Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Horace was very proud of his cousin, Mike Aspen, Hollywood’s brightest young star.
Whenever his cousin appeared on the screen, Horace would say, “Isn’t he wonderful? He’s my
cousin, you know ”.
What was worse, Horace was always cutting pictures of his cousin out of movie
magazines and putting them on the kitchen wall. His wife would say, “We used to have a nice
clean wall. Now all I can see is Mike, Mike, Mike!” Then she would walk angrily out of the
kitchen and slam the door behind her.
When Mike’s face used to appear on posters or billboards, Horace would proudly brag
about his cousin’s successful career. “He used to go to Midville High School, you know. We
would always play in the schoolyard together, and we were always getting into trouble together.
I remember how he was always stealing apples from the corner grocery store. He used to be like
a brother to me. We were always missing classes together. What a great guy, a truly great guy.
He was my favorite cousin.”
One day, though, everyone woke up to find the daily newspapers covered with the
headlines, MIKE ASPEN INVOLVED IN GANGLAND KILLING. Reporters went to Horace’s house to
interview him. “Did you and Mike Aspen really use to be like brothers? Is it true you were both
getting in trouble all the time? What kind of trouble? Did you really play in the school yard
together?”
“Mike Aspen . . . Mike Aspen . . . . , “ he said in a puzzled voice.
“Oh, yes! The actor.” Horace shook his head, “No relation to me. Never met the guy.”
• COMPREHENSION
1
• GRAMMAR
O acţiune care a avut loc în mod obişnuit în trecut se redă în limba engleză prin una
dintre următoarele trei construcţii gramaticale:
1. Used to
Used + infinitivul lung al verbului se foloseşte în următoarele situaţii:
2. Would (do)
Would + infinitivul scurt al verbului:
Grammar Practice
1. Make sentences from each of the following. Choose used to, would always, or was
always.
2
7. They into trouble when they were kids.
8. She Beatles records when she lived in New York.
9. They backaches when they had that hard bed.
10. She the wrong bus when she was in New York.
• VOCABULARY
Exercise
3
LESSON 2
Confidence Man
4
What you need is a confidence course. Have you ever thought of taking one?” “No, sir, I never
have. “Clyde smiled sadly, picked up his briefcase, and walked out into the rain.
• COMPREHENSION
• GRAMMAR
5
II. Already(deja) se foloseşte la afirmativ.
Grammar Practice
II. Ask a question with When . . and answer it using already. Pay close attention to the
following example :
6
_________________________? ___________________
4. she / read that book
__________________________? ____________________
5. you / speak to Martha
__________________________? _____________________
6. he / have his operation
__________________________? ____________________
7. Laura / feed the baby
__________________________? ____________________
8. Tom / pay his bills
__________________________? _____________________
9. Janet / do the dishes
__________________________? ____________________
10. Peter and Liz / give a party
__________________________? _____________________
III. Complete the following sentences with the negative and yet. Use the words in parentheses.
____________________________________________
IV. Complete the following sentences using a verb in the Present Perfect Simple + never.
Follow the example.
7
3. Margaret to such a luxurious restaurant.
4. Jack such a bad movie.
5. They such a long letter before.
6. We such a bad book.
7. Mary and Wayne such a long trip before
8. She in such a fast train before.
9. He to such a big city before.
10. You on such a soft bed before.
• VOCABULARY
WHAT DOES HE/ SHE LOOK LIKE? este întrebarea pe care o adresăm unui interlocutor atunci
când vrem să obţinem o descriere fizică a cuiva. Echivalentul românesc este CUM ARATĂ…?
WHAT IS HE/SHE LIKE? Este o întrebare prin care solicităm informaţii referitoare la
personalitatea cuiva (CUM ESTE....?)
Exercise
Use the following characteristics to answer the questions what does he/ she look like? or what is
he/ she like?
- handsome, intelligent, ambitious, fat, hard – working, careless, untidy, dark – haired, blue eyed,
athletic, cheerful, optimistic, insensitive.
8
LESSON 3
Faces in Focus
DAVID SNOW : Good evening, ladies and gentlemen. Tonight on Faces in Focus my lovely
co-host, Wendy Storm, and I would like to welcome five fantastic record breakers!
WENDY: Yes, these fine people are all trying to break very different kinds of records. Let’s
talk to our first guest. Mr. Fred Appleby – well known to tennis fans everywhere.
DAVID: Fred, you’ve been a tennis champ for a long time, but this year has been a special
one for you, hasn’t it?
FRED: Yes, David. I’ve played in forty tournaments so far this year, and I’ve won all of
them.
WENDY: You’ve also broken the money – making record, haven’t you?
