Zoom英会話クラス(火)

Lesson Notes August 18, 2026 (TUESDAY ZOOM)

Words & Phrases

• How long were you in your hometown? (Use “past simple” not “past continuous; see Grammar below)

  • How many days did you stay in your hometown?

• When I was young, I was swimming but got pulled out into the open sea. Luckily, I was able to swim back

• The powerful rip (tide / current) pulled the raft far into the deep ocean within minutes.

• During Obon, there were many people standing (in the decks / in the aisles) between the cars on the Shinkansen.

• He was not only a painter, but also a sculptor. (nouns)

  • He painted and sculpted. (verbs)

• The sauce they use in okonomiyaki tastes rich. (= used for foods that have a heavy texture combined with a bold, complex, umami, or sweet and savoury flavour)

  • The cream soup was so rich that I could only finish half a bowl.

  • This chocolate fudge cake has a very rich and delicious taste.

• My husband likes to be out rather than staying around the house. (= prefers being away from the house rather than staying indoors)

• I want to start a new hobby, but I (am unmotivated / can’t find any motivation).

Grammar

• When asking about the total completed duration of a trip, use the simple past tense (did you stay)

• The past continuous (were you staying) implies an interrupted action or a temporary background activity (e.g., "Where were you staying when the storm hit?")

Appropriate Language

• For social life (bars, restaurants, parties):

  • "My friends like going out on weekends."

• For outdoor activities (nature, walking, sports):

  • "My kids likes being outdoors”

  • "My co-worker is an outdoorsy person."

• For simply not staying at home:

  • “I am going to be out and about for most of the day.” (Very common idiom for running errands, taking walks, or staying active outside the house).