NEW THAT’S ENGLISH. Module 7
123.71a The best place on the Earth
Grammatical aspects:
HAVE TO >> That’s why we have to move. It doesn’t have to be in Scotland.
Comparatives and superlatives >> the nearer you are to the sea, the noisier it is // It is colder and rainier in the mountains. // the stormiest, the healthiest
SUCH >> you’ve got such a lovely house
Vocabulary:
Seaside village, island, I went hiking in the mountains, I went sailing, they want to move out of London, grow up, we are tired of living in London, we both agree, I want to live by the sea, let me finish, I’ve always wanted to go back
I don’t even like hills (ni siquiera), I grew up in the mountains, I was brought up on the coast, seagulls, different from, it is hard to understand them, good memories
THE rainforest (to refer to eco-system), THE south-west of Britain (to refer to points in the globe), THE Lake District, THE Sahara Desert (to refer to geographical areas) >< We don’t use the articles with names of countries (Brazil), lakes (Lake Victoria), mountains (Mount Everest)
The less exercise we do..., the more frustrated we are.
Why don’t we sleep on it?
Functions:
Comparing things and situations
External obligation & lack of necessity (HAVE TO)
124.71b Wonders of the world
Grammatical aspects:
MUST to express probability, certainty >> It must be a wonderful place to visit.
Vocabulary:
I’ve brought in my collection of rocks and fossils, ammonite, it is captured within the rock layers, Geologists think there are many other fossils to be discovered, to erode / erosion / erodible (the more that Jurassic coast is eroded, the more fossils it reveals)
For a site to be recognised by UNESCO it has to contain superlative natural phenomena or areas of exceptional beauty, awesome!, along the Jurassic coast
Although geologists submit (afirmar, sostener) that erosion in other places... , there’s lots and lots to be found, the cliffs are constantly being eroded by the sea
Mountain ranges and national parks, daffodils
That’s Britain:
The Jurassic coast (the Dorset and Devon coast)
Eden project (South-west of England): olive trees, not everybody is keen on eco-system, the zip wire (tirolina), frost-free winters
125.72a Sports and performance-enhancing drugs
Grammatical aspects:
ZERO CONDITIONALS (if nobody catches you, it doesn’t matter) >> expressing general truths or facts & REAL CONDITIONALS (if you don’t take drugs, you won’t win / you can’t win)
TIME CLAUSES with WHEN
Vocabulary:
Scientific and technological advances: gadget on your chest, it is the latest thing on biometrics, to measure how much oxygen you are using, steroids, they help improve performance (performance-enhancing drugs), keep up with the latest technology, development, EPO, that kind of stuff
That’s cheating, illegal, you are a cheat, taking drugs, they could ban her, if nobody catches you
It sounds like a great guy, keep going, achieve better results, knee injury, health risks
A portable heater, teletransportation, a cure for cancer, we could travel anywhere we wanted in a second.
Functions:
Expressing purpose: In order to train properly you have to be fit // so // I’ve locked my bike so that it doesn’t get stolen // what is your gadget for? It is for checking my oxygen levels while I’m running.
That must be difficult for her
126.72b Are you ready to order?
Grammatical aspects:
Vocabulary:
GENETICS: cloning, genetic illness/engineering, designer babies, the cell, lung cancer, DNA, goats, mice, cows, the waiting list, inefficient/unestable process, concerns about the safety of cloning, commercial abuse, alter features in advance, rights or wrongs, in the near future, to slow down the aging process, genetically modified food, controversial, issues, drugs in sports
Wind farms, pesticides, by changing or removing, satellite dish
Not for much longer, how successful was Dolly as an experiment? , so quickly that
That’s Britain:
Mines in Cornwall: Tin mine (estaño), copper, mines provided most of the..., turbines, lighthouse, turbines, tracking and monitoring satellite, employee, shrinking ground, too expensive to extract, Land’s end
127.73a What’s the perfect age?
Grammatical aspects:
Hypothetical conditionals >> If Paul didn’t come here everyday, We would go out of business . If I ate like Paul, I would be the fattest woman in London. If I could retire and be as happy as you are, I would.
Impossible/Unreal conditionals >>> If she hadn’t left the computer on, I would have never found out. Unless you hadn’t started up those workshops, they wouldn’t have found out...
I found something to do in case I got bored. I have different passwords in case anyone wants to get into my account.
Vocabulary:
I have nearly finished, to retire/retirement, tablet, senior citizen, a pensioner, elderly people, new skills, to realise (false friend)
I’m not over the hill yet, you don’t look old, insurance company, work outdoors, tennis coach, middle-aged, teachers should never be late, act his age, computer skills, online dating, download all the apps, as far as I can see.
The more things I do on line, the more passwords I have (Cuanto más.., más...). Sign up for a university course. Online betting, professional gambler.
