An art gallery, a play and an engagement

Lyle and Frances are in a museum, looking at modern art.

Expressions to notice

• In the land of the blind the one-eyed is kingNext to weaker choices, a decent one looks excellent.
• What’s biting you?What is bothering you?
• I could kick myselfI am very annoyed at myself for a mistake.
• Flattery will get you everywhereA playful reply when a compliment works on you.
• complimentary ticketsFree tickets.

Short explanations added for study; they are not in the book.

Lyle and Frances both express regret here. Learn those phrases in Regret and congratulations.

The four friends are out together. Frances and Kathryn step away, and a secret comes out.

Expressions to notice

• war-paintA joking word for makeup.
• Still waters run deepA quiet person may be hiding a lot.
• positively glowingClearly, visibly happy.
• didn’t let the grass grow under his feetDid not waste any time.
• Well, I never!An exclamation of surprise.

Short explanations added for study; they are not in the book.

Frances says “If we don’t go back soon, they’ll start worrying.” That is a true conditional: see Conditionals, hope and wish. To practice the congratulations, go to Regret and congratulations.

Use the language of the dialogues to talk about your own opinions and experiences.

Phrase bank

Press the speaker, listen, then say the sentence out loud. Swap in your own details so that it becomes true for you.

• I could kick myself.I forgot her birthday again. I could kick myself.
• Don’t be so hard on yourself.Everyone makes mistakes. Don’t be so hard on yourself.
• Our tastes differ.We are good friends, but our tastes differ when it comes to music.
• What’s biting you?You’ve been quiet all day. What’s biting you?
• It’s a shame (that)...It’s a shame you don’t like plays. There are some very good ones on.
• I like the way...I like the way she tells a story.
• I’d love to go with you.I’d love to go with you, but I have to work tonight.
• I’m so happy for you.You are engaged? I’m so happy for you!
• You make a beautiful couple.Congratulations! You make a beautiful couple.

Speaking prompts

Answer out loud first, in three or four sentences, then open the model. The model is one good answer, not the only one. The words in color are the structures to practice.

1. Do you enjoy modern art? Why, or why not?

   Try to use: doesn’t say much to me, a form of self expression, I like the way...

   Show a model answerHide the model answer

   To be honest, modern art doesn’t say much to me, but I can see why people like it. I think it is a form of self expression, so it doesn’t have to say anything to anyone. I like the way artists use color, even when I don’t understand the meaning.

2. Have you ever argued with a friend and then made up? What happened?

   Try to use: past simple, it took me a long time to forgive, I regret...

   Show a model answerHide the model answer

   A few years ago I argued with my best friend about something silly. We didn’t speak for a week, and I regret not calling him sooner. It took me a long time to say sorry, but in the end I phoned him. Now we are closer than before.

3. Would you rather see a play, a musical or a film? Explain.

   Try to use: I’d rather..., I prefer..., I like the way...

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   I’d rather see a musical, because I love the music and the energy. Plays can be very good, but I prefer stories that use songs. I like the way a musical makes you feel part of the show. A film would be my second choice.

4. Retell the story in your own words, in four or five sentences.

   Try to use: present simple to tell a story, then, later

   Show a model answerHide the model answer

   Lyle and Frances are at a museum, looking at modern art. They disagree about the art, and Lyle says that he regrets walking out on her. Then Frances forgives him and invites him to a play. Later, Kathryn tells Frances that she and Leonard are engaged, and everybody congratulates them.

5. Your friend tells you that she is engaged. What do you say to her?

   Try to use: Congratulations on..., I’m so happy for you, You make a beautiful couple

   Show a model answerHide the model answer

   Congratulations! I’m so happy for you. Then I would ask how it happened and when the wedding will be. If I knew her partner, I would add, You make a beautiful couple.

True conditionals express conditions that are not true at the moment, but that can be possible. An if-clause is a true conditional when if can be replaced with when.