FRED: Yes, Wendy, I’ve won three million dollars this year.
DAVID: And how much did you win last year, Fred?
FRED: Well, last year I won only a million dollars. Quite a big improvement, wouldn’t you
say?
WENDY: Yes – but you know you’re not the only one with a lot of endurance, Fred. Jack
Lawson here has had a tough year too. I understand you’re trying to break the world’s record for
long distance walking, Jack?
JACK: That’s right, Wendy.
DAVID: How many miles have you walked so far this year?
JACK: Well, I’ve walked about 2,000 miles so far, and there are still three months to go
before the end of the year.
DAVID: How many different places have you been to during the course of your walks,
Jack?
JACK: I’ve been to seven different European countries, and I’ve walked across fifteen
states in the U.S. But it’s been really hard!
WENDY: What do you mean, Jack?
JACK: So far this year I’ve been to the hospital seven times with foot trouble. I’ve been
attacked by thieves, chased by dogs, insulted by the press, and . . . well, I’ve lost about twenty-
pounds, too.
DAVID: Well, here’s a man who probably hasn’t lost any weight, right Ray? It’s Ray
Campbell, pancake champ!
RAY: That’s right, David. Excuse me for talking with my mouth full, but I can’t afford to
lose any time.
DAVID: Ray is trying to break the twenty-four-hour pancake-eating record. How many
pancakes have you eaten so far today?
RAY: About 400. I tried to break the record last year, too but I only managed to eat 350.
WENDY: How much weight do you think you’ve gained in the last few hours?
RAY: Well, I’ve eaten 400 pancakes, ten pounds of butter, and two gallons of syrup. So,
I’ve probably gained about twenty-five pounds today. Excuse me while I take another bite.
WENDY: That’s quite all right, Ray. And now, Florence Castro. What record are you trying
to break, Florence?
FLORENCE: I’m hoping to break the uninterrupted gum-chewing record. I’ve been chewing
gum without stopping for eight months.
DAVID: Even in your sleep?
9
FLORENCE: Yes, David, I even chew in my sleep. It becomes a reflex action after a while.
I figure I’ve chewed about 550 packs of gum this year. I’ve spent hundreds of dollars on gum,
and also on vitamins to supplement my diet.
WENDY: How many times have you been to the dentist this year, Florence?
FLORENCE: I haven’t been to the dentist at all this year. I’d be afraid to see the bill.
DAVID: Amazing! And now for our last guest, Ted Doolittle. Ted is trying to break the
most unusual record of all, a truly fantastic attempt that requires courage and stamina. It’s just
amazing!
WENDY: It certainly is! Many have tried before and failed. Tell us about your record, Ted.
TED: Well, despite inflation and the high cost of living, I’ve gone ten years without
giving my employees a raise.
• COMPREHENSION
• GRAMMAR
Grammar Practice
I. Complete the following question beginning with How much or How many.
Answer the questions using the information in parentheses.
10
1. milk / have today ? (4 glasses)
_________________________ ___________________
2. books / read this month ? (2)
_________________________ ___________________
3. cigarettes / smoke today ? (0)
_________________________ ___________________
4. classes / miss this week ? (1)
_________________________ ___________________
5. letters / write this week ? (3)
________________________ ___________________
6. money / earn this year ? (a lot)
________________________ ___________________
7. pills / take today ? (0)
_________________________ ___________________
8. miles / walk this week ? (6)
_________________________ ___________________
9. fruit / eat today ? (2 bananas)
_________________________ ___________________
10. weight / lose this month ? (0)
_________________________ ___________________
II. Complete the following questions using How many times + be. Answer the questions in the
negative + at all.
11
III. Complete the following questions and answers.
• VOCABULARY
WHETHER… OR NOT (dacă... sau nu) este o expresie care se foloseşte, ca şi în limba română,
pentru a sublinia existenţa a două alternative posibile.
De reţinut că whether poate fi folosit ca înlocuitor al lui if în orice context, cu excepţia
subordonatelor condiţionale.
Exercise
Answer the questions below using the expression it depends on whether (or not).
12
5. Is she planning to ask her boss for a raise? (be in a good mood)
________________________________________
6. Are you planning to go to college? (pass my final exams)
_______________________________________
7. Is he planning to move to Chicago? (find a better job there)
______________________________________
8. Are you planning to see the movie tonight? (find tickets)
______________________________________
9. Is she planning to get married? (ask her)
______________________________________
10. Are you planning to buy that new dress? (can save enough money)
______________________________________
13
LESSON 4
Getting Ahead
Gerald had been a door-to-door salesman for the Ace Vacuum Cleaner Company for ten
years. He was good at his job and his boss had even asked him to work in the sales office part-
time. But the company was very small, and Gerald knew that he could never be much more than
a vacuum cleaner salesman and part-time office worker for the rest of his life.
