General English Lower Intermediate Level
Lesson 16

1. Watch the video

Expression to work on

I’ve spent a lot of time living in another countries

There is any place I always feel like at home

I have lived in Scotland and Poland and China, I love going to new places

And learning about new cultures

Today I am asking people about travel

I like to travel; it is one of my passions

I enjoy it a lot, I have travelled to India several times, as I live there

I find it quite favorite being on holiday, I think it is a good experience

We get to meet different people coming from different backgrounds, It is really important in understanding

It is nice to get experience from different cultures and different lifestyles

I get very excited about going to the most countries, any countries

I love to travel to different countries

I absolutely love travelling; I have been travelling a couple of years to Solomon Islands

I’ve been to Turkey, I’ve been to Malta

I work as an expedition leader, so I actually operate with different countries; I’ve been to all places outside the United Kingdom

What do you like about travelling?

Mature life in general, you learn completely different experiences to what you are used to have

I like the airport experience

To see art especially, we love to see theatre

To see some the most beautiful sceneries around the world, which you wouldn’t experience in another countries

I really like getting experience from another country, getting far away, from what we are used to in Australia

The anticipation of being in a new place of seeing quite different things, speaking different language, eating different food, everything that travel has to offer

What don’t you like?

I don’t like a lot of lights

Flying, I don’t particularly like flying, it is a necessity

I suppose the biggest problem I have in travelling is leaving the suitcase

To be honest, I have to see the whole travel as an adventure itself, when we are run of money, or we have that kind of situations I have to solve all that

I spend a lot of time in the United Kingdom, the disadvantage of that is you tend to miss family and friends; I miss out normal things in life

The hardest thing for me is that I am handicapped, sometimes, getting around to old cities gets very difficult

Activity 1

Finn's resolutions

Time to get healthy

We're going to practise using the three words just, already and yet with the present perfect tense. As usual, we'll do that with the help of videos and stories.

Do you make New Year's resolutions? These are the promises people make to themselves in the New Year. Often, people say things like 'I'm going to lose weight', or 'I want to read more'. Finn and Rob have made some - and we'll find out what they are in this video.

Finn and Rob made some New Year's resolutions. But what do you think Finn's resolutions will be - and will he keep them? Choose three.

  • Eat no meat in January
  • Eat less ice cream
  • Go running every morning
  • Learn a foreign language
  • Stop drinking coffee

Now, let's watch the video and find out if you were right.

Watch the video and complete the activity

Transcript
  • Finn
    Hi Rob.
  • Rob
    Hi Finn. How's it going? How are the New Year's resolutions? What was it? No meat? No eating meat in January?
  • Finn
    Yes, that's right. I've just ordered a nice, big, vegetarian breakfast. No meat at all Rob, no.
  • Rob
    Oh right. Good for you. And what about the coffee?
  • Finn
    No, no - I haven't had a cup yet! No coffee for me this year.
  • Rob
    And the exercise? What did you say - a run every morning?
  • Finn
    Yeah that's going really well too, actually. I've already signed up at the gym... and I've just been for my morning run. I'm still in my shorts and t-shirt, actually! Haha. Anyway, what about you Rob? You said you were going to learn a language.
  • Rob
    Yes - I've learned some Spanish: huevos, bacon, salchichas, frijoles y tostadas.
  • Finn
    Wow, that's impressive, Rob.
  • Rob
    Yes, it means eggs, bacon, sausage, beans and toast: a 'full English breakfast'!
Session Vocabulary
  • to sign up
    (here) to join a course or organisation
  • fibs
    lies about things that aren't important
To do

Were you right about Finn's resolutions? Answer these questions about the video.

New Year's Resolutions

Choose the correct answers

Activity 2

Finn's fibs

A vegetarian breakfast...?

Finn told a few fibs about his New Year's resolutions. Naughty! Let's look at what he said in more detail. Look out for the present perfect tense with the words just, already and yet in this activity - we'll be studying them later on...

Read the text and complete the activity

breakfast
To do

See if you can catch Finn out in this game.

Liar, liar...

Read Finn and Rob's sentences about their New Year's resolutions and decide whether they are telling the truth... or fibbing.

