Happy English Podcast

Thanks for tuning in! So… why are you listening to this podcast? Maybe it’s so that you can improve your English? Or in order to sound more natural? Or just to have fun learning something today? Well, whether you said so that, in order to, or to, you were talking about the purpose of doing something.

And that’s what these expressions are all about - showing the reason or goal behind an action.

Watch video versions of the Happy English Podcast on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@HappyEnglishNY/podcasts
Build Vocabulary With My Free V...

Have you ever gone somewhere… and then realized you should’ve been somewhere else? Or maybe you went somewhere, and now you’re trying to explain that… but the grammar just won’t come out right. Don’t worry - this happens to a lot of English learners. So today, we’re going to clear it all up.

Went, Been, Gone. Yeah - I know. These words all seem similar, and sometimes even native speakers mix them up. But there is a pattern. There is a logic behind when we use went, gone, and been. So today, I’m gonna break it...

Hey there! It’s Michael here - and welcome back to Speak Naturally in a Minute from Happy English. I’m here every Sunday with a quick one-point lesson to help you improve your pronunciation, rhythm, and intonation. And if you want to watch this lesson, just look for Happy English Podcast on YouTube.

Now, in everyday spoken American English, we often connect vowel sounds with a very small, quick W sound. I call this the tiny W. The tiny W happens when when one word ends with an “oo” sound and the next word begins with a vowel so...

Hey there! It’s Michael here - and welcome back to English Tips in a Minute from Happy English. I’m here every Saturday with a short, simple tip to help you speak English more naturally and confidently. And if you want to watch this lesson, just look for Happy English Podcast on YouTube.

Today, let’s look at a really useful expression for telling stories - “the next thing I knew.” We use the next thing I knew when something happens quickly or unexpectedly, especially in a story. It’s another way to say “and then suddenly…” or “after that…” Duration: 00:01:40

Hey there! It’s Michael here, and welcome back to Phrasal Verbs in a Minute from Happy English.
I’m here every Friday with a quick one-point lesson to help you learn a new phrasal verb and sound more natural when you speak. By the way, if you want to see the video version of this lesson, just look for Happy English Podcast on YouTube.

Today’s phrasal verb is chew out. When you chew someone out, it means you scold them strongly - usually because they did something wrong or made a big mistake. It’s a very i...

Have you ever been in this situation? You’re venting to a friend about having a long and tough day, and your friend’s response is  something like, Yeah, I hear you.”  That little phrase - "I hear you"- has nothing to do with your friend's ears. 
So - let’s talk about those moments when someone is telling you about a bad day, a tough situation, or something that’s just not going well. You want to respond in a way that shows you care, right? That you’re listening. That you understand. There are actually a bunch of phrases...

Hey there! It’s Michael here - and welcome back to Speak Naturally in a Minute from Happy English. I’m here every Sunday with a quick one-point lesson to help you improve your pronunciation, rhythm, and intonation.  And if you want to watch this lesson, just look for Happy English Podcast on YouTube.

Sometimes, in everyday spoken American English,  we use stress, to show meaning. That means saying certain words louder or stronger to give emphasis in a sentence. A great example of this is when we use do or did for emphasis. When we really want to str...

Hey there! It’s Michael here - and welcome back to English Tips in a Minute from Happy English. I’m here every Saturday with a short, simple tip to help you speak English more naturally and confidently. And by the way, if you want to watch this lesson, just look for Happy English Podcast on YouTube.

Today, let’s look at a really natural conversational expression - “sure enough.” Sure enough means, “as expected.” We use sure enough to talk about something that happened exactly the way we thought it would.
Like,  “I was wondering if Jack would come l...

Hey there! It’s Michael here, and welcome back to Phrasal Verbs in a Minute from Happy English. I’m here every Friday with a quick one-point lesson to help you learn a new phrasal verb and sound more natural when you speak. By the way, if you want to see the video version of this lesson, just look for Happy English Podcast on YouTube.

Today’s phrasal verb is bang out. When you bang something out, it means you produce it quickly - often a lot of it - without spending too much time on perfect details. It’s a...

You know, English is funny sometimes. We’ve got a ton of verbs that go with “to + verb” - like want to do, like to do, plan to do - and most of them just talk about an action, right? I want to go. I like to cook. I plan to travel. That’s easy.  But! There are some verb + to do combinations that have a special meaning - a nuance - a deeper idea behind them. And that’s what we’re going to look at today.

Watch video versions of the Happy English Podcast on YouTube: https://www.y...

So, the other day, I was on the phone with my friend Ed. We had plans to meet at 1pm, and it was already 1:15. I said, "It’s time to go." And he goes, "It’s about time!" Ha! You ever hear that phrase? "It’s about time"? What does that even mean? Well, today, we’re going to talk about how to use a bunch of conversational phrases with “It’s time” in English. 