He was reading the newspaper one evening when he saw an ad: “Wanted-Home Utilities
Market Prospector. Dynamic young man with at least ten years’ sales experience; some office
experience preferable.”
Gerald showed his wife the ad. “I’ve had ten years’ sales experience,” he said
enthusiastically, “and I’ve also worked in the company’s sales office. I’m going to answer this
ad!”
“Not only that, “said his wife, Agnes, “but you’ve trained hundreds of new salesmen,
you’ve reorganized the whole accounting department and you’ve spent hours working overtime
without extra pay. I think it’s time for a change.”
For the next few days he could think of nothing else. He would no longer be just a simple
door-to-door salesman. He would have an important position with an impressive name-Home
Utilities Market Prospector! When he received an answer to his application a week later, Gerald
was overjoyed. “They want to interview me for the job,” he said to Agnes eagerly. He put on his
best suit, shined his shoes, and hurried downtown to an address on March Street. The personnel
director seemed friendly and asked Gerald several questions about his professional life:
“How many different jobs have you had, Mr. Smith?”
“Well, I’ve only had one-with the Ace Vacuum Cleaner Company. I’ve been with them
for ten years now.”
“And how much sales experience have you had?”
“I’ve had ten years’ sales experience. I’ve mainly worked as a salesman for the company,
but I haven’t been able to move up or get a better position there.”
“And how’s your general health? Have you had any serious illnesses?”
“I’ve been sick now and then, but nothing serious. In fact, I’ve never been in the hospital,
and I’ve only missed two or three days of work.”
The personnel director smiled at Gerald and said, “I think you’re just the man we’ve been
looking for. You can start next week.” Gerald’s eyes lit up, and a smile of pleasure crossed his
face at the thought of starting his new job. Agnes would be so pleased. Finally, after all these
years, he was getting ahead.
As he was leaving, he realized that he hadn’t asked the personnel manager for details
about his new job. “Oh, by the way, I forgot to ask you. What exactly does a home utilities
market prospector do?” Gerald’s heart was beating in anticipation. “Oh, didn’t you know?” said
the director, “I thought everybody did. A home utilities market prospector sells things door-to-
door. In your case it’ll be vacuum cleaner.”
14
• COMPREHENSION
Answer the following questions according to your understanding of the text:
1. What is Gerald? What does he sell?
2. What company does he work for?
3. What did he see in the newspaper one night?
4. What kind of man was wanted for the job?
5. What was the name of the job?
6. Why was he so happy?
7. When did he receive an answer to his application?
8. How many different jobs has he had?
9. Has he ever been ill?
10. What was the big final surprise?
• GRAMMAR
Grammar Practice
I. Wendy Storm has had a very busy life. Tell about what she’s done in her lifetime,
using the cues provided.
15
II. Contradict each of the following statements using the Present Perfect in the first part
and the Simple Past in the second. Follow the examples given below.
Example: Do you know that Mark has never heard a Beethoven symphony ?
But he has. He heard the Ninth Symphony just yesterday.
III. Complete the following sentences using the Present Perfect or the Simple Past tense.
16
9. He thinks he’s important because he __________ (work with) a lot of famous
people.
10. Of course I like camping! I _________ (go) camping with some friends just
last week. We _______ (have) a marvelous time !
• VOCABULARY
Exercise
Draw conclusions from the following statements beginning with I guess and using won’t be able
to + a suitable verb.
Example: He broke his leg last week.
I guess he won’t be able to go to work for three weeks.
17
LESSON 5
18
MYRTLE: Thanks. Hey, wait! This is not Robert Redford’s signature. Of all the nerve! You’re an
impostor! How long have you been going around telling people you’re Robert Redford?
HEADWAITER: I’ve been working here for thirty years, and I’ve had all kinds of trouble with
customers, but never like this!
WAITER: It’s that poor guy I feel sorry for. He’s had the same trouble for thirty years.
• COMPREHENSION
• GRAMMAR
THE PRESENT PERFECT CONTINUOUS
Mod de formare
Present Perfect Continuous se formează cu auxiliarul have / has + been + verb la care se
adaugă terminaţia -ing.
Utilizare
Acest timp verbal se foloseşte pentru a exprima o acţiune începută într – un moment
trecut care se extinde şi în prezent.
Exemplu: I have been living here since 1985.
He has been reading for three hours.