  • Finn: I've just ordered a nice, big, vegetarian breakfast. No meat at all...
  • Finn: I haven't had a cup (of coffee) yet!
  • Finn: I've just been for my morning run.
  • Rob: I've learned some Spanish.
  • Finn: I'm still in my shorts and t-shirt.
He's telling the truth He's fibbing

Activity 1

Just and already

The rules

In this session we're learning how to use just, already and yet with the present perfect tense. First let's look at the meanings of just and already. They both indicate that an action has happened, but there's an important difference:

Just = a very short time ago

Already = before now, or earlier than expected.

In the video in Session 1, Finn said:

  • I've just ordered a nice, big, vegetarian breakfast
    (I ordered a nice, big, vegetarian breakfast a short time ago)
  • I've already signed up at the gym
    (I've signed up at the gym. It happened earlier than I expected / you expected)
Form

Now, let's remind ourselves how to make the present perfect. It's subject + have/has + past participle. With the present perfect, we normally use contractions like I've and we've.

So where do we put just or already? Usually they go between have/has and the past participle.

  • She’s just finished her second year at university.
  • ‘I've already done that module.’ ‘Wow, that’s quick!’

But already can also go at the end of the sentence:

  • I've signed up at the gym already
    Both just and already are usually used in positive sentences, not negative ones. However, we can occasionally use just in a negative sentence for emphasis or to correct someone.
  • What are you talking about? I haven’t just finished. I finished ages ago!
    Already may also be used in questions sometimes, especially when the speaker is surprised by something.
  • Have we already studied this? I thought it was a new topic!
To do

So, let's do a short quiz to see if you know which one to use – just or already.

Try the activity

'Just' or 'already'?

Choose the correct word to fill each gap

  1. Oh no! I've looked in my bag and my purse is missing!
  2. We've heard some wonderful news! Our daughter’s expecting a baby!
  3. I don’t like talking when I've woken up in the morning.
  4. Abid really likes his new school. He's made a lot of new friends.

Activity 2

Yet

More rules

In the last activity, we said we usually use just and already in positive sentences. Yet, on the other hand, comes at the end of a negative sentence or question. For example, Finn said this in the video:

  • No – I haven't had a cup yet! No coffee for me this year.

Yet means 'before now', or 'until now'. It's often used with something that's expected to happen, like in this question:

  • Have you finished your essay yet?

div In the question, the speaker expects the essay will be finished.

Form

We usually put yet at the end of a negative sentence or question.

  • I haven't had lunch yet.
To do

Let's do a quiz to test what you have learnt about just, already or yet.

Try the activity

Test yourself!

Choose the correct word for each gap. Check the grammar rules if you need help!

  1. Have you decided what to wear for the party ?
  2. The weather’s not too bad. At least it hasn't started raining .
  3. Has the parcel arrived ? That was quick!
  4. I haven't met anyone who can cook good Japanese food .
  5. I haven't arrived, I arrived three hours ago!
Session Grammar

Yet = before now / until now

We use yet in negative sentences and in questions.

  • Steve hasn’t decided which course to apply for yet.
  • Has your tutor approved your research topic yet?
Session Grammar

just = a very short time ago.

She’s just finished her second year at university.

already = before now, or earlier than expected.

I've already done that module.

yet = 'before now', or 'until now'.

I haven't had lunch yet.

Have you finished your essay yet?

Activity 1

The O-Brush

Mornings will never be the same...

In the last two sessions we looked the present perfect tense with just, already and yet. Now let's look at this language in the context of a business meeting…

Welcome to Smarter Mornings Ltd. Their products make your mornings even easier and more relaxing! You're going to listen to a business meeting in which the Smarter Mornings staff discuss a new product – the O-Brush.

What do you think it does?

  1. It cleans your teeth while you're still asleep
  2. It cleans your teeth only when they need it
  3. It sends you a message if your breath smells

Now listen to the audio to see if you guessed correctly. Check the vocabulary box if you need help with new words.

Listen to the audio and try the activity

Transcript

Coughing and rustling paper.

