Fala aí

WHEN MY MIND GOES BLANK

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English learners very often don’t remember the words they want to say. That’s when this phrase is especially useful:

MY MIND GOES BLANK / MY MIND IS A BLANK

If your mind goes blank (also is a blank), you suddenly cannot remember something or think of what you want to say.

Examples

I tried to remember her name, but my mind went completely blank.
I tried to remember her name, but my mind was a complete blank.

For some reason, her mind went completely blank.
For some reason, her mind was a blank.

I went blank and couldn’t think of a single example.

When she asked me his name, my mind went blank.

💡 Notice

My mind went blank = I suddenly couldn’t remember or think of anything.

We can use different tenses:

  • My mind goes blank. → present / something that happens regularly
  • My mind is blank. → my mind is empty right now
  • My mind went blank. → it happened in the past
  • My mind has gone blank. → it has happened and the result is still relevant now

BLANK — VERB (FORGET)

To blank can also be used as a verb meaning to forget something that you know, especially temporarily.

When he tried to remember the lyrics, he blanked.

I completely blanked on his name.

💡 Notice the preposition

We commonly say:

blank on + something

I blanked on his name.

She blanked on the answer.

PRACTICE 1 — COMPLETE THE SENTENCES

Complete the sentences with:

goes blank — went blank — blanked — blanked on

  1. Every time I have to speak in front of a large group, my mind __________.
  2. When the teacher asked me the answer, my mind __________.
  3. I knew his name, but I completely __________ it.
  4. I was trying to remember her name, but I __________.
  5. He knew the answer, but he __________ during the exam.
  6. My mind sometimes __________ when I’m nervous.

PRACTICE 2 — CHOOSE THE BEST OPTION

  1. When I get nervous, my mind goes blank / blanks on.
  2. I completely blanked on / went blank on her name.
  3. When he asked me the question, my mind went blank / blanked on.
  4. She knew the answer, but she blanked / was a blank during the test.
  5. My mind is a blank / blanks on right now. I can’t think of anything.

PRACTICE 3 — CORRECT THE MISTAKES

Correct the sentences.

  1. My mind blanked when she asked me the question.
  2. I blanked her name.
  3. My mind goes blanked when I’m nervous.
  4. My mind was completely went blank.
  5. I blanked on to his name.

PRACTICE 4 — REWRITE THE SENTENCES

Rewrite each sentence using the expression in parentheses.

Example:

I suddenly couldn’t remember his name.
(my mind went blank)

→ My mind went blank when I tried to remember his name.

  1. I suddenly couldn’t remember the word I wanted to use.
    (my mind went blank)
  2. I couldn’t remember her name.
    (blanked on)
  3. I suddenly couldn’t think of an example.
    (went blank)
  4. I forgot the answer even though I knew it.
    (blanked)

PRACTICE 5 — COMPLETE THE DIALOGUES

1.

A: What happened? You suddenly stopped talking.

B: Sorry! My __________________________.

2.

A: Do you remember her name?

B: I know it! But I completely __________________________.

3.

A: Did you know the answer to the question?

B: Yes, I did! But when the teacher asked me, __________________________.

PRACTICE 6 — PERSONALIZE IT

Answer the questions using the expressions from this lesson.

  1. When does your mind usually go blank?
  2. Have you ever blanked on someone’s name?
  3. Have you ever blanked during an English class?
  4. What do you do when your mind goes blank?
  5. Can you remember a funny situation when your mind went blank?

PRACTICE 7 — SPEAKING CHALLENGE

Imagine you are having a conversation in English.

You want to say:

“Eu sabia o nome dela, mas deu um branco.”

Say it naturally in English.

→ __________________________________________

Now say:

“Quando fico nervosa, minha mente fica em branco.”

→ __________________________________________

AND NOW…

If you have already learned the phrase my mind goes blank, what about learning another one that will tell you what you have to do when your mind goes blank?

Listen carefully and take notes.

🎧 RACK MY BRAIN

Meaning of RACK MY BRAIN and MY MIND WENT BLANK — A Really Short English Lesson with Subtitles

Before watching

Think about this question:

What do you usually do when your mind goes blank and you can’t remember something?