Prin urmare, întrebarea cu care se asociază, în mod logic, acest timp este How long? , iar
răspunsurile vor conţine for + o anumită durată (two weeks, three days, six years) sau since +
momentul din trecut când a început acţiunea (since morning, since 1980, since January).
Observaţie: În cazul verbelor care nu suportă formă continuă , cum ar fi be, have, know,
like, (vezi şi lecţia The Present Continuous Tense),Present Perfect Continuous se va înlocui cu
Present Perfect Simple, chiar dacă acţiunea continuă şi în prezent.
19
How long have you had your car?
I have had it for ten years.
Grammar Practice
I. Give affirmative answers to the following questions using the words in parentheses. Use for,
since or all + a time period.
II. Complete the following using the Present Perfect Continuous, an appropriate verb, and for or
since.
Example: He TV an hour.
He has been watching TV for an hour.
20
8. He cough medicine a long time.
9. Janet for the French test a week.
10. She basketball eight o’clock.
III. Complete the following questions using How long . . . and a logical verb in the Present
Perfect Continuous tense.
• VOCABULARY
EVER SINCE (de când) este o expresie prin cre vorbitorul accentuează importanţa unui
eveniment sau durata unei perioade.
Exemple: I have liked Beethoven ever since I heard the Fifth Symphony. (accentuarea
importanţei evenimentului); I have been sitting here ever since you left. (accentuarea
duratei)
Exercise
Combine the following sentences using ever since, according to the model:
Example: She became a movie star. Then she started wearing diamond rings.
She has been wearing diamond rings ever since she became a movie star.
.
21
1. I saw that film. Right then I decided I wanted to become an actor.
___________________________________________
2. He got to Chicago last month. He is still looking for a job.
___________________________________________
3. When he became famous, he started driving expensive cars.
________________________________________________
4. I started singing when I was a child.
____________________________________
5. Tom came back from the war. Then they got married.
_________________________________________
6. I read a book about the pyramids of Egypt. Now I’m interested in archaeology.
______________________________________________________
7. He swam in that cold river. Now he is coughing.
____________________________________
8. He saved my life. Then we became best friends.
______________________________________
9. They told me I had a terrible voice. That’s why I’m taking singing lessons.
_____________________________________________________
10. Her boss told her she was fired. She is still crying.
________________________________________
22
PROGRESS TEST I
II. Fill in the blanks with the Present Perfect Simple of the verbs in brackets:
1. Would you like to join us for lunch? No thanks, I ________ already ______________.
(eat)
2. She is getting married next week, but she ________________her wedding dress yet.
(buy)
3. ________ you ever _____________ your wife’s birthday? (forget)
4. ________ your father __________ the newspaper yet?
5. I gave her some beautiful gloves, but she still ________________ them. (not wear)
6. It’s too late! I ________ already __________ the letter. (send)
7. Can you believe it? He _________ never __________ to a concert in his life! (be)
8. _________ they ever __________ Martini? (drink)
9. He is leaving for Paris tomorrow, but he _______________ packing yet. (not finish)
10. I _________ never _________ to Scotland, but I’d like to go there some day. (be)
III. Fill in the blanks with the Simple Past or Present Perfect Simple of the verbs in brackets:
1. She _____________ three books last month, but she _____________ this month. ( not
read)
2. How many times _______ he __________ late for work this week? (be)
3. He _____________ two aspirins so far today, but he ______________ any yesterday.
(take, not take)
4. ________ they __________ a lot of money this month? (spend)
5. How many times _________ you _________ your teeth yesterday? (brush)
6. I _____________ (negative) to the movies at all this month. (go)
7. Bob ____________ three exams so far this week. (fail)
8. I _______________ to the doctor twice last year. (go)
9. He _____________ any work so far today, and he _____________ any work yesterday
either. (not do)
10. Professor Wilson ______________two lessons yesterday. (teach)
23
IV. Complete the following sentences using the Present Perfect Simple or Continuous of the
verbs in brackets:
24
LESSON 6
Faulks’ Inn
He looked at his watch, but it was still very early. He poured himself another drink and yawned.
“This is going to be a long night,” he thought to himself.
* * *
It had all started as a joke. Connell had arrived at Faulks’ Inn on Wednesday. It seemed
like such a peaceful old place that he decided to stay until the weekend. On the first evening of
his arrival, Connell was having a drink with some of the other guest when they began asking the
owner about the history of the place. He told them the following story:
In the 1800’s something very strange had happened at the inn. The owner’s daughter,
Jullie Faulks, had mysteriously disappeared from one of the large rooms on the second floor.
Everyone had been shocked by this strange disappearance, but no one had ever discovered where
she had gone.