Watch video versions of the Happy English Podcast on YouTube: learnenglish,englishpodcast,englishconversation,phrasalverbs,americanenglish,englishgrammar,englishpronunciation,eslpodcast,speakenglishnaturally,englishlessons,englishforbeginners,englishlistening,englishspeaking,improveyourengl...

Hey there! It’s Michael here - and welcome back to Speak Naturally in a Minute from Happy English. I’m here every Sunday with a quick one-point lesson to help you improve your pronunciation, rhythm, and intonation.  And if you want to watch this lesson, just look for Happy English Podcast on YouTube.

Today, let’s continue our discussion of reduction in American English, you know, when we shorten or soften sounds when we speak. Can’t you, Aren’t you, and ain;t you are usually pronounced as can’cha, aren’cha, and ain’cha
When we say can’t...

Hey there! It’s Michael here - and welcome back to English Tips in a Minute from Happy English. I’m here every Saturday with a short, simple tip to help you speak English more naturally and confidently. And by the way, if you want to watch this lesson, just look for Happy English Podcast on YouTube.

Today, let’s look at a really casual, really conversational pattern you’ll hear in everyday American English - all + adjective. We use all before an adjective to mean very or totally, and it adds emotion to what we’re saying.  You’ll hear...

Hey there! It’s Michael here, and welcome back to Phrasal Verbs in a Minute from Happy English. I’m here every Friday with a quick one-point lesson to help you learn a new phrasal verb and sound more natural when you speak.

By the way, if you want to see the video version of this lesson, just look for Happy English Podcast on YouTube.

Today’s phrasal verb is weigh in on. When you weigh in on something, it means you offer your opinion in a discussion — especially when people want your thoughts or input.
Like...

So I got invited to another one of Jack’s parties. If I go by myself, there’s a good chance I won’t know anyone, which is ok, unless a lot of people come. But if Jenny comes with me, then there’s a better chance of having fun. I wonder if she’ll go... or come with me. Come and go. 

That’s the magic - and the confusion - of the verbs come and go in English. They seem simple… but they can be really tricky. Today we’re going to clear up one of the biggest confu...

The other day, I was thinking about the difference between though, even though, and although. Even though they all mean but, there’s a difference, though. And although you may not have learned it before… you’ll learn it today.

Though, Even Though, & Although all - express contrast, like you say one thing, but then mention something opposite. But how we use them depends on the situation, how formal or casual we want to sound, and the rhythm of the sentence. So today, I’ll walk you through the differences between though, even though, and although... with clear, natural...

Hey there! It’s Michael here - and welcome back to Speak Naturally in a Minute from Happy English. I’m here every Sunday with a quick one-point lesson to help you improve your pronunciation, rhythm, and intonation.

And if you want to watch this lesson, just look for Happy English Podcast on YouTube.
As we’ve said before, in everyday spoken American English, we often use reduction - that means we shorten or soften sounds when we speak.

Today, let’s look at two really common question reductions that you hear all the time in natur...

Hey there! It’s Michael here - and welcome back to English Tips in a Minute from Happy English. I’m here every Saturday with a short, simple tip to help you speak English more naturally and confidently. And by the way, if you want to watch this lesson, just look for Happy English Podcast on YouTube.
Today, let’s look at a really useful conversational phrase - “What’s up with…?”

We use what’s up with…? to ask about something we don’t understand. It’s another way to say
“What’s the situation with…?”  And you can use i...

Hey there! It’s Michael here, and welcome back to Phrasal Verbs in a Minute from Happy English.
I’m here every Friday with a quick one-point lesson to help you learn a new phrasal verb and sound more natural when you speak. 

By the way, if you want to see the video version of this lesson, just look for Happy English Podcast on YouTube.

Today’s phrasal verb is brush up on.  When you brush up on something, it means you review it or practice it again so you can improve. We usually use brush up...

Do you need a pick-me-up? I’m not being a show-off when I say that our little online get-togethers like this podcast are probably good for your English. 

Thanks for tuning in! Let me start with a quick question. Have you ever heard someone say, “We’re having a little get-together this weekend”? Or maybe, “I could really use a pick-me-up”? You might think, wait a second – isn’t get a verb? Isn’t get together a phrasal verb? Yep - but when we add a hyphen and use it as a noun, it becomes something totally different. Today, we’re going...

Let me ask you something… have you ever been surprised - like, really surprised - and you just didn’t know what to say in English? Imagine, you’re talking to a friend, and they say something totally unexpected. Like, “Hey, did you hear? Lisa is moving to Australia!” And you want to respond like a native speaker - with something more natural than just “Wow” OR “Really?”

That’s what we’re going to look at today - casual, real-life phrases that native English speakers use to show surprise. And hey - this isn’t just fun stuff. These phrases hel...

Hey there! It’s Michael here - and welcome back to Speak Naturally in a Minute from Happy English. I’m here every Sunday with a quick one-point lesson to help you improve your pronunciation, rhythm, and intonation.

And if you want to watch this lesson, just look for Happy English Podcast on YouTube.
Now, in everyday spoken American English, we often use reduction - that means we shorten or soften sounds when we speak. Today’s example is the word “didn’t.” 

