Episode 10: Family matters

Episode 10: Family matters

Harry wants to meet Bindyu's parents but she fears that her family won't like him. Why?

Do the Preparation task first. Then listen to the audio. Next go to each Task and do the activity. If you need help, you can read the Transcript at any time.

Preparation

Before you listen

We suggest you do the vocabulary activity below before you listen. Then listen to the episode and do the first tasks to check your understanding. Finally, practise some vocabulary and grammar.

Exercise

Transcript

Olivia: Hey, Harry! How’s it going?

Harry: Not bad, thanks.

Olivia: Are you a millionaire yet?

Harry: Eh? What? Oh ... Fadi’s “FindLondon” business. Actually it’s going pretty well – we’ve set up a website and now we’re taking lots of enquiries, there’s a lot of interest. But I’m only an investor, you know. It’s not my real job.

Olivia: Sounds even better – if you can make money without working!

Harry: Yeah! I guess that’s the plan. That’s Fadi’s plan anyhow! But, as your friend Magda says, there’s more to life than money.

Olivia: Well, that’s certainly true.

Harry: I mean, I want to spend more time with Bindyu – that’s what makes me really happy ...

Olivia: Why don’t you just go out more together?

Harry: Well, we see each other most days ... but it’s not that ...

Olivia: What is it then?

Harry: I’d like to take our relationship a bit more seriously.

Olivia: But?

Harry: But she doesn’t want me to meet her parents.

Olivia: Oh, I see. Why not?

Harry: That’s just it. I don’t know really. I think she’s embarrassed by me, or ashamed of me ... or something ...

Olivia: No! That can’t be true! Why do you think that?

Harry: I don’t know. Perhaps I’m not rich enough, or successful enough. You know, I’m just an ordinary London guy. Anyhow, I must be off now – if you see Bindyu, let her know I was looking for her!

Olivia: Will do! Bye!

Bindyu: Hey there!

Olivia: Hello! Oh, Harry was just in here looking for you.

Bindyu: I knew it! I meant to catch him – but just missed him!

Olivia: He was talking about you, actually.

Bindyu: Oh yeah? All good things I hope.

Olivia: Yes, but ...

Bindyu: But? You mean there’s a “but”?

Olivia: Yeah. He thinks you’re not taking the relationship as seriously as he wants.

Bindyu: Oh no! That’s not true ... Why does he think that?

Olivia: He thinks you don’t want him to meet your family.

Bindyu: Oh, I see. It’s not that I don’t want him to meet my parents, it’s just that it’s ...

Olivia: What?

Bindyu: It’s just difficult, that’s all.

Olivia: Why?

Bindyu: Well ... you know ... We’re so different ... from different backgrounds ... and my family are very traditional.

Olivia: I see ... Still, perhaps you should try.

Bindyu: Yeah – maybe you’re right. I’ll try.

Task 1

Task 2

Sometimes a root verb can have two adjective forms; one ending in -ing and the other ending in -ed. Look at these two sentences.

Bindyu is worried about Harry meeting her family.
It is a worrying situation.

We use an adjective with -ed to describe a feeling.
We use an adjective with -ing to describe something that produces a feeling.

Exercise

Task 3

Task 4

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Language level

Average: 4.4 (7 votes)
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Submitted by vishnu_saddikuti on Wed, 10/11/2021 - 05:36

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I think "a lot of money" for 5th and "make someone happy" for the last blank also works.

Hello vishnu_saddikuti,

I agree with you. You could switch those answers and they would still make sense. Well spotted!

Peter
The LearnEnglish Team

Submitted by User_User on Fri, 23/10/2020 - 16:55

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Hello In task 2 there are the two adjective forms beeing described. I've done the exercises in task 2 and 3 without these rules. I've heard enough English to be correct by heart. If I only knew the rules and I applied them, it would slow me down very much. If I had a conversation, the other person would be bored because I would have to stop too often to figure out which form I must use. Bye

Submitted by Bruno2020 on Wed, 01/07/2020 - 20:28

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Thanks for the episode.

Submitted by jmajo on Wed, 11/12/2019 - 13:59

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Thanks for the episode!. :)