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Lesson 181 of 240

New here? This is lesson 181 of a free 240-lesson English course.

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Keep going in English

Ana is stuck on the library sketches at the Blue Plate. Tasha sits with her in a booth and hears the worry.

Murray is on two stools at the counter, with coffee he still has not finished.

By the end, you'll tell someone to keep going, not give up, and try again.

You'll also say they can do it, they are getting better, and the first try is a good start.

By the end of this lesson

Cheer someone who is learning or struggling, and tell them to keep going.

  • Keep going.Stay with it; don't stop now.
  • You can do it.I trust you are able to do this.
  • Don't give up.Keep trying, even if it is hard.
  • You're getting better.You are improving as you practise.
  • That's a good start.What you have done so far is a solid beginning.
  • It's okay. Try again.The mistake is fine. Have another go.

Scene — the sketches feel heavy

Tasha slides into the booth with Ana. Rolled library sketches sit on the table between the ketchup and two coffees.

Ana looks tired. She is not sure the drawings are good enough for Marcus.

Murray sits at the end of the counter on two stools. The jukebox by the door stays quiet.

Tasha slides into the booth beside Ana while Murray watches from the counter.

Learn — cheer someone on

Six short lines help you cheer someone on when the work feels hard.

You'll tell them to keep going, try again, and notice that they are getting better.

  1. Tasha turns toward Ana with an open palm above the sketches as they consider what is difficult.

    Keep going.

    Stay with it; don't stop now.

    When to use it: Say this when someone should stay with the work and not stop.

    Keep going is one piece; it means stay with the work.

    Say it: The stress is on going, not Keep.

  2. Ana studies the sketches with a tired, uncertain expression.

    You can do it.

    I trust you are able to do this.

    When to use it: Say this when you trust they are able to finish.

    You can do it is one piece; can here means they are able.

    Say it: Can is a short sound here, not like can't.

  3. Murray looks toward the booth from his place at the counter, his coffee still full.

    Don't give up.

    Keep trying, even if it is hard.

    When to use it: Say this when someone wants to stop because the work is hard.

    Don't is do not as one piece, and give up means stop trying.

  4. Tasha unrolls one library sketch and taps a building shape as Ana looks on.

    You're getting better.

    You are improving as you practise.

    When to use it: Say this when you can see they are improving.

    You're is you are as one piece, and getting is the -ing form.

  5. Murray lifts his mug in a small gesture of encouragement toward the booth.

    That's a good start.

    What you have done so far is a solid beginning.

    When to use it: Say this when the first part of the work is already solid.

    That's is that is as one piece; start means a solid beginning.

    Say it: That's and a can link.

  6. Tasha rests a reassuring hand on Ana’s forearm beside a crumpled sheet turned face down.

    It's okay. Try again.

    The mistake is fine. Have another go.

    When to use it: Say this after a mistake, then ask them to have one more go.

    It's okay is one piece; then Try again asks for one more try.

Story — tasha hears the worry

Watch Tasha cheer Ana on about the library sketches. Murray nods, then loses the thread.

The highlighted words are the lines you just learned.

  1. Ana has the library sketches open on the table. Tasha leans in.
  2. AnaI can't finish this. The windows still look messy.The sketches feel like too much, and the windows still look messy.
  3. TashaThat's a good start. What's the hard part?The first work is a solid beginning. She asks what is difficult.
  4. AnaI keep changing the lighting. Then I start over.She changes the lights again and again, then begins from zero.
  5. TashaYou're getting better. I can see it from last week.Ana is improving. Tasha can see the change from last week.
  6. AnaMarcus wants it by Friday. I don't know.The boss needs it this week, and Ana is not sure.
  7. TashaKeep going. You can do it.Stay with it, and Tasha trusts Ana is able to finish.
  8. Murray looks over from his two stools. His coffee is still full.
  9. MurrayDon't give up. New work is always slow.Keep trying. New work is slow at the start.
  10. AnaSo I just try the windows again?She checks if she should have another go at the windows.
  11. TashaIt's okay. Try again. Then send Marcus a short note.The mistake is fine. Have another go, then send a short message.
  12. MurrayIs the pie almost ready?He asks if the pie is close to done.
  13. TashaWe're talking about the sketches, Murray. Not the pie.She tells him they are talking about drawings, not dessert.
  14. MurrayRight. Well, keep going.He agrees, then tells Ana to stay with the work.
  15. AnaThanks, Tasha. I needed that.She thanks Tasha for the kind push.

Practice — stay with it

Eleven quick exercises wait here. You'll listen, pick, match, fill a gap, and build a line.

They stay short, so the round moves fast.

0 of 11 done

  1. What did you hear?

  2. Match the pairs

    English

    You can do it.Drop the Simple English here
    You're getting better.Drop the Simple English here
    That's a good start.Drop the Simple English here
    It's okay. Try again.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?

    A friend just made a mistake on a sketch and looks upset.

  4. What does it mean?

    You're getting better.

  5. Fill the gap

    What you have done so far is a solid beginning.

    That's a good ____.

  6. Build the line

    I trust you are able to do this.

    .

    Tap the words in order.

  7. Pick the reply

    Tasha says:

    I keep wanting to quit this cake.

    She wants to stop because the cake is hard.

    And you reply with:

  8. Swap the word

    A friend wants to quit the library sketches because they are hard.

    Don't give ____.

  9. Which one doesn’t belong?

  10. True or false?

    This line means you are not sure they can finish.

  11. What do you say?

    The library sketches feel like too much. You tell Tasha how you feel.

Say it — cheer her on

Now you cheer Tasha on at the Blue Plate. 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. TashaThis new cake still looks messy.The first cake still does not look neat.
  2. Ana (you)Tell her the first work is already a solid beginning.

    That's a good start.

    What you have done so far is a solid beginning.

0 of 6 said

Recap — what you can say now

EnglishSimple English
Keep going.Stay with it; don't stop now.
You can do it.I trust you are able to do this.
Don't give up.Keep trying, even if it is hard.
You're getting better.You are improving as you practise.
That's a good start.What you have done so far is a solid beginning.
It's okay. Try again.The mistake is fine. Have another go.
Next: lesson 182We'll do it together

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Keep practicing with Yak Cards

Want to keep these cheer-on lines handy? Grab the Yak Cards for this lesson and review them anywhere.

A quick round with the Yak Cards each day keeps these lines ready when someone is stuck.

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