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Vanessa teaches an advanced use of “play” for games and sports: a player can play an opponent directly, without saying play against every time. “I’m going to play him” means the speaker will compete against him; he is the opponent. The lesson builds on familiar patterns such as “I play soccer” and “I play games,” then shows how the direct-object pattern can refer to the person someone will face.
Vanessa uses two short real-life clips, one involving pool and another involving ping-pong, to show spontaneous speech. The clips include questions such as “Who do I play in pool?” and statements such as “I have to play Dad next.” The speakers use a person’s name or pronoun after play because that person is the opponent. One exchange also includes “Did you play Ben already?” and the reply “I have, but not officially,” illustrating how the simple past question can ask whether a match has happened.
The expression is casual and especially natural in sports or games. In more formal writing, “play against” may be clearer, but “play someone” is widely understood in conversation. The object pronoun matters: “play him,” not “play he.” If the question is about the opponent, ask “Who are you going to play?” The verb can refer to a scheduled future match as well as an immediate game.
For practice, learners can name a sport or game, the team or person they expect to face, and whether the match has already happened. They can say, “Our team plays the neighboring school next week,” or “Who did you play in the final?” The video ends by asking learners to practise in the comments and promotes a free ebook. Its central takeaway is a more concise, natural way to name an opponent using play + person.
The two clips make the grammar concrete: Vanessa and her husband play pool and ping-pong, and the people speaking name the person they will face. A useful practice step is to replace the opponent with a name or object pronoun: “I play Dad next,” then “I have to play him next.” The video also distinguishes a match that has happened from one that is not official yet, so learners hear the pattern used for both an upcoming game and a recent result. Try the same structure with a sport or game you actually follow.
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Select an expression for its meaning · 0:00
Introducing play as a way to name an opponent
Hi, I’m Vanessa from Speak English with Vanessa. Let’s talk about it. Today I want to teach you an advanced use of play. You probably already know “I play soccer” and “I play games.” This lesson shows another pattern through two real-life clips: a pool game with my husband and a ping-pong game he was playing.
Try it: Name a game or sport where you can ask who someone will play.
Phrase cheat sheet
Review each expression, hear it, save it, or jump to where it appears in the video.
Introducing play as a way to name an opponent · expression
A question asking which person or team you will compete against.
Tone and use: Conversational and direct. Use it when asking about an upcoming sports match or game.
Example“Who are you going to play in the tournament?”
Introducing play as a way to name an opponent · expression
An actual situation, rather than a made-up example or simulation.
Tone and use: Neutral and common. Use it to contrast authentic situations with fictional or practice scenarios.
Example“We practised the conversation first, then used it in real life.”
Explaining play someone as play against someone · expression
Compete against him in a game or sport.
Tone and use: Casual and concise. Use play + object pronoun or person's name when the context clearly involves a match.
Example“I’m going to play him in the chess final.”
Explaining play someone as play against someone · collocation
The person or team you compete against.
Tone and use: Neutral and common in sports. Use opponent when identifying the other side in a contest.
Example“My opponent served first in the tennis match.”
Hearing the phrase in a pool-game conversation · expression
A question asking which person will be your opponent in a pool game.
Tone and use: Casual and direct. Use do + subject + play when asking who your opponent is.
Example“Who do I play in the first round?”
Hearing the phrase in a pool-game conversation · expression
My next game must be against Dad.
Tone and use: Casual and matter-of-fact. Use have to + base verb for a required next match.
Example“I have to play the champion next.”
Hearing the phrase in a pool-game conversation · expression
In an informal way that does not count as an official event or result.
Tone and use: Conversational and qualifying. Use it to clarify that an action happened informally but was not formally recognized.
Example“We tried the new rules, but not officially.”
Practising with a team or favorite sport · collocation
The team from a nearby school, town, or area.
Tone and use: Neutral and descriptive. Use neighboring before a group or place that is nearby.
Example“Our school plays the neighboring team every spring.”
Knowledge check
What it means · “play him”