AEE 2658: English Grammar That Will Make Your Day

Summary

All Ears English Podcast – Episode 2658: English Grammar That Will Make Your Day

Hosts: Lindsay McMahon, Aubrey Carter
Date: July 27, 2026

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Episode Overview

This episode explores the phrase “made my day” and similar expressions in American English, focusing on their grammar, usage, and nuance. Lindsay and Aubrey unpack how these phrases are used in everyday conversation to express appreciation and positivity, highlight the importance of acknowledging others' good deeds, and demonstrate how these expressions can foster better connections in both personal and professional life.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Expression “Made My Day”

• Practical Use and Meaning
  • Refers to something that significantly boost one’s mood.
  • Often used to acknowledge small or big gestures that bring happiness.
• Listener Shout Out
  • Noriko, a community member, posed the excellent question: “Can we use ‘make my day’ in tenses other than the past?” (02:19)
• Lindsay on Impact:
  • “We walk through the world and we go about our daily lives. We don’t realize we actually have impact on people.” (02:49)

Grammar Breakdown

• Most Common:
  • Past simple: “That made my day.”
    • E.g.: “I received a message from an old friend that I hadn’t spoken to in years and it really made my day.” (03:23)
• Present Simple:
  • Used for general situations.
    • E.g.: “It always makes my day when a coworker brings me a coffee.” (03:47)
    • Aubrey: “He makes my day when he shows up on time.” (04:44)
• Present Continuous:
  • Rare, usually in the moment for emphasis.
    • E.g.: “You’re making my day.” (04:16)
    • Aubrey: “It’s very rare... Instead, we usually say it in past tense because it already improved our day.” (04:16)
• Conditional:
  • For hypothetical or future circumstances.
    • E.g.: “It would make my day if these clouds would clear and the weather were amazing.” (05:26)
    • “It will make my day when you finally arrive on time.” (05:54)
• Future Simple:
  • Less common, often used to tease/give feedback or set expectations.
    • “It will make my day when you eventually, one day [arrive on time].” (06:15)

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2. Alternative Phrases

• Brighten My Day
  • Slightly less common but straightforward synonym.
    • E.g.: “When I saw your kind comment on my post this morning, it really brightened my day.” (06:59)
    • “It always brightens my day when someone [helps me].” (07:05)
• Put a Smile on My Face
  • Used for things that are cute, touching, or bring immediate joy.
    • E.g.: “Your message about the good news really put a smile on my face.” (07:23)
    • “Watching the kids play in the park put a smile on my face after a stressful afternoon.” (07:36)
  • Usage note: Aubrey says, “Put a smile on my face... I would say this if I’m imagining something cute; but I probably wouldn’t say to a coworker, ‘Thanks for telling me about that cafe, that put a smile on my face.’ That sounds kind of cheesy to me, but I would say, ‘that brightened my day’ or ‘that made my day’.” (11:43)
• Highlight of My Day
  • For especially positive experiences.
    • E.g.: “Catching up with you over lunch was definitely the highlight of my day.” (07:47)
    • “Getting that handwritten note from my friend was the highlight of my day.” (07:57)
  • Can be extended: “Highlight of my week/year,” especially for bigger moments. (08:17)

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3. Notable Quotes & Insights

• On the Value of Expressing Positive Impact
  • Lindsay: “We really should [acknowledge people] more often, right? Because then you’ll make their day letting them know that they made your day.” (03:11)
  • Aubrey: “It’s such a connection moment to go that extra step and say something.” (14:19)
• On Language Nuance
  • Aubrey: “Some of these are a little bit nuanced... Put a smile on my face...it felt—maybe this is our personality—about the words you’d choose... For me, I’d say this if I’m imagining really cute handmade cookies, but I probably wouldn’t say it for just any good news.” (11:43)
  • “It does depend on your personality. Certain personalities would expand that out... if you’re trying to be sweet or something...It’s not grammatically wrong to use those. It’s more about the person.” (12:33)
• Encouragement for Learners
  • Lindsay: “We’re giving you the tools to show how what someone did for you really affected you, which again, I can’t overemphasize how important that is for connection.” (13:31)

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Role Play: Office Break Room