Use 1: the result can come true

• If it snows tomorrow, we will go skiing.
• If my brother comes, we will go to the movies.
• If she’s late again, she’ll lose her job.

Use 2: a habitual action

The if-clause and the result clause are both in the present tense.

• If I work late, I (always) take a taxi home.
• If she skips lunch, she (usually) eats an apple at her desk.
• If I feel lonely, I (often) call my family.

Use 3: a general truth

The if-clause is in the present tense, and the result clause can be in the present or the future.

• If you don’t exercise, you get fat.
• If you put a towel in water, it will get wet.
• If you freeze water, it becomes ice.

Phrases that can replace if

provided (that), providing (that), only if, in the event (that), in the event (of)

• You won’t fail if you study.
• You won’t fail, provided that you study.
• You won’t fail, providing (that) you study.
• You won’t fail only if you study.
• In the event (that) you don’t study, you will fail.
• In the event of not studying, you will fail.

Words that can replace if... not

unless, otherwise, else

• If you don’t study, you will fail.
• Unless you study, you will fail.
• You should study, otherwise you will fail.
• You had better study, or else you will fail.

Practice conditionals

Clauses with hope refer to likely events. They express likely results or consequences. Hopes are related to true conditionals because we hope only for the possible.

• Margaret hopes that Bill will ask her to marry him.
• Bill hopes that Margaret will say yes.
• Bill’s mother hopes that Bill will fall in love with another woman.
• I hope that all their wishes will be fulfilled.

Untrue conditionals always refer to hypothetical situations. They are unlikely, improbable or impossible. In these sentences, if cannot be replaced by when.

Future

• If she bothered to take care of herself, she might find a husband.
• If you were nicer, you might have more friends.
• If I were President, I would outlaw the death penalty.
• If you had a better job, we could buy a nicer house.

The verb wish is related to untrue conditionals, since we often wish for things that are not possible.

• I wish I could win the lottery.

The difference between hope and wish is the difference between true and untrue conditionals.

Wish is also how you talk about the past you cannot change. That is regret: see Regret and congratulations.

A summary of the forms in the book’s examples above.

True

if + present, will + base verb. For a habit or a general truth, the present in both clauses.

Untrue, present or future

if + past (were for every person), would / could / might + base verb.

Untrue, past

if + past perfect (had + past participle), would / could / might have + past participle.

Mixed

if + past perfect, might + base verb: “If she had married him, she might be living in Paris now.”

Hope

hope + a possible event: “I hope I can go.”

Wish

wish + an impossible event: “I wish I could go.”

Decide first: is it possible or impossible? That tells you which form to use.

Phrase bank

Press the speaker, listen, then say the sentence out loud. Swap in your own details so that it becomes true for you.

• If I have time, I’ll...If I have time this weekend, I’ll visit my parents.
• If I..., I (always)...If I work late, I always take a taxi home.
• Unless you..., you will...Unless you leave now, you will miss the train.
• ..., provided that...You can borrow my car, provided that you bring it back by six.
• You had better..., or else...You had better call her, or else she will be upset.
• If I were..., I would...If I were richer, I would travel more.
• If I had known..., I would have...If I had known about the meeting, I would have come earlier.
• I hope (that)...I hope I can go on holiday in June.
• I wish I could...I wish I could speak English without any mistakes.

Speaking prompts

Answer out loud first, in three or four sentences, then open the model. The model is one good answer, not the only one. The words in color are the structures to practice.

1. What will you do if the weather is good this weekend?

   Try to use: true conditional: if + present, will + verb

   Show a model answerHide the model answer

   If the weather is good, I’ll go for a long walk in the park. If my friends are free, we’ll have a picnic. But if it rains, I’ll stay at home and watch a film.

2. What do you usually do when you feel stressed?

   Try to use: habit: present in both clauses, always, usually

   Show a model answerHide the model answer

   If I feel stressed, I usually go for a run. If that doesn’t help, I call a friend and talk for a while. I always feel better if I sleep well, too.

