Real English: Talking about worries

Worried about your conversational English? Don't be! Today I'm teaching you 9 expressions we use to talk about things we're worried about, and 8 expressions you can use to cheer up a friend. It's a fun lesson with a bunch of useful phrases you can use in different settings. We primarily use these phrases in casual settings, but you'll also see some more formal expressions. We'll even have some metaphors and idioms. So watch this video, and then check out the quiz at www.engvid.com/... . Don't be nervous -- I'm sure you'll do well!
TRANSCRIPT
Hiya. Welcome back to www.engvid.com. Today we're talking about things that we're worried about. I'm so worried, I can't hold my pen still. But don't worry, it's not going to be all fears; we're also looking at how we tell someone that everything's going to be okay. In the words of Bob Marley's song: "Every little thing". Okay? So we got lots of great phrases we're going to be looking at today, and hopefully you learn them, and you put them in there, in your brain, and you pull them out whenever you need to use them.
So, let's get started. "I'm", obviously short for "I am". "I'm so"-meaning I'm very-"worried", oh yeah, I have a lot of fear. I'm like: "Oh, no, I think it's going to be very bad." You know? Worry, fear. Okay? Same as: "I'm anxious." Okay? You don't know what's going to happen. "I'm so worried about..." and whatever it is that you're worried about, whether it's seeing a particular person tomorrow, I'm so worried about. "Oh no, I'm worried about my homework", whatever it is. "I'm so worried about" your friend, I don't know, whatever it is for you.
"I'm afraid..." This is often followed with: "I'm afraid that". Oh, dear, what is it with the pens? I'm afraid that it's run out of ink, so I'm back again. I'm so worried... Yeah. So I'm so worried, I'm so worried that you thought that was bad. "I'm afraid that..." Now, "I'm afraid that" has two functions. It can serve as an apology, and also for something you have a fear for in the future. I'm afraid that my pen ran out. I'm very sorry. Okay? So I can use it in an apology. Okay? "I'm so sorry, I'm afraid I ran over your dog today. I'm really sorry." Okay? Or you could say it in the sort of genuine sense of: "I'm afraid that tomorrow I will die.", "I'm afraid that tomorrow it will rain." Okay? Something in the future you have fear for.
"I can't help thinking..." Now, this is an interesting sort of use of English. Obviously, this is a contraction for "cannot", "help thinking". What does it mean by help? I'm helping someone? It doesn't really mean help; it means I can't stop. I can't stop thinking, but we say: "I can't help thinking that tomorrow I have no socks to wear." Okay? Tomorrow, no socks. I'm going to walk into school and all the kids are going to see that I don't have any socks.
So, let's move on to the next one. "I can't stop thinking about..." I can't stop thinking about the guitar... No. "I can't stop thinking about..." Okay? This is a problem, a problem that you're thinking about again and again and again and again. I can't stop thinking-okay?-that maybe you did... You made the wrong decision. I can't help... "I can't stop thinking about what happened today that was bad." Okay? I can't stop thinking about my interview tomorrow. "Oh, no, the interview tomorrow. Oh, no." Okay? So it could be about something in the past or the future. Okay.
I'm saying quite a lot here, and I want you to remember it, so let's just have a little practice of saying these, and I want you to put in a little example at the end. Okay? So think about something that you're worried about. "I'm so worried about..." You practice, you say it: "I'm so worried about..." Okay, I wish I could hear you. "I'm afraid that..." Okay, you can use the same problem for all of these. "I'm afraid that...", "I can't help thinking about...", "I can't stop thinking about..."
Now let's move on to this next one, looking at the past perfect tense, here: "I've been worried sick about...", "I have been", okay? We're looking into the past. "I have been". All the way from the past until now. "I have been worried"-worry, fear-"sick", I've been so worried that I feel like being sick. Okay? So this is an intense feeling of worry. Okay? But we use it as a phrase. "I've been worried sick about..." So you can use it in a casual way. "I've been worried sick about the damage done to my car." The damage done. Someone hit my car. Okay? "I've been worried sick about my car."
"It's", it has. "It has been keeping me up at night." Okay? "Keeping me up" means I cannot sleep because I keep thinking about this problem. It's been keeping me up at night. You could use this in a work situation.

[@josewilliamalves3065]

Benjamin, no doubt you were the best actor when you worked as one, Because being an English teacher you are too much!!

[@engvidBenjamin]

Thanks for watching

[@josewilliamalves3065]

You are the best teacher ever! the most beautiful English, for sure, is the British one!

[@engvidBenjamin]

:)

[@lidianosantos3187]

I started to watch your classes these days and I am like a lot!! Its better to learn with teachers who has different accent. I like the way you teach!! Thanks for the classes!

[@engvidBenjamin]

:)

[@มนัสเพลาขํา]

Thank you a lot for teaching english language you are very good teaching in english good sound and clear let you teach how to more understand english like quickly touch thanks to you again

[@engvidBenjamin]

You are welcome!

[@zainabalhejaili2717]

a talented teacher with a sense of humor....thanks alot

[@engvidBenjamin]

:)

[@narmin1995]

Your lessons are perfect! I love them too much! thank you for a such emocional explanation, it really makes happy, thanks!

[@engvidBenjamin]

:)

[@rayz-x]

among all the teachers from engVid, Benjamin is the best!

[@engvidBenjamin]

Thanks for watching

[@deddyjuniawan2429]

You're a good teacher with your expression

[@engvidBenjamin]

Cheers

[@gracechen5133]

very humourous and great teacher!! have been watching ur videos again and again! thank you so much!!!