Segment: 09:53–13:17

• Example dialogue between coworkers using the expressions in context:
  • Aubrey: “Thanks for sending me that article about the new cafe downtown. It looks awesome.”
  • Lindsay: “I figured you’d be interested since you’re always looking for new coffee spots.”
  • Aubrey: “I checked out their menu during lunch. Honestly, that really brightened my day. I need something to look forward to.”
  • Lindsay: “Did you see they roast their own beans?”
  • Aubrey: “Can’t wait to try it. And all those cute cookies put a smile on my face. My daughter would love them.”
  • Lindsay: “It always makes my day to sit and enjoy a good coffee.”
  • Aubrey: “You know a day has been tough when enjoying a coffee is the highlight of your day.”
  • Lindsay: “Sometimes when we have a hard day, it forces us into a sense of mindfulness... That is going to be a pleasure.”

Analysis:

• Aubrey and Lindsay break down how these phrases can be woven naturally into everyday conversation, demonstrating nuance, appropriateness for various settings, and personality influences on expression choice.

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Takeaways & Final Insights

• Variety is Key: Multiple expressions help avoid repetition and allow for nuanced communication.
• Language for Connection: Expressing appreciation and positive impact builds relationships and community.
• Personality Matters: The “cheesiness” or literalness of an expression can depend on who’s speaking and the context.
• Follow-Up Teaser: Part two will cover “cheer me up”-type expressions in more business or work-specific contexts (14:10).
  • Aubrey: “We use a different set of phrases to imply that we were feeling down and something cheered us up, like ‘it cheered me up.’ So, we are going to share those on the Business English Podcast.” (13:41)

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Memorable Closing

• Lindsay: “This recording just made my day.” (14:53)
• Aubrey: “Same. I feel so good right now. And have a good rest of the day.” (14:59)

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Important Timestamps

| Segment Topic | Timestamp | |------------------------------------------------|-------------| | Noriko’s Question: Grammar of “Made My Day” | 02:19 | | Tense Variations Explained | 04:09–06:19 | | Synonyms (Brighten, Put a Smile, Highlight) | 06:42–07:57 | | Role Play: Office Break Room | 09:53–13:17 | | Personality & Expression Nuance Discussion | 11:43–12:53 | | Series Teaser: “Cheered Me Up” Phrases | 13:41–14:10 | | Closing Reflections & Takeaways | 14:19–14:59 |

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Summary Table: Related Expressions

| Expression | Meaning/Usage | Notes | |----------------------------|------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------| | Made my day | Something made you very happy | Mostly past tense; general use | | Makes my day | Something generally brings you joy | Present simple; habitual | | Brightened my day | Synonym; something improved your mood | Slightly less common | | Put a smile on my face | Something cute, touching, or uplifting | More literal/visual | | Highlight of my day/week | The best or most enjoyable part of a period | Can exaggerate or be literal | | Would make my day (if...) | Hypothetical; a wish or polite request | Conditional construction | | Will make my day (when...) | Looking forward to something in the future | Used for expectation/teasing |

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Final Takeaway

Using expressions like "made my day," "brightened my day," and "put a smile on my face" allows English learners to communicate positive impact and appreciation in a natural, authentic way—deepening connection and building rapport in everyday life.

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For part two (on “cheered me up” expressions), follow the Business English Podcast!

Transcript

[Aubrey Carter]

This is an Allers English podcast, episode 2658, English grammar, that will make your day.

[Lindsey McMahon]

Welcome to the All Ears English Podcast, downloaded more than 200 million times. Are you feeling stuck with your English? We'll show you how to become fearless and fluent by focusing on connection, not perfection, with your American host, Aubrey Carter, the IELTS whiz, and Lindsey McMahon, the English adventurer, coming to you from Arizona and Colorado, usa. And to get your transcripts delivered by email every week, go to allearsenglish.com subscribe

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[Lindsey McMahon]

hello Aubry, how's it going?

[Aubrey Carter]

I'm great, Lindsay. How are you?

[Lindsey McMahon]

Good. What's. What are we talking about today?

[Aubrey Carter]

Well, I have a question to start us out here. Okay, what is something that happened recently that made your day?

[Lindsey McMahon]

Well, every time in last week I picked up my dog from daycare and he was so excited to see me. It's like he jumped up over the thing to try to get out and was barking like crazy and you could just tell like his mom's picking him up. So that was the best.