  • Suzi
    Thank you for coming, everyone. Martin, the agenda?
  • Martin
    Oh yes, thank you, Suzi. Just one item on the agenda today – the O-Brush. We've already reached week two of January – and, as we know, we need to deliver by March. Rufus, tell us some more.
  • Rufus
    Ok, right, well… This is going to revolutionise your morning. None of our competitors have done this yet. The O-Brush not only cleans, it reads you the news headlines, tells you about traffic delays, and even takes a 'mouth selfie' – a picture of the inside of your mouth, and posts it to social media!
    (general cheering and applause)
  • Rufus
    And, the best bit. It sends you a text when your breath smells.
  • Martin
    Wow. That's just fantastic, Rufus. Really fantastic. Now, any updates on the design?
  • Rufus
    Yeah, sure, we've made this prototype.
  • being handled and passed around
    Suzi
    Wow - already? Great job. Love the pink handle. What about money - how much is it going to cost?
  • Rufus
    Well we haven't finished the full budget yet Suzi. But we think it will sell for £50.
  • Martin
    Fabulous… I'm excited. And Zack, what about marketing?
  • Zack
    I've just received the market research. This is going to sell like hot cakes.
  • Martin
    Very good, very good. So, does this prototype work? (Martin switches it on) Oh, there we go! It's… it feels fantastic!

BEEP

  • Martin
    What was that?
  • Suzi
    I think that was your phone, Martin. It just beeped.
  • O-Brush
    THIS IS A MESSAGE FROM YOUR O-BRUSH. MARTIN, YOUR BREATH SMELLS. THANK YOU.

Coughing

  • Martin
    It's obviously not quite ready yet.
  • Suzi
    Er, any other business?
To do

That was an interesting meeting! So, the O-Brush actually texts you - sends you a message on your phone - if your breath smells.

We heard just, yet and already quite a few times. Suzi said: "I think that was your phone, Martin. It just beeped." Martin said: "It's obviously not quite ready yet."

In natural spoken English, people don't always use just, yet and already with the present perfect, but the meaning of the words is still the same. Have a go at this this multiple choice quiz to see and practice some more example sentences.

Already, just, yet quiz

Choose the correct word to complete each sentence

Session Vocabulary
  • agenda
    the subject you plan to talk about in a meeting
  • item
    (here) one subject you talk about in a meeting
  • deliver
    finish a project
  • competitors
    people or companies who are trying to be more successful than you
  • updates
    information about progress of a project
  • prototype
    the first example of a product
  • budget
    the amount of money you have to spend on something
  • marketing
    the things companies do, for example advertising, to persuade people to buy things
  • market research
    collecting and studying information about what people buy and why
  • sell like hot cakes
    to sell very quickly

Activity 2

Business words

Vocabulary activity

We had lots of business vocabulary in that last activity. Let's do an activity to help you practise and learn some of the new words. Look at the vocabulary box if you need help with the meanings of the words.

Read the text and complete the activity

  1. OK, let’s start the meeting. What’s on the ?
  2. There are two main to look at today.
  3. We have already finished testing the and now we can start production.
  4. We will need to do a lot of to inform the public about our new product.
  5. Do we have a big to pay for all this?
  6. Oh yes. We need to spend a lot to stay ahead of our .
  7. If we can market this well, it will sell like hot !
Homework

1. Learn the topic vocabulary

2. Learn the grammar material

Activity 3

6 Minute Vocabulary
Compound nouns

Do you like ice cream? Have you ever had problems with your computer keyboard? Words like ice cream and keyboard are compound nouns. These are nouns that are made up of... well, listen to this week's 6 Minute Vocabulary to find out. Finn and Alice are here to give you a helping hand!

Listen to the audio

Transcript
  • Alice
    Hello and welcome to 6 Minute Vocabulary with me Alice...
  • Finn
    And me, Finn. Today we're looking at compound nouns.
  • Alice
    What are you eating, Finn??
  • Finn
    Popcorn. I've also got some ice cream - do you want some Alice?
  • Alice
    Well, maybe after the show.
  • Finn
    Sorry. In today's show, we're looking at compound nouns.
  • Alice
    We'll look at what they are, what they mean and how to use them.
  • Finn
    There'll be a quiz...
  • Alice
    And we'll leave you with a tasty top tip for learning vocabulary.
  • Finn
    So, first up: we're going to listen to Bill and his daughter-in-law talking about Bill's computer.
  • Alice
    And here's a question to think about while you listen: what's wrong with Bill's laptop?
  • Finn
    What's wrong with Bill's laptop? Let’s find out.