First, most native speakers drop the D in the middle.  So instead of “didn’t,” w...

Hey there! It’s Michael here - and welcome back to English Tips in a Minute from Happy English. I’m here every Saturday with a short, simple tip to help you speak English more naturally and confidently. And by the way, if you want to watch this lesson, just look for Happy English Podcast on YouTube.

Today, let’s look at a really common phrase you’ll hear in everyday English - “Do me a favor.”
We use do me a favor when we want to ask someone to do something for us. It’s usually for a small, e...

Today’s phrasal verb is chip in. When you chip in, it means you contribute money, effort, or help toward something - especially when everyone gives a little to make something happen.

For example, at the office, we all chipped in to buy a birthday gift for our manager.
And last weekend, my friends chipped in to rent a cabin in the mountains.
And at home, my neighbors and I chipped in to help our elderly neighbor clean up his yeard. It was a nice way to do something together.

And gere’s a pron...

Has this ever happened to you? Someone invites you to do something - maybe go out for dinner, or join a party - but you can’t go. Maybe you’re too busy. Maybe you don’t want to go. But you feel a little nervous about saying no? Yeah... totally understandable. Saying no in English isn’t always easy, so today let’s learn how to do it.

In this lesson, we’re going to look at how we invite people in English, and more importantly, how to politely say no when you can’t accept that invitation. Th...

Thanks for joining me today! If you’ve ever wondered what the difference is between “Have you eaten yet?” and “Are you still eating?”... or if you’re not sure when to use anymore - then this episode is for you. These four little words - still, yet, already, and anymore - seem simple, but when it comes to questions and negative sentences, things can get a little tricky. So today, we’ll take a deep dive into how they work, with plenty of real, everyday examples.

Build Vocabulary With My Free Vocabulary Workshop: https://learn.myhappyenglish.com/vocabulary-wor...

Hey there! It’s Michael here - and welcome back to Speak Naturally in a Minute from Happy English. I’m here every Sunday with a quick one-point lesson to help you improve your pronunciation, rhythm, and intonation.
And if you want to watch this lesson, just look for Happy English Michael on YouTube.
In fact, the idea for today’s lesson came from a listener’s question on YouTube. It’s all about reductions. In language learning, reduction means shortening or softening sounds when we speak quickly - it’s what makes English sound smooth and natural. One really c...

Hey there! It’s Michael here - and welcome back to English Tips in a Minute from Happy English. I’m here every Saturday with a short, simple tip to help you speak English more naturally and confidently.
And if you want to watch this lesson, just look for Happy English Michael on YouTube.

Today, let’s look at a really common phrase you’ll hear in everyday English - “Does that make sense?”
We use does that make sense? to check if the other person understands what we just explained. 
It’s a more natural and fri...

Hey there! It’s Michael here - and welcome back to Phrasal Verbs in a Minute from Happy English.
I’m here every Friday with a quick one-point lesson to help you learn a new phrasal verb and sound more natural when you speak. And if you want to watch this lesson just look for Happy English Michael on YouTube.

Today’s phrasal verb is rattle off.  When you rattle something off, it means you say or list things quickly and easily - usually without stopping to think much. It’s like when someone just fires off informati...

I get it - make and do can be super confusing. You’ve probably learned that both verbs mean "to take action" in some way. But for example, how do you know when to say make a mistake or do your homework? That’s what we’re going to clear up.

Today we’re going to talk about two small but mighty verbs in English: make and do. These verbs show up everywhere - but the tricky part is knowing when to use which one. So today, we’ll go over the core difference between make and do, and I’ll g...

I guess you're here because you think podcasts are a good way to learn English. Yeah, absolutely — I was thinking the same thing. You might even think they are the best way to learn. Well, I see your point, but I’m not sure everyone would think so. Maybe we can agree to disagree. That’s the language we’ll look at today. 

In this podcast English lesson, we’re going to talk about something that happens all the time in conversations — agreeing and disagreeing. But not just saying “yes” or “no.” We’re going to look at how to do this politely...

In everyday spoken American English, we often use reduction. Here, reduction means we shorten or soften sounds when we speak. It’s when certain words or syllables lose their full sound to make speech smoother and faster. Today, let’s look at three really common reductions: lemme, gimme, and gemme.

Like, instead of saying let me, we reduce it to lemme. The T sound at the end of let, is dropped. Lemme. You can say things like, “Lemme see that.”  “Lemme know when you’re ready.” or “Lemme know what time the meeting starts.” Lemme.
 
And instead of saying gi...

Today, let’s look at a really natural and friendly phrase you’ll hear all the time in everyday English - “Sounds like a plan.” We use sounds like a plan when we agree to someone’s suggestion or idea. It’s a casual, upbeat way to say “That’s a good idea” or “Let’s do that.”
For example, your friend says:  “Let’s meet at 6 for dinner.” You can reply: “Sounds like a plan!”Or maybe your coworker says: “How about we finish this project on Monday?” You can say: “Yeah, sounds like a plan.”

