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   Bella (tutor) Welcome to MicroEnglish! Has anyone told you, just
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   Bella (tutor) wake up earlier, as if that solves your whole morning? In
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   Bella (tutor) this B2 lesson, we'll learn easier said than done:
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   Bella (tutor) a useful response when advice sounds simple but real life
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   Bella (tutor) makes it hard to follow.
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   Bella (tutor) The plan looks tidy: set an earlier alarm
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   Bella (tutor) and gain an hour. But you finish work at midnight and still
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   Bella (tutor) need enough sleep. Easier said than done points to that
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   Bella (tutor) gap. Suggesting the change takes seconds; making it work
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    Bella (tutor) takes more.
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    Bella (tutor) Imagine your friend suggests exercising before breakfast.
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    Bella (tutor) You reply, that's easier said than done. I work late.
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    Bella (tutor) You're explaining why the advice is difficult to follow. You
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    Bella (tutor) might like the idea. The phrase doesn't automatically mean
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    Bella (tutor) you reject it or refuse to try.
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    Bella (tutor) A useful response has three parts: name the difficulty,
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    Bella (tutor) explain the obstacle, and suggest an adjustment. For example:
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    Bella (tutor) that's easier said than done. My shift ends at midnight.
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    Bella (tutor) I could exercise on my days off. This keeps the discussion
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    Bella (tutor) moving towards something possible.
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    Bella (tutor) You can use the phrase alone as a short reply, or
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    Bella (tutor) begin with that's. To name the action,
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    Bella (tutor) use a form such as changing jobs is easier said than
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    Bella (tutor) done. Changing jobs is the subject here. Said
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    Bella (tutor) and done stay the same within the expression.
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    Bella (tutor) Listen to the whole expression: easier said than done. Give
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    Bella (tutor) said and done clear stress, and link the words smoothly,
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    Bella (tutor) keeping the connecting sound between them short and light.
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    Bella (tutor) Try it together: easier said than done. You
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    Bella (tutor) don't need a dramatic delivery. A calm voice helps the listener
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    Bella (tutor) hear a practical concern rather than an angry complaint.
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    Bella (tutor) You can also acknowledge someone else's difficulty. I
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    Bella (tutor) know it's easier said than done. Let's start small. Here,
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    Bella (tutor) you recognise that your own advice requires effort. This is
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    Bella (tutor) especially helpful when a friend has already tried and feels
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    Bella (tutor) frustrated.
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    Bella (tutor) Compare easier said than done with it
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    Bella (tutor) can't be done. The first highlights difficulty; the
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    Bella (tutor) second says something is impossible. If moving closer to work
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    Bella (tutor) needs money and planning, it may be easier said than done,
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    Bella (tutor) even though you could eventually manage it.
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    Bella (tutor) Adding but I'll try leaves room for action.
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    Bella (tutor) The phrase fits everyday conversation and many discussions
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    Bella (tutor) with colleagues. In a formal report, explain the specific
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    Bella (tutor) difficulty directly. A bare, sharp reply can sound
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    Bella (tutor) dismissive, especially when someone is sincerely trying to
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    Bella (tutor) help.
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    Bella (tutor) A common mistake is mixing the fixed phrase with another structure:
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    Bella (tutor) it's easier to say than done. Keep the matching forms,
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    Bella (tutor) said and done. You can also say it's easier
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    Bella (tutor) to say than to do, but that is a different grammatical pattern.
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    Bella (tutor) Now listen to four situations, with British and American
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    Bella (tutor) speakers. Choose the answer supported by the conversation.
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    Bella (tutor) Focus on the obstacle or the speaker's attitude. After
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    Bella (tutor) each explanation, you'll hear the same recording again with
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    Bella (tutor) the words visible.
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    Bella (tutor) Two British colleagues discuss a tiring journey to work. What
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    Bella (tutor) stops George from making the suggested change?
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    Alice Could you rent somewhere near the office?
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    Alice Easier said than done. I've checked, and the rent is twice
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    George what I pay.
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    George Maybe we could share the drive instead.
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    Bella (tutor) Nearby rent is the obstacle. George has already
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    Bella (tutor) checked it, so his reply shows a practical problem with an
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    Bella (tutor) idea he has considered.
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    Alice Could you rent somewhere near the office?
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    Alice Easier said than done. I've checked, and the rent is twice
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    George what I pay.
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    George Maybe we could share the drive instead.
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    Bella (tutor) An American pair talk about evenings at home. Listen for
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    Bella (tutor) why Jessica cannot easily follow Roger's suggestion.
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    Roger Why not turn your phone off after dinner?
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    Roger That's easier said than done when I'm on call.
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    Jessica Right, you need to hear any urgent calls.
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    Bella (tutor) Jessica needs the phone for urgent work calls. The clue is
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    Bella (tutor) that she is on call; switching it off could mean missing something
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    Bella (tutor) important.
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    Roger Why not turn your phone off after dinner?
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    Roger That's easier said than done when I'm on call.
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    Jessica Right, you need to hear any urgent calls.
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    Bella (tutor) Back to British English. Alice is preparing to sing alone.
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    Bella (tutor) What does George's whole reply communicate?
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    Alice Everyone says I should enjoy my solo, but I'm terrified.
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    Alice I know it's easier said than done. Shall we rehearse together?
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    George Yes, having you there would help.
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    Bella (tutor) George recognises the challenge and offers help. I
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    Bella (tutor) know softens his advice, and rehearsing together gives Alice
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    Bella (tutor) a concrete next step.
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    Alice Everyone says I should enjoy my solo, but I'm terrified.
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    Alice I know it's easier said than done. Shall we rehearse together?
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    George Yes, having you there would help.
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    Bella (tutor) Finally, an American conversation in a bakery. What
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    Bella (tutor) does Roger think about increasing production for tomorrow?
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    Jessica Can we bake twice as much tomorrow?
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    Jessica Easier said than done with one oven. We could borrow the cafe's.
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    Roger I'll ask whether it's free.
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    Bella (tutor) The order needs an adjustment. Roger suggests borrowing
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    Bella (tutor) equipment, so he sees a possible solution rather than treating
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    Bella (tutor) the task as impossible.
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     Jessica Can we bake twice as much tomorrow?
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     Jessica Easier said than done with one oven. We could borrow the cafe's.
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     Roger I'll ask whether it's free.
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     Bella (tutor) Someone says, just find a quieter place to work. Respond
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     Bella (tutor) aloud: that's easier said than done. Then explain
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     Bella (tutor) your obstacle. You could start with I need. Give
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     Bella (tutor) a reason that fits your own life.
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     Bella (tutor) Remember that difficulty isn't refusal. You can use
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     Bella (tutor) this phrase and still accept the goal. If your response sounds
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     Bella (tutor) too negative, add a reason or a possible next step. That
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     Bella (tutor) helps the other person understand what you need.
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     Bella (tutor) The short reply works in both British and American English.
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     Bella (tutor) For a past experience, change the surrounding verb: it
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     Bella (tutor) was easier said than done. The core expression stays fixed.
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     Bella (tutor) In formal writing, a precise explanation may serve
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     Bella (tutor) your reader better.
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     Bella (tutor) Visit this lesson on MicroEnglish dot com for interactive
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     Bella (tutor) dictation: listen, type what you hear, and check your
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     Bella (tutor) answers. You can also ask the AI tutor about your sentences.
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     Bella (tutor) The first dictation is free; further practice and tutor
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     Bella (tutor) access depend on membership and available credits.
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     Bella (tutor) In the comments, name one piece of advice that's easier said
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     Bella (tutor) than done for you. Explain the difficulty, then suggest
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     Bella (tutor) a small next step. Ask any questions you have about the expression,
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     Bella (tutor) too. Thanks for practising with me today!

