Dave's ESL Cafe's Student Discussion Forums

[stevenukd]

Dear Teachers,

1. You see what I�m getting at?
- This means �you understand what I�m talking about?�, right?

2. Is there a difference between �listen!� and �listen up!�?
3. Come on man! Don�t be afraid of being rejected, just show her your love, maybe she loves you also.
- Is this natural?

Thanks a lot to Teachers,

Stevenukd

[Anuradha Chepur]

1. Yes. Getting at is pointing at or arriving at in a discussion.

2. 'up' intensifies it, may be, like I beleive it does in read/read up

3. Yes, ". . . . . . she loves you too." is better.

[CP]

2. If you want to use "Listen up!" in speaking (or in putting dialog into a character's mouth), try to keep in mind that it usually will be used by an authority figure to a group of people to get their attention for an announcement of some sort. It's a more direct, blunt way to say, "May I have your attention, please?"

A coach or a platoon leader would say, "Listen up!" to the team or the group of soldiers before addressing the people. By contrast, a student in class or an employee attending a staff meeting would not say, "Listen up!" in speaking to the teacher, class, fellow employees, or boss.

Also, "Listen!" would be appropriate to alert someone to listen for other sounds -- the birds, the music down the street, the train whistle in the distance, etc. -- while "Listen up!" would not.
_________________
You live a new life for every new language you speak. -Czech proverb

[stevenukd]

Dear CP!

Your explanation is so cool. Thanks again for your help.

Best wishes,

Stevenukd