[Aubrey Carter]

I love that. Yes, I I use this phrase recently in our community. Something one of the students posted really made my day. It was like a really positive comment about the podcast something and I was like, that just made my day. And then a student asked on that post a really good question. They said, can we use the expression that made my day in other tenses? For example, you're making my day or he makes my day. I'm like, what a great question. This was Noriko. Shout out to Noriko in our community.

[Sponsor Voice]

Yes.

[Lindsey McMahon]

Hello, Nariko. Thanks for being an amazing member of our community. I mean, this is so important because we, we. We walk through the world and we go about our daily lives. We don't realize we actually have impact on people.

[Aubrey Carter]

Right? Totally.

[Lindsey McMahon]

Yes.

[Aubrey Carter]

And it's so nice when someone gives you that shout out. Right? They like, acknowledge the impact, share what they're feeling. Because a lot of us feel that. And we don't think to let people know.

[Sponsor Voice]

I know.

[Lindsey McMahon]

We really should more often. Right. Because then you'll make their day letting them know that they made your day.

[Aubrey Carter]

Absolutely right. Pay it forward.

[Lindsey McMahon]

So let's talk about the phrase made my day.

[Aubrey Carter]

Where do we start? Today we're going to go into this one and then we'll share a few similar phrases we use, because these are so great, like you said, for connection. We're also going to dive into the grammar of this so that you know how this works, because we do use it in other verb tenses. So first of all, made my day. Let's share a couple of examples. We might say I received a message from an old friend that I hadn't spoken to in years and it really made my day.

[Lindsey McMahon]

Or it always makes my day when a co worker brings me a coffee. Of course. Yeah.

[Aubrey Carter]

And there you used it in present simple. Right. So this is interesting. You know, we do say it often in past tense, that made my day. But we will. When we're talking about a general situation that would always make our day, we use it in present simple. This always makes my day.

[Lindsey McMahon]

Yeah, but we usually don't say. I mean, do we say often that continuous tense? Right. You're making my day.

[Aubrey Carter]

Yeah, it's very rare. Right. It's like someone might be like, oh, you're making my day, you know, but it's super rare. Instead, we would usually say it in past tense because it already improved our day. Yeah, right. Like, even if we're talking to them, they said something that's already in the past. So we already would probably be like, that made my day.

[Lindsey McMahon]

Exactly, exactly. You've already had the experience. What about in present simple? Aubry here, tell us some examples.

[Aubrey Carter]

So, yeah, we do use it to describe something that always makes our day. So for example, he makes my day when he shows up on time. Something like that. Right. And then we're talking about sort of a general situation that anytime it would happen, it would make my day.

[Lindsey McMahon]

And how. How would you complete this sentence? It always makes my day when someone Blank for you. Aubry, personally, what would you.

[Aubrey Carter]

Someone cleans up after themselves. That's a classic mom answer.

[Lindsey McMahon]

Yeah.

[Aubrey Carter]

Yes. Right. When someone thinks to. Because it's interesting as a mom, often people will just sort of expect you to do things like there's some kind of cleaning fairy that does everything. So when kids start getting older and they start cleaning up after themselves, that always makes my day.

[Lindsey McMahon]

That makes your day. I love that. We could also use this as a condition. It like asking someone to do something. Maybe it would make my day if. Or just asking for a condition to be true to happen. It would make my day if these clouds would clear and the weather were amazing. Right?

[Aubrey Carter]

Yes. Perfect example. Right. We do use this as a conditional. It would make my day if my kids would not fight today.

[Lindsey McMahon]

Perfect. In the future. It will make my day when.

[Aubrey Carter]

Yeah. And this is more rare, but every now and then you will hear this. It's like one day. Right. It will make my day when you finally arrive on time. I think that's what we use that the most when we're saying, like something that hasn't happened yet. But when that happens, that is going to make my day.

[Lindsey McMahon]

It's a unique way of teasing someone a bit or like trying to offer some constructive feedback.

[Aubrey Carter]

Right.

[Lindsey McMahon]

You're never on time. But it will make my day when you eventually one day.

[Aubrey Carter]

Yes. And this is really interesting. It was such a great question. Because so many idioms. You can't use it in every verb tense. It's like a chunk that we will only use in maybe present simple or maybe only in the past. This is one of those that you can use it. It is most commonly used in the past tense. That made my day is a chunk we say all the time. But we will sometimes change the verb tense and use it in these different ways.

