Australia Network - English Bites - Series 9

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Episode 9: Golf

Episode 9: Golf
Shaiful learns to play golf while you learn how to use reflexive pronouns.

Transcript

Today, Shaiful and Reen learn how to play golf.

I have no clue whatsoever about golf. I mean I know the game. I know a little bit about the rules but nothing about playing it.

He says he has 'no clue whatsoever' about golf - that means he knows nothing at all. But notice that he corrects himself by saying 'I mean':

I have no clue whatsoever about golf. I mean I know the game. I know a little bit about the rules but nothing about playing it.

If I were to play golf at some stage of my life I might as well give it a shot here in Australia,

He's going to give golf 'a shot' in Australia - 'a shot' means a try. And he 'might as well' give it a shot - there is no reason for him not to give it a try. What else can he say in one sentence?

If I were to play golf at some stage of my life I might as well give it a shot here in Australia, especially since there are professionals who could teach you step by step so probably I could pick the game up from there.

'Step by step' means slowly and carefully and to 'pick the game up' is to learn how to play it. So let's see if he can pick the game up:

Bring your left hand like that, your thumb like that and bring your right hand and your pinkie has to go over the first index finger on the left hand side. Oh, Ok.

Instructions are usually very direct like this and often start with verbs - bring your left hand.

When you come in you hit the ground, it's like you're brushing the ground.

Ok.

That's it. That's it. For someone who hasn't played golf before, doesn't know how to hit a ball, I've actually managed to get 'em to hit a ball so I'm very happy and they should be very proud of 'emselves.

They should be very proud of 'emselves. 'Emselves is a short way of saying 'themselves'. 'Themselves' is a reflexive pronoun. It refers to the subject of the sentence. So they should be proud of themselves or he should be proud of himself or she should be proud of herself.

Nathan asked me whether I had played another sport and I said I used to be a rugby player and then he demonstrated to me with a rugby ball. The motions of passing a ball in rugby is pretty much the same way for you to get the perfect swing. So I incorporated that into my swing and yeah, it made it a lot better. Now we're gettin' there.

Now we're 'getting there' - getting there is achieving what you want to do.

We'll finish with the expression 'give it a go', which, like 'give it a shot', means to try something or do something:

Yeah, we do a lot of stuff together and golf will just be another one on that list from now on so yes. It's pretty enjoyable. I think we both like it and we'll definitely give it more of a go after this.

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