Are you learning English? Do you want to speak English more naturally? If so, you need to learn the essential English expressions.

Every episode in this new podcast will teach you step-by-step how to use one essential English expression.

Essential English Expressions is made by Plain English, an online community that helps you upgrade your skills in English.

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Look forward to

Learn the English expression, "Look forward to"

Are you happy or excited about something in the future? If so, you're "looking forward to" it

You can look forward to an event, an activity, or even a time of year. If you have plans to see a movie this weekend, you can say, "I'm looking forward to seeing the movie." That means you're happy about it.

If it's just been a long, cold winter, you might even say, "I'm looking forward to the warm weather." That means, you'll be happy when the weather gets warmer.

What about if something will happen and you're not happy about it? Just say you're not looking forward to it. "I'm not looking forward to this party." That means, the party is coming...but you don't want to go.

So remember: "look forward to" is all about the way you feel about something that's coming in the future.

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Practice: Read the transcript of this episode, take a quiz, and practice using "Look forward to": https://plainenglish.com/expressions/look-forward-to

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What is Plain English? Plain English is the modern way to upgrade your English skills with short English lessons. No time for long classes? No problem. Our lessons are short, interactive, and fun. They help you improve your English listening, learn new words, and speak English with more confidence.

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Make a difference

Learn the English expression, "Make a difference"

What does it mean to "make a difference?"

This English expression has two meanings: Number one, to have a positive impact on the world. Or number 2, to have a noticeable effect.

If someone volunteers at a food bank, you can say, "Her work really makes a difference." She's doing something good. She's having a positive impact on the world.

Now imagine you change up your breakfast. Instead of having a muffin, you have a green smoothie. Now, you have more energy. Your new breakfast made a difference because it had a noticeable effect.

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Practice: Read the transcript of this episode, take a quiz, and practice using "Make a difference": https://plainenglish.com/expressions/make-a-difference

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What is Plain English? Plain English is the modern way to upgrade your English skills with short English lessons. No time for long classes? No problem. Our lessons are short, interactive, and fun. They help you improve your English listening, learn new words, and speak English with more confidence.

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Make sure

Learn the English expression, "Make sure"

The English expression "make sure" means to confirm that things are as they should be, or that people have done what they should do.

You probably "make sure" all the time. When you leave your house, you make sure you have your keys with you. Before you go on long trip, you make sure your passport is still valid.

Here's a tip: You can use "make sure" to remind someone to do something. If you have kids, you can say, "Make sure to brush your teeth before bed."

Now, here's my reminder to you: "Make sure" to use this expression correctly. Use "make sure" to confirm that everything is the way it should be.

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Practice: Read the transcript of this episode, take a quiz, and practice using "Make sure": https://plainenglish.com/expressions/make-sure

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Like this episode? Sign up to our free e-mail course on English expressions: https://plainenglish.com/essential-expressions-course

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What is Plain English? Plain English is the modern way to upgrade your English skills with short English lessons. No time for long classes? No problem. Our lessons are short, interactive, and fun. They help you improve your English listening, learn new words, and speak English with more confidence.

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Figure out

Learn the English expression, "Figure out"

There are two ways to use the phrasal verb "figure out."

Number 1: "figure out" means to find the solution to a problem. Now be careful: it doesn't mean fixing a problem. It just means finding the solution.

If your car needs to be repaired, you'll want to figure out how you're going to get to work while it's in the shop. Find the solution before you take your car in.

Number 2: "figure out" can mean to understand something complex. Like, "I can't figure out why my car is making a strange noise."

Here's a tip: after "figure out," use words like "who, what, when, where, or why."

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Practice: Read the transcript of this episode, take a quiz, and practice using "Figure out": https://plainenglish.com/expressions/figure-out

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Like this episode? Sign up to our free e-mail course on English expressions: https://plainenglish.com/essential-expressions-course

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What is Plain English? Plain English is the modern way to upgrade your English skills with short English lessons. No time for long classes? No problem. Our lessons are short, interactive, and fun. They help you improve your English listening, learn new words, and speak English with more confidence.

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Take for granted

Learn the English expression, "Take for granted"

If you take something for granted, you don't fully appreciate that thing.

We take a lot of things for granted in our lives: modern conveniences, our health and safety, and even the people around us.

When we take something for granted, we know it's there. But we don't stop to appreciate it.

If you're young, you might take your health for granted. You don't appreciate how lucky you are to be healthy. If you live in a safe neighborhood, you might take your safety for granted. It's easy to forget that not everyone has that advantage.

We're lucky to have the things that we have! Don't take them for granted.

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Practice: Read the transcript of this episode, take a quiz, and practice using "Take for granted": https://plainenglish.com/expressions/take-for-granted

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Like this episode? Sign up to our free e-mail course on English expressions: https://plainenglish.com/essential-expressions-course

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What is Plain English? Plain English is the modern way to upgrade your English skills with short English lessons. No time for long classes? No problem. Our lessons are short, interactive, and fun. They help you improve your English listening, learn new words, and speak English with more confidence.

Sign up for free at: https://PlainEnglish.com/

Or subscribe to our English-learning podcast about current events and trending topics: https://plain-english.captivate.fm/listen

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In charge of

Learn the English expression, "In charge of"

Who's in charge here? The person "in charge" is the person who is responsible for a situation.

At your local café, there might be a barista and a manager. The manager has responsibility for the store and has to solve any problems that come up. That's why we say the manager is "in charge."

You can say, "in charge of" plus the thing the person is responsible for. The manager at the café is in charge of setting the schedule. But the barista is in charge of serving customers as they come in.

Here's another way to use "in charge." You can put someone in charge if you give that person responsibility. You might put a colleague in charge of answering your emails while you're on vacation.

However you use it, remember that the person "in charge" is the person with responsibility.

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Practice: Read the transcript of this episode, take a quiz, and practice using "In charge of": https://plainenglish.com/expressions/in-charge-of

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Like this episode? Sign up to our free e-mail course on English expressions: https://plainenglish.com/essential-expressions-course

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What is Plain English? Plain English is the modern way to upgrade your English skills with short English lessons. No time for long classes? No problem. Our lessons are short, interactive, and fun. They help you improve your English listening, learn new words, and speak English with more confidence.

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Have a hard time

Learn the English expression, "Have a hard time"

If you have a hard time with something, it's difficult for you, but it's not impossible.

You can use "have a hard time" with a verb or a noun.

If an action is difficult for you, use an -ing verb. For example, "I'm having a hard time solving this complex math problem."

But if it's a thing that's hard, use a preposition like "with, at, or in." For example, "I'm having a hard time at work these days" or "I'm having a hard time in math class."

Just remember: use "a hard time" with something that's difficult but not impossible.

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Practice: Read the transcript of this episode, take a quiz, and practice using "Have a hard time": https://plainenglish.com/expressions/take-care-of

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Like this episode? Sign up to our free e-mail course on English expressions: https://plainenglish.com/essential-expressions-course

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What is Plain English? Plain English is the modern way to upgrade your English skills with short English lessons. No time for long classes? No problem. Our lessons are short, interactive, and fun. They help you improve your English listening, learn new words, and speak English with more confidence.

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Or subscribe to our English-learning podcast about current events and trending topics: https://plain-english.captivate.fm/listen

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⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Did you enjoy this episode? If so, please leave us a rating, a review, or a comment in your podcast app. This is the best way you can say "THANK YOU" for this free podcast. It will help spread the word so we can teach you even more English expressions.