Ever since the night of the mystery, guests complained of hearing strange noises coming
from the room where the girl had last been seen. Several people had also seen lights and floating
white objects.
When Connell and the others heard that no one had stayed in the room since 1860, they
began to laugh and laugh and make jokes, especially Connell. “Superstitious nonsense!” he
laughed. “People get so frightened that their minds begin to play tricks on them.”
“Everyone is at least a little superstitious,” said one of the guests.
“Not me!” said Connell. “Just to show you how ridiculous this story is, I’ll stay in that
room tonight.
* * *
“Your friends downstairs would like to know if you’d like a cup of coffee, sir.” Connell
was awakened by a young woman carrying a tray.
“Yes,” he replied. “All this nonsense about ghosts has made me quite sleepy.”
“She smiled as she poured the coffee. “If you need anything else, just ring.”
The next day at breakfast, Connell told the other guests about the wonderful night he had
spent, and how he had never slept better in his life.
“So, nothing disturbed you?” the owner asked.
“Nothing. After the maid left, I fell asleep again.”
“What maid?” the owner asked. “My wife and I are the only ones who take care of the
place now.”
“She looked just like the girl in that picture,” said Connell, pointing to a portrait above
the fireplace.
“Well, Mr. Connell, you may want to change your beliefs. That’s a portrait of Julie
Faulks painted in 1859.”
25
• COMPREHENSION
• GRAMMAR
THE PAST PERFECT SIMPLE TENSE
Mod de formare
Past Perfect Simple se formează cu ajutorul auxiliarului have la trecut (had) + participiul
trecut al verbului (verb regulat + ed/ forma a treia a verbelor neregulate).
I had already gone. Had I ever been there ? I hadn’t thought of it before.
You you You
etc. etc. etc.
Utilizare
Acest timp verbal se foloseşte pentru a exprima o acţiune care a avut loc în trecut, fiind
anterioară unei alte acţiuni trecute. Adverbul de timp specific unor astfel de contexte este before.
Exemplu: When I entered the room, I saw that someone had been there before me.
Past Perfect Simple se foloseşte adesea împreună cu adverbele de timp just, already,
ever şi never, care se vor aşeza între auxiliar şi participiul trecut al verbului.
Exemple: When the police arrived, the thieves had already left.
She had just arrived when the phone started ringing.
They were very nervous because they had never travelled in a jet before.
26
Grammar Practice
I. Complete the following by supplying the missing verb in the Past Perfect.
II. Give answers to the following questions using had never . . . before.
27
III. Complete the following using the Past Perfect tense.
• VOCABULARY
Might as well
Expresia might as well se foloseşte pentru a sublinia alegerea celei mai avantajoase
soluţii pentru o anumită problemă .
Exemplu: He might as well buy the small car, since he doesn’t have enough money for
the big one.
De sesizat nuanţa de regret a afirmaţiei I might as well stay at home and do the
housework since I don’t have money to go out sau nepăsarea redată de afirmaţia As far as
I am concerned, you might as well leave.
Exercise
Example: He has just missed the train to Chicago. There is a bus leaving for Chicago in an hour.
He might as well take the bus.
1. Jane has forgotten to buy a new dress for the party. Luckily, her old dress is very
nice.
______________________________________
2. They would like to eat at the restaurant but there are free seats only in the snack bar
across the street.
______________________________________
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3. I have been waiting to see the doctor for an hour and I’m terribly bored. There are a
few magazines on the table in the waiting room.
______________________________________
4. Harry’s engine doesn’t start this morning. He is lucky that he lives near to his office.
______________________________________
6. She wanted to send her mother a telegram for her birthday but it would be only two
dollars cheaper than a phone call.
______________________________________
7. I was going to throw away a pair of old shoes but I noticed that they are in fashion
again.
_______________________________________
8. I’m so angry with them that I don’t care if they leave the town forever.
_______________________________________
9. She wants to go to the cinema, but nothing good is playing. She has just remembered
that there is a film on TV.
_____________________________________
10. It’s almost midnight and Helen cannot sleep. She has brought some office papers to
study.
____________________________________
29
LESSON 7
HANK: Now, remember, gang, if we’re not careful, the bank camera will take our picture.
Also, the alarm will go off, and, the whole neighbourhood will wake up.
RICK: Not only that! As soon as it goes off, the whole New York Police Department will
be here in three minutes!
JANET: Well, maybe we shouldn’t go in through the front door as we planned. Let’s try
the side window.
MICKEY: But hold on a minute! As soon as we break in through the side window, the
camera will take our pictures.
ANGELA: If we have our masks on we won’t be recognized.
