This is an All Ears English podcast, episode 180 native speaker expressions that are not in your English textbook.
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Native English speakers make mistakes all of the time, but there are six big ones that you'll hear most often.
Find out what they are and whether you should repeat these mistakes too in this episode.
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Hey, Michelle, how you doing today?
Hey, Lindsay.
I'm good.
I'm good.
How are you?
Good.
I'm happy to hear your voice on the show, guys.
Yeah.
I mean, our listeners have heard Aubrey's voice on the show, Jessica's voice.
They've heard your voice.
But it's good because we all have different perspectives on life.
Right, Michelle?
Yes, exactly.
Exactly.
We would like to mix it up.
You don't know who's going to be here.
Yeah, it's anyone's guess.
It's anyone's guess.
But today we actually have an interesting topic for today's episode, Michelle.
What are we talking about?
Well, today we're going to be talking about rules that native English speakers Yes.
Yeah.
Actually breaking the rules.
We're breaking them today.
Yeah.
Breaking the rules.
So do you break the rules?
Would you say?
Well, first of all, let me ask you, are you a rule follower?
Are you someone that follows rules in general in life?
I'm a rule follower for sure.
Are you?
Yeah, kind of.
I mean, to some extent to have a good life, you sort of have to be, right?
You can't be out there breaking the law, breaking the rules, you'd be in jail.
Yes, exactly.
Yeah, no, I'm a rule follower.
Yeah, I can't.
I don't know.
I have a strong conscience and I think you probably do too.
Oh, yeah.
Sometimes it's a little too strong.
A little too strong.
Yeah.
Yeah.
When I feel like I've done something wrong.
I'm like I really berate myself and it's pretty intense, for sure.
I feel like we're so much more similar than we even realize.
Probably, yeah.
I think we are similar in a lot of ways, Michelle.
But do you think that native speakers berate themselves when they break the rules in English?
No, I don't think they berate themselves.
I mean, I think it depends what the rule was or what happened or why.
But I mean I think we talk about on the show.
You know, like in music, sometimes when you are learning, you know for music you have to learn all the rules.
Like I remember being in musical.
I took a music theory class in senior year of high school.
And they would talk about how like you have to learn the rules.
You have to learn them in order to break them.
Yeah.
And it's kind of this weird thing thing because it just doesn't like what, what does that even mean?
But it's just kind of true.
So i think that it's helpful for english too but, or even while you're learning the rules, to be able to take note of some things that can be broken.
Totally, totally agree.
I love that theory.
You have to know the rules very well to break them.
So it comes later.
But obviously, native speakers have been speaking the language their whole lives.
They understand the rule most of the time.
They understand the role.
And so at that point they break them for different reasons, as a kind of to match the culture they're in right.
That would be one reason.
Can you think of another reason why native speakers just purposefully break the rules?
I think, you know, it's just maybe just being comfortable, right?
So having a comfortable way of speaking, being maybe almost confident, like yeah, I think it shows a sense of confidence as well.
I like that confidence fitting in with the culture, or maybe things like just being lazy sometimes right.
Sometimes we're just.
We just say things in a certain way because we might be a little lazy, like we don't want to say the whole word.
So we shorten it.
That kind of thing, right?
That's true.
That's true.
Or if we're reciting lyrics from a song where yeah, the singer knows that they broke the rule and that's fine because it's a song.
Right, Michelle?
Right, right, right.
Exactly.
Well, songs are a huge place where people break rules.
Huge.
And it's so fun.
Maybe that would be another episode we could do sometime is have our listeners identify.
They have to go listen to the song and then identify the rule breaking.
That's a great idea.
Yeah, I love it.
And in just a minute guys, we're going to get into six rules that native English speakers break all the time.
But Michelle, what should our listeners do right now to make sure they don't miss a single episode of this show?
Please, please, please press follow wherever you are listening to All Ears English.
We are here four times a week, four days a week, four episodes, and we don't want you to miss any of them.
If you don't follow us, you might miss something.
You might miss a bonus too.
Exactly.
And I think we're the new way to learn English, Michelle.
We're the new way because the old way is the textbooks and the classrooms.
We're the new way, which is where we show you how to focus on connection, not perfection.
That's our value.
And we focus on that all the time.
It's all about the human connection.
Okay, guys.
That's right.
That's right.
If our listeners, if you guys, agree with that, then come along with us hit follow, hang out with us four days a week.
Okay.
Definitely okay, michelle.
So what's number one?
All right, so the first one is double negative.
So lindsey, you know the uh, the song.
I can't get no satisfaction.
Yeah, of course.
Yeah, and this, is that actually the title of the song?
I'm not sure if that's the title.
It might be, it might be satisfied.
I think it's just satisfaction okay, and i'm not sure who sings it.
I think it's the rolling stone, Oh yeah.
Oh, God.
Key music knowledge severely lacking on my end.
Well, okay.
Actually, I'm looking it up right now.
And they have it as it's satisfaction.
But some places you look, it's like in parentheses, I can't get no.
