This mini episode teaches you the useful expression “the hang of” something.
Episode 199 of the Everybody ESL podcast is a mini episode that teaches you the useful expression “the hang of.” Send your questions about English and your suggestions for future episodes to EverybodyESL@gmail.com! (And let me know if you’d like to record the introduction to a future episode.)
Intro
“Hello, everyone. This is Daniela from Colombia, and you are listening this amazing podcast, Everybody ESL.”
Welcome to episode 199 of Everybody ESL, the podcast for everybody who wants to improve their English, practice their English, or just learn more English. My name is Ben, and I have a mini episode for you today, where I am going to teach you about one English topic. You can subscribe to the Everybody ESL podcast at Apple podcasts, on the Stitcher app, and wherever you find your podcasts. If you like Everybody ESL, leave it a good review so other people can find out about it, too. And if you have any questions, comments, or suggestions for me, please send an email to everybodyESL@gmail.com. Okay! Let’s get on with this mini episode.
The episode
In today’s episode, I want to teach you how to use the expression “the hang of (something).” The hang of something. That’s the: t-h-e, hang: h-a-n-g, of: o-f, something. The hang of something. What does “the hang of” something mean? It means the ability to do something or the knowledge of how to do something.
When we use “the hang of,” we usually use it in one of two ways:
We use it with the verb to have. We say, “to have the hang of” something.
Or we use it with the verb to get. “To get the hang of” something.
“To have the hang of something” means to have the ability to do something or to know how to do something. And “to get the hang of something” means to get the ability to do something, to acquire the ability to do something, or to learn how to do something.
Let me give you an example of a sentence where you will hear “the hang of.”
After taking many driving lessons, he finally got the hang of driving. After taking many driving lessons, he finally got the hang of driving.
What does that mean? That means after he took many driving lessons, he finally learned how to drive, or he finally acquired the ability to drive. He finally was able to drive because he had learned how to do it. We say he had gotten the hang of driving.
Here’s another example:
This new software is very confusing, but I’m sure I will have the hang of it soon. This new software is very confusing, but I’m sure I will have the hang of it soon.
In other words, this software is very confusing, but I’m sure I will know how to use it soon, or I’m sure I will have the ability to use it soon.
So, “the hang of” means the ability to do something or the knowledge that you need in order to do something. If you have the hang of something, or if you have gotten the hang of something, that means you have learned how to do something. You have the knowledge that you need in order to do it. You have the ability.
That is “the hang of,” a very useful expression that I think you should know. And if you practice this expression by creating your own sentences that use it, I’m sure you will have the hang of it soon.
Outro
And that’s the end of episode 199 of Everybody ESL. Remember: if you have questions about English, or if you have comments or suggestions about the podcast, or if you would like to record an introduction that I can use at the beginning of future episodes—the same way Daniela recorded the introduction you heard at the beginning of this episode—send an email to everybodyESL@gmail.com. I’ll be back soon with another episode, and until then, keep going, keep practicing, and keep learning. Goodbye. I’ll see you soon.