[Learning English Daily] - Lesson: Step Up
Intro
Difficult situations require courage. Not everyone can wait quietly and see how things turn out . Someone has to step up and help.
When you step up, you volunteer to do something important. Others will depend on you to do a good job. This idiom is similar to “man up .” However, “man up” implies that you do not hide from responsibility, and “step up” means that you actively seek it.
The phrase comes from baseball, because throughout the game, each player must step up to the plate and take his turn at bat. But you can step up in almost any aspect of your life. If your mother is sick, you can step up and take care of her. If an army needs someone for a dangerous mission, a good soldier will step up.
Jeff recently learned that Marni is pregnant. Learn the English phrase “step up” and see what Jeff is ready to step up for in this English lesson video.
Dialogue (Audio Download Here )
Jason: Alright, guys. I’m out of here . See ya later.
Marni: Goodnight. You know, I’m gonna head home too, but before I do, Jeff…I just wanted to say, I really appreciate the way you’ve been stepping up lately. You know, things are tough around here and they’re only going to get tougher but I…
Jeff: Marni, I am there for you. I will do whatever it takes. I am ready to step up and take responsibility.
Marni: OK. Well, that’s great. I really appreciate that.
Jeff: It’s the right thing to do. A guy’s gotta really step up and take care of what needs to be taken care of.
Marni: Sure. Yeah. I mean, you do a great job around here and I appreciate that, so thanks.
Jeff: Hey, I will start reading books, magazines…I’ll get a room ready in the house. Any color you want it. Just tell me what color when you know.
Marni: I can help you with all that stuff later. But right now, I just want you to focus on being a great employee , stepping up for the company. OK?
Jeff: Yeah, I understand. The company. Whatever it takes.
Marni: OK. So, thanks.
Jeff: I’ll make sure to do what’s right for the company.
Marni: Yes. The company.
Jeff: Exactly. Alright, see you tomorrow.
Marni: Goodnight, Jeff.
Jeff: Goodnight, Marni. Goodnight, son, or daughter.
Discussion
As everyone leaves the office for the night, Marni tells Jeff how glad she is that he has been stepping up lately. Jeff tells her a guy should step up and do what he has to do.
Marni thinks Jeff is talking about helping out at work and encourages him. But when he mentions painting a room in his house for her, Marni seems confused. Jeff is implying that he will step up to help Marni with her child.
Have you ever had a conversation like Marni and Jeff’s where one person is talking about one thing and the other person is talking about another? Are you the type of person who steps up and helps out when you are needed? Do you know people like that?
Grammar Point
Simple Future Tense
Jeff tells Marni that he “will do whatever it takes.” He is using the simple future tense to talk about things that will happen at a time later than now.
The simple future tense places the word will before the verb. Another way to form this tense is to use be going to , as in, “I am going to watch a movie tonight.”
In some situations, like when you’re making a prediction about the future, you can use either be going to or will . But to talk about something that’s already planned or decided, it’s best to use be going to , as in, “I’m going to watch a movie later. Want to watch it with me?” Using will is somewhat more formal, which is why Jeff uses it. He wants to show Marni he is serious.
Can you rephrase Jeff’s sentence using be going to ?