It’s short, friendly, and works perfectly i...

Today’s phrasal verb is whip up.  When you whip something up, it means you make or create something quickly - usually food, but it can also be ideas, energy, or excitement.
Like, yesterday morning I was in a rush, so I whipped up some scrambled eggs before heading out the door.And the other day, my neighbor whipped up a batch of cookies and brought them over. Best surprise ever!Or my friend Amy is so creative - she can whip up a great PowerPoint presentation in no time.So how about you? What’s something you can whip...

Let’s table this. That’s what the boss said. And then someone else said, we need to pivot. So then I suggested we take it off line, but the boss said, Let’s not reinvent the wheel. Ah, the language of business.

have you ever been in a meeting or on a Zoom call and someone says something like, “Let’s circle back on that” or “We need to pivot”… and you’re just sitting there thinking, “Wait, what did that mean?” Today, let’s take a closer look at what these buzzwords really mean in plain English - and how native s...

I know that I promised to keep you in the loop, so I’m touching base with you in this podcast English lesson to let you know I’ve been thinking outside the box and everything you need to improve your English is here in the pipeline. 

Today, we're going to look at six of the most common idioms you’ll hear in American offices, and help you sound more natural and confident at work - or at least understand what your coworkers are saying.

Visit my website for over 3,000 free English lessons: https://www.myhappyenglish.com/ Duration: 00:10:41

One of the biggest secrets to sounding natural in English is something called the schwa sound. It’s the most common sound in American English, and it’s a huge reason why native speakers sound so smooth and relaxed when they talk.

The schwa sounds like uh - not strong or clear, just soft and lazy: uh. We use it in many unstressed syllables and small words: Like the vowel sounds in umbrella, the a in what [whut], the i in anima [AN-uh-muhl] and the a in  Sofa  [SO-fuh]. 

Visit my website for over 3,000 free English lessons...

In today’s Saturday Short, Michael talks about one of the newest slang expressions to hit the English language — “6-7.”
You’ll learn where this Gen Z phrase came from, how people use it online, and why it’s more about vibe than grammar.
It’s short, fun, and a perfect look at how English keeps evolving.
So, what does “6-7” really mean? Let’s find out together!

Visit my website for over 3,000 free English lessons: https://www.myhappyenglish.com/

Hey there! It’s Michael here - and welcome back to another Happy English, Phrasal Verb Friday. I’m here every Friday with a quick, one-point English lesson to help you learn a new phrasal verb and sound more natural when you speak.

Today’s phrasal verb is zone out.  When you zone out, it means your mind starts to wander and you stop paying attention - especially when you’re tired, bored, or distracted. Basically, your body’s there, but your brain takes a little break.
Like the other day, I was in a long meeting, and about ha...

Boo! Did I scare you? I hope not. Halloween is literally right around the corner, and depending on where you live that may or may not have any particular meaning for you. But in the USA? Well, let’s go trick or treating...

Thanks for tuning in. And hey, Happy Halloween! 🎃👻 If you’re listening to this on October 31st - or even a day or two later - I hope you’re feeling the spooky season vibes. Two weeks ago, we kicked off our Halloween series with some scary vocabulary. And today, we’re keeping the Halloween spirit alive w...

“Are we there yet?” That’s a question you’ve probably heard - or maybe even asked - especially if you’ve ever taken a road trip with kids:  “Are we there yet?” “Not just yet!” 

Yet is just a three-letter word, but it’s packed with meaning. It helps you talk about time, expectations, contrast, and even emphasis. And once you learn how to use yet naturally, your English is going to sound a whole lot more fluent. So today, let’s look at four of the most common ways we use yet - and I’ll show you how this tiny wor...

Let me ask you something - have you ever noticed how often people say get in English?  I mean seriously - we get tired, we get pizza, we get better, we get going, we get caught in the rain, and we get used to the cold. Well, some of us.  Get is one of the most flexible and common verbs in English - and native speakers use it all the time in conversation. So today, let’s get into it… and take a look at five of the most useful ways we use get in natural, everyday English.

Join m...

Hey there! It’s Michael here — and welcome back to another Happy English Sunday Speak. I’m here every Sunday with a quick one-point tip to help you speak English more naturally. 

Now, In spoken American English, we often connect words together, and when we do, the sounds change. That’s called connected speech. You’ll hear it all the time in words and phrases like ya, didja, and whaddaya.
So instead of saying “Do you”, Americans usually say “d’ya” or just “ya.” “Do you like sushi?” → “D’ya like sushi?” or “Ya like sushi?”Instead of “Did you”, we say “didja.” “Did you see...

Hey there! It’s Michael here, and welcome back to another Happy English Saturday Short, your quick tip for speaking English better.

Today, let’s look at two really common and super natural phrases you’ll hear in everyday English: “You know what?” and “Guess what?” We use both of these when we want to grab someone’s attention - usually before we share some news, an idea, or an opinion. They make your speech sound lively and conversational and they’re kind of like how we say, “Hey, listen to this!”

