Learn the Unreal Past Tense

Intro

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

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• inside joke
• value
• go wrong with
• fancy

• suit
• stressed out
• pick out
• personal

• tip
• hurt

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

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“It’s the thought that counts.” That’s what we say when someone gives us a gift that we don’t want or that doesn’t suit us. It’s a nice way of saying, “I appreciate you, even though I don’t really appreciate this gift.”

But how much does the thought really count? It can’t count as much as an awesome present would count, right?

It depends on who you talk to. Some people think presents aren’t very important, or get stressed out trying to pick out gifts for their friends. But others believe that giving gifts shows how much you care. They look for presents that are special and personal, and they might get hurt if their friends don’t do the same. Hear Amy and Ella talk about giving gifts.

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.

Amy

Ella

Amy:  Are you a good gift giver, Ella?

Ella:  Actually, I think I’m a very gifted gift giver.

Amy:  Really?

Ella:  Yes. I wish it was Christmas all the time so I could buy presents for people. It’s so fun.

Amy:  But how do you know, like, what they would like or, you know, what they need? I get so stressed out about buying presents, I…I don’t know, how do you do it?

Ella:  I do a lot of inside joke presents, things that make people laugh. Or I just go for the expensive things that are like “Oh yeah, I could use those.” I feel like earrings always work out for a girl.

Amy:  I just feel like some people really value gift giving, and to me it’s just not that important. If you want to give me a gift that’s great, but I’m not going to feel bad if you don’t give me a gift. So I sometimes get into trouble because not everyone has that casual attitude toward gift giving that I do.

Ella:  Yeah. I like to give gifts but for me personally, I’d rather have someone give me a trip or take me somewhere.

Amy:  Totally. Yeah, you know, you can never go wrong with a great dinner, right? A great fancy dinner or something?

Ella:  Exactly.

Amy:  Well, I’m gonna remember all of your tips, because I have an important friend’s birthday coming up, and I don’t want to disappoint her.

Grammar Point

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Quizzes

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Lesson MP3

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