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Lesson 221 of 240

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Not what I expected in English

Ana and Marcus walk through the quiet library after a long week of plans. She pictured noise and a crowd. The rooms are still and kind instead.

You will say when a result is not the picture you had. It can be better, worse, or just different.

Turned out is the key. Use it when you know how something ended.

By the end of this lesson

Say that something turned out unlike what you expected, better or worse.

  • It wasn't what I expected.The result was different from my picture of it.
  • I never thought it would be this easy.I believed it would be harder.
  • It turned out to be even more work.In the end there was more to do.
  • This is completely different from what I pictured.My idea of it does not match this.
  • What a letdown.I am disappointed it was worse than I hoped.
  • Oh well, maybe next time.I accept it; I can try again later.

Scene — the quiet walk-through

Marcus waits by the library doors with a rolled set of drawings. Ana walks in from the street, tote bag on her shoulder.

The rooms inside are quiet. No crowd. Soft light on the blank walls. Marcus looks around and shrugs.

Marcus waits by the library doors with rolled drawings as Ana arrives from the sidewalk.

Learn — not what I expected

Six lines help you name a result that does not match your hope.

Some results are easier. Some are more work. Some you just accept.

  1. Marcus and Ana stand in a quiet library room as he looks around and shrugs.

    It wasn't what I expected.

    The result was different from my picture of it.

    When to use it: Say this after you see a result that does not match your picture.

    Wasn't is one piece and means was not.

    Say it: Stress expected on the second part.

  2. Ana considers how unlike her busy expectations the quiet room feels.

    I never thought it would be this easy.

    I believed it would be harder.

    When to use it: Say this when something was easier than you believed.

    Thought is past tense and names what you believed before.

    Say it: Thought starts with a th sound.

  3. Marcus unrolls the drawings and finds that they need more changes than expected.

    It turned out to be even more work.

    In the end there was more to do.

    When to use it: Say this when the end had more work than you hoped.

    Turned out means this is how it ended after you saw the result.

  4. Ana looks across the blank wall toward Marcus as they compare the room with what they expected.

    This is completely different from what I pictured.

    My idea of it does not match this.

    When to use it: Say this when the real thing does not match your idea.

    Pictured means imagined here.

    Say it: Stress completely on the second part.

  5. Ana pauses beside the dark window bay and feels let down by the unlit lamp.

    What a letdown.

    I am disappointed it was worse than I hoped.

    When to use it: Say this when the result is worse than you hoped.

    Learn letdown as one piece for a result that feels worse.

    Say it: Stress the first part of letdown.

  6. The unlit lamp fills the foreground as Marcus gestures toward it and Ana prepares to move on.

    Oh well, maybe next time.

    I accept it; I can try again later.

    When to use it: Say this when you accept a bad result and move on.

    Oh well is one piece and shows you accept the result.

Story — kinder than she pictured

Watch Ana and Marcus walk the quiet library. The result is not the picture she had.

The highlighted words are the lines you just learned.

  1. The library doors close. Soft light falls on empty shelves.
  2. MarcusSo, what was it like in your head?He asks how she imagined this place.
  3. AnaI mean, I pictured noise. A crowd. This is completely different from what I pictured.She had a busy picture, and this place does not match it.
  4. MarcusWell, I didn't expect that.This was not what you thought would happen.
  5. Marcus shrugs. They walk the hall. No one else is there.
  6. AnaIt wasn't what I expected.The result was different from my picture of it.
  7. MarcusIt wasn't what I expected either. Quieter. Kinder.He also says the result did not match his picture.
  8. AnaI never thought it would be this easy.I believed it would be harder.
  9. MarcusThe walk-through is easy. The work on the drawings? It turned out to be even more work.The visit is easy, but in the end the drawings had more to do.
  10. AnaMore notes?She checks if the extra work was more notes.
  11. MarcusMore notes, more fixes. This part is the easy one.The drawings needed more changes, but this visit is easy.
  12. They stop at a dark window bay. One lamp is out.
  13. AnaThis corner. What a letdown.She is disappointed this corner is worse than she hoped.
  14. MarcusWe can still fix the light.He says they can change the lamp later.
  15. AnaOh well, maybe next time.I accept it; I can try again later.
  16. MarcusFair enough. Let's keep walking.He accepts her words and they move on.

Practice — better or worse

A set of short tasks wait here. You will listen, pick, fill a gap, and build a line.

They stay small, so the round moves fast.

0 of 11 done

  1. What did you hear?

  2. Match the pairs

    English

    It wasn't what I expected.Drop the Simple English here
    I never thought it would be this easy.Drop the Simple English here
    What a letdown.Drop the Simple English here
    Oh well, maybe next time.Drop the Simple English here

    Simple English

    Drag a Simple English line onto its English, or tap one and then the other.

  3. What do you say?

    You walk into the quiet library. The stillness is a pleasant surprise, not the busy crowd you pictured.

  4. What does it mean?

    What a letdown.

  5. Fill the gap

    In the end there was more to do.

    It turned ____ to be even more work.

  6. Build the line

    I am disappointed it was worse than I hoped.

    .

    Tap the words in order.

  7. Pick the reply

    Marcus says:

    The reading nook still has no light.

    He says that corner is still dark.

    And you reply with:

  8. Swap the word

    The walk-through was easier than you believed.

    I never thought it would be this ____.

  9. What do you say?

    You want Marcus to describe how the last walk-through felt.

  10. Pick the reply

    Marcus says:

    The lamp is still on order, so we wait.

    He gives a reason you have to wait for the lamp.

    And you reply with:

  11. True or false?

    You use this line when the result matches your plan.

Say it — say the result

Now you're Ana on the library walk-through. When it's your turn, tap the microphone and speak the line.

Tap play first if you want to hear the line. Your recording stays on your device.

  1. MarcusWhat was it like in your head?He asks how she imagined this place.
  2. Ana (you)Tell him your idea does not match this place.

    This is completely different from what I pictured.

    My idea of it does not match this.

0 of 6 said

Recap — what you can say now

EnglishSimple English
It wasn't what I expected.The result was different from my picture of it.
I never thought it would be this easy.I believed it would be harder.
It turned out to be even more work.In the end there was more to do.
This is completely different from what I pictured.My idea of it does not match this.
What a letdown.I am disappointed it was worse than I hoped.
Oh well, maybe next time.I accept it; I can try again later.
Next: lesson 222Now I see

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