English dictation exercises

Lock out

Leaving your keys inside can lock you out of your home. Too many wrong passwords can create the same problem online: you are outside the access boundary.

4-second sample
American, British, Australian

Look forward to

Plans feel more motivating when you imagine enjoying them. Look forward to turns that positive anticipation into one useful phrase.

4-second sample
American, British, Australian

Look into

When you cannot resolve a problem or answer a question immediately, saying 'I will look into it' is useful and honest. It promises investigation, not an instant solution.

3-second sample
American, British, Australian

Look up to

A role model does more than impress you. You look up to that person because their character or achievements earn your respect.

4-second sample
American, British, Australian

Loose or lose: Four simple checks

4-second sample
American, British, Australian

Make up

Friends can make up after an argument, but one of them might also make up an excuse. The object and situation reveal whether something is repaired or invented.

3-second sample
American, British, Australian

Make, let, and help: how to choose

4-second sample
American, British, Australian

Material nouns: rules and simple examples

5-second sample
American, British, Australian

Measure up

A product can have impressive features yet still fail the test that matters. If it does not meet the required standard, it does not measure up.

3-second sample
American, British, Australian

Medicine instructions

A pharmacist gives four connected instructions. Can you match each number and warning to the correct action?

3-second sample
American, British, Australian

Meeting times across time zones

Three times are mentioned, but one is the old schedule and the others describe the same new meeting in two cities.

4-second sample
American, British, Australian

Modal Verbs: Choose the Right Word

5-second sample
American, British, Australian

Modal passive: rules and examples

4-second sample
American, British, Australian

Monday or Mondays: Choose the Right Form

4-second sample
American, British, Australian

Money Idioms: Everyday Spending and Savings

4-second sample
American, British, Australian

More than or more then: choose the right word

5-second sample
American, British, Australian

Moving Day: Hearing “A Lot” and “Allot”

3-second sample
American, British, Australian

Much, Many, or Several: Choose the Right Word

5-second sample
American, British, Australian

Must or can attend: choose the right verb

4-second sample
American, British, Australian

Myself and John: How to Choose

4-second sample
American, British, Australian

N.B. in email: meaning and clear use

3-second sample
American, British, Australian

Nag

One reminder can be helpful. Repeating the same criticism or request again and again may feel like nagging, even when the goal is reasonable.

4-second sample
American, British, Australian

Narrative sequencing: order past events clearly

4-second sample
American, British, Australian

Narrow Down 3

Ten reasonable choices can make a decision harder. Narrowing them down removes the less suitable ones until the best options are easier to compare.

4-second sample
American, British, Australian