3. If you won the lottery tomorrow, what would you do?

   Try to use: untrue present: if + past, would + verb

   Show a model answerHide the model answer

   If I won the lottery, I would pay off my debts first. Then I would buy a small house near the sea. I wouldn’t stop working completely, though, because I’d get bored.

4. Is there something you wish were different in your life right now?

   Try to use: I wish I had / could..., then an untrue conditional

   Show a model answerHide the model answer

   I wish I had more free time. If I had more time, I would study English every day and exercise more. I also wish I could travel more often, but it isn’t possible this year.

5. Think of a decision you made in the past. If you had decided differently, what would have happened?

   Try to use: untrue past: if + past perfect, would have + past participle

   Show a model answerHide the model answer

   If I had chosen another career, I would have a different life now. If I had studied medicine, I would have worked in a hospital, and I might be living in another city today. But I’m happy with my choice.

6. Tell me about something you hope will happen this year.

   Try to use: I hope (that)... + a possible event, then a true conditional

   Show a model answerHide the model answer

   I hope I can take a long holiday in the summer. If I save enough money, I’ll go to the coast with my family. I also hope that my sister will visit us, but that depends on her job.

A memory aid for the feeling of regret:

• Remorse
• Emotion
• Gloom
• Ruefulness
• Experience
• Tragedy

Say it

• I wish I had never set eyes on him.
• If only I hadn’t bought that car.
• Why didn’t I call him earlier?
• I could kick myself.
• That was so stupid of me. I should have told you how I felt.

Added: the first two use wish and if only with the past perfect for something that cannot be changed, like the untrue conditionals in Wish. The last one uses should have + past participle.

Respond to expressions of regret

In the story

• Lyle: “I could kick myself. If only I had told you how I felt instead of walking out on you like that. That was so stupid of me.”
• Frances: “Don’t be so hard on yourself, Lyle.” (a positive response)
• Frances: “A week ago I wished that I had never set eyes on you, and I regret having been so immature.”

Practice responding to regret

• Congratulations on your engagement. You make a beautiful couple.
• Congratulations! I just heard you got the scholarship!
• I’d like to congratulate you on your new baby. She’s gorgeous!
• I want to congratulate you on your new car.
• Congratulations on your promotion! You really deserve it.
• I want to congratulate you for winning the race.

Added: you congratulate someone on something (a baby, a car, a promotion) or for doing something (winning the race).

In the story

• Frances: “What? Congratulations!” and “Congratulations, Leonard! I just heard the good news!”
• Lyle: “Well, I never! Congratulations! You make a beautiful couple.”
• Frances: “You really deserve each other.”

Practice congratulating

Two things people say all the time. Practice both the feeling and the reply.

Phrase bank

Press the speaker, listen, then say the sentence out loud. Swap in your own details so that it becomes true for you.

• I wish I had...I wish I had never set eyes on him.
• If only I had...If only I hadn’t bought that car.
• I should have...I should have told you how I felt.
• Why didn’t I...?Why didn’t I call him earlier?
• I regret + -ingI regret having been so immature.
• Don’t be so hard on yourself.It could happen to anybody. Don’t be so hard on yourself.
• Well, he can’t be all that bad.Maybe he had a reason. Well, he can’t be all that bad.
• I hate to be the one to remind you, but...I hate to be the one to remind you, but I warned you that this could happen.
• Congratulations on...Congratulations on your promotion! You really deserve it.
• I’d like to congratulate you on / for...I’d like to congratulate you on your new baby.
• I’m so happy for you.You got the scholarship? I’m so happy for you!

Speaking prompts

Answer out loud first, in three or four sentences, then open the model. The model is one good answer, not the only one. The words in color are the structures to practice.