Like:  “You know what? I think I’m finally getti...

Hey there! It’s Michael here — and welcome back to another Happy English, Phrasal Verb Friday.  I’m here every Friday with a quick, one-point English lesson to help you learn a new phrasal verb and sound more natural when you speak.

Today’s phrasal verb is buckle down. When you buckle down, it means you start working seriously and with focus — especially after being a bit lazy or distracted. You stop wasting time and get things done. And we tend to say, buckle down and DO somerthing.
Like my buddy Kevin. He was having fun all summer, but...

I suggest you listen carefully to this podcast. And if you’re with a friend right now, I suggest he listen carefully as well. Or she listen carefully. I mean, if I were you, I’d definitely stick around for this one.

Today we’re diving into a part of English grammar that doesn’t follow the usual rules - but native speakers use it all the time without thinking twice. Especially in American English. It’s called the subjunctive mood - and while that might sound technical or tricky, it’s actually pretty simple once you know how it works...

Hey, let me ask you a question - have you ever made a decision… and then later thought, “Oh man, I shouldn’t have done that”? Or maybe you’ve thought, “If only I had done it differently.” Yeah. That, my friend, is regret - and we all feel it sometimes. Regret is one of those universal emotions - something everyone experiences. And in English, we’ve got a few really natural and emotional ways to talk about it. So today, I’ll show you how to use phrases like “I should have,” “I wish I had,” and “If only I had” - plus some everyday...

Hey there! It’s Michael here - and welcome back to another Happy English Sunday Speak. I’m here every Sunday with a quick one-point tip to help you speak English more naturally.

Now, in American English, there’s a special sound we make with the letter T. It’s called the flap T, and it sounds kind of like a soft D sound. You’ll hear it in words like better, water, and pretty. So instead of saying “BET-ter,” “WAH-ter,” and “PRIT-ty,” Americans usually say “BEH-der,” “WAH-der,”  and “PRI-dee.” This sound happens when the T comes between two vowel sounds — like the a and e...

Hey there! It’s Michael here  -  and welcome back to another Happy English Saturday Short, your quick tip for speaking English better.

Today, let’s look at a super common phrase you’ll hear in everyday English: “You know what I mean?” We use you know what I mean? to seek agreement or to check if the other person understands us. It’s kind of like soft tag questions, like isn’t it? that keeps the conversation friendly and connected.

Like, in the office, you might say: “There’s something strange about the new marketing manager, you know wh...

Hey there! It’s Michael here - and welcome back to another Happy English, Phrasal Verb Friday.  I’m here every Friday with a quick, one-poi nt English lesson to help you learn a new phrasal verb and sound more natural when you speak.

Today’s phrasal verb is flake out.  When you flake out, it means you agree to do something - like meet up, help out, or join an event - but then you don’t show up or don’t follow through. Basically, you cancel or disappear at the last minute.
Like last weekend. My friend Ja...

Welcome - and by the way - thanks for stopping by today! I’ve been thinking… by is one of those little words that shows up everywhere in English.  It’s just two letters, but it does a lot of work. 

Today we’re gonna take a close look at by - and I think you’ll be surprised at how many different ways we use it. You’ve probably seen BY in phrases like “by the time I got there,” or “a book by Hemingway,” or even “I’ll finish it by Friday.”  Yeah - by is short, but powerful.  Time, l...

With Halloween right around the corner, I thought it’d be fun to do a little Halloween-themed English. So for the next three weeks, we’re going to dive into some spooky vocabulary, creepy idioms, and even take a look at how Halloween is celebrated in the U.S. Let’s kick it off today with something super useful - Halloween vocabulary!  Now, you might be thinking, “Michael, I’m not a fan of horror movies.” That’s totally fine!  But you know what? These words aren’t just for Halloween. Native speakers use them in everyday conversation  -  often in a humorous or exa...

Did you know? Eating healthy foods can make you healthy, but I heard that drinking certain wines with cheeses can make you happy. Foods? Wines? Cheeses?

You know, English is a strange language sometimes. Like, words that are usually uncountable suddenly show up with an “s” on the end. Like…foods, cheeses, and wines? Wait a minute — aren’t those uncountable nouns? Well… yes! But also… no. Let me show you how it works — and why it actually makes a lot of sense once you understand the pattern.

Join my Podcast Learner's Study Group here: https://www.myhappyengli...

Hey there! It’s Michael here — and welcome back to another Happy English Sunday Speak. I’m here every Sunday with a quick one-point tip to help you speak English more naturally.

Now, one of the most common phrases in English is “I don’t know.” But in everyday conversation, most native speakers don’t pronounce each word clearly like that. Instead, we usually say “I dunno.” (“EYE-duh-NO”) That’s right — I don’t know becomes I dunno. It’s just a natural sound change that happens when we speak quickly.
 “Who’s coming to the party?” → “I dunno.” “What time does the movie start...

