English grammar
Cosy short forms: two ticks, in a bit, a cuppa, the telly, brekkie · making it big: great big, whopping great
Recognise cosy short forms (two ticks, in a bit, a cuppa, brekkie) and big-making words (great big, whopping great).
From the scene Two ticks!
In short
English shortens friendly words: a cuppa, the telly. Two ticks and in a bit are vague waits.
Your turn
Which one goes with friendly short forms (British)?
Options: a cuppa, the telly, a biccy · two ticks · half a mo · in a bit · brekkie, arvo (= afternoon)
Show answer
friendly short forms (British) → a cuppa, the telly, a biccy
How it works
English makes words small and friendly by shortening them: a cuppa (a cup of tea), the telly, a brolly, a biccy in Britain.
Your turn
Pick the word that fits the line.
Well, "two (blank)" is longer than two seconds.
Options: tocks · clocks · ticks
Show answer
Well, "two ticks" is longer than two seconds.
Es que un momentico es más largo que un momento.
Good to know
Brekkie and arvo (afternoon) in Australia, where they shorten almost everything.
Good to know
Vague time comes as two ticks, half a mo or in a bit (which can mean now… or tonight).
Good to know
To make something sound big, English piles up adjectives: a great big lad, a whopping great bang.
a short, vague wait (British) two ticks · half a mo · in a bit
friendly short forms (British) a cuppa, the telly, a biccy
Elena
And in Britain too: the telly, a brolly... a biccy with my tea.
Y en Gran Bretaña también: la tele, el paraguas... una galletita con el té.
Your turn
What fills the gap?
And in Britain too: (blank), a brolly... a biccy with my tea.
Options: brekkie, arvo · the telly · two ticks · half a mo · in a bit
Show answer
Elena
And in Britain too: the telly, a brolly... a biccy with my tea.
Y en Gran Bretaña también: la tele, el paraguas... una galletita con el té.
Australian short forms brekkie, arvo (= afternoon)
making it big a great big lad
Elena
You're such a great big lad, dear. And pig-headed.
Es que eres un grandote, hijo. Y un cabezón.
Your turn
What fills the gap?
You're such (blank), dear. And pig-headed.
Options: a cuppa, the telly, a biccy · a great big lad · two ticks · half a mo · in a bit
Show answer
Elena
You're such a great big lad, dear. And pig-headed.
Es que eres un grandote, hijo. Y un cabezón.
making it huge a whopping great bang
Javi
Ow! What a whopping great bang on the lamp!
¡Ay! ¡Qué golpazo con la lámpara!
Your turn
What fills the gap?
Ow! What (blank) on the lamp!
Options: a whopping great bang · two ticks · half a mo · in a bit · a cuppa, the telly, a biccy
Show answer
Javi
Ow! What a whopping great bang on the lamp!
¡Ay! ¡Qué golpazo con la lámpara!
Common mistake
Not brekkie or arvo here. Something you eat with tea.
And in Britain too: the telly, a brolly... a biccy with my tea.
Y en Gran Bretaña también: la tele, el paraguas... una galletita con el té.
Practise it in the story
Meet this rule inside a short animated scene. Answer as it plays, then say the lines yourself.
Practise free in the appSee all forms
| a short, vague wait (British) | two ticks · half a mo · in a bit |
|---|---|
| friendly short forms (British) | a cuppa, the telly, a biccy |
| Australian short forms | brekkie, arvo (= afternoon) |
| making it big | a great big lad |
| making it huge | a whopping great bang |
More lines from the story
- JaviWell, "two ticks" is longer than two seconds.Es que un momentico es más largo que un momento.
- NuriaJavi, your mum has been saying "two ticks" for an hour.Javi, tu madre dice «un momentico» desde hace una hora.
- Javi"In a bit" can mean now... or tonight.Ahorita puede ser ya... o esta noche.