This lesson uses a conversation between Enola Holmes and her brothers Mycroft and Sherlock to help you learn important English vocabulary, grammar structures, and improve your listening comprehension.
Let's see how the words "have not seen" work in this sentence, "they haven't seen me in quite some time". "have not seen" is in the present perfect tense. We use the present perfect simple with action verbs to emphasize the completion of an event in the recent past. In the clip, it emphasizes that it has been a long time since Enola was last seen by her brothers.
"quite some time" is an idiomatic expression that means it's been a long time since something happened, but we don't know exactly how long.
"in such a mess" is used to describe someone or something that is unclean, untidy like in dirty clothes and with messy hair, or their stuff being all over the place like scattered papers or a cluttered room, or even a confusing situation, chaotic event, confusing problem.
"hats and gloves" were like fancy accessories people wore when they wanted to look nice in the time period in which the story takes place. So, by asking about them, Mycroft might be hinting that Enola doesn't look very good, especially for meeting her brothers.
"itch" means an uncomfortable feeling on the skin that makes you want to rub it with your nails.
"plainly" means clearly or obviously.
"silly girl" is an arrogant term used to refer to someone, often a child or young woman, to show that you consider yourself better or more intelligent.
"carriage" means a vehicle with four wheels that is usually pulled by horses and was used mainly in the past.
Let's take a closer look at this sentence: "I think you may have us confused with another house". This sentence is a great example of a polite correction for a misunderstanding. Notice how Enola uses certain phrases to soften the statement:
"I think": Expresses uncertainty or doubt.
"may have": Indicates possibility.
"another house": This is a hint that Mycroft might be expecting a different family, or someone who arrives in a carriage and is more formally dressed (like with a hat and gloves).
In this polite, slightly sarcastic way, Enola is stating that she is not what Mycroft expect her to be.
"I think": Expresses uncertainty or doubt.
"may have": Indicates possibility.
"another house": This is a hint that Mycroft might be expecting a different family, or someone who arrives in a carriage and is more formally dressed (like with a hat and gloves).
In this polite, slightly sarcastic way, Enola is stating that she is not what Mycroft expect her to be.
"fetch" means to go to another place to get something and bring it back.
Sourcer I used: