Since or for
Since goes with a starting point (since 2020, since Monday) and for with a length of time (for five years). Both usually take the present perfect: I've lived here for five years.
English course · 27 languages in one app
Practice speaking English with an AI tutor
You know the grammar. What's hard is answering quickly, following people who don't slow down, and sounding natural. Talvo's tutor talks with you in real situations, from ordering a coffee to a job interview, and explains every correction in your own language.
First lesson free · iPhone and Mac, one subscription
English · First phrasesHow's it going?
howz it goin'?
A casual “how are you?”
InterviewerSo, tell me a little about yourself.
Phrases you'll hear every day
Twelve everyday phrases, and how they really sound when people talk at normal speed.
| Phrase | At natural speed | When to use it |
|---|---|---|
| Could I get a coffee, please? | c'd I get a coffee, please? | Ordering at a caféSounds friendlier than “I want a coffee” |
| How's it going? | howz it goin'? | A casual “how are you?” |
| Nice to meet you. | nice ta meet cha | Meeting someone for the first time |
| What do you do? | whaddaya do? | Asking about someone's job |
| What are you up to? | whatcha up to? | Asking what someone is doing or planning |
| Do you want to come? | d'ya wanna come? | Inviting someone |
| I'm going to be late. | I'm gonna be late. | Plans and predictions |
| Let me check. | lemme check | Buying yourself a moment |
| I don't know. | I dunno. | Casual, with friends |
| Sorry, could you say that again? | sorry, c'd ya say that again? | When you didn't catch something |
| Can I pay by card? | c'n I pay by card? | At the register |
| I'll have the chicken, please. | I'll have the chicken, please. | Ordering at a restaurant |
You don't have to talk like this yourself, but recognizing these sounds is half of understanding real conversations. Talvo teaches General American English.
A conversation you'll practice
A job interview, one of Talvo's twelve situations. In the app, the explanation under each correction comes in the language you choose, from Hindi and Urdu to Spanish and Arabic.
InterviewerSo, tell me a little about yourself.
YouI am working as a nurse since five years.
Talvo correctsI am working as a nurse since five years → I've been working as a nurse for five yearsFor something that started in the past and is still going on, English uses the present perfect continuous, with for and a length of time.
InterviewerThat's great experience. Why do you want to join our hospital?
YouI want to grow my career in a bigger team.
InterviewerMakes sense. What would you say is your biggest strength?
Mistakes Talvo helps you fix
Discuss, not discuss about
Some verbs take no preposition: we discussed the plan, she entered the room, we reached the station. Not discussed about, entered into the room or reached to the station.
Told me, not said me
Tell needs a person: she told me the news. Say doesn't: she said she was tired, or she said it to me.
I agree, not I am agree
Agree is a verb, so it doesn't need am: I agree, I don't agree. Speakers of many languages add the am because their own language says it that way.
How Talvo teaches English
- Choose the language Talvo explains things in: Hindi, Urdu, Arabic, Spanish, French, German, Turkish, Indonesian, Portuguese (Brazil) or Chinese
- Lessons are written in that language, and every English example comes with its translation
- Stuck mid-conversation? Write it in your language and the tutor shows you how to say it in English
- Every unit, from beginner (A1) to advanced (C1), is written around your interests and the words you already know
- Role-play a café, a market, a taxi or meeting someone new. The tutor speaks first, waits for your answer and corrects you with the reason
- Use the live interpreter when you're talking with a native speaker for real
- Every new word goes into your review deck and comes back right before you'd forget it
Questions about learning English
Can Talvo explain English in my language?
Yes. When you start, choose your language under Explain things to me in: Hindi, Urdu, Arabic, Spanish, French, German, Turkish, Indonesian, Portuguese (Brazil) or Chinese. Lessons, meanings and corrections then come in that language, and you can change it later in Settings. The app's menus are in English. Read about Talvo in Español, Português, Français, Deutsch, Türkçe, Bahasa Indonesia, العربية, हिन्दी or اردو.
American or British English?
Talvo teaches General American English, the English you hear in most films and series.
Is it good for job interview practice?
Yes. Job interview is one of the twelve situations, and it opens from intermediate (B1). The tutor plays the interviewer, asks follow-up questions and corrects your answers with the reason.
Can I learn English with Talvo for free?
Yes, to start. Your first lesson, three live-interpreter exchanges, your reviews and your deck are free. Talvo Pro unlocks unlimited lessons and conversations, and the yearly plan starts with a 7-day free trial.
Can I use Talvo on my Mac?
Yes. Talvo is a native app for iPhone and Mac, and one subscription covers both.
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