In this lesson, you're going to get three lessons; because, today, we're
going to cover grammar, vocabulary, and pronunciation. All right? So, today,
basically what we're going to look at first is: Which verbs go with which
prepositions? This is always fun. I know — I know how much you love that. So,
that's why in this lesson, you're going to get to decide whether to use the
preposition "in" or the preposition "on" with certain business verbs or general
verbs. All right? Now, today, we're looking at about eight of them. Okay?
But this is actually part of what we do in an online course, which I've created,
which is called: "Correct Your English Errors in Ten Minutes a Day". We correct
different types of mistakes that people make to do with grammar, vocabulary,
pronunciation, expressions, and so on. Okay? So, if you're interested in that,
please check the link in the lesson description. But, for now, let's get
started.
So, number one. I'm going to read the sentence; and in each of these
sentences, you have to decide whether the correct preposition is "in" or "on".
Okay? Those are the only two options all the way through, and we have to choose
one of them. All right? There is always a preposition that we need. So, number
one: "Let's focus _______ the current project." So, what's the correct answer,
there? "Let's focus _______ the current project." What do you think? The correct
one is "on". "Let's focus on the current project." What does it mean: "to focus"?
It means to pay attention to, pay special attention to something, to focus
on that, to give your attention to something. All right? Now, that's the
grammar part of it — that we should say: "focus on" something. The vocabulary
part — "to focus" means to pay attention to something in particular. And the —
very important in this case — pronunciation part is that this word is
pronounced: "focus". Say it after me: "focus". This word is very often
mispronounced, and then it can sound rather rude, so be really careful how
you pronounce this word. Okay? Good.
Let's look at number two now: "Our team participated _______ the meeting. Our
team participated _______ the meeting." What should it be? "To participate in"
something. Okay? This is the correct answer: "to participate in" something.
All right? That's the correct grammar part of it. Now, what does it mean: "to
participate" in a meeting, or in a conference, or in a presentation? What
does it mean: "to participate"? To take part in it; to be there and to be
actively involved in it, or to be involved in it. Okay? Good. Number
three: "He specializes _______ wedding cakes." So, what's that? Which is the
right preposition, here? "He specializes in wedding cakes." Okay? "You specialize
in" something. So, what does it mean: "to specialize"? "To specialize" means
to become kind of an expert in a particular area; not on everything in
general, but particular area — to focus on that, to know a lot about that. And
therefore: "you specialize in" that and you become kind of much more aware; if
not, an expert, of that area. Okay? So, this person "specializes in" wedding
cakes. All right? Now, pronunciation: "specialize". The pronunciation, here:
"participated". The verb by itself: "participate". Past tense:
"participated". Good. All right?
Number four: "It depends _______ the weather." So, what do we need there —
"in" or "on"? "It depends on the weather." All right? You "depend on"
something. What does it mean: "It depends on"? That means, well, let's...
let's look at an example. Let's say we're going to... we're organizing a
picnic, but is it going to happen or is it going to be cancelled? I don't know.
"It depends on the weather. It depends what happens." It... we... we base our
decision on whether the weather is going to be good or not. Okay? But, in
general: "to depend on" something means to be able to count on something, to be
able to trust something. So, if we trust that the weather is good, then we will
have the picnic; if not, we may cancel the picnic. All right? Let's pronounce
the verb correctly: "It depends on". Good. All right? Very nice. Number five:
"Please concentrate _______ your students. Please concentrate _______
your students." So, somebody told the teacher who was doing... maybe wasn't
doing the right thing: "Please concentrate _______ your students." So,
what should it be? You "concentrate on" something. You could also say: "Please
concentrate on your studies." Okay? You could tell the students: "Please
concentrate on your studies." All right? So, you "concentrate". What does it
mean: "to concentrate"? This word is like this one. Okay? "Focus" — to pay
special attention to. "Please focus on your studies", "Please concentrate on
your studies", or "on your students", or whatever. Okay? So, here, "concentrate
on". Say it after me: "concentrate on". It is helpful to say the preposition
after that, because then your brain is hearing the right information; the right
combination that you need when you're using these verbs. All right.
Number six: "We believe _______ honesty." So, which is it? "in" or "on"?
"We believe" — yes — "in". Okay? You "believe in" something. "We believe in
honesty." So, what does it mean: "to believe in" something? You have trust in
that, you have faith in that, or you follow that principle. Okay? So... and
you trust that it is true, that it is right — that is "to believe". So, say it
after me: "to believe in". You can "believe in" someone; you could say to
your... your child: "I believe in you." You could say to an employee: "I believe
in you. In your ability to do a good job, to get this contract, to do this
work". All right? So, you could believe in someone or in something. Next, number
seven: "She insisted _______ taking a taxi." So, what's the answer, there?
