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Speaking English Course A
Lesson A9

Out and About

Click and listen to each sentence as many times as you like

Say each sentence as many times as you like

Practise saying each sentence until it sounds right

PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT

    Listen to Julie and her sister Sarah telling us about a day out in Brighton.

Julie
My sister Sarah and I, drove down to Brighton last week to spend the day there. We left London quite early and after getting clear of the traffic, we took the A23 and arrived in Brighton at about 11 o'clock.

We parked the car in a multi-storey car park and then went for coffee in a little coffee shop on Western Road before doing a little bit of shopping. I needed to buy a present for a friend whose birthday it is next week. I decided on some perfume which she loves.

Sarah
Later, we went on the Palace Pier, which has been renovated in recent years and can provide hours of amusement and fun. We spent some time on the fairground rides at the end of the pier and then sat in deck chairs for a while to enjoy the sun and the sea air.

We started to get a bit peckish so bought some fish and chips before going down onto the beach. We hadn't brought our swimming costumes so we just paddled in the sea and sat on the pebbles watching some children flying kites. We finally left for home at about six o'clock and stopped for a meal at a restaurant a couple of miles north of Brighton.    

Now answer these questions, giving your answers in full sentences.

    1. Who went to Brighton?

2. What time did they arrive in Brighton?

3. Where did they park the car?

4. Where was the coffee shop?

5. What did Julie buy for her friend's birthday present?

6. Where were the fairground rides?

7. What kind of chairs did they sit on, on the pier?

8. Why did they buy fish and chips?

9. Why did they not go swimming?

10. What were the children doing on the beach?    

    1. Julie and her sister Sarah went down to Brighton.

2. They arrived in Brighton at about eleven o'clock.

3. They parked the car in a multi-storey car park.

4. The coffee shop was on Western Road.

5. Julie bought some perfume for her friend's birthday.

6. The fairground rides were at the end of the Palace Pier.

7. They sat on deck chairs on the pier.

8. They bought fish and chips because they were a bit peckish (slightly hungry).

9. They did not go swimming because they had not brought their swimming costumes.

10. The children were flying kites on the beach.    

Each sentence in the pair means the same thing. (Although 'can' is used more).

I can play tennis.
I am able to play tennis.

My father can see the sea from his window.
My father is able to see the sea from his window.

He can't take the day off work.
He is unable to take the day off work.

I can't find my keys.
I am unable to find my keys.

We can walk into town.
We are able to walk into town.

Now that we have tickets, we can go to the cinema.
Now that we have tickets, we are able to go to the cinema.

She can't go home until she's finished her work.
She is unable to go home until she has finished her work.

They can't see the castle for the trees.
They are unable to see the castle for the trees.    

    Tom and his wife Susie decided to take their children to the countryside.

Listen to them making arrangements.

Susie: The children have a day off school on Thursday. Do you think you could take the day off work? We could have a day in the countryside.

Tom: What a good idea. We're not too busy at work at the moment. I'm sure if I ask the boss, he will let me take the day off.

Susie: Good. The children will be delighted and the weather seems to be pretty settled at the moment.

Tom: Have you any ideas about where we could go?

Susie: How about the Queen Elizabeth Country Park? We haven't been there since the children were babies.

Tom: That's a good idea. I read in the local paper that they were demonstrating country crafts, such as fence making and sheep shearing.

Susie: We'll leave early and take the picnic hamper I won in that competition. We'd better take the coolbox too. We'll need it to keep the food cool in this hot weather.

Tom: Yes, let's go tell the kids!    

Now answer these questions, giving your answers in full sentences.

   1.What day of the week were they planning to go to the countryside?

2. Why did Tom think he could take the day off work?

3. Where did they decide to go?

4. What would be demonstrated there?

5. Why did Susie have a picnic hamper?

6. Why would they be taking the coolbox?    

These are the answers you could have given:

    1. They were planning to go to the countryside on Thursday.

2. Tom thought he could take the day off work because they were not too busy.

3. They decided to go to the Queen Elizabeth Country Park.

4. There would be country crafts demonstrated, such as fence making and sheep shearing.

5. She had won the hamper in a competition.

6. They would take the coolbox because the food may go bad in the hot weather.    

It's a nice day, isn't it?

You've got a bad cold, haven't you?

John's gone on holiday, hasn't he?

Those athletes are fit, aren't they?

I've missed the news on the TV, haven't I?

By ending the sentence like this, you are expecting the person to whom you are speaking to agree with you so your voice goes down at the end of the sentence.

"John's" is short for "John has".

It looks and sounds the same as the possessive "John's" (as in "John's coat"), but the context of the sentence tells you that here it means "John has".

Yet another "John's" is:-

John's tall for his age, isn't he?

In this case, "John's" means "John is".

Again, the context of the sentence tells you the correct meaning:- "John is tall for his age, isn't he?".    

Listen again . . . .

    Will you be home in time for supper?
             I hope so.

Have you lost your purse?
    I'm afraid so.

Will you have to get up early?
    I suppose so.

Have you missed the bus?
    I hope not.

Has it stopped raining?
    I'm afraid not.

I don't suppose they'll even offer us a cup of tea.
    I suppose not.    

   Practise the sentences below, giving each one the correct rhythm.

We finally left our house at six o'clock.

We'd better take the coolbox too.

Have you lost your purse?

In all Speaking English lessons, listen to the rhythm of the sentences and practise saying them with the correct rhythm.    

When a word has several syllables, one or more of the syllables is spoken with more emphasis or 'stress' than the others.

Practise saying the following words with the correct pronunciation and stress.

Place the emphasis on that part of the word which is THIS colour.

Be careful of differences between spelling and speech.

The letter in yellow is silent.

   traffic    birthday    decided    renovated    unable   amusement    peckish    restaurant    castle    fairground    flying    arrangements    delighted   settled   demonstrating    competition    conversation    meaning    different    

Tailpiece

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

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Course  A End of Lesson A9

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Link to Introduction

Links to other lessons in Course A : 1   2   3   4   5   6   7   8  *  10

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