INSERT

  • Bill
    I'm having problems with this new software.
  • Susan
    Where's Mike? He's good with computers.
  • Bill
    He's buying postcards at the post office, I think.
  • Susan
    Let's have a look then. I think I can fix this.
  • Bill
    Susan, you're my favourite daughter-in-law! But should I buy a new laptop?
  • Susan
    I think you’ll have to Bill. This keyboard doesn’t work at all.
  • Alice
    So, that’s Bill and his daughter-in-law. And we asked you: what’s wrong with Bill’s laptop?
  • Finn
    And the answer is: the keyboard doesn't work.
  • Alice
    Now, keyboard is a key word in today's show because it's an example of a compound noun.
  • Finn
    That's right. In English vocabulary, we often put two or more nouns together to form a new noun, with a meaning that combines the meanings of the two original nouns. We call these words compound nouns.
  • Alice
    For example, keyboard. The second part - board - names the thing we are talking about.
  • Finn
    The first part tells us what type of thing it is – it's a board with keys.
  • Alice
    Now, we usually write keyboard as one word. Same with laptop, software and postcard. But we write others as two words.
  • Finn
    For example, post office - it's an office where we post things and we write it as two words.
  • Alice
    Unfortunately there aren't really any rules about when to write compound nouns as one word and when to write them as two words - so be sure to use a good dictionary!
  • IDENT
    You're listening to bbclearningenglish.com.
  • Alice
    And we're talking about compound nouns. And if you were listening carefully earlier on you might have noticed a few compound nouns right at the start. Popcorn was one of them. We also heard ice cream - another compound noun!
  • Finn
    And you may also have noticed how these words are pronounced. With compound nouns, the stress usually goes on the first part, like this - popcorn, ice cream, keyboard. What's our final example, Alice?
  • Alice
    Daughter-in-law. This compound noun is made of a noun and a prepositional phrase.
  • Finn
    Now, when we write three-word compounds, we usually use hyphens - little dashes - between the words. This shows the three words go together.
  • Alice
    And the plural is daughters-in-law, not daughter-in-laws. We are talking about two daughters - so we add the plural 's' to this word.
  • Finn
    Do you have any daughters-in-law, Alice?
  • Alice
    No I don't Finn. I'm far too young to have any daughters-in-law. But I do have a sister-in-law, and she's a lovely woman. Let's hear about compound nouns again.
  • Finn
    They're fixed expressions formed from two or three words linked together in different ways. There are compounds we write as one word, like keyboard, software, and popcorn.
  • Alice
    But we write some of them as two separate words, like post office and ice cream.
  • Finn
    Now it's time for a quiz. I'm going to say a compound noun and I'm also going to say whether we write it as one word, two words or with hyphens, and you decide if this is true or false. Ready? Number 1. Popcorn. Two words.
  • Alice
    False. It's one word.
  • Finn
    Number 2. Ice cream. One word.
  • Alice
    False! It's two words.
  • Finn
    And number 3. Daughters-in-law. With hyphens.
  • Alice
    True!
  • Finn
    That's right, it has hyphens. Well done if you got those right.
  • Alice
    And that brings us almost to the end of the programme.
  • Finn
    But just before we finish, here's today's top tip for learning vocabulary: practise the pronunciation of compound nouns. The stress is on the first word. Try saying 'hot dog' with an equal stress on both words: this means a dog that is hot. Then say it again with the stress on the first word: hot dog is a type of sausage snack.
  • Alice
    Great, thank you Finn. That's wonderful. There's more about this at bbclearningenglish.com. Join us again for more 6 Minute Vocabulary.
  • Both
    Goodbye!
Session Vocabulary
  • hot dog
    a sausage in a bread bun
  • software
    programmes you use on your computer to do different tasks
  • daughter-in-law
    your son's wife