Elige tu respuesta en cada pregunta y luego abre la respuesta para comprobarla.

1. Pregunta 1

   Why would a speaker use easier said than done after receiving a practical recommendation?

   A To claim that the suggestion is completely useless and should be ignored entirely B To acknowledge that the advice sounds reasonable in theory while pointing out practical hurdles C To prove that nobody has ever completed that kind of assignment before
   Comprobar respuesta Conversar con el tutor
2. Pregunta 2

   Which connective word correctly completes the comparative construction?

   A that B then C than
   Comprobar respuesta Conversar con el tutor
3. Pregunta 3

   Which sentence correctly intensifies the degree of difficulty?

   A Relocating to a new city alone is much easier said than done. B Relocating to a new city alone is more easier said than done. C Relocating to a new city alone is most easier said than done.
   Comprobar respuesta Conversar con el tutor
4. Pregunta 4

   How can you use easier said than done constructively during a team meeting?

   A Say the idiom loudly and immediately change the topic of discussion B Pair the phrase with a specific operational obstacle to explain your reasoning C Use the phrase to tell your manager that you refuse to do any extra work
   Comprobar respuesta Conversar con el tutor
5. Pregunta 5

   Which sentence preserves the correct fixed grammatical form of the expression?

   A Organizing the storeroom by Friday is easier said than done. B Organizing the storeroom by Friday is easier say than do. C Organizing the storeroom by Friday is easier saying than doing.
   Comprobar respuesta Conversar con el tutor
6. Pregunta 6

   What does that refer to in the conversational reply: 'That is easier said than done'?

   A The weather outside during the discussion B The suggestion or advice the other speaker just mentioned C A future conversation that has not happened yet
   Comprobar respuesta Conversar con el tutor