Hey there! It’s Michael here and welcome back to another Happy English Saturday Short, your quick tip for speaking English better.

Today, let’s look at a really common and powerful phrase: “Let me tell you something.” We use let me tell you something when we want to share our feelings, give an opinion, or emphasize what we’re about to say. It helps grab the listener’s attention and makes your speech sound more natural — and more emotional.

Let’s say your friend just ask you about a new restaurant in town. You could say:
 “Oh...

Hey there! It’s Michael here — and welcome back to another Happy English, Phrasal Verb Friday.
I’m here every Friday with a quick, one-point English lesson to help you learn a new phrasal verb and sound more natural when you speak.

Today’s phrasal verb is crank out. When you crank something out, it means you produce it quickly, often in large amounts. This phrase is often used for things like writing, work, or manufacturing — anything that can be produced at a fast pace, sometimes with a focus on quantity over quality.
The factory in the next t...

Hey, can you believe it? This is Episode 900 of the Happy English Podcast. Nine. Hundred. Episodes. I can hardly believe it myself. Here’s what I’ve learned along the way!

I just want to take a moment today to say how grateful I am to YOU. Whether this is your first time listening, your 50th time, or you’ve been here since Episode 1, thank you. The fact that you listen, learn, and grow with me is what keeps me showing up here week after week. So today, I want to share a little bit of my story, what I...

Here’s a question. Have you ever heard someone say ain’t in a song or a movie? Like, or “I ain’t got no time for that”? Maybe you wondered… is ain’t actually English? Well, it sure ain’t in the textbooks, but it is in real life! And I ain’t kidding. 

Today we’re diving into a word that confuses a lot of English learners - ain’t. It’s not considered “standard” grammar, but that doesn’t mean it’s wrong. In fact, native speakers use ain’t all the time in casual, spoken English, and especially in m...

You know, I started this podcast in 2014 so I can help people speak English better. And now, there are so many podcast episodes, It’s almost near a thousand. So, check this one out. 

Today, we’re talking about so. Just two letters - S-O. But this little word works overtime in English. We use so to show a result, to give a reason, to add emphasis, and yeah, we even use it when we’re not sure what to say next. So let’s break it down. I’ll show you four ways we use so, with lots of exa...

Hey there! It’s Michael here — and welcome back to another Happy English Sunday Speak. I’m here every Sunday with a quick one-point tip to help you speak English more naturally.

Sometimes, you need to ask someone to wait. In situations like this, you could say “Please wait a moment.” And sure, that’s correct English — but it sounds a bit formal and not something we usually say to friends or coworkers. In everyday conversation, we have a more natural and friendly way to ask someone to wait: “Hang on.”
Like, when you’re on the phone and need to ch...

Hey there! It’s Michael here — and welcome back to another Happy English Saturday Short, your quick tip for speaking English better.

Today, let’s look at three really natural phrases: kind of, sort of, and a bit. We use these to soften what we’re saying. They make a statement sound less strong, less direct — and that makes your English sound more natural in everyday conversation.
For example, let’s say you’re tired after work. Instead of just saying, “I’m tired,” you can soften it by saying: “I’m kind of tired today.”  Or: “I’m a bit tired after work.”...

Hey there! It’s Michael here — and welcome back to another Happy English, Phrasal Verb Friday. I’m here every Friday, with a quick, one-point English lesson to help you learn one new phrasal verb and sound more natural when you speak. Today’s phrasal verb is jazz up.

When you jazz something up, it means you make it more interesting, exciting, or attractive. It’s like giving something a little extra style or energy. Like, my friend Lisa was hosting a party last weekend. She jazzed up her living room with some cool lights and a new playlist...

They didn’t even say thank you.  Not “they didn’t say thank you.” They didn’t even say thank you. So… what’s the deal with even in negative sentences?

In Episode 880, we looked at how to use even in general - like for comparisons and emphasis. But today, we’re going to zoom in on something more specific… and honestly, something really common - using even in negative sentences.

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It was very cool this morning. Like around 11 degrees celsius. When I took Max for a walk I was actually surprised it was so cool. Like, there’s a nip in the air kinda cool. Boy, I’m hoping this coming winter isn’t too cold. Let’s see how it goes.

These three little words - too, very, and so - all come before adjectives, and they all talk about how much of something there is. Like, how hot, how tall, how tired… but the feeling and intention behind each word is a little different. So today, we’re goin...

I’m so hungry. No time for lunch today. No wonder my stomach is grumbling. That’s why i decided to order a double cheeseburger and some fries...at the diner. 

Because is a great word - and it’s totally correct. But when it comes to speaking naturally, we often don’t use because directly. Instead, we give the reason in a more casual, fluent way. So today, I’ll show you how native English speakers give reasons in conversation - without actually saying because. 

