日米会話学院 Podcasting

2007.01.29

050_I_bet,_you_bet

If you have experience talking to native English speakers, especially North Americans, you have heard the phrase 'I bet' or 'you bet'. This episode Mark Melichar explains these phrases to Nichibei student Akihiko.

Kevin:

Hello this is Nichibei Kaiwa Gakuin Podcasting. A great way to review English words and phrases. My name is Kevin Jones.
And here with a question for this episode is Nichibei student Akihiko. Also for this episode we've asked for the help of Nichibei instructor Mark Melichar.

Mark Melichar:

Hello

Kevin Jones:

Thanks for helping.

Mark Melichar:

No problem.

Kevin:

Have you met Akihiko?

Mark Melichar:

No I haven't. Nice to met you Akihiko.

Akihiko:

Nice to meet you too.

Kevin:

So Akihiko, tell us about your question.

Akihiko:

OK. An American coworker in my office often uses a phrase I'm not sure I understand.

Kevin:

What's the phrase?

Akihiko:

She always says "I bet" and sometimes she says "you bet". I'm pretty sure I understand the meaning of these phrases, but I want to check with you. By the way, the verb "to bet" means to gamble doesn't it?

Kevin:

Let's hand this over to Nichibei instructor Mark Melichar. Mark?

Mark Melichar:

Yes that's right Akihiko. To 'bet' means to risk something, usually money.
However these phrases use bet a little differently. Let's talk about them one at a time. Akihiko, do you remember a situation where your coworker used " bet"?

Akihiko:

Yes. The day before yesterday I was telling her about my ski trip to Hokkaido. I said "I had a good time" and she said "good" and then I said "but Hokkaido was so cold" and she said 'I bet". Did she mean 'I see'?

Mark Melichar:

No, 'I bet' means 'I feel sure'. You coworker didn't go to Hokkaido, but she knows that Hokkaido is cold. So she can feel sure it was cold. This phrase is a really friendly way to show someone that you understand their situation.

Akihiko:

OK. So, 'I bet' means I feel sure.

Mark Melichar:

That right. You feel sure about a situation you didn't experience directly.

Akihiko:

Could you say 'I'm sure' ? Is that the same as 'I bet' ?

Mark Melichar:

Yes. That's right. Now, let's practice using 'I bet'. I'll make a statement and you show me that you understand my situation by answering with 'I bet'.

Akihiko:

OK.

Mark Melichar:

Tomorrow I'm moving to Osaka, so today I'm so busy.

Akihiko:

I bet you are.

Mark Melichar:

Very good. Let's do another one. Tomoko is getting married. She's so happy.

Akihiko:

I bet she is.

Mark Melichar:

Good.....uh.....The students are so excited to graduate.

Akihiko:

I bet they are.

Mark Melichar:

The team was so disappointed to lose the game.

Akihiko:

I bet they were.

Mark Melichar:

Good Akihiko, that sounded great.

Akihiko:

Thanks!

Mark Melichar:

You know, you can also use 'I bet' to make a guess about someone's situation or feeling. For example, if I said to you "I studied all night last night" you could say....

Akihiko:

Ah... I bet you're tired.

Mark Melichar:

Yes I am... Good, that's right.

Akihiko:

So that's like saying "you must be tired"

Mark Melichar:

That's right. You could also say, 'I guess you're tired'. Any of these responses show the other person that you are listening and interested in what they are saying. Now let's try another using 'I bet'. I'm going to New Zealand for vacation tomorrow.

Akihiko:

I bet you're excited.

Mark Melichar:

Yes, I am. Good. let's try another...My family lives in Hokkaido.

Akihiko:

I bet you miss them.

Mark Melichar:

Yes I do.

Akihiko:

OK, I think I understand. Now what about the the phrase 'you bet'. When I asked my coworker if she was going to our office party she said 'you bet'.

Mark Melichar:

This one is much easier. 'You bet' is a very informal and fun way to say, certainly or just yes or sure. So Akihiko, If I said to you "Would you like this piece of pie?" you could simply say.

Akihiko:You bet!

Mark Melichar:

Good. ahh....Akihiko, can you help me cook dinner?

Akihiko:

You bet! Mmm...are you going skiing next weekend?

Mark Melichar:

You bet! Great Akihiko. It sounds like you've got it.

Akihiko:

Yeah. Thanks for you help.

Mark Melichar:

You're welcome.

END

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