HANK: Okay, so our big problem is to disconnect the alarm. That’s what we ought to do
first. If we don’t do that, we won’t be able to do anything else.
RICK: I’m really scared, though. If the alarm goes off, the police will arrive right away.
JANET: And if the getaway car isn’t waiting outside, they’ll catch every one of us.
MICKEY: Yeah, and if they catch us, we won’t get out of jail for at least ten years.
ANGELA: Hey! If they put me in jail for ten years, by the time I get out I’ll be forty!
(ALL) : Me too!
JANET: Why don’t we all look for jobs instead?
• COMPREHENSION
30
• GRAMMAR
THE FIRST CONDITIONAL CLAUSE (Subordonata condiţionlă de tipul I)
O frază care conţine o subordonată condiţională de tipul I exprimă o relaţie cauză – efect:
Exemplu:
If it rains tomorrow, they will stay in doors.
(cauză) (efect)
(Dacă va ploua mâine, ei vor sta în casă.)
If he doesn’t leave early, he will miss the bus.
(cauză) (efect)
(Dacă nu va pleca devreme, va pierde autobuzul.)
După cum se observă din exemplele de mai sus, spre deosebire de limba română (unde
utilizăm viitorul atât în subordonată, cât şi în propoziţia principală), în limba engleză
subordonata condiţională (introdusă prin if) conţine în mod obligatoriu un verb la Present
Simple, iar propoziţia principală – un verb la Future Simple.
.
Grammar Practice
I. Match the if clause on the left with a clause on the right. There are several possible
combinations. First find the most logical match for each if clause.
31
II. Complete the following sentences with appropriate clauses.
• VOCABULARY
What if . . .
Expresia What if + Present Simple se foloseşte atunci când vorbitorul vrea să atragă atenţia
asupra unei posibile probleme. Echivalenul în limba română este dar dacă…..?
Exercise
32
7. What if he doesn’t like river ? (he a steak)
_________________________________________________
8. What if they don’t come on time ? (we to the theatre without them)
______________________________________________________
9. What if the dress doesn’t fit her ? (she another one)
________________________________________________
10. What if he doesn’t hear his alarm clock ? (he late for work)
___________________________________________
33
LESSON 8
The Reunion
ELEANOR: What’s wrong with you tonight, Peggy? You don’t look like you’re having a
good time. Don’t you think this class reunion is fun?
PEGGY: I don’t know . . . I just feel . . . I mean… Oh, what’s the use of keeping it to
myself!
BARRY: Come on, Peggy. You know you’d feel better if you told us.
PEGGY: OK. Let me ask you this. If you didn’t have much money and you wanted to
impress a rich man, would you tell him that you had a great job and lots of money?
NANCY: No, because if I did, he would find out sooner or later.
PEGGY: If you lived in a small apartment in the poor part of town, would you tell him you
lived in a mansion?
GREG: If a girl told me lies like that, I’d never believe her again.
PEGGY: Well, do you remember Jack Torrence who went to Australia to make his fortune?
I’ve been writing to him for three years and . . .
TERRY: Don’t tell me you’ve been lying to him all this time in your letters!
PEGGY: Well, I suppose I have been exaggerating a little. And now this millionaire is
going to walk through the door any minute, and I don’t know what to do.
PAT: Well, if I were you, I’d keep on lying until I thought he was ready to accept the truth.
BARRY: That’s no solution. If I were Peggy, I’d tell him right away.
NANCY: If he were my boyfriend and thought I had a lot of money, I’d rent a luxury
apartment for a few days, and hope we left for Australia before my money ran out.
GREG: And what would you do if you ran out of money before you left for Australia?
NANCY: I’d borrow some more.
ELEANOR: But if he discovered the truth, he would probably never speak to you again.
TERRY: If I were you, I’d just forget about marrying him, Peggy.
PAT: Oh, look! Here comes Jack now! Doesn’t he look great–like a million bucks!
GREG: Oh, shut up, Pat. Well, go over and talk to him, Peggy–and tell him the truth.
JACK: You look wonderful, Peggy. It’s so good to see you after all this time.
PEGGY: Jack, I have something to tell you . . .
JACK: Wait, Peggy. Let me ask you this first, before you say anything. Would you still
love me if I told you I’d lied about all the money I’d made in Australia?
PEGGY: (smiles with relief) Well, Jack, let’s sit down. Something tells me we have a lot to
talk about.
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• COMPREHENSION
• GRAMMAR
Exemple:
AFIRMATIV
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INTEROGATIV
NEGATIV
Grammar Practice
I. Make statements beginning with If I were you . . using the following cues.
II. Ask questions with Would you ……if ……….? for the following statements.
Example: Laurie went to a party, even though she didn’t like the hostess.
