Happy English Podcast (Natural American English)

I’m looking forward to seeing you. I’m used to getting up early. I’m committed to improving my language skills.

Wait a minute. Why do we have ING after to? You probably learned expressions like “I want to go,” “I need to study,” and “I hope to see you,” where to is followed by a base verb. But sometimes to works differently. Have you ever wondered why we say looking forward to seeing you instead of looking forward to see you? If so, you’re in luck - because today, we’re going to look at five common expressions where to is followed by a noun or an ING form.

The Happy English Podcast
Helping people speak English better since 2014
Over 1,000 episodes • 8 million downloads

📘 Get free weekly English lessons plus instant access to my FREE Vocabulary Workshop.:
https://learn.myhappyenglish.com/free-english-lessons

🎥 Watch video versions of the Happy English Podcast on YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/@HappyEnglishNY/podcasts

🌐 Learn more about my English lessons and courses
https://www.myhappyenglish.com

When you’re working on a project, studying something new, or just trying to get through a busy day, there are lots of natural ways to talk about the progress you’re making. So today, we’re going to look at six useful expressions you can use when something is moving forward.

One down, one to go. So far, so good. We’re getting there. Halfway there. Almost there. One step at a time. 

The Happy English Podcast
Helping people speak English better since 2014
Over 1,000 episodes • 8 million downloads

📘 Get free weekly English lessons plus instant access to my FREE Vocabulary Workshop.:
https://learn.myhappyenglish.com/free-english-lessons

🎥 Watch video versions of the Happy English Podcast on YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/@HappyEnglishNY/podcasts

🌐 Learn more about my English lessons and courses
https://www.myhappyenglish.com

Oh, hi there. I'm glad you're still up.

Up is a very simple word, but in everyday English, aside from referring to a higher place or position, the word up appears in a lot of common expressions with completely different meanings. Have you been wondering what up really means in phrases like: Are you up? Are you up for dinner? What are you up to? I think he’s up to something. The service wasn’t up to par? If so, you’re in luck - because today, we’re going to look at five natural ways you can use up in everyday conversation. 

The Happy English Podcast
Helping people speak English better since 2014
Over 1,000 episodes • 8 million downloads

📘 Get free weekly English lessons plus instant access to my FREE Vocabulary Workshop.:
https://learn.myhappyenglish.com/free-english-lessons

🎥 Watch video versions of the Happy English Podcast on YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/@HappyEnglishNY/podcasts

🌐 Learn more about my English lessons and courses
https://www.myhappyenglish.com

You know what? Yesterday instead of driving, I took the train. Let’s stay home instead. I ordered tea instead of coffee. Don’t complain. Try fixing it instead. 

Instead is a very useful word when we choose one thing in place of another. And one of the most important things to notice is the difference between instead and instead of. Have you been wondering how to use instead naturally? If so, you’re in luck - because today, we’re going to look at how you can use instead in everyday English.

The Happy English Podcast
Helping people speak English better since 2014
Over 1,000 episodes • 8 million downloads

📘 Get free weekly English lessons plus instant access to my FREE Vocabulary Workshop.:
https://learn.myhappyenglish.com/free-english-lessons

🎥 Watch video versions of the Happy English Podcast on YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/@HappyEnglishNY/podcasts

🌐 Learn more about my English lessons and courses
https://www.myhappyenglish.com

There’s a chill in the air. The leaves are starting to change. It’s getting dark earlier. It really feels like fall. You can tell winter is coming. 

Fall gives us a lot of easy, natural ways to talk about the weather and the changes happening around us. So today, instead of focusing on one word or phrase, we’re going to look at five natural ways you can talk about fall in everyday English.
Welcome to another Happy English Podcast, coming to you from New York City - and here’s your English teacher, Michael!

The Happy English Podcast
Helping people speak English better since 2014
Over 1,000 episodes • 8 million downloads

📘 Get free weekly English lessons plus instant access to my FREE Vocabulary Workshop.:
https://learn.myhappyenglish.com/free-english-lessons

🎥 Watch video versions of the Happy English Podcast on YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/@HappyEnglishNY/podcasts

🌐 Learn more about my English lessons and courses
https://www.myhappyenglish.com