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

Elige una respuesta en cada pregunta y luego compruébala.

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
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