While watching

Take notes about:

  1. What does rack my brain mean?
  2. What is the difference between my mind went blank and rack my brain?
  3. Can you remember an example from the video?

After watching

Complete the sentence:

When my mind goes blank, I __________________________.

Then create your own example using both expressions:

My mind went blank, so I ____________________________________.

QUICK REVIEW

My mind goes blank.

= I suddenly can’t remember or think of something.

My mind went blank.

= I suddenly couldn’t remember or think of something.

I blanked.

= I temporarily forgot something.

I blanked on his name.

= It is useful in a particular situation.

Next expression:

rack my brain
= try very hard to remember or think of something

How to Respond to “THANK YOU” in English

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We all know that it’s polite to say “Thank you” when someone does something kind or helpful for us.

And when you’re learning English, expressions such as “please,” “thank you,” “sorry,” and “excuse me” are essential for sounding natural and communicating politely.

But what should you say when someone thanks you?

Of course, you can always say:

“You’re welcome.”

But there are many other natural ways to respond to “Thank you”, and the best expression depends on the situation and the relationship between the speakers.

Let’s take a look!

1. “You’re welcome” — the classic response

“You’re welcome” is the standard response to “Thank you.”

It is polite, natural, and appropriate in almost any situation.

For example:

A: Thank you for your help.
B: You’re welcome!

A: Thanks for the coffee.
B: You’re welcome!

So, there is absolutely nothing wrong with saying “You’re welcome.”

However, if you want to sound more flexible and natural in everyday conversations, it’s useful to know some other expressions too.

2. Other natural ways to respond

There are many alternatives to “You’re welcome.” Some are more casual, while others are particularly useful in professional or polite situations.

😊 Friendly & informal

These expressions are very common in everyday conversations:

  • No problem!
  • No worries!
  • Don’t worry about it!
  • Don’t mention it!
  • Anytime!
  • Sure!
  • Sure thing!
  • It was nothing!
  • You’re so welcome!

For example:

A: Thanks for helping me with my bags.
B: No problem!

A: Thanks for picking me up at the airport.
B: Anytime!

A: Thank you so much!
B: You’re so welcome!

💡 Tip: These expressions are generally more casual and friendly than “You’re welcome.”

🤝 Polite & professional

These are especially useful at work or when you want to sound warm and polite:

  • My pleasure.
  • It was my pleasure.
  • Happy to help.
  • I’m happy to help.
  • I’m glad I could help.
  • You’re very welcome.

For example:

A: Thank you for helping me with this report.
B: My pleasure.

A: Thanks for your help today.
B: Happy to help!

A: Thank you very much for your time.
B: You’re very welcome.

💡 My pleasure is a particularly useful expression to learn. It communicates that you were happy to help, rather than simply saying that the other person doesn’t need to thank you.

3. Watch & notice

Now let’s see some of these expressions in real conversations.

🎬 Video 1 — Different ways to say “You’re welcome”

First, watch the video without English subtitles. Try to identify the different expressions people use to respond to “Thank you.” Then watch it again with subtitles if you need some extra support.

🎬 Video 2 — More expressions

In this video, pay attention to the last two responses from Bob.

What expressions does he use?

4. Which expression should you use?

You don’t need to memorize every possible response.

Here are some of the most useful ones to start using:

ExpressionTypical use
You’re welcome.Neutral / standard
No problem.Informal / everyday
No worries.Informal / friendly
My pleasure.Polite / professional
Happy to help.Friendly / professional
Anytime!Friendly / informal
Don’t mention it.Friendly / slightly old-fashioned
You’re so welcome!Very friendly / enthusiastic

💡 My advice: Start with “You’re welcome,” “No problem,” “My pleasure,” and “Happy to help.” These four will already give you plenty of variety.

5. Quiz time! 📝

🎬 Video 3 — Practice

Now it’s time to test what you’ve learned. Take the quiz and see how many expressions you can recognize and understand.

6. Now it’s your turn!

Knowing an expression is one thing. Using it in a real conversation is another!

Choose the response that sounds most natural to you in each situation.

1.

Your colleague helps you carry some boxes.

“Thanks for helping me!”
→ __________________________

2.

A friend thanks you for driving them home.

“Thank you for the ride!”
→ __________________________

3.

