Summary
When you think of something you love or hate, what is the main reason? We have an expression you can use to talk about that!
Transcript
Jiaying
Welcome to The English We Speak with me, Jiaying…
Neil
… and me, Neil.
Jiaying
What is that? What are you eating?
Neil
Oh, just some really expensive cheese – you can tell it’s expensive cause it’s got lots of blue in it!
Jiaying
I don’t think it’s meant to be that colour – I think it’s mouldy. It’s the smell for me!
Neil
What? The smell for you? You mean you want to smell like the cheese I’m eating?
Jiaying
Definitely not! We use the form ‘it’s the’ plus a person or thing followed by ‘for me’ at the end to say that something or someone stands out – and it’s often used to highlight what’s wrong! So, like I said – it’s the pungent smell for me.
Neil
You know – I think it’s the fact it’s covered in blue stuff for me! I might stop eating it!
Jiaying
Good idea, Neil! Well, let’s talk more about things that stand out after these examples.
Examples
I can’t stand that new song! It’s the way she sings the high notes for me!
I really love that new TV show. It’s the way they write it for me!
It’s the sound for me! The noise he makes when eating is disgusting!
Jiaying
You’re listening to The English We Speak from BBC Learning English, and we’re talking about the structure ‘it’s the (something) for me’. We use this structure to say that something or someone stands out – and it can be used to highlight things we love or hate.
Neil
Yes, so if I want to say what I love most about video games, I’d say it’s the stories for me!
Jiaying
Exactly! But obviously it’s used more when we’re complaining about something or someone – like the cheese you’re eating!
Neil
Was eating! I’m afraid you’re right about the smell! But it was the taste for me! It’s disgusting!
Jiaying
I can imagine! But where did you get the cheese?
Neil
Rob gave it to me – I think it was a present!
Jiaying
No Neil – that wasn’t for eating. He was throwing away some old cheese from the fridge!
Neil
Oh no – I think I’d better sit down!
Jiaying
Good idea! Bye, Neil.
Neil
Bye.