[@engvidBenjamin]

:)

[@yanar4084]

Great lesson, teacher! 😊

[@engvidBenjamin]

:)

[@farzane2606]

thank you Benjamin...you are amazing teacher...thanks for your time to make all these free videos

[@engvidBenjamin]

No probs

[@strikethroughstudio]

This lesson happens to be really helpful. Cheers! You deserve more subscribers.

[@engvidBenjamin]

Thanks. Do share videos with friends that you find useful. There are loads of good videos coming on to the channel in the coming months and years.

[@englishbookchannel7170]

U are one of my favourite teacher.

[@engvidBenjamin]

:)

[@jesusloverministries902]

Thank you very much for your kind teaching us on here. It is helpful

[@engvidBenjamin]

:)

[@florenciatapiola5941]

Benjamin , you're the best! I love your perfect english

[@engvidBenjamin]

:)

[@nardixita]

Very helpful! thank you Benjamin for your teaching

[@engvidBenjamin]

You're welcome

[@soniamayrink3295]

Very good lesson, Benjamin. Thank you very much.

[@engvidBenjamin]

No probs

[@ingemarandrade277]

Is this a british accent ? I love it ! I'm studying english and your lessons helps me alo, sorry for my bad grammar. Greetings from Spain!

[@engvidBenjamin]

:)

[@shabrinamazayatamimy472]

it's awesome Mr! i'm very understand what your teach

[@engvidBenjamin]

:)

[@samhuseynov]

thanks for so great lessons best teacher )

[@engvidBenjamin]

:)

[@ihaveadream7142]

Such a great explanation!

[@engvidBenjamin]

:)

[@annadaily]

Thank you very much for a great lecture!

[@engvidBenjamin]

:)

[@laiwei3877]

Thank you ! This lesson helps me a lot!

[@engvidBenjamin]

Cool

[@michaelkhor4939]

Awesome! Great mentor!

[@engvidBenjamin]

:)

[@project_eos]

Daaaamn, bro! You just murdered that!

[@engvidBenjamin]

Cheers

[@angielorenasuarezarciniega4043]

Wonderful video, thank you; I like that sentence "No use crying over spilt milk".

[@engvidBenjamin]

:)

[@janemour462]

Super! Exellent work.

[@engvidBenjamin]

:)

[@ulisesmondragon3449]

He is a good teacher, the lessons help me so much i from Mexico the videos are something funny

[@engvidBenjamin]

:)

[@thiagoc.8863]

awesome, teacher! I can learn a lot watching you,

[@engvidBenjamin]

:)

[@carmelon8917]

Great video! I have enjoyed learning this expressions

[@engvidBenjamin]

these expressions

[@avenocturna31]

jjajajaja very funny and practical form to teach, thank you so much!!!

[@engvidBenjamin]

:)

[@claudiorodrigues7820]

_Brazil... I started learn three months ago but can understanding a lot things that you said.

[@engvidBenjamin]

:)

[@illiagoncharov3238]

I+have+been - Present Perfect? but In "I`ve been worried sick about " you said it`s past perfect. Maybe i understood something wrong about tense?

[@profesoresoxford4186]

you're right.. that was present perfect

[@engvidBenjamin]

Correct, thank you

[@carlosandresrodriguezsaave7982]

Your accent have made me pass my listening exam...

[@engvidBenjamin]

:)

[@nastehamohamudmohamud4397]

Thank you so much I'm interesting your videos

[@engvidBenjamin]

enjoying?

[@sanaiqbal7526]

you u very enthusiastic teacher ☺ 👍

[@engvidBenjamin]

:)

[@suzansa9601]

thank you it is really helpful lesson

[@engvidBenjamin]

:)

[@muhamadsyamsu8430]

Your accent is awesome sir

[@engvidBenjamin]

Keep watching

[@ursuladomingos9657]

Thanks! You are amazing!

[@engvidBenjamin]

:)

[@LA-op3sx]

Thank you 😊.

[@engvidBenjamin]

:)

[@حسينرسول-ت7ظ]

amasing teacher!

[@engvidBenjamin]

amazing!

[@irinairina7926]

so nice to study smiling:)))))))))))))))

[@engvidBenjamin]

:)

[@elenadob7715]

Practise is a verb; practice is a noun, hence "PractiCe makes perfect".

[@engvidBenjamin]

Correct, thank you

[@luoyong498]

thanks you teacher !

[@engvidBenjamin]

:)

[@victornguyen77E1]

thank you for lesson

[@engvidBenjamin]

:)

[@avatarLT]

really entertaining and useful video ;) :D

[@engvidBenjamin]

:)

[@HoaNguyen-lx6ur]

hihi, A fun teacher.

[@engvidBenjamin]

:)

[@mirthdavid171]

hi Benjamin how is it going you are very witty.

[@engvidBenjamin]

:)

[@electroteche-hub9136]

Thanks

[@engvidBenjamin]

:)

[@a0920279988]

good teacher*1000000

[@engvidBenjamin]

Cheers

[@alexakrazaeva9995]

In my opinion if you will speak a little bit slowly (sometimes) it will be easier to understand you) Because sometimes you speak really fast and it's hard to understand all words)

[@engvidBenjamin]

OK, thanks

[@musmwettnewy]

I’m so worried about listening exam. I’m afraid that I can’t get a good score. I can’t help thinking that it s difficult to pass the test. I can’t stop thinking about my friend was depressed because of her heartbreak . I’ve been keeping me up at night lost my wallet. I’m dreading with my relationship with best friend.

[@engvidBenjamin]

Good examples

[@slean1]

And... if I say ... "I'm afraid to do something" it's correct?

[@engvidBenjamin]

Can be - depends on the context

[@abigailsanchez6718]

No entiendi nada jajajajajaj😅