Sharing Equipment Tips
Two people are using adjacent machines or waiting for the same equipment, and strike up a conversation about workout tips or how to use a specific machine effectively.
Dialogue
Listen and follow along with the conversation
Vocabulary
Essential words and phrases from the dialogue
leg press machine
A gym machine where you push weights with your legs to strengthen them, like pressing a platform away from your body while seated.
range of motion
The full distance or extent you can move a joint or body part during an exercise, important for effective workouts without injury.
straining
To injure or overwork a muscle or body part by too much effort, often used in fitness to warn about avoiding back or joint pain.
brace your core
To tighten your abdominal muscles for support and stability during exercises, like preparing for a punch to protect your spine.
quads
Short for quadriceps, the large muscles on the front of your thighs that help with leg extension and are targeted in exercises like squats.
reps
Short for repetitions, the number of times you perform an exercise in one set, like doing 10 reps of lifting weights.
hamstrings
The muscles at the back of your thighs that bend the knee and extend the hip, important for balanced leg workouts.
Key Sentences
Important phrases to remember and practice
Excuse me, I noticed you're using the leg press machine. Do you have any tips on getting a deeper range of motion without straining my back?
This is a polite way to start a conversation by asking for advice. Use it when approaching someone for help in a gym. It uses 'Excuse me' for politeness and a question structure to seek tips, helpful for intermediate learners to practice indirect questions.
A common mistake is to let your lower back lift off the pad.
This sentence points out errors in form using a cleft structure ('A common mistake is...') for emphasis. Useful for giving or receiving feedback on technique; practice it to describe workout dos and don'ts clearly.
Try to really push through your heels and keep your entire back flat against the seat.
Imperative sentences like this give instructions. 'Try to' softens advice, making it encouraging. Use in fitness talks to suggest techniques; note the infinitive form after 'try' for grammar practice.
I've been feeling it more in my lower back than my quads.
Present perfect continuous ('I've been feeling') describes ongoing sensations. Compare with 'more...than' for emphasis. Practical for explaining workout issues; helps learners discuss body feedback in conversations.
Don't lock your knees at the top. Just a slight bend to keep the tension on your muscles.
Negative imperative ('Don't...') warns against mistakes, followed by positive advice. Useful for safety tips in gyms; 'just a slight' means 'only a small,' teaching minimalism in instructions.
I'm doing 3 sets of 8-10 reps.
This describes a workout routine using simple present continuous for habits. 'Sets' and 'reps' are key fitness terms. Use it to share your training plan; great for intermediate practice in goal-setting talks.
Thanks for the advice! No problem! Happy to help.
These are common polite closers: gratitude and response. 'Thanks for the...' expresses appreciation; 'No problem' is casual for 'you're welcome.' Essential for ending helpful conversations naturally.