461. 25 Deceptively Difficult Questions (with Amber, Paul & Sarah)
Luke's ENGLISH Podcast - Learn British English with Luke Thompson24 Jun 2017

461. 25 Deceptively Difficult Questions (with Amber, Paul & Sarah)

An episode about the tricky little questions that we use when socialising. What are the appropriate answers? What are the subtle differences? How do native speakers use these questions? Can you take the test and get all the right responses to my list of deceptively difficult questions?

Episode page: http://teacherluke.co.uk/2017/06/24/461-25-deceptively-difficult-questions-with-amber-paul-sarah/

Spoken offer: http://www.getspoken.com/lep

25 Deceptively Difficult Questions - Proper Introduction Transcript!

Hi everyone, This is an episode about social English, the kind of English you use when you’re socialising, particularly the little things you say when you greet someone or at the beginning of a conversation. There are many ways to say “hi” and also lots of ways to say “how are you?” or “what are you doing?” The tricky thing is being able to judge the subtle differences in the questions with the presence of auxiliary verbs or modals which change the meaning slightly from the past, to the present to the future or with slightly different levels of formality. I’d like to do a test in this episode today. I am going to test you, so get ready.

A Test

Here’s what’s going to happen. I’ve prepared a list of 25 questions. I’m going to read them to you in a moment. As I say each question, what I want you to do is to think really quickly and really naturally about the first thing you would normally say when you hear that question. What’s the first answer that comes into your mind? Let’s see if you answer correctly. To find out the proper answers we’re going to listen to me directing those questions at Amber, Paul and Sarah. Then you can listen out for how they answer them and the comments we make afterwards, which should explain these tricky little bits of English. Not only can you learn some essential social English in this episode, you can also hear plenty of humorous conversation between the four of us. Sarah’s baby is also there in the background. I’m sorry if this bothers anyone. I’ve removed some of those noises but a few are still there. I think it sounds fine and adds a bit of atmosphere and after all she is a very cute baby.

So, the test. Let’s get started.

Are you ready? Just give the first answer that comes to mind. Also, you should know that some of the questions are intentionally incorrect. So, if you hear a question which is grammatically wrong or just not used ever, you can say “wrong”. Ok, so, your quick answer to the question, or “wrong” if it’s incorrect. I’ll say the question once quickly, once slowly and once again quickly. Some of these questions may seem extremely simple - the point of this is the pragmatics of social English and how you should give certain stock answers to some questions. They get a bit harder as they go along. Also, you can try to repeat the questions too. They’re going to come pretty quick, so use the pause button if you want. Here we go. You might think these are easy, but that's why this is called 'deceptively' difficult questions. *4 questions are intentionally incorrect. Can you spot them?

  1. What are you doing?
  2. How are you doing?
  3. How’s it going?
  4. How are you going?
  5. What’s happening?
  6. What’s going on?
  7. What’s going down?
  8. What’s going up?
  9. What’s up?
  10. How do you do?
  11. How are you?
  12. How have you been?
  13. How have you been up to?
  14. What are you up to?
  15. What have you been up to?
  16. How long has it been?
  17. Can I use your phone?
  18. I can’t use your phone, can I?
  19. Do you mind if I open the window?
  20. You don’t mind if I open the window, do you?
  21. What are your plans for later?
  22. What are you up to later?
  23. Can you tell me where is the best bar in town?
  24. Do you know how long is it going to be?
  25. Would you be prepared to give me a 5% discount?

Ta = thanks You’re now going to hear all those questions and how Amber, Paul and Sarah will respond to them. See if you got them right or wrong! I’ll go through them again quickly at the end.

Listen to the whole episode for all the correct answers and explanations. Don't be a ninja! Let me know your thoughts in the comment section.

Cheers! Luke

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Episoder(982)

WORLD NEWS QUIZ 2025 🌍 with Stephen from SEND7 Podcast [969]

WORLD NEWS QUIZ 2025 🌍 with Stephen from SEND7 Podcast [969]

