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Unit 15: Have something done
Learn tips to remember irregular verbs

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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
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  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

Something's making Peter very sad and everyone is trying to cheer him up. What is it that's made him so miserable? Watch and learn some sadness-related expressions.

Sessions in this unit

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    Activity 1
  1. Activity 1

Activity 1

Drama: The White Elephant

Episode 15: Sad

Peter, the waiter, isn't happy. Somebody called Edith has died and the team are doing their best to comfort Peter with some wise words. Can grumpy Gordon think of a nice thing to say? And who is Edith anyway? Find out in this episode and listen out for the phrases related to sadness.

Watch the video and complete the activity

Show transcript Hide transcript

Gordon
Oh… you've got a face like a wet weekend. Keep it down will you, I'm trying to cook here.

Ceilia, it's Peter – he's feeling blue, sort him out will you?

Ceilia
Oh Peter, you seem down in the dumps.

Peter
Yes, it's Edith… She's dead.

Gordon
Who's Edith?

Ceilia
I'm not sure… but I think it's his mother.

Gordon
Sorry old chap. That's terrible news. I understand why you're so downhearted. Were you close to Edith?

Peter
Yes. I'd talk to her every day and watch her go round and round. She was a great swimmer.

Gordon
Oh. Don't cry your eyes out. Worse things happen at sea. Shall I get you a glass of wine?

Ceilia
This must be a very upsetting time for you. Would you like some time off?

Mary
What's going on? Is Peter ok?

Gordon
It's Peter - his mother's died. He's beside himself with grief. I've given him a glass of wine.

Peter
Edith! Edith!

Mary
Edith? Did he just say Edith?

Ceilia
Yes.

Mary
Edith is the name of his pet goldfish. Peter, has your goldfish died?

Peter
Yes.

Gordon
Great! You've got a dead fish, I could use it in my fish pie.

Mary
Gordon!

Download

You can download the drama from our Unit 15 downloads page.

Vocabulary

a face like a wet weekend
a miserable and sad appearance

feeling blue
feeling sad

down in the dumps
feeling miserable or unhappy

downhearted
sad and having no hope

cry your eyes out
cry a lot

worse things happen at sea
don't worry too much about your own problems

beside himself with grief
very upset because someone has died

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 15?

Congratulations you completed the Quiz
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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, a large group of people has booked to eat at The White Elephant – how will the team cope with this many people? They're going to have to keep calm... but that's not easy when Gordon is the chef!

Session Vocabulary

  • a face like a wet weekend
    a miserable and sad appearance

    feeling blue
    feeling sad

    down in the dumps
    feeling sad

    downhearted
    sad and having no hope

    cry your eyes out
    cry a lot

    worse things happen at sea
    don't worry too much about your own problems

    beside himself with grief
    very upset because someone has died

View full vocabulary reference

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