LISTEN

Listen to the audio recording below.

PRACTICE

Practice these sentences and pay attention to the pauses at the punctuation marks.

If you don’t pause in the correct places, the meaning will change.

1. 3 + (3 x 2) = 9
   three  /  plus three times two  /  equals nine
    
2. (3 + 3) x 2 = 12
   three plus three  /  times two  /  equals twelve
    
3. (10 - 3) x 7 = 49
   ten minus three  /  times seven  /  equals forty nine
    
4. 10 - (3 x 7) = -11
   ten  /  minus three times seven  /  equals negative eleven
    
5. (408) 524-1649
   four oh eight  /  five two four  /  one six four nine
    
6. 4085-241-649
   four oh eight five  /  two four one  /  six four nine
    
7. “Tom,” said Cathy, “is mean.”
   Tom  /  said Cathy  /  is mean. (Cathy thinks Tom is mean.)
    
8. Tom said Cathy is mean.
   Tom said  /  Cathy is mean. (Tom thinks Cathy is mean.)
    
9. I would like to buy a car, phone, and house.
   I would like to buy a car,  /  phone,  /  and house. (Buy 3 things.)
    
10. I would like to buy a car phone and house.
    I would like to buy a car phone  /  and house. (Buy 2 things.)
     
11. Do you want a soup or salad?
    Do you want a soup  /  or salad? (2 choices)
     
12. Do you want a super salad?
    Do you want a super salad? (1 choice)