Would you go to a party if you didn’t like the hostess?
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5. He drove a car, even though he didn’t have a license.
_____________________________________________?
III. Complete the following sentences. Depending on the cues given, each clause may be either
negative or affirmative.
• VOCABULARY
You had better (not) . . . ar fi mai bine să(nu)….
Exercise
Complete the following sentences using the expression had better:
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LESSON 9
It’s almost midnight and Janice is desperately calling one of her friends.
Janice: Hello, Ann, it’s me, Janice…..
Ann: Janice! What on earth happened? Do you have any idea what time it is?
Janice: Oh, Ann! Something terrible happened. I’ve been robbed.
Ann: What do you mean? Did anyone break into your house?
Janice: No, Ann. If someone had broken into my house I would have called the police, but…
Ann: But what? What are you talking about?
Janice: Oh, God! I’m so ashamed! Imagine I let him into the house!
Ann: What? How could you do such a stupid thing?
Janice: You see, at about ten o’clock a guy rang at my door and said he was from the phone
company and had to check something… and I opened the door.
Ann: Didn’t you think that if he had worked for the phone company he wouldn’t have come at
that time?!
Janice: But he seemed so nice…..
Ann: If he had been so nice he wouldn’t have robbed you! By the way, what did he steal?
Janice: Actually that’s the worst thing of all: he got away with Martin’s car!
Ann: Oh, my God! Did he force you to give him the keys? Why didn’t you scream?
Janice: Be sure I would have screamed if he had tried to force me to do anything, but he was so
nice that I even made him a cup of coffee. Then he asked me very politely to go upstairs to see if
the phone in the bedroom works and, in the meantime, he grabbed the keys from the table in the
hall and drove off. And now I don’t know what to do! Martin will kill me when he comes from
his business trip!
Ann: Janice, calm down and listen to me. You have to call the police.
Janice: And what do I tell them? That I actually let a stranger into my house late at night, I made
him coffee and I left him alone downstairs to take whatever he wanted?
Ann: It’s true that nothing would have happened if you hadn’t been so credulous, but this is the
only solution. Let’s hope they will find the car before your husband gets home.
Janice: Yes, you are right. You’ve been of great help, Ann. Thank you so much! Good night!
Ann: Good night, Janice! And, if a detective comes to your house, make sure he is real, OK?
• COMPREHENSION
Answer the following questions:
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8. What did Ann advise Janice to do?
9. What did she say about Janice?
10. What did Ann suggest in the end?
• GRAMMAR
Acest tip de condiţională se foloseşte pentru a exprima o relaţie cauză – efect ireală. Prin
urmare, acţiunea exprimată de verbul din propoziţia principală nu a avut loc deoarece condiţia
exprimată de condiţională nu a fost îndeplinită.
Exemplu: If you had been more careful, you wouldn’t have made so many mistakes.
(Dacă ai fi fost mai atent, nu ai fi făcut atâtea greşeli) – de unde se subînţelege că de
fapt ai făcut greşeli deoarece condiţia de a fi atent nu a fost îndeplinită.
După cum arată exemplul de mai sus, în propoziţia condiţională se foloseşte Past
Perfect, iar în propoziţia principală - Past Conditional (would + have + Past Participle).
Grammar Practice
1. If I had heard the alarm clock, I _________________late for work. (not be)
2. If he had been at home, he ___________________the phone. (answer)
3. If they had seen the thief, they __________________the police. (call)
4. If she had refused to join us, we __________________to convince her. (try)
5. If he hadn’t helped you, you ___________________to finish in time. (not be able)
6. If we hadn’t had a map, we ____________________ our way. (lose)
7. If he had trained more, he __________________ the race. (win)
8. If I had known it was his birthday, I _____________________ him a card. (send)
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9. If you had read the novel, you __________________ the characters. (remember)
10. If the weather had been bad, they __________________ to the beach. (not go)
III. Comment on the following situations by using the third conditional clause. Pay attention to
the model.
Model: She didn’t study enough, so she failed the exam.
If she had studied enough, she wouldn’t have failed the exam.
• VOCABULARY
WHAT ON EARTH…..este o expresie prin care vorbitorul îşi exprimă nedumerirea (What on
earth is going on here?), îngrijorarea (Where on earth are we going to live now?) sau indignarea
(How on earth did you manage to make such a mess in your room?). Echivalentul românesc al
expresiei este Ce/ cum/ de ce/unde Dumnezeu.....?
HOW COULD YOU……este expresia care redă indignarea vorbitorului faţă de o anumită situaţie
sau un gest al interlocutorului: How could you be so impolite?; How could they lie to her for
such a long time? Traducerea în limba română a acestei expresii este Cum ai putut…..?