[969] It's time for the annual World News Quiz with 20 questions about some of the curious news stories of 2025. Stephen Devincenzi from the SEND7 podcast is the quizmaster. Can you I improve on my poor performance from last year? Can you beat me? Take a trip through some news highlights from this year. Full transcript available as usual.⛑️ Donate to MSF today to help people in need https://www.doctorswithoutborders.org/📄 Get the PDF transcript 👉 https://teacherluke.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/WORLD-NEWS-QUIZ-2025-with-Stephen-from-SEND7-Podcast-969-TRANSCRIPT.pdf🔗 Episode page with questions and answers 👉 https://teacherluke.co.uk/2025/12/29/world-news-quiz-2025-with-stephen-from-send7-podcast-969/🏆 20% off LEP Premium until 31 January 2026 https://lep.supercast.com🎧📰 Listen to SEND7 podcast here 👉 https://pod.link/1505603790 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

29 Des 20252h 1min

The Words of the Year 2025 📖 with Amber & Paul [968]

The Words of the Year 2025 📖 with Amber & Paul [968]

[968] The Collins Dictionary Words of the Year is a list of 10 words which capture the cultural zeitgeist - the spirit of the times that we are living in now. These are new words, picked by Collins, which reflect big issues that people have been talking about over the last 12 months. In this conversation, Amber, Paul & I discuss the impact of AI, the ways social media is affecting people's behaviour, how people are using technology to control their health, the strange habits of tech leaders, and more. Pick up new words and listen to conversation about big issues in society. Full transcript available.🔗 Episode page 👉 https://teacherluke.co.uk/2025/12/25/the-words-of-the-year-2025-with-amber-paul-968/📄 Get the PDF transcript 👉 https://teacherluke.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Transcript-968-The-Words-of-the-Year-with-Amber-Paul-1.pdf🏆 20% off LEP Premium until 31 January 2026 👉 https://www.teacherluke.co.uk/premium Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

25 Des 20251h 46min

Robbing the Louvre 👑 Escaping to Nigeria 🏃‍♂️ with Amber & Paul [967] Catching Up #16

Robbing the Louvre 👑 Escaping to Nigeria 🏃‍♂️ with Amber & Paul [967] Catching Up #16

[967] A conversation in the podcastle with my pals Amber & Paul. In this one we chat about Paul's ambitious international marathon plans (what is he running from exactly?) what Amber knows about the famous robbery of the Louvre this year, and Paul's dramatic "Jason Bourne" situation which he faced in West Africa recently. Listen to some spontaneous conversation between friends in English. Full transcript available.🔗 Episode page 👉 https://teacherluke.co.uk/2025/12/22/robbing-the-louvre-escaping-to-nigeria-with-amber-paul-967-catching-up-16/📄 Get the PDF transcript 👉 https://teacherluke.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Transcript-967-Catching-Up-with-Amber-Paul-16.pdf🏆 20% off LEP Premium until 31 January 2026 👉 https://www.teacherluke.co.uk/premium Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

22 Des 20251h 20min

The Ramble Before Christmas 🎄 [966] Listen & Learn English with Luke

The Ramble Before Christmas 🎄 [966] Listen & Learn English with Luke

[966] Here is a super-long seasonal rambling episode, which you can listen to while wrapping presents, finishing some last-minute gift shopping, or (if you don't celebrate Christmas) just doing whatever you normally do in December. This is a long one, but the more you listen, the more it will help your English! 💪🎅📄 Get the PDF with all my notes here https://teacherluke.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/The-Ramble-Before-Christmas-966-Episode-PDF.pdf🔗 Episode page on my website https://teacherluke.co.uk/2025/12/15/the-ramble-before-christmas-966-listen-learn-english-with-luke/🏆 20% off LEP Premium in Dec & Jan https://www.teacherluke.co.uk/premium🎁 Give LEP Premium as a gift (also 20% off in Dec/Jan) https://lep.supercast.com/gifts/newJoin me as I chat to you in English for nearly 3 hours about:- LEPster listening habits in 2025 (Spotify Wrapped) 🎧- Messages and emails with funny stories from LEPsters 📧- Bits of grammar & vocabulary teaching ✍️- ChatGPT's questionable teaching skills 🤖🤔- AI hallucinations 😵‍💫- Dreaming in English 💭- Responses to recent episodes 💬- 12 jokes dissected in the Comedy Corner 😂 🐸- More funny comments from my daughter 👧- Another dramatic Hollywood action movie screenplay 🎥...and finally a vocabulary quiz for the whole episode. ✅All of that in your Christmas stocking 🧦 this week, with cosy log fire background sounds 🔥 as well. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

15 Des 20252h 55min

The Kit-Bag (Learn English with a Short Story) [965]

The Kit-Bag (Learn English with a Short Story) [965]