Join my Podcast Learner's Study Group here: https://www.myhappyenglish.com/plsg Duration: 00:09:25

Now, when you want to ask why in English, sure, you can just say “why.” But in everyday conversation, native speakers often use a more casual phrase: “How come?” “How come” means the same as “why,” but it sounds softer, friendlier, and very conversational. And, it’s easy to use. You can use it by itself!  Like, your friend says, “I’m skipping lunch today.” You can ask, “How come?” Or your coworker says, “I can’t make it to the meeting.” You can ask, “Oh really? How come?”

You can also put how come in front of any sentence to make a casual question...

We often use a negative question like “Isn’t this…?” or “Aren’t you…?” in conversation. Technically, these are not questions for asking something. They are a casual and friendly way to confirm something or make a suggestion.
For example, if you and your friend are at the peir on a sunny day, you might say:   “Isn’t this a perfect day for fishing?”  You’re not really asking for information — you’re confirming what you already think. OR "Aren't these donuts delicious!”
Or if you’re making a suggestion, you can use the same pattern. Like:  “It’s almost 5pm. Isn’t it better to take t...

Today’s phrasal verb is slack off.  When you slack off, it means you become lazy about your work, your studies, or your responsibilities. You don’t try as hard as you should.

Like, my friend Eddie started going to the gym in in July, but by the middle of this month, he really started to slack off. And in the office, Jenny was slacking off all week, so now she has to stay late to finish her project.  And me? Honestly speaking, I’ve been slacking off on studying Japanese reading and writing. But now that I have Say...

Hey, let me ask you a question - You’ve studied English grammar, haven’t you?  And you’ve probably heard tag questions or negative questions before, right? Well, isn’t this going to be an interesting lesson for you!

It's a nice day, isn't it? That's a Tag Question, and today, I’ll show you how these work - and how you can use them to sound more like a native speaker. 

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Unless you have something else to do right now, You should listen to this whole podcast episode. And as long as you’re listening, why not take notes...In case you want to use the phrases from this lesson in your daily English. 

These three little phrases - unless, as long as, and in case - all help us talk about situations that might happen. But they each have a different nuance, and getting them right can make your English sound much more natural. Let's dive in!

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You know what? I’ve got a question for you. Or… should I say, I have a question for you? Hmm. Which one sounds better? Or… are they both OK?  

For many English learners, “have got” can be a little confusing. I mean, we’ve got “I have a dog,” and “I’ve got a dog”… and both are correct? What’s going on here? Well today, we’re going to break it all down — grammar, style, and real-world usage — so you’ll know exactly how and when to use “have” and “have got.” 

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Hey there! It’s Michael here — and welcome back to another Happy English Sunday Speak. Every Sunday, I’ll be here with a quick one-point tip to help you speak English more naturally.

One thing you need to know how to do in English is to communicate that you understood what someone said. Like if someone gives you directions on the street. You could say, Oh ok, I understand. And sure, that’s correct English — but it can sound a little formal or stiff in everyday conversation. In everyday, English conversation, we use the compact form of I understand...

Hey there! It’s Michael here — and welcome back to another Happy English Saturday Short, your quick tip for speaking English better.
 
Today, let’s look at a commonly used conversational phrase is “by the way.”
We use by the way when we want to add something to the conversation, kind of like when we need to change the topic, or bringing up an extra point. It’s casual, friendly, and super common in everyday English.

Like of you’re at a party, catching up with a friend. You can say something like, “It’s great seeing you to...

Hey there! It’s Michael here — and welcome back to another Happy English, Friday Phrasal Verb. Every Friday, I’ll be here with a quick, one-point English lesson to help you learn one new phrasal verb and sound more natural when you speak.

Last week we looked at toy with, which means to consider something not so seriously. Today’s phrasal verb is the opposite of that:  mull over. When you mull something over, it means you think about it carefully before making a decision. You’re not rushing. You’re taking your time to consider the options. 
Like, my...

Fall is right around the corner. Soon there will be a nip in the air as you look at the harvest moon, while sipping your pumpkin spice latte. When the season changes, so does the way we talk. So today, before Indian Summer comes, let’s dive into some seasonal vocabulary and phrases that’ll help you talk about fall just like a native speaker.

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Let me say right now, this ain’t gonna be your average English lesson. And even considering that I’ve been teaching English for over 30 years, I ain’t got no problem sharing this information with you. What I’m trying to say is, would you mind if I break some grammar rules today?

In this lesson, I want to show you how native speakers break grammar rules — and why that’s actually a part of sounding more natural when you speak.

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I came up with this podcast yesterday. I even wrote some of it in the car. And even though I touched on this topic in a podcast like 10 years ago, this lesson is ever better. 

Have you ever heard someone say something like, “It’s even colder today than yesterday,” or “He even brought his cat to the party,” and thought… what’s going on with that little word even? It’s just four letters, but even does a lot of work in English. Native speakers use it all the time — in comparisons, for contrast, for emphasis — and in a few fixed phrase...

Hey there! It’s Michael here — and welcome back to another Happy English Sunday Speak. Every Sunday, I’ll be here with a quick one-point tip to help you speak English more naturally. Now, sometimes in English we need to say “no,” but just saying no can sound too direct or even a little rude. So let’s look at some casual, yet polite, natural ways to say no.

