Used To Do vs. Be Used To

Intro

1. Learn Vocabulary - Learn some new vocabulary before you start the lesson.

Go Super to Listen

• conform
• mainstream
• evolve
• move on

• region
• the South
• southern drawl
• stay true to one's roots

• hang out
• stoked

2. Read and Prepare - Read the introduction and prepare to hear the audio.

Go Super to Listen

The US is a big country. And depending on what part of the country you visit, you might hear people speaking totally different types of English. Accents, vocabulary, and even grammar can change a lot from one region to the next. Hip hop sounds different depending on where you go, too.

The rapper Nelly’s style comes from the South. He raps with a southern drawl, and his songs have a country feel. But Ella thinks his sound is different now than it was 10 years ago, when his first album, Country Grammar, came out. Hear Amy and Ella talk about whether or not Nelly has stayed true to his roots.

Dialog

1. Listen and Read - Listen to the audio and read the dialog at the same time.

Log in to Listen

2. Study - Read the dialog again to see how the vocab words are used.

Ella

Amy

Ella:  I really, really want to go to St. Louis.

Amy:  St. Louis, for the arch?

Ella:  No, for Nelly. You know, Nelly? “It’s Getting Hot in Herre”? Country Grammar?

Amy:  OK, right. The hip hop artist.

Ella:  Yes. Well, he just came out with a new album, and I’m stoked.

Amy:  How is it, is he kinda staying true to his roots in the new album?

Ella:  Actually, it sounds a little more like techno-clubby than it was. It used to just be good old Southern rap. But he’s kinda conformed to what’s mainstream. It sounds a lot like Timbaland and all the other guys. So it’s different, but I just love his voice when he raps.

Amy:  Does he sort of have like a southern drawl when he raps?

Ella:  Yes, he definitely kind of does, so it makes me feel like I’m at home when I hear him.

Amy:  Is it fun to dance to his stuff, like at clubs and everything?

Ella:  His older stuff, like from the Country Grammar album. I know the whole album, and every song you could dance to.

Amy:  So you think he’s not really staying as connected to his roots as he could be.

Ella:  I think he’s evolved. He’s still in his roots, but he’s definitely evolved.

Amy:  I mean, it’s hard to stay true to your roots, you know? I mean, life moves on. Maybe you move to a different city and start hanging out with different people.

Ella:  And it’s been 10 years since that album, so…a lot can happen in 10 years.

Grammar Point

Go Super to learn "Used to Do vs Be Used to" from this lesson

Quizzes

Go Super to take Quiz

Lesson MP3

Go Super to download full lesson MP3