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Unit 10: The indefinite article - in 90 seconds
Learn the most common sound in English to improve your pronunciation!

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  1. 1 Go beyond intermediate with our new video course
  2. 2 Reported speech in 90 seconds!
  3. 3 If or whether?
  4. 4 5 ways to use 'would'
  5. 5 Let and allow
  6. 6 Passive voice
  7. 7 Unless
  8. 8 Mixed conditionals
  9. 9 The zero article - in 90 seconds
  10. 10 The indefinite article - in 90 seconds
  11. 11 The. That's right - the! Learn all about it in 90 seconds
  12. 12 The continuous passive
  13. 13 Future perfect
  14. 14 Need + verb-ing
  15. 15 Have something done
  16. 16 Wish
  17. 17 Word stress
  18. 18 Different ways of saying 'if'
  19. 19 Passive reporting structures
  20. 20 The subjunctive
  21. 21 When and if
  22. 22 Inversion
  23. 23 Phrasal verbs
  24. 24 The future
  25. 25 Modals in the past
  26. 26 Narrative tenses
  27. 27 Phrasal verb myths
  28. 28 Conditionals review
  29. 29 Used to - review
  30. 30 Linking words of contrast

Session 5

At The White Elephant restaurant, something is making Gordon angrier than usual. What is it that's driving him up the wall? Watch and learn some useful everyday phrases related to being angry.

Sessions in this unit

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Session 5 score

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    Activity 1
  1. Activity 1

Activity 1

Drama: The White Elephant

Episode 10: Angry

Gordon, the chef, is usually an angry man but something in the kitchen has made him angrier than usual. Who can calm him down and get him cooking again before another customer disappears?

Watch the video and complete the activity

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Gordon
That's it... I've had it up to here.

Ceilia
Gordon, you seem angrier than normal?

Gordon
How can I work in these conditions? With stuff everywhere and the noise - it is driving me up the wall! Why can't I work in a professional kitchen like I used to?

Ceilia
Because you got the sack.

Gordon
We had creative differences that's all. 

Ceilia
OK, OK... but don't blow a fuse.

Gordon
Anyway I'm fed up to the back teeth with it, I've had enough.

Peter
Oh, he's like a bear with a sore head!

Mary
Yes he does seem to be at the end of his tether. Ceilia, have you got anybody else who can do the cooking tonight?

Ceilia
No! The stand-by chef has got shingles. We can't be open today without a chef.

Peter
I could have a go - I cooked a pizza once - although it was a frozen one from the supermarket.

Mary
It's OK Peter, I'll go and talk to him.

Gordon
I'm sorry for losing it. I just wanted to let you know how I felt.

Ceilia
We understand... OK are you ready to start preparing food?

Gordon
Yes, of course. I'm going to make one of my special beef Wellingtons.

Ceilia
What did you say to him?

Mary
I just told him that a very important food critic had booked a table here tonight and might be writing about his food.

Ceilia
But we don't have any reservations tonight do we?

Mary
He doesn't need to know that!

Download

You can download the drama from our Unit 10 downloads page.

Vocabulary

I've had it up to here
I have suffered enough because of something or someone

it's driving me up the wall
it's making me very angry

don't blow a fuse!
don't lose your temper

fed up to the back teeth
angry because a situation has continued for too long

like a bear with a sore head!
in a very bad mood

at the end of his tether
so annoyed he can't carry on

losing it
becoming very angry or upset

To do

See how much you understood from the story by answering these questions...

White Elephant quiz

3 Questions

How much did you understand in The White Elephant: Episode 10?

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Credits

Gordon Grater: Neil Frost

Ceilia Spatula: Amina Zia

Peter Peppermill: Darren Benedict

Marigold Marcelo (Mary for short): Stacha Hicks

Written, produced and directed by: Rob Carter

More

You can find our other BBC Learning English dramas on our Drama page.

End of Session 5

Next time, everyone celebrates Mary's success except Gordon who thinks nobody is more successful than he is. Find out his reasons in the next episode.

Session Grammar

View full grammar reference

Session Vocabulary

  • I've had it up to here
    I have suffered enough because of something or someone

    it's driving me up the wall
    it's making me very angry

    don't blow a fuse!
    don't lose your temper

    fed up to the back teeth
    angry because a situation has continued for too long

    like a bear with a sore head!
    in a very bad mood

    at the end of his tether
    so annoyed he can't carry on

    losing it
    becoming very angry or upset

View full vocabulary reference

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