And then that makes it depends where you're looking, but it's a Rolling Stones.
Okay.
And so if this were correct, how would you say it?
I can't get any satisfaction.
Yeah.
But why wouldn't you?
Why do you think they didn't say that?
Well, I mean, number one, it sounds cooler to say I can't get no satisfaction.
It would sound very, I don't know, it just would sound strange.
Generic.
And also when they're writing the song, they have, it's the amount of syllables, the beat, right?
You can't fit it.
You can't fit, I can't get any satisfaction into the same.
Guys, go ahead and listen to the song.
I mean, it's such a classic song.
Yeah, good point.
So it's the beat and you're you have a background in music and performance.
So you're more aware of that.
That's so true.
Michelle, they had to find a way to fit something in.
Also, it kind of allows them to sort of trademark that phrase in a way.
Right.
Right, right, right.
Yeah, that's so cool.
That's so cool.
So guys, that's a great example.
So go out and listen to music and look for these double negatives.
Definitely you will find them, especially in music and sometimes in everyday speech you might find them.
Right, Michelle?
Right, right, right.
Absolutely.
Okay, what's the next one?
Well, the next one is using got instead of have, right?
Like you might hear someone say, yeah, I got a car or I got no money.
Yeah.
And so when I'm saying I got a car, it's not the past tense of get, right?
So that's the confusing part.
Like I could say I got a car last week and now I got a car.
Right, like I have a car.
Right, like the past tense of bought almost, right?
You're using that instead of bought.
So that's okay, right?
Yeah, it's okay.
Yeah, I mean, I say this all the time, all the time.
Right.
But if you're saying like, oh, yeah, I got a car.
Yeah, I got a car.
I got a car downstairs, right?
But that's not really – you would say I have a car.
But I would say I got a car too, right?
Wouldn't you?
I do.
I think this is really casual.
It's a little bit –
Well, I don't know.
What do you think?
How does it sound?
Let's try to think of another example.
Let's see.
So... Well, I might say like, oh, like I got this friend and let me tell you about her.
So you have a friend in the present tense.
Right, right, right.
So I might say that.
So...
This is just one that I think people break.
You know, you would kind of want to pay attention to this one because it's pretty nuanced.
And so this might be an example of like really having to know the rule and like being very confident before starting to jump in.
Get your feet wet by breaking it.
Exactly.
So listen for it first, I think.
Yeah, I agree.
Be careful when you break this, because it is very nuanced when you want to break it and who you're around and making sure that they know you're purposefully breaking it.
But this is why the more native content we're listening to, the better.
Right right right exactly exactly yeah um so, all right, what about ain't?
What do you think we've we, we talk about?
We've gone back.
We'll be talking about this.
Yeah, the last time we touched on this, i made a strong assertion.
I said don't do it don't, don't use this.
But then Michelle challenged me, which was good because it can be cultural at times.
It can be in songs.
There can be reasons why we might do this.
So should you do it?
Should you not?
You guys can decide.
I don't recommend it at work.
Right.
Right, Michelle?
Can we agree on that part?
Yeah, I think we can agree on that part.
But yeah, like sometimes people do use it.
And I think I was telling you that sometimes my dad uses it.
Oh, yeah.
But I mean, he doesn't, it's not like all the time, you know, like it's not like his habit.
And you know that he knows, like if I brought it up and I was like oh dad, do you realize that you're kind of breaking a rule?
Like he'd be like, well, yeah, like, yeah, I know that.
But I just like my style.
It's just like a style sometimes for sometimes when he's making a joke or something.
Yeah.
So the point is you want to know it's wrong.
It's totally wrong.
But then choose whether you want to use it based on a current whoever you're with, to match the culture, to have your own style for emphasis, to make a joke.
There's a lot of reasons.
You said your dad's kind of a funny guy, right, Michelle?
Yes.
Is your dad a jokester?
Yes.
Okay.
So I could see that, right?
Even though I don't know your dad, I could see like someone telling jokes using this ain't.
I think I have my dad's sense of humor.
I don't tell him that I said that, but.
Would he not like that?
No, because he would just laugh because I always, like, kind of, like, tease him about his jokes.
But, like, as I'm getting older, I realize that I use his jokes all the time.
Like, all the time.
Like, just his little catchphrases I repeat.
Oh, that's so funny.
Ultimately, we just become our parents.
Yeah, yeah.
It's great.
Yeah, that's not the worst thing in the world, right?
That's so good.
I love it.
Okay, so guys, so ain't is number three.
So let's keep going.
So all right.
So here's a complex one, right?
Michelle, what is this next mistake that native speakers make on purpose? yes so this is well and I don't know if they always realize it's on purpose actually that's the thing I agree so it's I if I was right instead of if I were so what's which one is right Lindsay if I was or if I were Yeah, if I were is actually the correct way to say that, guys.
But, you know, a lot of native speakers, this is probably the most common of the six, I think.
And I think, because they never thought about it, they've heard other native speakers say if I was older I would go out for dinner, whatever.
They've heard it, so they repeat it, so they use it, so they never question the rule.
