Simple Past Tense (regular and irregular verbs)

Start here. The simple past is essential for talking about what happened yesterday, last week, or any time before now. You will use it constantly when telling stories or sharing experiences.

Family Activities

A father asks his young daughter about her school day, and she describes what she made, who she played with, and what she did. A warm, natural conversation packed with simple past in everyday use, including idioms like “keep an eye on.”

Beat Around the Bush

Learn this high-frequency idiom meaning to speak indirectly or avoid a topic. Sample sentences, conversation questions, and a grammar accuracy activity help you use it correctly in real situations.

Date Activities

Listen to Ted try to ask Susan out on a date, only to discover her schedule is completely packed. A natural, fast-moving conversation that puts the simple past and present tense to work in a real back-and-forth exchange about everyday commitments.

Comparatives (taller than, more carefully, as fast as, less tired)

Learn how to compare people, places, and actions using greater, equal, and lesser forms. Comparatives come up constantly when giving opinions, making decisions, and describing the world around you.

Restaurant Order

Listen to a man place a large food order at a fast food restaurant. A great chance to hear natural spoken English in a familiar setting, with useful vocabulary like “I’d like,” “feed,” and “actually.” Two food idioms are included: “grab a bite to eat” and “pig out.”

Have a Ball

This medium-to-high frequency idiom means to have a great time. Sample sentences show how it works in social contexts, and a grammar activity helps you use it accurately in your own conversations.

Modals of Advice (might, could, should, ought to, have to, had better)

Learn the most important ways to give and receive advice in English. The listening passage follows a friend helping someone through a tricky situation, and you will hear all six modal forms used naturally in context.

Offering Assistance

Listen to Noah and Ella negotiate sharing household chores after a long, stressful day. A natural conversation for practicing modals of advice and everyday expressions like “lend a hand” and “go the extra mile.”

Phone Message

A short, real-world conversation where a young girl takes a phone message for her father. Good practice for following simple spoken exchanges and picking up key details. Two common idioms appear: “sleep on it” and “right off the bat.”

Make Ends Meet

Learn this practical idiom meaning to get by financially or earn just enough. Conversation questions and a speaking situation push you to use it in realistic everyday contexts, including work and personal finances.

Common Phrasal Verbs (get up, turn off, look for, speak up, take off)

Phrasal verbs are everywhere in spoken English, and knowing them helps you follow native speakers at natural speed. The listening passage follows a language learner through a full school day packed with phrasal verbs used in context.

Barbecue Party

Listen to two friends plan a backyard barbecue, dividing up food and responsibilities. A fun, relaxed conversation where you will hear phrasal verbs, expressions like “be in charge of” and “work out,” and two food idioms: “eat like a horse” and “put away.”

Leisure Activities

A fitting wrap-up. Listen to Stuart and Amy make plans for a group night out, juggling study schedules, transportation, and curfews. You will hear natural spoken English with useful expressions like “catch a movie,” “cram,” and “it was a real blast.”