Gerunds and Infinitives

Intro

1. Learn Vocabulary - Learn some new vocabulary before you start the lesson.

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• baby
• take a break
• break up
• do my thing

• reevaluate
• put things in perspective

2. Read and Prepare - Read the introduction and prepare to hear the audio.

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Rest is a part of life. We sleep every night (or at least most of us do). But sometimes, you need some rest while you’re awake. That’s when you take a break.

If you take a break, you stop what you’re doing for a little while, then return to it. Many jobs allow you to take breaks. Taking breaks helps people concentrate when work is resumed.

As you will see today, you can also take breaks from things other than work. If you’re on a hike, you can take a break and sit down for a few minutes. If you’re watching a movie at home, you can pause it and take a break to make a snack.

Jeff’s girlfriend and coworker, Ella, recently adopted a child named Table. Jeff has decided he needs to take a break. Watch the video to find out what he needs to take a break from.

3. Watch - Watch the video without reading the dialog.

Dialog

1. Listen and Read - Listen to the audio and read the dialog at the same time.

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2. Study - Read the dialog again to see how the vocab words are used.

Jeff

Ella

Jeff:  Ella?

Ella:  Yeah? What’s up?

Jeff:  I think we need to take a break.

Ella:  Oh, good. I’m so ready for one. Do you want to go to the coffee shop around the corner? That has…They have those great lattes, so…

Jeff:  Not that kind of break. We need to take a break from our relationship.

Ella:  What? Why?

Jeff:  Well, let’s see. To be honest, it’s Table.

Ella:  What?

Jeff:  Yeah.

Ella:  Table’s amazing! We’re gonna be like Brangelina but Jalable.

Jeff:  Table, Table, Table. That’s you all the time.

Ella:  He’s my new toy. I have to pay attention to him. I’m trying to adjust.

Jeff:  This relationship is not functioning.

Ella:  Does that mean we’re like breaking up or…What do you mean?

Jeff:  You know, take a break. Take a break!

Ella:  I mean, can I even text you or call you? I mean, how long am I supposed to wait?

Jeff:  In case of emergency, yes. But, you know, let’s take three weeks. I’ll be at my place doing my thing. You and Table will be at your place doing all the things you love to do lately. You know, we’ll sort of take some time apart. We’re not broken up. We’re together, but we need to spend some time apart.

Ella:  How is time apart going to help anything? You’re going to be over there and I’m gonna be over here, but we’re still together? That doesn’t make sense.

Jeff:  It…Reevaluate why we’re in this relationship together. Maybe it’ll put a few things in perspective. The list goes on, baby.

Ella:  I don’t like this.

Jeff:  We need to do this.

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