1. Tell me about something you regret. What would you do differently?

   Try to use: I wish I had..., I should have..., I regret + -ing

   Show a model answerHide the model answer

   I regret not studying English when I was younger. I wish I had started earlier, because it would be easier for me now. I should have taken classes at university, but I thought I didn’t need them. Anyway, it’s never too late.

2. A friend says, “I could kick myself. I forgot my sister’s birthday.” Give a positive reply.

   Try to use: Don’t be so hard on yourself, a suggestion

   Show a model answerHide the model answer

   Don’t be so hard on yourself. Everyone forgets things sometimes. Why don’t you call her now and say sorry? I’m sure she’ll understand, and maybe you can take her out to dinner this weekend.

3. Your friend bought a second-hand car and it broke down. Give a reply that does NOT help, then a better one.

   Try to use: negative: I told you...; positive: Maybe..., he can’t be all that bad

   Show a model answerHide the model answer

   A bad reply would be, “I told you not to buy a second-hand car.” That only makes your friend feel worse. A better reply is, “That’s awful. Maybe the seller will give you back some of the money.” Then I would offer to help find a good mechanic.

4. Your colleague has just received a promotion. What do you say to her?

   Try to use: Congratulations on..., You really deserve it, I’m so happy for you

   Show a model answerHide the model answer

   Congratulations on your promotion! I just heard the news, and I’m so happy for you. You really deserve it, because you worked so hard this year. Let’s celebrate with lunch. My treat!

5. Describe a time when you congratulated someone, or when someone congratulated you.

   Try to use: past simple, I’d like to congratulate you on / for...

   Show a model answerHide the model answer

   Last year I passed an important exam, and my family congratulated me. My sister said, “Congratulations! I knew you could do it.” I felt very proud. Later, my friends took me out to dinner to celebrate.

Direct speech is the exact reproduction of a speaker’s words. Note the punctuation rules:

• Harry said, “What a boring job.”
• Mary asked, “Is that Sue’s boyfriend?”
• Harold answered, “Is that all you ever think about? Maybe it’s time for you to start living in the real world.”

Converting from direct to indirect speech

Use the verb say if the hearer is not mentioned. Use tell if a hearer is mentioned.

Direct

“I’m not going,” Hester said.

Indirect

Hester said that she would not be going.

Direct

“I’m not going,” Hester said to her husband.

Indirect

Hester told her husband that she would not be going.

In addition to say and tell, these verbs can introduce indirect speech. Click one to hear it.

Verbs like say (say something to someone)

• acknowledge
• add
• admit
• affirm
• announce
• assert
• claim
• comment
• concede
• conclude
• confess
• contend
• declare
• disclose
• divulge
• exclaim
• explain
• express
• hear
• hint
• inquire
• insinuate
• insist
• mutter
• narrate
• proclaim
• read
• relate
• remark
• repeat
• reply
• report
• retort
• reveal
• state
• suggest
• utter
• whisper
• yell

Verbs like tell (tell someone something)

• admonish
• answer
• ask
• assure
• command
• inform
• notify
• order
• remind
• warn

Examples from the book: She expresses her feelings. He yells at him! The referee ordered the player to leave the soccer field.

Tenses change when converting from direct to indirect speech. The book says to consult Book Four for all the changes. These are the other things that change:

Imperatives become infinitives

The person spoken to is included before the infinitive.

Direct

“Go ahead,” urged the traffic officer.

Indirect

The traffic officer urged us to go ahead.

Negatives go before infinitives

Direct

Mary yelled at Sheila, “Don’t look!”

Indirect

Mary yelled at Sheila not to look.

Pronouns change

Direct

Harris said, “Don’t you worry about me.”

Indirect

Harris told her not to worry about him.

Interjections change

Direct

My father exclaimed, “Heavens, how you have grown!”

Indirect

My father remarked with surprise on how I had grown.

Direct

He said, “Boy, am I hungry!”

Indirect

He declared with enthusiasm that he was hungry.

