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Lesson 76 of 240

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Once a week in English

Dee slides a punch card across the counter at the Blue Plate. Come once a week, she says, and you get a free coffee later.

Ana looks at Murray on his two stools. She wants to know how many times a week he comes.

By the end, you can say how many times you go, and how long it lasts.

Once a week means one time each week. Twice a month means two times each month.

By the end of this lesson

Say how many times you go, and for how long.

  • I go once a week.I do it one time each week.
  • I go twice a month.I do it two times each month.
  • I go once a month.I do it one time each month.
  • How many times a week do you go?How often in one week do you do that?
  • I do it for two hours.Each time lasts about two hours.
  • I go a few times a month.I do it several times each month, not many.

Scene — the punch card

Same afternoon at the Blue Plate. Dee pulls a punch card from the drawer and slides it to Ana.

Murray sits on two stools with a coffee he has not finished. The jukebox by the door stays quiet.

Ana looks at the card, then at Murray, and starts to count his visits.

Dee slides a punch card across the diner counter to Ana while Murray sits nearby with his coffee.

Learn — once a week

Six short lines help you say how many times you go, and how long it lasts.

You'll also ask how many times a week someone goes.

  1. Ana thanks Dee and gestures to show that her English lessons are a weekly routine.

    I go once a week.

    I do it one time each week.

    When to use it: Say this when you do something one time each week.

    Once a week is one time each week, said as one piece.

    Say it: Once starts with a w sound, not o.

  2. Ana holds the punch card while Dee makes a small counting gesture about her own routine.

    I go twice a month.

    I do it two times each month.

    When to use it: Say this when you do something two times each month.

    Twice means two times, and you use it as one word.

  3. Murray considers the question about how often he visits the doctor.

    I go once a month.

    I do it one time each month.

    When to use it: Say this when you do something one time each month.

    Use month when it is one time in a month.

  4. Ana leans toward Murray and asks how often he visits the diner.

    How many times a week do you go?

    How often in one week do you do that?

    When to use it: Ask this to learn how many times they go each week.

    This question wants a number, not a long story.

    Say it: Stress the word times in this question.

  5. Murray sits for a long time with his cooling coffee at the diner.

    I do it for two hours.

    Each time lasts about two hours.

    When to use it: Say this when each time lasts about two hours.

    For two hours tells how long something lasts.

    Say it: For is often short and quiet.

  6. Ana looks at a punch card with only a few visits marked and gestures that they happen several times a month.

    I go a few times a month.

    I do it several times each month, not many.

    When to use it: Say this when you go several times each month, not many.

    A few times is more than two, but it is not many.

Story — murray stays

Watch Dee hand Ana a punch card. Ana wants to know how many times Murray comes.

The highlighted words are the lines you just learned.

  1. Dee slides a small punch card across the counter.
  2. DeeHere, hon. Come once a week.She gives Ana a card and asks her to visit one time each week.
  3. AnaThank you. I go once a week.She thanks Dee and says she comes one time each week.
  4. DeeFor class, right?Dee checks that Ana comes for her English lesson.
  5. AnaI'm taking an English class.I go to English lessons now.
  6. DeeWhen, hon?She asks which day the class is.
  7. AnaI have class on Wednesday evening. I do it for two hours.Her lesson is Wednesday after work, and each time lasts about two hours.
  8. Ana looks down the counter at Murray.
  9. AnaHow many times a week do you go?How often in one week do you do that?
  10. MurrayI come every day. I never leave these stools.He sits at the diner all the time.
  11. AnaYou sleep on the stools?She takes his words in a very exact way.
  12. DeeHe just likes the coffee, hon. What about the clinic?She says he stays for coffee, then asks about the doctor.
  13. MurrayI go once a month.He visits the doctor one time each month.
  14. DeeI go twice a month. Bank day, hon.She goes to the bank two times each month.
  15. AnaI go a few times a month. Not many.She comes several times each month, not many.

Practice — how many times

Eleven short exercises wait here. You'll listen, pick, match, fill a gap, and swap a word.

Each one is short, so the round stays quick and clear.

0 of 11 done

  1. What did you hear?

  2. Match the pairs

    English

    I go once a week.Drop the Simple English here
    I go twice a month.Drop the Simple English here
    I go once a month.Drop the Simple English here
    I go a few times a month.Drop the Simple English here

    Simple English

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

  3. What does it mean?

    I go twice a month.

  4. What do you say?

    You want to know how many times a friend goes to class each week.

  5. Fill the gap

    Each time lasts about two hours.

    I do it for two ____.

  6. Build the line

    I do it several times each month, not many.

    .

    Tap the words in order.

  7. Pick the reply

    Dee says:

    How many times a week do you go?

    How often in one week do you do that?

    And you reply with:

  8. Swap the word

    You go to the clinic one time each month.

    I go once a ____.

  9. True or false?

    This line means you already finished your English class.

  10. What do you say?

    Dee hands you a punch card. You want to thank her.

  11. Fill the gap

    My lesson is Wednesday after work.

    I have class ____ Wednesday evening.

Say it — say it back

Now you're Ana at the counter with a punch card. 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. DeeHere, hon. Come once a week.She gives you a card and asks you to visit one time each week.
  2. Ana (you)Tell her you come one time each week.

    I go once a week.

    I do it one time each week.

0 of 5 said

Recap — what you can say now

EnglishSimple English
I go once a week.I do it one time each week.
I go twice a month.I do it two times each month.
I go once a month.I do it one time each month.
How many times a week do you go?How often in one week do you do that?
I do it for two hours.Each time lasts about two hours.
I go a few times a month.I do it several times each month, not many.
Next: lesson 77Always, often, never

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