But it's only if you become like an English teacher, like us, then you stop and you think, oh okay, that's actually not right.
Yeah, there's so many things.
I mean, I've been teaching now for years.
And I still there are things that students ask me that I'm like, yeah, whoa, that is a good point.
I mean, it could be a listeners listening to the show or my own students at school or whatever.
But I mean, it happens all the time still.
Totally, totally.
And so this is definitely guys, if you hear it, I think this episode is all about knowing that something is wrong, but still, you're hearing a native speaker say it.
Maybe you're using it back or maybe you're not.
I don't recommend using.
I would recommend saying this correctly in this case, you know, to our listeners.
If I were you, blah, blah, blah.
Yeah, were.
Use were.
So even if your native speaker friend is using it wrong, I would recommend you guys say it correctly.
Well, like I said, you know until you feel super comfortable and you know you're, you know a lot, you know I don't know.
Just I would say, say it a hundred times in a hundred different contexts, you know with eyewear and then start to play around with it if you want.
Exactly.
I love that.
And then the next one is the past participle is avoided.
So what is this, Michelle?
I have to review this.
So let's say the example of when someone says, oh, yeah, yeah, yeah, this is bad.
So someone might make a mistake by saying, I have went to all those countries.
Very wrong.
Right, Michelle?
Very wrong.
Yeah.
Do people say that?
I guess so.
Oh my, yeah, see, I don't hear, I don't know if this is like a common one.
Yeah, I mean.
Well, what should we say in those, in case our listeners happen to hear a bad mistake like this?
Let's correct it.
In case you guys hear this, it should be, I have been to all of those countries.
Yeah, I mean, maybe people don't know.
I mean, this sounds like an education thing, you know?
Maybe people aren't familiar with all the past participles, even as native speakers.
Well, some of them can be confusing, actually.
Can be hard, yes.
Yes, run, ran, run, things like that.
Swim, swam, swum.
Yeah, they can get complex and maybe we'll do a whole nother episode on the more complex ones.
Yeah.
So this is a bad example, because everyone knows gone is the past participle of went, but there are more complicated ones, guys.
And people will avoid those.
Yeah, I have been.
Yeah.
I've been.
Right.
So again, what would you say, Michelle?
How many countries have you been to?
Just to make sure we're saying this right.
I have been to...
I don't know, it's gonna take me a little while, probably like at least seven, I don't know what.
Eight, I don't know what about you?
Um, more than that, a little more than that, but yeah, you're more than I've done.
I don't.
Maybe maybe like 15 or something, something in that, maybe it's more, maybe it's more.
I'll count them up and get back to you, Okay.
Tell us in the next episode.
I will.
Okay.
So what would be one more, Michelle?
Okay.
Would have in a past conditional.
Yeah.
So I've heard a lot of native speakers say something like this.
If I would have had more money, I would have gone.
Right.
But what should we say instead?
If I had had more money, I would have.
Yeah.
I might have or could have.
Or I might have gone.
Would have, might have, could have.
All of those are okay.
Yeah.
So sometimes native speakers stick the would in there in the beginning.
So they use it twice.
Interesting.
Yeah.
So guys remember, with this third conditional right, the past conditional, the had goes in the beginning and the would goes in the second part.
Okay.
So let's just come up with some examples.
Michelle, what would have happened if you hadn't chosen University of Maryland to go to college?
Um, I would, uh, maybe just say the whole thing.
Like if, if you hadn't chosen.
Oh, if I, oh, help us out here, Michelle.
Well, no, but it would have been if I, if I hadn't chosen.
Exactly.
Yeah.
Yeah.
If I hadn't chosen the University of Maryland.
Yeah.
Yeah.
I wouldn't have met my great friends.
Perfect.
Exactly.
Right.
So you wouldn't say if I wouldn't have chosen.
That's weird.
Yeah.
No, if I hadn't chosen.
Yeah, exactly.
Yeah.
Yeah.
So that's the mistake that I hear a lot of native speakers making.
So that's a trickier one because you hear that even with more articulate native speakers, actually.
I hear that a lot.
But keep it straight, guys.
So another example would be if I hadn't lived in Japan in my 20s, I wouldn't have learned Japanese.
Very straightforward.
Right?
Yeah.
Or I wouldn't have learned to use chopsticks.
Yeah.
Yeah.
So any final comment on that one, Michelle?
I feel like you're thinking something there.
No, I'm still thinking of how many countries I've been to.
Oh, you're still stuck on that country thing.
I'm sorry.
I have to be honest with you.
That's okay.
You're going to update us on that one in the next episode, right?
I will.
Yes, exactly.
I love it.
I love it.
All right, guys.
So guys, go ahead and hit follow if you love hanging out with me and Michelle and the whole All Ears English team and focusing on connection, not perfection.
This has been a great one today.
Michelle, I will see you in the next one.
All right.
Bye, Lindsay.
Bye.
Thanks for listening to All Ears English and if you believe in connection, not perfection, follow our show wherever you listen to podcasts to make sure you don't miss anything.
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