A client thanks you for your help with a project.

“Thank you very much for your help.”
→ __________________________

4.

Someone thanks you for holding the door open.

“Thanks!”
→ __________________________

5.

A friend thanks you enthusiastically for a big favor.

“Thank you so much! You really helped me.”
→ __________________________

Possible answers

There isn’t always only one correct answer. It depends on the situation and your relationship with the person.

  1. No problem! / Happy to help!
  2. You’re welcome! / Anytime!
  3. My pleasure. / You’re very welcome.
  4. No problem! / You’re welcome!
  5. You’re so welcome! / My pleasure!

7. And one more thing…

Sometimes, you’ll hear something a little unexpected:

“Thank YOU!”

Why would someone say “Thank YOU!” after you have just thanked them?

Because sometimes both people have something to be thankful for.

For example:

A: Thanks for coming to my party!
B: Thank YOU for inviting me!

Or:

A: Thank you for helping me with my presentation.
B: Thank YOU for giving me the opportunity to be part of it!

The emphasis on YOU changes the meaning.

It can mean:

“No, I should be thanking you!”

🎬 Video 4 — “Thank YOU!”

Watch the video below and see how this expression is used.

⭐ Your takeaway

You don’t always have to say “You’re welcome.”

Next time someone says “Thank you,” try choosing a response that fits the situation:

Neutral:
→ You’re welcome.

Friendly:
→ No problem! / No worries! / Anytime!

Professional:
→ My pleasure. / Happy to help.

Warm & enthusiastic:
→ You’re so welcome!

And remember:

The goal isn’t to memorize every expression. It’s to learn a few that you can actually use.

So… next time someone says “Thank you!”, what will you say? 😊

Holiday Time, Long Weekend & Holiday Mood

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1️⃣ Warm-up (Conversation)

  • Do you like holidays?
  • How do you feel before a holiday?
  • What are your plans for Carnival?

2️⃣ Vocabulary

📅 Holiday × Vacation (US × UK)

  • Holiday
    • US English → feriado / período curto de folga
    • British English → férias / feriado / viagens de férias
  • Vacation
    • US English → férias (período mais longo)
    • British English → menos comum

📌 Exemplos:

  • Next week is a holiday.
  • Carnival is a holiday in Brazil.
  • We take our vacation once a year.

🗓️ Long weekend

Long weekend = feriado prolongado (3 ou 4 dias)

  • Carnival is a long weekend in Brazil.
  • We have a long weekend next week.
  • I’m traveling on the long weekend.

Common use:

  • on the long weekend
  • during the long weekend

💰 / ⏰ Spend

Spend = passar (tempo) / gastar (dinheiro)

  • I spend time with my family.
  • I want to spend the holiday at home.
  • I don’t want to spend a lot of money.

Structure:

  • spend + the holiday / the long weekend
  • spend + time / money

😌 Holiday mood

Holiday mood = para falar de estado emocional, clima ou atmosfera

👉 in a holiday mood

  • I’m already in a holiday mood.
  • Everyone is in a holiday mood.

❌ on a holiday mood
❌ at a holiday mood

✔️ IN a holiday mood

More examples with IN

  • in a good mood
  • in a bad mood
  • in a relaxed mood
  • in the mood to travel

📅 Workday

  • Workday = dia de trabalho

📌 Exemplos:

  • Monday is a workday.
  • Holidays are not workdays.

3️⃣ Model Sentences

  • Next week is Carnival holiday.
  • I’m already in a holiday mood.
  • I want to spend the long weekend resting.
  • Some people travel on holidays.
  • I prefer to stay home during Carnival.

4️⃣ Grammar Focus (Going to)

We use going to for plans and intentions:

  • I’m going to spend the holiday with my family.

5️⃣ Practice

📝 Exercise 1 – Complete with IN, HOLIDAY, VACATION or LONG WEEKEND:

  1. I’m ___ a holiday mood.
  2. We have a ___ because Carnival is on Monday.
  3. In the US, people say ___ instead of holiday.
  4. I’m going to spend the ___ at home.
  5. Everyone is ___ a relaxed mood this week.

