Conversation and Grammar Focus

I Like guys who….

Chris: Do you have a date for the party yet?
Kim: Actually, I don't … Do you know anyone I could go with?
Chris: Hmm. What kind of guys do you like?
Kim: Oh, I like guys who aren't too serious and who have a good sense of humor. You know someone like you.
Chris: OK. Uh, what else?
Kim: Well, I'd prefer someone I have something in common with-who I can talk to easily.
Chris: I think I know just the guy for you. Bob Branson. Do you know him?
Kim: No, I don't think so.
Chris: OK, I'll ask him to meet us for coffee and you can tell me what you think.


Grammar Focus

Relative pronouns

Relative pronouns as subjects

I like guys. They aren't too serious.
I like guys who/that aren't too serious.

I like guys. They have a good sense of humor.
I like guys who/that have a good sense of humor.

Relative pronouns as objects

I'd prefer someone. I can talk to him easily.
I'd prefer someone (who/that) I can talk to easily.

I'd prefer someone. I have fun with him.
I'd prefer someone (who/that) I have fun with.

I was really immature.

Alan: So what were you like when you were younger?
Carol: When I was a kid, I was kind of irresponsible.
Alan: You? Really? What made you change?
Carol: Graduating from high school.
Alan: What do you mean?
Carol: Well, until I graduated, I'd never had any important responsibilities. But then, I went off to college…
Alan: I know what you mean. I was really immature when I was a teenager.
Carol: So what made you change?
Alan: I think I become more mature after I got my first job and move away from home. Once I had a job, I become totally independent.
Carol: Where did you work?
Alan: I worked for my dad at the bank.

Grammar Focus

Time clauses

Before I had my first job, I was really immature.
After I got my first job, I became more mature.
Once I had a job, I became totally independent.
The moment I moved away from home, I felt like a different person.
As soon as I got my own bank account, I started to be more responsible.
Until I graduated, I'd never had any important responsibilities.
By the time I graduated from high school, I had already started working.

Idioms and conversations

Use idioms in a letter. (Sadness)

Dear Louise,

Hope all goes well with you. Unfortunately, everyone here is out of sorts. Will is down in the dumps because he doesn't like his teacher this year. I've told him that it's not the end of the world and that he'd better just grin and bear it, but I think he likes being a misery guts and so he complains about her every night. Pat is also suffering from sour grapes because I got the role in the school play that she wanted. This puts a damper on every meal, so I'm really looking forward to staying with you at the weekend.
Love,
Karen.

Out of sorts: Slightly unhappy or slightly ill.
Down in the dumps: Unhappy (informal).
Not the end of the world: What has happened won't cause any serious problems.
Just grin and bear it: Accept a situation you don't like because you can't change it.
A misery guts: Someone who complains all the time and is never happy (very informal).
Sour grapes: Being jealous about something you can't have.
Puts a damper on: Stop an occasion from being enjoyable (something dampener is used instead of damper).

Daily Conversations (Introduction and opening conversations).

People in the United States don't always shake hands when they are introduced to one another. However, in a formal or business situation, people almost always shake hands.

Conversation 1

A: Mary, this is Joe's brother David.
B: I'm very glad to meet you.
C: It's a pleasure to meet you.
B: How do you like Texas so far?
C: It's really different from what I expected.
B: Don't worry. You'll get used to it in no time.

Conversation 2

A: Mrs. Smith, I'd like to introduce a friend of mine, Pierre Dubois.
B: How do you do?
C: Hello.
B: What's you impression of the United States?
C: Well, I can't get over how different the weather is here.
B: Oh, you'll get used to it soon!

Conversation 3

A: Wendy, I'd like you to meet my brother Sam.
B: Hi.
C: Nice to meet you.
B: What do you think of Dallas?
C: Well, I'm still feeling a little homesick and so many things seem strange to me.
B: You're bound to feel that way at first, I guess.

Conversation 4

A: Mrs. Hughs, this is Peter Brown.
B: Pleased to meet you.
C: How do you do?
B: I hope you're enjoying your stay here.
C: If it weren't for the climate, I'd like it here very much.
B: It always takes time to get used to a new place.

To get used to = to adjust
In no time = soon
I can't get over = I'm still surprised at
Bound to = sure to

April Fools' Day History(April 1)

APRIL FOOLS' DAY

April Fools' Day, or All Fools' Day, is the name given to the custom ofplaying practical jokes on friends on that day, or sending them onfools errands. The origin of this custom has been much disputed; it isin some way a relic of those once universal festivities held at thevernal equinox, which, beginning on the old New Year's day, March 25,ended on April 1. Though April 1 appears to have been anciently observedin Great Britain as a general festival, it was apparently not until thebeginning of the 18th century that the making of April fools was a commoncustom. In Scotland the custom was known as "hunting the gowk", i.e.,the cuckoo, and April fools were "April gowks", the cuckoo being there,as it is in most lands, a term of derision. In France the person befooledis known as poisson d'avril.

Another History

In sixteenth-century France, the start of the New Year was observed on April first. It was celebrated in much the same way as it is today with parties and dancing into the late hours of the night. Then in 1562, Pope Gregory introduced a new calendar for the Christian world, and the New Year fell on January first. There were some people, however, who hadn't heard or didn't believe the change in the date, so they continued to celebrate New Year's Day on April first. Others played tricks on them and called them "April fools." They sent them on a "fool's errand" or tried to make them believe that something false was true. In France today, April first is called "Poisson d'Avril." French children fool their friends by taping a paper fish to their friends' backs. When the "young fool" discovers this trick, the prankster yells "Poisson d’Avril!" (April Fish!)
Today Americans play small tricks on friends and strangers alike on the first of April. One common trick on April Fool's Day, or All Fool's Day, is pointing down to a friend's shoe and saying, "Your shoelace is untied." Teachers in the nineteenth century used to say to pupils, "Look! A flock of geese!" and point up. School children might tell a classmate that school has been canceled. Whatever the trick, if the innocent victim falls for the joke the prankster yells, "April Fool! "
The "fools' errands" we play on people are practical jokes. Putting salt in the sugar bowl for the next person is not a nice trick to play on a stranger. College students set their clocks an hour behind, so their roommates show up to the wrong class - or not at all. Some practical jokes are kept up the whole day before the victim realizes what day it is. Most April Fool jokes are in good fun and not meant to harm anyone. The most clever April Fool joke is the one where everyone laughs, especially the person upon whom the joke is played.