dark and bats live in there.

14:30 But, when we use this as a verb, we're talking about the cave collapsing.

14:37 So, my parents previously were really resistant.

14:40 No, we're not getting a dog.

14:41 They were a firm, strong cave.

14:43 No, we're not getting a dog.

14:45 But, then I asked, "Please, can we get a dog?" And I asked again,

14:49 and again, and oh, I promise I'll take care of it.

14:51 I'm so responsible.

14:53 And eventually, that cave gets weaker and weaker, and my parents caved.

15:00 Because they saw my precious little face wanting a dog.

15:05 So, you can use this as well when you're resisting something,

15:09 and then you finally give in.

15:11 I saw that chocolate bar, and I wasn't going to buy it,

15:15 but then the longer I looked at it, I realized I really want it.

15:19 Eventually, I caved and bought it.

15:22 Okay, let's see how this was used in the original conversation.

15:26 I was one of those kids who really, really,

15:28 really loved video games and I wanted video games a lot,

15:31 but my mom would not let me.

15:34 Mhm.

15:33 My mom or my dad.

15:35 But then my mom actually caved a little bit and she got me a Gameboy.

15:39 And our final advanced vocabulary question is this one.

15:44 It is a great one to use in both business situations and in personal situations.

15:50 Oops, I totally when I forgot to call my client back.

15:59 Oops, I totally dropped the ball when I forgot to call my client back.

16:04 This is an excellent phrase that you can use when you absolutely make a mistake,

16:09 you just totally forgot and you want to apologize.

16:12 You might call that client back and say, "I'm so sorry.

16:16 I totally dropped the ball when I didn't call you back at 11:00 a.m.

16:20 and now it's 2:00 p.m.

16:22 I'm sorry I dropped the ball, but let's talk about it now." What a great way

16:26 to acknowledge that you made a mistake and you're trying to apologize.

16:30 You can also say this in your personal life as well when you make mistakes.

16:34 Let's say that you were supposed to have dinner prepared at 6:00 p.m.

16:38 so that when your family came home,

16:40 they could have a nice dinner and you were preoccupied.

16:44 You were busy doing other things.

16:46 So, when they come home and dinner's not ready,

16:48 you might say this, uh "Sorry, I dropped the ball.

16:51 I was preoccupied doing other stuff,

16:54 but I'm working on dinner right now." This is a great way to apologize.

16:57 Okay, let's see how this was used in the original conversation.

17:01 Yeah, how about um let's think about our kids now.

17:04 Um what how are they We dropped the ball on the disciplined.

17:10 Well, we have a very strict no spanking policy.

17:13 So, let me know, what is your score?

17:16 Tell me in the comments.

17:18 Did you get all four beginner questions,

17:20 all four intermediate, and all four advanced vocabulary phrases correct?

17:26 If this test was very challenging for you, and don't worry,

17:29 it was challenging for most of my English students,

17:32 I want to remind you that you can continue to practice

17:36 all of these phrases by downloading the free PDF worksheet.

17:40 It includes all of the phrases that you learned,

17:43 bunch of extra examples, and an exercise worksheet,

17:47 plus a speaking practice where you will get to speak and repeat after my voice.

17:52 This is the number one speaking technique

17:54 to help you improve your spoken English, repeating after my voice.

17:59 You can get all of this in the worksheet.

18:01 Just simply click on the link in the description,

18:04 enter your name and email address,

18:06 and voila, this worksheet will be yours in your email inbox.

18:10 It is my gift to you.

18:11 Well, thank you so much for learning English with me,

18:14 and I'll see you again next Friday for a new lesson here on my YouTube channel.

18:18 Bye.

18:19 But wait, do you want more?

18:21 I recommend watching this video next where you can immerse yourself

18:25 in a real-life English conversation between my husband Dan and I,

18:30 two native American English speakers,

18:33 and you can improve your speaking skills along with us.

18:37 I'll see you there.