📝 Exercise 2 – Complete the sentences

  1. Next week is a __________.
  2. Carnival is a __________ weekend.
  3. I want to __________ the holiday at home.
  4. I’m already in a holiday __________.
  5. I’m on __________ in July for two weeks.

🗣️ Exercise 3 – Personal answers

Answer with complete sentences:

  1. How do you usually spend holidays?
  2. Are you in a holiday mood now?
  3. What are your plans for the long weekend?

🗝️ Answer Key

Exercise 1

  1. in
  2. long weekend
  3. vacation
  4. holiday / long weekend
  5. in

Exercise 2

  1. holiday
  2. long
  3. spend
  4. mood
  5. vacation (US) / holiday (UK)

Holidays are not about doing more — they’re about feeling better.

The Many Uses of Kind, Sort, and Type

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Kinda sorta

In English, there are two main ways to use these words:

  1. To talk about categories or groups of things.
  2. To express uncertainty or approximation — but only with kind and sort (not type).

Watch the video below to see these expressions in action! It explains when to use kind of, sort of, and type of, and show you how kinda and sorta sound in real-life English. It’s short, clear, and full of examples you can start using right away.

1. KIND OF, SORT OF, TYPE OF — Categories or Groups

We use these expressions to describe types, kinds, or categories of things.
They always come with the preposition of.

Examples:

  1. What type of music do you like?
    (Que tipo de música você gosta?)
  2. What are the different kinds of spices in this cake?
    (Quais são os diferentes tipos de condimentos desse bolo?)
  3. That magazine prints fake news and all sorts of other rubbish.
    (Aquela revista publica notícias falsas e todo tipo de besteira.)

💡 Tip:
In everyday English, kind of and sort of are often used interchangeably, but type of sounds a little more formal.

2. KINDA & SORTA — Expressing Uncertainty or Softening Statements

When spoken quickly, kind of and sort of often become kinda and sorta.
They can mean a little, more or less, or sort of in Portuguese (“um pouco”, “meio”, “mais ou menos”).

Examples:

  1. Mm, I’m kinda cold. Could you please close the window?
    (Estou com um pouquinho de frio. Você poderia fechar a janela?)
  2. Do you like tomatoes? — Mm, sorta.
    (Você gosta de tomates? — Mais ou menos.)

They are also used to soften opinions — when you’re unsure or want to sound polite:

It’s kinda expensive. → (É meio caro.)
She’s sorta shy. → (Ela é meio tímida.)

3. “KINDA-SORTA” — Modern, Playful English

This fun combination — kinda-sorta — is common in casual, spoken English, especially among younger speakers.
It can mean:

  1. A little
  2. A lot (ironically)
  3. Indecision
  4. Laziness or hesitation

Examples:

  1. Who is that actor?
    — Oh, he used to be kinda-sorta famous back in the 90s.
    (Ele costumava ser um pouco famoso nos anos 90.)
  2. How’s my writing paper?
    — Um… it still kinda-sorta needs some work.
    (Ainda precisa de muitas melhoras.)
  3. So, are you guys, like, together?
    — Well, we’re kinda-sorta boyfriend/girlfriend.
    (Bem, somos meio que namorados.)
  4. Do you wanna go out tonight?
    — Mm… kinda-sorta, not really, maybe, but yeah, okay.
    (Mais ou menos, não muito, talvez, mas tá, ok.)

🧠 Practice Time

Exercise 1 — Fill in the blanks

Complete with kind of, sort of, or type of.

  1. What _______ job are you looking for?
  2. It’s _______ cold today, isn’t it?
  3. I don’t really like that _______ music.
  4. I’m _______ tired, but I’ll help you.
  5. What _______ food do they serve there?

Exercise 2 — Choose the correct option

  1. She’s _______ shy.
    a) type of  b) kinda  c) sort
  2. What _______ chocolate do you prefer — dark or milk?
    a) kind of  b) sorta  c) kinda-sorta
  3. He’s _______ funny, but not always.
    a) type  b) kinda  c) of kind
  4. They have all _______ of fruit juices here.
    a) sorts  b) kind  c) sorta

Exercise 3 — Express yourself!

Translate and complete these sentences using kind of, sort of, type of, or kinda-sorta.