Practice indirect speech

In a real conversation you report what people said all the time. The tenses move back in time (will becomes would), as in the book’s example “Hester said that she would not be going.”

Phrase bank

Press the speaker, listen, then say the sentence out loud. Swap in your own details so that it becomes true for you.

• She said (that)...Hester said that she would not be going.
• He told me (that)...My manager told me that the meeting would start at ten.
• She asked me to...She asked me to send the report today.
• He told me not to...Harris told her not to worry about him.
• She warned me that...She warned me that the traffic would be terrible.
• He reminded me to...He reminded me to call the client.
• She explained that...She explained that she had missed the bus.
• He admitted that...He admitted that he had made a mistake.

Speaking prompts

Answer out loud first, in three or four sentences, then open the model. The model is one good answer, not the only one. The words in color are the structures to practice.

1. Tell me what someone said to you today or yesterday. Use “said” and “told”.

   Try to use: said that (no hearer), told me that (with a hearer)

   Show a model answerHide the model answer

   My manager said that the meeting would start at ten. She told me that I had to prepare a short presentation. Then a colleague told me not to worry, because it would only take five minutes.

2. Report these words: “Don’t be late,” my mother said. “Call me when you arrive.”

   Try to use: negative and imperative become infinitives

   Show a model answerHide the model answer

   My mother told me not to be late. She also asked me to call her when I arrived. She always reminds me to be careful, too.

3. Tell me about a piece of advice that someone gave you.

   Try to use: told me to..., said that..., warned me not to...

   Show a model answerHide the model answer

   My father told me to save some money every month. He said that it was never too early to start. He also warned me not to spend everything on clothes, and I’m glad that I listened.

4. Retell the conversation in the Ladies’ Room using reporting verbs such as admit, add, ask and confess.

   Try to use: noticed, admitted, added, asked, confessed

   Show a model answerHide the model answer

   Frances noticed that Kathryn and Leonard were glowing and asked what was going on. Kathryn admitted that they were engaged. Frances said that she was happy for them and added that Leonard was a great guy. Then Kathryn asked about Lyle, and Frances confessed that they fought all the time.

5. Tell me about a time when someone told you something surprising. What did they say?

   Try to use: told me that, explained that, asked me to

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   Last year my cousin told me that he was moving to Canada. I didn’t believe him at first. He explained that he had received a great job offer. He asked me to keep it secret until he told the rest of the family.

Words that are spelled differently and have different meanings, but are pronounced the same. Press the speaker to hear each word.

Practice homophones

Practice opposites

Use the vocabulary to give opinions about what matters to you, and to explain the words that sound alike.

Phrase bank

Press the speaker, listen, then say the sentence out loud. Swap in your own details so that it becomes true for you.

• The opposite of... is...The opposite of peace is war.
• ... is the quality of...Honesty is the quality of being sincere.
• I admire people who...I admire people who have the courage to say what they think.
• For me, ... matters most.For me, health matters more than wealth.
• ... and ... sound the same, but...Rain and reign sound the same, but the meanings are different.
• Don’t confuse ... with ...Don’t confuse steal with steel: one is a crime and the other is a metal.
• In my opinion,...In my opinion, forgiveness is harder than courage.

Speaking prompts

Answer out loud first, in three or four sentences, then open the model. The model is one good answer, not the only one. The words in color are the structures to practice.

1. Which personal value is the most important to you? Why?

   Try to use: For me, ... matters most, The opposite of... is...

   Show a model answerHide the model answer

   For me, honesty matters most, because trust is the base of every relationship. When people are honest with each other, there are fewer arguments. The opposite of honesty is dishonesty, and I try to avoid it even when the truth is uncomfortable.

2. Which quality do you admire in other people?

   Try to use: I admire people who..., courage, generosity

   Show a model answerHide the model answer

   I admire people who have the courage to admit their mistakes. I also admire generosity, especially when someone gives without expecting anything back. These people make any place better to live in.