"She insisted on". Okay? "She insisted on taking a taxi". "To insist on"
something means to say again and again: "No. This is what I want to do. I don't
want to do anything else. This is what we need to do." Okay? You insist; you
keep saying again and again that this is what somebody needs to do, or whatever
it may be. Okay? It could be: "She insisted on ordering a pizza." Okay? She
said again and again: "No. I want a pizza. I don't want anything else." All
right? So, we use it in many different contexts; all of these words — you can
use them in business situations and you can use them in your regular life. Okay?
No problem. Good. Let's pronounce this one: "insisted". Let's say the whole
thing: "to insist on" something. Okay? Excellent.
Number eight: "We rely _______ support from the IT department." We reply...
Sorry. "We rely _______ support from the IT department." So, which is it? "We
rely on". Okay? "To rely on" is like one of our other words, here. Do you know
which one? It's this one. Okay? So: "rely" and "depend" basically mean the
same thing. "I rely on you; I'm counting on you; I'm depending on you". Okay?
That means you... you're depending on them for support — let's say, in this
case — from a particular department, from someone, from a department, from
something. Okay? So: "to rely on", "to depend on" — they mean exactly the same
thing. Say it for pronunciation: "to rely on". All right? Good. So, now
you've got the grammatical part of it, got a little bit of the meaning, you've
also got some pronunciation, but let's make sure that you've really got the
grammar part of it, because that can sometimes be the most challenging. Is it
the "in" or "on"? Maybe you got some of these right. If you've got all of them
right —⁠ that's fantastic. But make sure that you use them correctly, because
these are very commonly-used words. And if you're not using them now, you can
start using them and that will certainly upgrade your level of English. Okay? So,
when we come back in a second, we're going to review the prepositions with
these verbs.
All right? So, now, let's make sure that you have mastered the correct
prepositions. Let's review them again. It takes time to make sure that you're
using the right prepositions. Okay? So, don't worry if you get it wrong; even
the second time — just review it. You will get it; there's no question about
it. Okay? It's just a matter of practice. So, let's do that. Number one:
"Let's focus _______ the current project." What was that? "Let's focus on
the current project." Okay? Now, if you wish, I'm going to... I'm just going to
step aside. You can pause the video; you can fill them all in, if you have a
piece of paper; and then you can join me or you can continue as we go along. All
right? Let's jump around a little bit to make it more interesting. Let's do this
one: "Please concentrate _______ your students" or "Please concentrate _______
your studies". "Please concentrate on your studies." Okay? It just so happens
that the "concentrate on", "focus on" — they are similar in meaning, and they
also use the same preposition. All right? Let's take another one. Number
three: "He specializes _______ wedding cakes". "He specializes in wedding
cakes." All right? Very good.
Let's take another one. Number seven: "She insisted _______ taking a taxi".
"She insisted on taking a taxi." Great. How's it going so far? You're getting
them? Okay. Step by step. Let's try number two: "Our team participated
_______ the meeting". "Our team participated in the meeting." All right?
Very good. Let's drop down here. Number six: "We believe _______ honesty". "in"
or "on"? "We believe in honesty." Excellent. Number four: "It depends
_______ the weather". "It depends on the weather." All right? So, what's left?
This one down here. Number eight: "We rely _______ support from the IT
department". "We rely on" — right? So, we had said: "depend on", "rely on".
Also: "count on" means the same thing. All right? Very good. So, as you saw,
when we did it a second time, it doesn't mean you automatically get it. You do
have to work at it a little bit, but hopefully you've already mastered some
of them.
So, what can you do now? Basically, write your own sentences. Okay? What
have you participated in? What do you need to concentrate on? What do you
believe in? Make it relevant; write some sentences about your life, your work,
your family — and then these words, and the verb and the preposition, will come
together nicely in sentences that make sense for you. All right? So, do that;
that will help a great deal. And remember, these are only eight. But if
you'd like to improve your English in lots of different ways, please do check
out the link to my course. We're getting a lot of excellent feedback from our
students, and I'd love for you to be able to be part of that. All right?
Thanks very much for watching. And you can, of course, subscribe to my YouTube
channel. You can also go to engVid. So, remember all of these things; and all
the very best with your English. Bye for now.