Ashlie: Wow, Stephen. Here we are, the RSC, the Royal Shakespeare Company.
Stephen: It’s such a famous theatre. All the greatest actors have played Shakespeare here. I’m getting a bit nervous now.
Ashlie: You’ll be fine, you’re so lucky - it is an amazing place to perform. I am getting a bit jealous now! Can I have your autograph?
Stephen: Stop it. I’d better go in and find the director. Are you going to be okay on your own?
Ashlie: Don’t be silly, I’ll be fine. I’ll just go and do the tourist thing around Stratford. I think I’ll visit the house where Shakespeare was born.
Stephen: Okay, I’ll call you later and tell you when the play starts.
Ashlie: Ah, I can’t wait to see you on stage. Good luck!
Stephen: Thanks, bye.
Ashlie: Bye.
......
Romeo: But soft! What light through yonder window breaks? It is the East and Juliet is the sun. Arise fair sun and kill the envious moon.
Ashlie: Me?
Romeo: See how she leans her cheek upon her hand: O that I were a glove upon that hand, that I might touch that cheek!
Ashlie: Oh, alright then. Romeo, Romeo, wherefore art thou Romeo? Deny thy father and refuse thy name. Or if thou wilt not, be but sworn my love. And I’ll no longer be a Capulet.
Romeo: Shall I hear more? Shall I speak at this?
Ashlie: Thanks, that was really good fun.
Romeo: You were really good. You’re a great actress.
Ashlie: Thank you, I really enjoyed it. So do you always play Romeo and Juliet here?
Romeo: No, it varies, we might do Macbeth next.
Ashlie: I think I’d better go then before you ask me to be one of the witches. I have to go and meet my brother soon anyway. He’s performing with the Royal Shakespeare Company.
Romeo: Lucky him. But you’re welcome here any time.
Ashlie: Sorry. Hi, Stephen, you’ll never guess. I actually got to do some Shakespeare too... I was Juliet. It was fantastic... So how’s it going? Well, do you want me to come over? Well, okay…
Romeo: What’s up?
Ashlie: It’s Stephen, I don’t think he wants me to go over and watch him, but - it must just be first night nerves. I think I’m going to go anyway and surprise him.
Romeo: OK. Bye!
Ashlie: Thanks again, then. Bye.
......
Ashlie: Excuse me. Do you know when the show starts?
Stephen: Hi, Ash.
Ashlie: Stephen, you really are playing Shakespeare, then! Come on.
Comments
Hello Peter.
Could you tell me where the information about had better is?
Thank you.
Paty
Hello Paty,
I don't think we've got a page dealing with that particular phrase. It's used to give advice about the present or future, especially in response to some situation. The form is 'had better + infinitive (without 'to'). For example:
(a person coughs)
You had better go to the doctor. That sounds serious.
(the sky becomes overcast)
We'd better go inside. It's going to rain.
Best wishes,
Peter
The LearnEnglish Team
Thank you very much Peter.
Best wishes,
Paty
Just a quick question about the music at the beginning of this video? Do you know the name of it? Is it an old English melody? Thanks!
Dear Sir,
I'd like to ask a question. What I want to know is about proposition 'for'.
My sentence is true or false, if I write like this?: Our company is offering 2% discount for Top Up Cards.
And can I use (off)or (on) instead of (for)?
If I made a mistake, please, make me true.
Hello mgkoko,
I would not use 'for' in this sentence. You can say:
'...offering a 2% discount on...'
'...offering a discount of 2% on...'
'...offering 2% off...'
Best wishes,
Peter
The LearnEnglish Team
So, no way to use like this?: Our company is offering 2 % discount off Top Up Cards.
Hello Ko Ko,
As Peter suggested, yes, you can say it the way you propose, though I would suggest putting the indefinite article a before 2%: "Our company is offering a 2% discount off Top Up Cards."
Best wishes,
Kirk
The LearnEnglish Team
Dear Sir,
I don't understand Ashlie's ancient words:
Ashlie: Oh, alright then. Romeo, Romeo, wherefore art thou Romeo? Deny thy father and refuse thy name. Or if thou wilt not, be but sworn my love. And I’ll no longer be a Capulet.
Please, help me to translate in simple English.
Sincerely,
KO KO
Hi Ko Ko,
Yes, English has changed since Shakespeare's time! "wherefore" means "where", and "art thou" means "are you", so the first question means "where are you?"
"thy" means "your". "deny" and "refuse" have not changed in meaning - you can find them in our dictionary (on the right side of this page). In this sentence, she is asking Romeo to separate from his family (Montague), which is an enemy of her family (Capulet).
"if thou wilt not" means "if you won't (do this)". "be but sworn my love" means "if you swear (promise) to be my love". So here she says that if Romeo doesn't want to deny his family but promises that he loves her, then she will deny her family ("I'll no longer be a Capulet") so that they can be together. As she sees it, one of them must deny their family for them to be together.
Hope this helps!
Best regards,
Kirk
The LearnEnglish Team
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