Exercise
Express your indignation or amazement using the expressions above, according to the model:
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1. Nobody knows how he survived that plane crash.
___________________________________________?
2. He forgot to return us the money.
__________________________________________?
3. They spoke very rudely to their parents.
_________________________________________?
4. I will never understand why you opened the door to that man.
________________________________________________?
5. She abandoned her children and left abroad.
_________________________________________?
6. I don’t have any idea where she can be.
_____________________________________?
7. Nobody understands what she did with all that money.
________________________________________?
8. It was not nice of you to tell her she was fat.
____________________________________?
9. They refused to give that poor woman something to eat.
__________________________________________?
10. I really don’t know how you are going to explain this to your boss.
_____________________________________________________?
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LESSON 10
The Hitchhiker
John Henderson was driving home late last night from an exhausting business trip. He had put
off visiting the company’s new headquarters in order to get home before midnight, and now he
was having trouble staying awake. He turned up the radio and tried to concentrate on the news –
something about a robbery – but his eyes kept on closing. His wife was back home in Dayton,
and he missed having her company on this long trip.
It was then he noticed the hitchhiker at the side of the road. Without even thinking about
what he was doing, he slowed down and stopped the car. He couldn’t help feeling sorry for the
young man who looked so wet and miserable in the rain. “Get in,” he said.
John remembered having to hitchhike home from the university before he had a car. He
couldn’t stand sitting at the side of the road for hours, waiting for rides.
The hitchhiker got in and immediately John was sorry that he had picked him up. The
young man had a strange face and very penetrating eyes. His clothes were old and dirty, and his
long hair needed cutting. The hitchhiker lit a cigarette and said that he was going to Woodsville
but when John asked him other questions, the young man avoided giving him any personal
information and changed the subject.
John began to sweat and his thoughts turned nervously to his wallet and all the money he
was carrying. He desperately tried to remember what the newscaster had he said earlier about a
robbery. Don’t be ridiculous! He thought himself. Stop imagining things! This guy isn’t a
criminal. What’s the use of panicking?
Even though he had quit smoking three months before, John felt like having a cigarette.
He asked his passenger for one but before lightning it he had to wait for his hands to stop
shaking. At the next small town John stopped the car and said, “I just can’t seem to stay awake. I
think I’ll try and find a hotel and spend the night here.” He apologized nervously to the
hitchhiker for not being able to drive him to Woodsville.
The young man slowly reached into his pocket. “This is it!” thought John. “ I’m a dead
man.” At that very moment he considered shouting for help, but instead of a gun or a knife, the
hitchhiker pulled out several wrinkled bills and offered them to John. “Oh no. I don’t want your
money. Just get out. Okay?”
The young man looked puzzled, but insisted on giving John the money - $500. “My
father is John Baresford, the oil millionaire, you see,” he said. “Thanks for taking me this far.”
John waited until his passenger had disappeared from sight, then he stepped on the gas
and drove out of town. He was looking forward to getting home. Martha will never believe this!
He thought to himself.
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• COMPREHENSION
• GRAMMAR
GERUND CONSTRUCTIONS (Construcţii gerunziale)
În limba engleză există unele verbe, construcţii şi expresii care sunt obligatoriu urmate de
gerunziu, cum ar fi:
Verbe: Stop, finish, quit, start, begin, like, love, enjoy, hate, detest, dislike, avoid, miss,
deny, remember, admit, consider
Verbe cu prepoziţie: give up, keep on, look forward to, put off, apologize for, think of,
insist on, feel like, accuse (someone) from, thank (someone) for
Expresii: can’t hel, can’t stand, what’s use of, have trouble / difficulty (in).
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I. Expand the following cues by providing the appropriate verb.
II. Combine the following sentences using the verb in parentheses and when.
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III. Fill in the blanks with an appropriate verb in the gerund form.
• VOCABULARY
Exercise
Make up polite requests according to the model,using the following cues:
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PROGRESS TEST II
I. Complete the following sentences using the Past Perfect of the verbs in brackets:
46
IV. Fill in the blanks with an appropriate verb in the Gerund:
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Minimal List of Irregular Verbs
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to spend spent spent a petrece (timpul)
a cheltui
to stand stood stood a sta
(în picioare)
to steal stole stolen a fura
to take took taken a lua
to teach taught taught a învăţa (pe
cineva)
to think thought thought a (se) gândi
a crede
to throw threw thrown a arunca
to understand understood understood a înţelege
to wear wore worn a purta
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BIBLIOGRAFIE
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