Functions:
Talking about imaginary or improbable situations
Talking about impossible situations
128.73b Planning your retirement
Grammatical aspects:
A person who has just retired.
Vocabulary:
Sporty, He only took up tennis when he retired, bowls, gardening, they seem to like working outdoors.
State pension, part-time job, fit and healthy, some of the challenges pensioners face
U3A >> University of the third age, an identity crisis.
That’s Britain:
Torquay (English Riviera): Agatha Christie, to stroll along the promenade, Prince’s pier, seaside, coast, sea front, mild climate, sport facilities for the elderly.
129.74a It’s great to see you again
Grammatical aspects:
Emphasizing: You do look smart today!
Making promises using the FUTURE SIMPLE or I promise to do sth, I give you my word
Vocabulary:
RELATIONSHIPS: You look a bit down. Stepfather, that friend of yours, partner, break up the family, get divorced, to spoil your mother’s birthday, bring up a child on your own, single parent, stay in touch, decide not to adopt a child, too stressful
Let’s hope s.o. What a coincidence! , get pregnant, single-parent families, attitude towards this matter, open-minded, family unit
Functions:
Looking for confirmation: Listen to me, will you?, grab a chair, will you?, you went to the park, did you?
Making suggestions: Shall we...? , Let’s.... , why don’t we....?
130.74b The boomerang generation
Grammatical aspects:
They were no longer financially dependent on their parents.
Vocabulary:
The boomerang generation: Grants, student loans, university tuition, living costs, debts, if they commit to work for them, to pay back such large amounts of money, owing thousands of pounds, fewer jobs available in the recession
They are forced to go back to their parents, self-esteem, mortgage to buy a new home, I never moved back home again, further education, family bonds, they can’t afford living alone
That’s Britain:
Poundbury: community facilities, all within walking distance, there’s nothing new in the world (English expression), what is it like living here?
131.75a Life was hard for my father
Grammatical aspects:
My dad would have laughed
Vocabulary:
Social classes: Upper-class, lower class (working class), middle class, the miners went on strike, picket lines, unemployment, trade unions, they only cared about profits, we lived on social/housing benefits, poverty, in the end things turned out well
Not too posh, he started a catering business, lower caste, to achieve, entrepreneurs, good wages, to be honest with you, inner London
Functions:
Expressing cause: because of government policies, that’s why there were..., since the tickets are from those guys, the reason why those mines were closed
Making references: As regards...., As for...., As far as...., Regarding/concerning/with regard/as far as I’m concerned... (written language)
132.75b Social barriers
Grammatical aspects:
Vocabulary:
Government ministers, class divisions, in the current government, the private schools, state school, tuition fees, class and status, social issues, rioting, corruption, a hunger strike, they do it by blogging
That’s Britain:
Bath: Roman baths, hot springs, upper classes, window shopping
133.76a Lights, camera and action!
Grammatical aspects:
PASSIVE VOICE: Unfortunately, the story line was rewritten (by Matt).
You must be finished by twelve o’clock
Vocabulary:
CINEMA: main character, genre (comedy, thriller, horror film), plot, screenplay, film/movie, charming, sophisticated, to run a business, revenge, supporting role, roll camera and action, the editing, the storyline was rewritten, in the end we cut it
Hollywood blockbuster, masterpiece, low-budget film, invite to the première, no lines to say, once again,
You stare out of the window, I owe the bank a lot of money
Having said that, I must admit that...
Functions:
Expressing result and consequence: SO + adj/adv + THAT // SUCH + noun + THAT // as a result, so, consequently, therefore
Describing a process: passive voice, first...next...then....after a while....and finally
134.76b What’s on?
Grammatical aspects:
Vocabulary:
A late night, a movie marathon, the brochure, blockbuster, cinema chains, indie movies, do you fancy going..?, enjoyable, digital media, customers, feedback, subtitled films, comfortable sitting, to hire out the cinema for private cinemas
They will fight to keep them alive, beautiful environment, in regards to Hollywood, Bollywood
Multiplex cinema (cinemas with many screens)
That’s Britain:
Castle Combe & Lackock village: Film set, TV aerials or satellite dishes, telephone wires or poles
135.77a If only...
Grammatical aspects:
CONDITIONAL SENTENCES (advanced): If only... (If only you did some exercise, you would understand), I wish... some people would understand , people didn’t ask me for money, I had trained harder all the time
Vocabulary:
CHARITY: Marathon for charity, homeless people, which charity is it for?, shelters, raising funds, survival box for refugees, charity auction
I give in, what do you want me to do?
