English course

Lesson 166 of 240

New here? This is lesson 166 of a free 240-lesson English course.

Start hereHow this works

When that happens in English

Marcus tells Ana the library work usually stops when a meeting runs long. Later, Murray hears the same thing at the diner.

You will name typical situations. You will say when that happens, suppose you, and this usually happens.

You will also say you see this all the time, and that the same thing happens in another place.

By the end, you can call a story a pretty typical situation.

By the end of this lesson

Name a typical situation and say when or where it happens.

  • When that happens, I just wait.If it does, I stay and do nothing.
  • Suppose you ___.Imagine this is your situation.
  • This usually happens on Mondays.This is common at the start of the week.
  • You see this all the time.This is very common.
  • The same thing happens in ___.It also happens in this other place.
  • That's a pretty typical situation.That is a usual example of this.

Scene — a long Monday

Monday at the studio. Marcus has rolled drawings under one arm. Ana waits by the long desks.

The library work has stopped again. A meeting ran long, and the plans did not move.

Later they sit at the Blue Plate. Murray is on two stools. His coffee is still unfinished. The jukebox stays quiet.

Ana waits by the long desks as Marcus sets down the rolled drawings and the library plans remain untouched.

Learn — typical situations

Six short lines help you name a typical situation.

You will start one, say when it happens, and say it also happens in another place.

  1. Ana rests her hands beside the idle work surface while she waits after the meeting runs long.

    When that happens, I just wait.

    If it does, I stay and do nothing.

    When to use it: Use this after someone names a usual problem.

    When that happens is one piece you use after a usual problem.

    Say it: That and happens can link.

  2. Murray turns toward Dee at the Blue Plate, using his unfinished coffee as he brings up a familiar situation.

    Suppose you ___.

    Imagine this is your situation.

    When to use it: Use this to start a usual situation.

    Suppose you starts a made-up situation that you then fill in.

  3. Ana looks down at her coffee, recognizing how familiar the Monday delay feels.

    This usually happens on Mondays.

    This is common at the start of the week.

    When to use it: Use this to name a usual day for something.

    Usually happens means it is common, not rare.

  4. Dee pauses beside the counter with an open hand, treating the delay as an ordinary occurrence.

    You see this all the time.

    This is very common.

    When to use it: Use this when something is very common.

    All the time means it happens often, not once.

  5. Ana gestures toward the street from the Blue Plate window while Murray listens at the table.

    The same thing happens in ___.

    It also happens in this other place.

    When to use it: Use this to say it also happens elsewhere.

    Fill the blank with a place, not a person.

  6. Murray sits beside his unfinished coffee in the quiet diner, making the pause feel routine.

    That's a pretty typical situation.

    That is a usual example of this.

    When to use it: Use this when a story sounds usual.

    Pretty here means quite, not nice to look at.

    Say it: The stress is on typical.

Story — the same thing

Watch Marcus name a usual Monday problem. Then Murray says the same thing happens at the diner.

The highlighted words are the lines you just learned.

  1. Monday morning at the studio. Marcus sets the drawings down.
  2. MarcusSo, the library work stalled. We're running a little behind.The work did not move, and they are late.
  3. AnaI got called into a meeting.Someone asked me to come to a meeting.
  4. MarcusYeah. This usually happens on Mondays.This is common at the start of the week.
  5. AnaYou see this all the time.This is very common.
  6. MarcusSuppose you sit through a long meeting.Imagine this is your situation.
  7. AnaWhen that happens, I just wait.If it does, I stay and do nothing.
  8. MarcusThat's a pretty typical situation. We're almost out of time.That is a usual example, and time is almost gone.
  9. Later, at the Blue Plate. Dee pours coffee. Murray's cup is still full.
  10. MurrayWell, the same thing happens in the diner.It also happens in this other place.
  11. DeeA table sits too long, hon. You see this all the time.This is very common.
  12. AnaSuppose you wait for a table all morning.Imagine this is your situation.
  13. MurrayWhen that happens, I just wait.If it does, I stay and do nothing.
  14. DeeThat's a pretty typical situation, sweetie.That is a usual example of this.
  15. AnaThis usually happens on Mondays.This is common at the start of the week.

Practice — usual or rare

Eleven short exercises wait here. You will listen, pick, fill a gap, and build a line.

Keep each answer to one typical situation.

0 of 11 done

  1. What did you hear?

  2. What do you say?

    Marcus asks why you were late to the studio this morning.

  3. What does it mean?

    You see this all the time.

  4. Fill the gap

    That is a usual example of this.

    That's a ____ typical situation.

  5. Build the line

    That is a usual example of this.

    .

    Tap the words in order.

  6. Pick the reply

    Marcus says:

    What do you do when a meeting runs long?

    He asks for your usual action.

    And you reply with:

  7. Swap the word

    You want someone to imagine a usual situation.

    ____ you ___.

  8. What do you say?

    A coworker asks when the library work usually stalls.

  9. What did you hear?

  10. True or false?

    This line means you still have lots of extra time.

  11. Which one doesn’t belong?

Say it — say it back

Now you're Ana. Marcus talks about a long meeting, then you sit with Murray at the diner.

When it's your turn, tap the microphone and speak the line. Your recording stays on your device.

  1. MarcusSo, the library work stalled again.The project did not move.
  2. Ana (you)Say this is common at the start of the week.

    This usually happens on Mondays.

    This is common at the start of the week.

0 of 4 said

Recap — what you can say now

EnglishSimple English
When that happens, I just wait.If it does, I stay and do nothing.
Suppose you ___.Imagine this is your situation.
This usually happens on Mondays.This is common at the start of the week.
You see this all the time.This is very common.
The same thing happens in ___.It also happens in this other place.
That's a pretty typical situation.That is a usual example of this.
Next: lesson 167On the one hand

Save your progress — it’s free

Keep your place in the course and see which lines you’ve learned.

Want the next lesson in your inbox?

Get the next lesson by email, one a day.

Where should we start?
Join the newsletter

Daily lesson emails are coming soon. Newsletter subscribers get them first.

Keep practicing with Yak Cards

Want to keep these typical situations handy? Grab the Yak Cards for this lesson and review them anywhere.

A quick round with the Yak Cards each day keeps these typical situations ready.

Open Yak Cards