If someone invites you to do something and you don’t want to, you can say:
“I’ll pass.” Like, Want to come out for karaoke tonight? → Thanks, I’ll pass.“Not really...

Hey there! It’s Michael here — and welcome back to another Happy English Saturday Short, your quick tip for speaking English better.
 
Today’s point is one that even native speakers sometimes get mixed up: 👉 everyday which is one word vs. every day which is two words. Here’s the deal:

Everyday (which is one word) is an adjective. It means “common” or “ordinary.” Like, Having a cup of green tea is part of my everyday routine.  Or These sneakers are my everyday shoes. Your everyday something is common or usual for you. 

On the other hand, every...

Hey there! It’s Michael here — and welcome to the very first Happy English, Friday Phrasal Verb.
Starting today, I’ll be here every Friday with a quick, one-point English lesson to help you learn one new phrasal verb and sound more natural when you speak. 

Today’s phrasal verb is toy with. When you toy with something, it means you’re considering it, but not very seriously. It’s like you’re playing with the idea — maybe yes, maybe no, but you’re not 100% committed. And we usually use the phrase “Toy with the idea of” followed by a gerund. <...

I saw one of my old students the other day. I was like, how’s it going, and he goes, I finally found a new job. And I go, that’s awesome. And he was like, I finally got a job using English. And I was like, that’s really fabulous!

Have you ever gotten stuck trying to figure out when to use say and when to use tell? These words seem really similar, but they’re used in different ways. So today, let’s break it down, nice and easy, with some everyday examples. And then, I’m gonna show...

Hey! I see you’re right on time for this lesson. Take your time, get comfortable. I’m not gonna kill too much time here because as you know, time flies!

So today, I’m going to cover six of the most common time expressions: kill time, run out of time, take your time, right on time, about time, and time flies. Then, I’ll also tell you about some proverbs with “time” and the funny little paradox that goes along with them. You’re gonna want to listen all the way through to learn about that.

Join my P...

Would you mind checking out this English lesson? Maybe you could try using some of the phrase here in your conversations this week? Do you think you could even tell a friend about this podcast? That would be great!

In everyday conversation, we often like to soften our requests — we make them indirect. It feels more polite, more friendly, and honestly, it just sounds more natural.
So today, I want to show you some of these indirect phrases that we use all the time. 

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Hey there! It’s Michael here — and welcome to the very first Happy English Sunday Speak.Starting today, every Sunday I’ll be here with one quick phrase to make your English sound more natural. Today’s phrase is “You bet!”  “You bet” is a super casual, American-English phrase. You can use it in a few different ways:
👉 1. We use, “you bet” as a strong “yes”
“Are you coming to the party?” → “You bet!”“Do you like baseball?” → “You bet!”👉 2. Next, we use, “you bet” as a casual way to mean “you’re welcome” when someone thanks you
“Thanks for helping me move that f...

Hey there, it’s Michael here from the Happy English Podcast — and welcome to another Saturday Short, your quick tip for speaking English naturally. Did you know that when you are interested in doing something you can say “I’m down for that.” And — you can also invite someone to do something with a slightly different phrase “Are you up for that?” Listen to this podcast to learn more!

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You wanna sound more natural in English? I’m on it. You want me to teach that kind of lesson? Yeah, will do. You need my help to speak better? Gotcha. Today, that’s what we’re all about here!

In real conversation, we use more relaxed, casual phrases — and they’re often shorter and more natural-sounding.  So today, I want to show you some of those everyday expressions that native speakers use instead of formal grammar. You’ll sound more fluent — and you’ll feel more confident, too.
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Don’t worry, I’m not gonna rain on your parade today, even thought it’s pouring outside here. Nope, come rain or shine, I’m always excited to bring you these podcast English lessons.

Today, I thought we’d take a look at some natural rain vocabulary, along with some really common idioms and phrases that native speakers use when the skies open up. 

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Thanks for making time to listen to this podcast English lesson. I’m so happy that you’ve made up your mind to improve your English. And yeah, everyone’s really busy these days, but somehow, you make it work. That’s awesome!

Today, we’re gonna break down five super useful and natural phrases: Make it work, Make time, 
Make up your mind, Make a mess, and Make do And I’ll give you a few examples for each — all woven into real-life situations so you can see how native speakers actually use them. 

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Welcome to another Saturday Short, your quick tip for speaking English naturally. Today, let’s clear up something tricky: stop doing vs. stop to do. 

These two sound similar, but they mean totally different things. Here's how we use them. 

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I saw Halloween decorations at the store yesterday. What a reality check. I guess summer is almost over and we need to get back into the swing of things!

Today, I want to talk about two big things that happen at the end of the American summer: Getting ready to go back to school and Labor Day weekend — the last big hurrah before fall kicks in. And along the way, I’ll toss in a few idioms that you’ll hear Americans using during this season. 

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