Functions:
Expressing wishes about the present (I wish, If only)
Expressing regrets in the past (If only // I wish .... I had studied more!! // I hadn’t eaten so much)
136.77b Charities
Grammatical aspects:
Vocabulary:
I am going to take clothes I wish I had never bought, household goods, second-hand things, unwanted items, commitment, to donate/donations, furniture
Charity shops, to raise money for good causes, to sponsor runs/swims/bike rides, car-boot sales, they sell anything, fair trade goods (unfair), bake sale, fund-raising around the world
Throwaway society, it provides shelter for the homeless people, volunteers, retired people
Recycling, such good value
That’s Britain:
Bristol >>> Bearpit subway (notorious area for drugs and crime) & Clifton Suspension Bridge
SHIPS >> She was built...., she was launched...., floating harbour
137.78a The butler did it!
Grammatical aspects:
Non-defining relative clauses to give extra information
Vocabulary:
Hoodies, criminals, crime, shoplifting, muggers, to steal sth from people, it’s so annoying!, I saw a youth snatch (robar de un tirón) her purse and knock her over, to rush out of the café, a drug dealer
Witness, it goes before a judge, to sentence s.o., he might go to prison, keep an eye on him, we’ve been looking for you, proper punishment, he should be locked up for 10 years, give him a hug
What a terrible situation!
Functions:
Making judgements >> It’s frightening/annoying that... , It’s wonderful to see, it’s hard to believe, it’s wrong to accuse another person of a crime without any real evidence, it’s difficult to know if someone is honest
Describing a person physically >>> He just looks like the young man, he seems to be waiting, he seems anxious, she seems to think that prisons are a waste of money, he looks dangerous,
138.78b Police on the beat
Grammatical aspects:
Vocabulary:
Mugged >> it looks like someone has been mugged, police community support officers, police on the beat (police patrolling in the streets) foot patrols, defensive weapons, hacking, identity theft, police constables (bobbies), pickpocketing, vandalism, hooliganism
Any concerns in your area, I’m in charge of..., on a day-to-day basis, unlike other police forces, I wonder how people feel, that have come up on the media,
That’s Britain:
Jamaica Inn (Bodmin moor) >>> smuggling, stage coach, weapons, lanterns, to hide contraband, haunted
139.79a What will life be like in 2100?
Grammatical aspects:
Future tenses: Future Simple (making predictions), Future Perfect (Talking about completed actions in the future) & Future Continuous (Talking about an action in progress in the future)
Vocabulary:
The future: a futurologist, you look busy, they want me to write an online article for them, I’ll be working with Gloria again, I don’t even like going in the lift in a department store, they can travel through time, they won’t have enough food for everybody
By the time I’m fifty, they’ll have already built space elevators on Earth // It’s so hard to predict the future.
Did you get to see Mr Reynolds? He wanted me to pay for the photographs. But I think it’s a hoax (engaño). I think he’s lying in order to make some easy extra money. I’ve heard he’s under investigation for fraud. They laugh at me.
We will still be living in London in two years’ time // I won’t be living in London any more when my kids grow up.
A spacecraft from other planet, in fifty years’ time, over-population, genetically engineered humans, face transplants, by the end of the century / then / the time we’re old
Functions:
140.79b Will sci-fi inventions ever become real?
Grammatical aspects:
FUTURE CONTINUOUS & PERFECT : By the end of 21st century, we will have colonized the Moon // In a hundred years’ time robots will be doing all our housework
Vocabulary:
In order to make their inventions true, which major inventions have been inspired by sci-fi?, fiction leading to fact, to turn their inventions into reality
It could depend on it, e-paper
If only we had the time
That’s Britain:
Plymouth >>> In 1620 the Pilgrim Fathers set sail for America from Plymouth (Mayflower), naval base (it was bombed, destroyed, rebuilt), lighthouse, waterfront, Sir Francis Drake, that draws tourists here, Conan Doyle lived here, a unique heritage
141.710a Friday 13th
Grammatical aspects:
Prepositions expressing location (in, at), time (on, in, for, at) and movement (out of, into, towards)
Vocabulary:
Superstitions and fears: Tarot cards, superstitious, astrology, horoscope, horse shoe, touch wood
I’ve been quite lucky so far this year, you should apply for this new job, I’d have to learn a new set of skills, it can help you make up your mind
Fortune favours the brave, there’s no gain without pain (as they say)
A cottage, I wish I was back at home, leave the light on
Functions:
Ø Describing repeated/habitual behaviour (You’ll always go round a ladder, you’ll never walk under it) / in the past (My uncle would always carry a piece of coal...), talking about continuing actions >> GO ON+ V-ing (to go on wearing red socks) / in the past (I laughed and laughed)
142.710b Fears and phobias
Grammatical aspects:
Vocabulary:
Fears and phobias: I hate snakes, I can’t stand cockroaches, agoraphobia (fear of open public spaces), the main treatment for phobia, enclosed spaces
Psychologists usually group phobias into three types (social, agoraphobic, specific). Napoleon was afraid of cats, he had a fear of eggs, your belly button
Rapid heartbeat, hyperventilating, feeling hot or sweaty or also feeling sick.
That’s Britain:
Salisbury (Stonehenge).- Summer solstice