[Lindsey McMahon]

Yeah. And sometimes we even change the verb and we say something like brighten my day. This one I think is a little more straightforward. Right. Maybe a little less common. So Brighten my day is our second one today.

[Aubrey Carter]

Yeah. A few phrases. Because you want more than one way to say this. You want to be able to tell people when they're, you know, brightening your day. Making.

[Lindsey McMahon]

Of course, you could say, when I saw your kind comment on my post this morning, it really brightened my day. So that's nice.

[Aubrey Carter]

Yes. Or the barista remembered my name and that small gesture brightened my day. And in the same way, these can be used in other tenses. Right. It always brightens my day when someone fill in the blank.

[Lindsey McMahon]

Love it or you could say to the person that really put a smile on my face. Right.

[Aubrey Carter]

Yes. I love this. Your message about the good news really put a smile on my face. It has the same meaning. Just made me happy, made my day.

[Lindsey McMahon]

You're showing people how they affect you, which is really important for people to know, right?

[Aubrey Carter]

Absolutely.

[Lindsey McMahon]

Watching the kids play in the park put a smile on my face after a stressful afternoon. Yeah.

[Aubrey Carter]

Yes. Right. I love this one. It's so positive. Right. It's very literal. Like, it made me happy, it made me smile.

[Lindsey McMahon]

Yes. And then that was the highlight of my day. Another way to say this thing really was great for me. Catching up with you over lunch was definitely the highlight of my day.

[Aubrey Carter]

Yes. Or getting that handwritten note from my friend was the highlight of my day. And it's interesting how we might use this to exaggerate, just to, like, make a friend feel cared about or let someone know that we found something very thoughtful. It doesn't have to literally be the highlight of your day. Right. It's just a way of saying that made me really happy.

[Lindsey McMahon]

Yeah. And also, just to follow up here, can something also be the highlight of my week or my year?

[Aubrey Carter]

Absolutely.

[Lindsey McMahon]

Sure.

[Aubrey Carter]

Good point, right? Yes, absolutely. If something really big happens, could absolutely be the highlight of your year. Maybe if you have a child, if you get a major promotion, something big like that. You can say that.

[Lindsey McMahon]

Yep.

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[Lindsey McMahon]

into a role Play. And again, an important conversation to see how people affect you. Let them know. Right. So here we're co workers and we run into each other in the break room here.

[Aubrey Carter]

Yes. I'll start us out. Hey, thanks for sending me that article about the new cafe downtown. It looks awesome.

[Lindsey McMahon]

Oh, no problem. I figured you'd be interested since you're always looking for new coffee spots.

[Aubrey Carter]

Yes. I checked out their menu during lunch. Honestly, that really brightened my day. I need something to look forward to.

[Lindsey McMahon]

I get that. It's been a long week. Did you see they roast their own beans? Yes.

[Aubrey Carter]

I can't wait to try it. And all those cute cookies put a smile on my face. My daughter would love them.

[Sponsor Voice]

Right.

[Lindsey McMahon]

They'd be fun for a kid's party. I'm thinking of going this weekend. It always makes my day to sit and enjoy a good coffee.

[Aubrey Carter]

Absolutely. You know, a day has been tough when enjoying a coffee is the highlight of your day. That's so true.

[Lindsey McMahon]

Yeah, that's true. Sometimes when we have a hard day, it forces us into a sense of mindfulness where we're like, I'm gonna just. I'm just gonna smell this coffee. And that is going to be a pleasure. Right?

[Aubrey Carter]

Right. I'm going to forces. I'm going to allow this to make me happy.

[Lindsey McMahon]

Yes.

[Aubrey Carter]

Even though it's something very minor.

[Lindsey McMahon]

That's kind of good though, that we can be forced into a sense of the breeze. The smell of the clear breeze in the morning. The fresh wind can really. It's great. Yeah.

[Aubrey Carter]

Yeah.

[Lindsey McMahon]

Anyway. Okay. Where do we start here? Aubry.

[Aubrey Carter]

Okay. So I first said, honestly, that really brightened my day. I needed something to look forward to. So it's something minor. Like you sent me this info about a new coffee spot. And clearly I'm having a rough week or a rough day. I need that something to look forward to. And so I'm letting you know. That was thoughtful. Thanks for sending that to me. That brightened my day.