3. Do you think wealth brings happiness? Give your opinion.

   Try to use: In my opinion,..., wealth, poverty, health

   Show a model answerHide the model answer

   In my opinion, wealth helps, but it doesn’t guarantee happiness. If you live in poverty, it is hard to be happy because you worry about basic things. But once you have enough, health and good friends matter more. I would choose good health over a big salary.

4. Explain the difference between two homophones in your own words, for example steal and steel.

   Try to use: ... and ... sound the same, but...

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   Steal and steel sound the same, but they have different meanings. Steal is a verb: to take something without the owner’s consent. Steel is a metal, an alloy of iron with a little carbon. Thieves steal jewelry, and a bridge is made of steel.

5. Describe someone you know who shows one of these values, for example generosity or courage.

   Try to use: present simple for character, past simple for a story

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   My grandmother is the most generous person I know. She never had much money, but she always shared her food with the neighbors. When someone needed help, she was the first to offer it. She taught me that generosity is not about how much you have.

Hint: this text is full of “will”. Notice how it predicts the future, like the true conditionals in Conditionals, hope and wish.

Both texts are about how society changes. Use them to practice giving opinions and making predictions.

Phrase bank

Press the speaker, listen, then say the sentence out loud. Swap in your own details so that it becomes true for you.

• In my opinion,...In my opinion, television has helped to democratize culture.
• On the one hand,... On the other hand,...On the one hand, TV brings culture to millions. On the other hand, a lot of it is mindless.
• I predict that...I predict that more people will work from home.
• People will increasingly...People will increasingly buy products that protect the environment.
• As ... becomes more..., ...As life becomes more complex, people will want products that save time.
• ... will lead to...A greater ecological awareness will lead to a better quality of products.
• One advantage is...One advantage of working from home is that you save time.

Speaking prompts

Answer out loud first, in three or four sentences, then open the model. The model is one good answer, not the only one. The words in color are the structures to practice.

1. How have television and streaming changed the way people see the world? Give your opinion.

   Try to use: In my opinion,..., On the one hand... On the other hand...

   Show a model answerHide the model answer

   In my opinion, streaming has changed a lot. On the one hand, we can watch films and documentaries from all over the world at home. On the other hand, there is a lot of mindless entertainment, and it is easy to waste hours. Overall, I think it helps people discover new things.

2. What is your favorite kind of entertainment? Say why you like it.

   Try to use: present simple, because, I prefer...

   Show a model answerHide the model answer

   My favorite is a good series with a strong story. I like to watch one episode after work because it helps me relax. I prefer stories that make me think, and I often talk about them with my friends the next day.

3. What do you think life will be like in twenty years? Make three predictions.

   Try to use: will, I predict that..., people will increasingly...

   Show a model answerHide the model answer

   I think more people will work from home, so offices will be smaller. I predict that most cars will be electric and cities will be quieter. People will increasingly spend money on their health, because they will want to live longer, happier lives.

4. Faith Popcorn predicts that people will retreat into their homes. Do you agree?

   Try to use: I agree / I disagree, because, but

   Show a model answerHide the model answer

   I partly agree. Many people already shop online and work from home, so they spend more time inside. But I think people will still want to meet friends and travel, because it is hard to replace real experiences. So they will stay home more, but not completely.

5. Would you pay more for products that do not harm the environment? Explain.

   Try to use: true conditional: if + present, will + verb

   Show a model answerHide the model answer

   Yes, I’m willing to pay a little more. If a company uses recycled materials and shows social responsibility, I’ll choose it over a cheaper one. But if the price is much higher, I’ll probably wait for a sale.

True or untrue? Pick the form that matches.

Rewrite it

Respond to someone’s regret.

Choose the sentence that congratulates.

Say or tell? Then watch pronouns and infinitives.

Rewrite it

Choose the word that fits the sentence.

Choose the opposite.