Likes, Interests, and Abilities

Learn vocabulary from the lesson!

can sing

I wish I could sing.

If you 'can sing' you have the ability to sing well.  Notice the following:

1. He can sing like an opera singer.
   
2. She can't dance at all, but she can sing.
   

nothing special

Just normal dancing, nothing special.

'Nothing special' is nothing interesting, exciting or different. Notice the following:

1. I have a lot of clothes, but nothing special to wear to the dance on Friday.
   
2. We are having chicken and salad for dinner, nothing special.
   

exercise

Do you like to exercise.

'Exercise' is physical activity, like running or playing sports, that you do to stay healthy.  Notice the following:

1. What do you do for exercise?
   
2. The doctor told me to do these exercises every day.
   

used to

I used to go to the gym three times a week.

We use the phrase 'used to' for a physical state or a repeated action that was true in the past, but is not true now.  Notice the following:

1. She used to be fat, but now she is thin.
   
2. He used to like apples, but now he won't eat them.
   

a clean place

I like a clean place, but I don't like to clean.

A 'clean place' in this example is a clean house.  A house where things are sanitized and organized.  Notice the following:

1. You can use the kitchen, but clean up after yourself.  Your mom has to have a clean place.
   
2. There is never a clean place in the house after you have a party.