  1. Eu estou meio cansado hoje.
    → I’m ______________________ today.
  2. Que tipo de filme você gosta?
    → What ______________________ do you like?
  3. Ele é meio estranho, mas simpático.
    → He’s ______________________ weird but nice.
  4. Ela é meio que minha melhor amiga.
    → She’s ______________________ my best friend.

Answer Key:

Exercise 1: 1. kind of / 2. kinda / 3. kind of / 4. kinda / 5. type of
Exercise 2: 1. b / 2. a / 3. b / 4. a
Exercise 3: (open answers)

💬 Reflection Question

In what situations do you use kind, sort, or type in your daily life?
Share your example in the comments! 👇

“More Five Minutes?” Not Quite! Learn the Right Word Order in English

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❌ “Teacher, I need more five minutes.”

A lot of English learners say that to me.

I get it — they’re thinking in Portuguese, where we say “mais cinco minutos.”
But in English, the word order is different.

Let’s fix it:
❌ more five minutes → ❌ wrong
✅ five more minutes → ✅ right!

📚 Why?

Because “more” is a modifier — a word that gives additional information about another word.
In this case, it modifies the noun (minutes), and it must come after the number.

➡️ In English, the correct structure is:

👉 number + more + noun

  • I need ten more minutes.
  • She bought two more books.
  • We’ll wait five more days.

🆚 “Five more minutes” or “Five minutes more”?

Both are grammatically correct, but there’s a difference in tone. Let’s compare:

✅ Five more minutes (most common, especially in conversation)

– Most common – standard form for everyday English
– Natural in everyday conversation
– Neutral tone

Example:
Can I have five more minutes, please?

✅ Five minutes more (less common, more literary or dramatic)

– Less common
– More poetic, dramatic, or old-fashioned
– Often used in songs or literature

Example:
Just five minutes more — let the world wait while I gather my thoughts.

🎧 Practice Time!

1. Complete with the correct word order:

a) I need ______ to finish this book.
(more / five / minutes)

b) She bought ______ for the trip.
(bottles / more / two)

c) We waited ______, but he never came.
(more / ten / minutes)

d) He asked for ______ to explain.
(one / more / chance)

e) And then she whispered: “Give me ______, just to say goodbye.”
(more / five / minutes)

2. Identify the correct sentence:

a)
( ) I’ll need more five hours.
( ) I’ll need five more hours.

b)
( ) She read two more pages.
( ) She read more two pages.

c)
( ) We’ll stay more three days.
( ) We’ll stay three more days.

d)
( )Five minutes more, and he would’ve seen the sunrise.
( ) More five minutes, and he would’ve seen the sunrise.

3. Translate to English using the correct structure:

a) Eu preciso de mais cinco minutos.

b) Ele ficou mais três dias no hotel.

c) Podemos esperar mais dois minutos?

d) Ela pediu apenas mais um minuto de silêncio.

e) Mais cinco minutos e tudo teria sido diferente.

4. Fix the sentence (rewrite it correctly):

a) I want more ten minutes.

b) She needs more two books.

c) Can I have more one chance?

d) Just more five seconds and we would have kissed.

5. Creative Writing Prompt ✍️

Complete the sentence using your imagination and the structure “___ more ” or “ minutes more”:

a) Five minutes more and…
(Exemplo: Five minutes more and the storm would’ve passed.)

b) One more chance to…

c) He needed just a few more…

d) Ten more steps and…

Answers:

Exercise 1: a. five more minutes; b. two more bottles; c. ten more minutes; d. ten more minutes; e. five more minutes

Exercise 2: a. (✔) I’ll need five more hours./ b. (✔) She read two more pages. / c. (✔) We’ll stay three more days. / d. (✔) Five minutes more, and he would’ve seen the sunrise.

Exercise 3: a. I need five more minutes. / b. He stayed three more days at the hotel. / c. Can we wait two more minutes? / d. She asked for just one more minute of silence. / e. Five minutes more and everything would have been different.

Exercise 4: a. I want ten more minutes. / b. She needs two more books. / c. Can I have one more chance? / 4. Just five more seconds and we would have kissed.

🎧 Now Fun Time!

Listen carefully to this classic Phil Collins song from 1984
and work on the lyrics by playing this fun game: https://lyricstraining.com/play/phil-collins/one-more-night