[965] It is traditional to tell a scary story at Christmas time, so here is one for this year's festive season. The Kit-Bag by Algernon Blackwood is a classic scary tale which will give you a chill, while you stay cosy and warm indoors this winter. Listen and I will explain a lot of vocabulary which comes up in the story.Get the episode PDF with story text and word list 👉 https://teacherluke.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/The-Kit-Bag-Learn-English-with-a-Short-Story-965.pdfEpisode page 👉 https://teacherluke.co.uk/2025/12/08/the-kit-bag-learn-english-with-a-short-story-965/LEP Premium 20% off in Dec and Jan 👉 https://www.teacherluke.co.uk/premium Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

8 Des 20251h 51min

A Cosy Rambling Episode at Home [964]

A Cosy Rambling Episode at Home [964]

In this audio-only episode today you can join me at home as I potter around, and take time to relax while recording a rambling episode for you to enjoy. Enjoy the sounds of street noise outside, and my attempts to find the most comfortable spot in my flat where I can ramble about various things, including several robberies in Paris - one of which is the famous heist at the Louvre museum, where burglars broke in and stole precious jewels worth millions, in broad daylight. The other robbery was more painful - our own apartment, which was broken into earlier this year. Join me as I discuss all of these things and more. The video episode this week is a walk & talk in Paris.Get the episode PDF transcript 👉 https://teacherluke.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/A-Cosy-Rambling-Episode-at-Home-964.pdfEpisode page 👉 https://teacherluke.co.uk/2025/12/01/a-cosy-rambling-episode-at-home-964-walk-talk-mission-in-montmartre/Walk & Talk: Mission in Montmartre 📺 https://youtu.be/b0THApJaJTs20% off LEP Premium 👉 https://www.teacherluke.co.uk/premium Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

1 Des 20251h 10min

Talking Therapy, Mental Health & Counselling with Emma Camara Ortega [963]

Talking Therapy, Mental Health & Counselling with Emma Camara Ortega [963]

[963] Emma Camara Ortega and I worked together as English teachers years ago, but since then Emma has become a licensed counsellor and therapist - helping people with their mental health. In this episode, Emma talks to me about what is involved in counselling, and we discuss some everyday habits to promote good mental health. This should be full of interesting insights and helpful tips for mental wellbeing, which is so vital for our general lives but also to help us learn as effectively as possible. Full transcript and vocabulary list available.Get the PDF transcript & word list 👉 https://teacherluke.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Talking-Therapy-Mental-Health-Counselling-with-Emma-Camara-Ortega-963.pdfEpisode page on my website 👉 https://teacherluke.co.uk/2025/11/24/talking-therapy-mental-health-counselling-with-emma-camara-ortega-963/LEP Premium 👉 https://www.teacherluke.co.uk/premium Emma Camara Ortega in the UK Counselling Directory 👉 https://www.counselling-directory.org.uk/counsellors/emma-camara-ortega Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

24 Nov 20251h 24min

The Door in the Wall 🚪 (Learn English with a Short Story) [962]

The Door in the Wall 🚪 (Learn English with a Short Story) [962]

[962] Time for another short story on LEP. This one is about a man who has a wondrous experience as a child, which then haunts him for the rest of his adult life. Listen as I read the story to you, and then ramble about its meaning, interpretations and how it evoked some strong memories and strange feelings in me. Then there is a vocabulary review which will continue in an upcoming premium series.Get the episode PDF 👉 https://teacherluke.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/The-Door-in-the-Wall-Learn-English-with-a-Short-Story-962.pdfEpisode page 👉 https://teacherluke.co.uk/2025/11/17/the-door-in-the-wall-learn-english-with-a-short-story-962/LEP Premium 👉 https://www.teacherluke.co.uk/premium Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

17 Nov 20251h 59min

Populært innen Humor

rss-spartsklubben
papaya
enkel-servering
harm-og-hegseth
storefri-med-mikkel-og-herman
topp-3-med-mads-og-rasmus
tusvik-tnne
merry-quizmas
rss-nesten-hele-uka-med-lepperod
tore-og-haralds-podkast
misjonen-med-antonsen-og-golden
verdens-verste
rss-snorre-med-gaute
wolfgang-wee-uncut
hanna-de-heldige
gutta-backer
ma-pa-behandling-med-morten-ramm
vitnemal
rss-dette-ma-aldri-skje-igjen
jan-thomas-og-einar-blir-venner