[Lindsey McMahon]

Yeah. Really nice conversation between co workers here. And then you said, and all those cute cookies put a smile on my face. Right?

[Aubrey Carter]

Yes. And this one, it was interesting when I was writing this role play. Some of these are a little bit nuanced. Right.

[Lindsey McMahon]

Okay.

[Aubrey Carter]

I'm. I was realizing that put a smile on my face. We wouldn't say about just anything. Right. It felt at least maybe this is more about our own personal way of speaking and the words you would choose to use. For me, I would say this like I'm imagining these really cute handmade cookies. And I'd Be like, because it's like, cute. I'd be like, oh, that puts a smile on my face. But I probably wouldn't say to a co worker, thanks for telling me about that. That caf that put a smile on my face. That sounds kind of cheesy to me, but I would say that brightened my day. That made my day. I'm having kind of a tough day.

[Lindsey McMahon]

Yeah, I agree with you. Put a smile on your face is a little bit special for little cute things. Right. Smiles, cookies, maybe like a handwritten note

[Aubrey Carter]

a kid gives you, kids playing puppies. Things like that that are like literally put a smile on your face. That's when you'd use that.

[Lindsey McMahon]

Yeah.

So be.

Be a little selective with that. It does depend on your personality. Certain personalities would expand that out to different things if maybe you're gon like trying to be sweet or something.

[Aubrey Carter]

But yeah, it's not grammatically wrong to use those. It's more about the person's personality. Some people might say that for anything that made them happy and they like. Some people are cheesier. And that's okay.

[Lindsey McMahon]

People are cheesier. Yeah, for sure. And then I said, it always makes my day to sit and enjoy a good coffee. Yes.

[Aubrey Carter]

Yes, I love that one. Makes my day. Made my day. And then I said, you know, it's. You could tell a day has been tough when enjoying a coffee is the highlight of your day. It sounds like I've had a rough week here.

[Lindsey McMahon]

Yeah, it does. I hope it's almost Friday for yourself.

[Aubrey Carter]

Exactly. Right?

[Lindsey McMahon]

Yeah.

[Aubrey Carter]

But yeah, I love that there's a lot of variety here because this conversation is a good example of you might want to say a few different ways that something major day or was the highlight of your day and you don't want to repeat that same vocabulary over and over 100.

[Lindsey McMahon]

So, guys, this is really important. We're giving you the tools to show how what someone did for you really affected you, but which again, I can't overemphasize how important that is for connection.

[Sponsor Voice]

Right?

[Aubrey Carter]

Yes. And we also want to share this is actually a two part series because we use a different set of phrases to imply that we were feeling down and something cheered us up. Like it cheered me up. So we are going to share those on the business English podcast because often the way we use those is in more of a work context context when we more easily feel down. Right. So follow both Hear Allers English and follow the business English podcast to get part two of this series.

[Lindsey McMahon]

Yeah, guys, just go ahead and open your search bar, type in business English podcast and the yellow will come up. You'll see us hit that follow button. All right, good.

[Aubrey Carter]

Awesome. And we'll see you over there. And thanks for joining me. I think for a takeaway here, this is such a great moment of connection. Like we were saying at the top of the episode, Noriko and a lot of our community students I see when they comment on each other's posts and they're like positive about the progress they're seeing each other make. And then the other person will post and be like, thank you, that made my day. Or that brightened my day. And you can see and feel the good feelings there to have that support. And they don't have to say that. Right. But it's such a connection moment to go that extra step and say something.

[Lindsey McMahon]

And it makes our day to see that too.

[Sponsor Voice]

Right?

[Aubrey Carter]

Absolutely. Yeah.

[Lindsey McMahon]

Running the community for sure. So, so good. All right. I'll be a great one today. This recording just made my day.

[Aubrey Carter]

Same. I feel so good right now. And have a good rest of the day.

[Lindsey McMahon]

All right, we'll talk to you soon. Have a good one.

[Aubrey Carter]

Awesome. See you next time.

[Lindsey McMahon]

Bye.

Thanks for listening. To all ears. English. Would you like to know your English level? Take our two minute quiz. Go to allearsenglish.com forward/fluencyscore and if you believe in connection, not perfection, then hit subscribe now to make sure you don't miss anything. See you next time.

[Aubrey Carter]

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[Lindsey McMahon]

I'm too tired to cook.

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