Prevent/avoid

By avoiding something, you take an action to “go around” the problem. Preventing something means actively interfering to stop something happening.

“I avoided going to the party by saying I was sick.”
“I prevented Reza from coming into the room by closing the door.”

listen to/hear

“To hear a noise” / “Hear people speaking.”

remember/remind

Remind + direct object: “Remind ME to buy milk.”

You remind SOMEONE TO DO something – “Remind me to write the shownotes to this episode.”

I’ve got to leave at 5 p.m. don’t forget to remind me. – Tengo que irme a las 5 de la tarde; no te olvides de recordármelo. (make me remember)

Remember

I remember the day you were born. – Me acuerdo del día en que naciste. / Recuerdo el día en que naciste.

Remember is when you think of a memory (a past experience): I remember the first time I met you.
Remind is when a person or thing makes you think about something. Our show notes remind us what we need to talk about.

      

What does TO FIGURE OUT mean?

To ‘figure it out’ means to “solve or discover the cause of a problem.”
In British English, I would say ‘work it out” Example: “Don’t worry about lunch tomorrow when your family comes to visit. We’ll figure it out/work it out. We can get a Chinese takeaway.”

“Why are we paying so much money for the electricity bill? I can’t figure it out!” (to figure out = resolver, solucionar)

Vocabulary Review:

December 24th – Christmas Eve
December 25th – Christmas Day
Boxing Day = el 26 de diciembre, día festivo en Gran Bretaña
January 1st – New Year’s Day
December 31st – New Year’s Eve
January 6th – The day of the (three) Kings, or “Epiphany”
wrapping paper = papel de envolver/papel de regalo
¡Feliz Navidad! – Happy Christmas! / Merry Christmas! – “We wish you a merry Chrismas and a happy New Year.”
¡Feliz Navidad y Próspero Año Nuevo! – “All the best for the coming year.”
¡Felices fiestas! – Season’s greetings! Happy holidays!
¡Salud! – Cheers! (“Slainte” in Ireland)

      

Speaking about the Future

We spoke about the future: present continuous / going to / will in episode 21
to recap = to summarize (resumir) / a recap = un resumen

PRESENT SIMPLE:

We use the present simple for something scheduled or arranged (bus, train and plane timetables, school and college timetables, shop opening times etc):

The train to Barcelona leaves tomorrow at 9 o’clock.
What time does the bank open tomorrow? – It opens at 9.
When do you study French? My class starts at 2 o’clock.
What time does your plane leave when you go to Belfast? – It leaves at about half past five.
When’s your birthday?