Como falo em inglês: Pediram pra eu esperar na salinha

By Ana | Podcast Inglês Online

Nov 28
Como falo em inglês Pediram pra eu esperar na salinha

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Hey, everyone. Nesse episódio do podcast Inglês Online eu dou exemplos da estrutura “I was asked”.

Transcrição

Hi, how’s it going? Today we have a new episode of the inglesonline podcast. To download or just listen to other episodes and download transcripts, go to inglesonline.com.br and click Podcast Inglesonline.

So, if you’ve been following the tips on the blog, you’ve probably seen my recent post on “I was told” and “He was asked” and etc. So I thought I’d do a podcast on that, ’cause there’s nothing like listening to a new structure to really get used to it. So this one goes to everyone who’s not that familiar with this kind of structure. So let’s get on to some examples with the verb ASK.

Let’s say your friend Michael took an exam this morning. It’s a tough exam and it’s the same you and all your friends are going to take next year. So you’re all, of course, very curious to know what the exam was like. Well, to your surprise, Michael says that the exam was easier than he expected. He says that the worst part were the security checks he had to go through before entering the exam room.

So you and your friends are really surprised to hear that, and Michael goes on to say “I was asked to leave my mobile at the door”. You think that’s reasonable. And then Michael says “I was asked to wait in a little waiting room next to the entrance while they searched my backpack”. Now that seems like a little too much. You say “What? You were asked to wait in another room while they searched your backpack?” You can’t believe your friend was asked to go to another room while his backpack was being searched.

OK, so notice that Michael said “I was asked to wait in another room”. Asked. Michael was asked to wait in another room. That means, someone asked him to wait in another room. Someone probably said “Sir, please wait in that room for a couple of minutes”. Who asked Michael to do that, to go wait in that room? I don’t know; maybe a security guard. That wasn’t really what Michael was trying to communicate; that wasn’t the point. He just wanted to say that someone asked him to wait in a room while his backpack was searched. An even better way to say that is, “He was asked to wait in a room while his backpack was searched”.

I was asked to do something, or he was asked to do this or that, or they were asked questions… That kind of structure works really well when the “asking” is something impersonal; it’s part of a standard procedure, or… just something maybe impersonal that you had to go through. Sometimes you just don’t want to mention who did the asking; for example: “I went to a party last Saturday where I was asked twice whether I was a reporter”. What does that mean? That means you went to a party, and you talked to people, and two people asked you “Are you a reporter?”. Or maybe the same person asked you the same question twice: Are you a reporter? So right now you’re telling… your mom about the party and you say “I was asked twice whether I was a reporter”. Can you see how the focus here is on the question being asked, and not on who asked it?

Can you think of any examples from your own life where you were asked to do things? Or, you were asked a strange question. Once, in college, I was asked if I was of Japanese descent. I kid you not! Tell us about a time when you were asked to do something really unexpected. Talk to you next time.

 

Key expressions

  • I was asked

 

Glossary

there’s nothing like ………. to………. = nada como ………. para…………

search a backpack = revistar uma mochila

who did the asking = quem fez a pergunta (o ato de perguntar)

whether I was a reporter = se eu era repórter

Ana
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wilson 14/02/2013

Hey Ana,

How about these structure:

He reportedly told police officers he no longer has the will to live and regrets he was ever born.

Source: http://www.breakingnewsenglish.com/1302/130203-santa_maria_fire.html

Cristiane 29/12/2012

Hi Ana!!
Yes, I came to Dublin to study english… Can you imagine?! It’s sooo difficult… hahah =) . I’ve been leaving here for a year.
I don’t think I look an Irish…. haha…. I loveee Dublin as well!!!

Cristiane 05/12/2012

I was working in a restaurant here in dublin and I was asked if I was irish, so I said: Nooo I’m brazilian!!! =D

    Ana 29/12/2012

    Cristiane,
    Do you look Irish?
    Are you in Dublin studying English? I love Dublin :)

JulioAkiyama 02/12/2012

What does the “I kid you NOT mean? Nao estou brincando? ou Estou brincando?

    Ana 29/12/2012

    Julio,
    It is sort of a cute way to say “I’m not kidding” or “I’m not lying to you”.
    It’s sort of funny because it employs an unusual structure – NOT after the verb. Very common, though.

jennifer 30/11/2012

Hi,Ana!I don’t know why,but several times in my life I was asked if i was a teacher.But I never went it.Kisses!!

    Ana 29/12/2012

    Jennifer,
    That’s happened to me quite a few times too! Well, I am a teacher now so i can answer “yes” ;)

Débora 30/11/2012

I was asked if I was really a blonde woman.

    Ana 29/12/2012

    ;)

Antônio Andrade 29/11/2012

Last month in travel to India I was asked to open my bag

    Ana 29/12/2012

    At least you were asked…! I traveled recently and my bags had been opened without my knowledge (although I was kind of expecting it… airport security)

helly lucas 29/11/2012

Hi Ana, I have a question for you. When I’m reading or just talking in english, I feel a pain in my throat, is that normal or not? did you never feel that when you were learning english in the past?

Really nice podcast, thanks !

    Ana 29/12/2012

    Hi Lucas,
    Hmm… I don’t remember anything like that directly related to English-speaking specifically.
    Are you sure it happens only when speaking English? You might be trying to force yourself to produce different sounds maybe??

      helly lucas 04/01/2013

      Thanks for the answer, I’m not feeling it anymore, but I still don’t knowing why it happened.

Caroline 29/11/2012

Oi Ana! Obrigada por esse podcast! Ele esclarece perfeitamente a dúvida que relatei para você dias atrás. So, thanks a lot!

    Ana 29/12/2012

    No prob, Caro!

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