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Unit 16: Wish
Which tense should I use?

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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

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! Watch the story and learn some phrases about keeping calm.

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    Activity 1
  1. Activity 1

Activity 1

Drama: The White Elephant

Episode 16: Calm!

Don't panic! Twenty-five people are heading for The White Elephant. Will Gordon really be able to cook for this many people? And how will Peter get all the orders written on his small notepad? Everyone needs to keep calm if they want this to go well. Listen out for the phrases related to keeping calm.

Watch the video and complete the activity

Show transcript Hide transcript

Gordon
Mary, could you pass me that pan there please?

Mary
Yes… of course.

Gordon
You've got no customers to serve, Peter?

Peter
No… nobody.

Ceilia
It's probably the calm before the storm!

Gordon
If by that you mean it's going to get busy later, I very much doubt it.

Ceilia
Thanks for your vote of confidence Gordon.

[The phone rings]

Peter
I'll get that, shall I? "The White Elephant… how can I help you? Ok… yes… at 8 o'clock? Ok… We'll see you then." People… customers… now!

Ceilia
Well that's good news isn't it? How many are coming?

Peter
Twenty-five! In a bus! In one hour!

Gordon
That's impossible. How can I cook for 25 people? I do quality, not quantity.

Ceilia
Keep your cool, Gordon. This is our big moment.

Gordon
Our big moment? It'll be our big failure. Why did you say 'yes' Peter?

Mary
Stay calm! We can do this but you're going to need to let me help you. I'll chop some vegetables and prepare some starters.

Peter
But how I am going to write down 25 orders? I've only got a small pad.

Ceilia
Well done Mary. See, she's got it all under control.

Gordon
Under control! Chopping some carrots will not feed 25 people!

Mary
My advice Gordon is to act cool and collected and everything will be ok.

[Phone rings again]

Gordon
Somebody answer that phone, I'm going to get some onions.

Peter
I'm on it. "Hello… The White Elephant… oh yes… yes… I see… I hope you get it fixed… thanks for letting us know. Bye". That was people from the bus… they've broken down and won't be able to come tonight.

Mary
Oh no, that's a shame. We'd better tell Gordon before he blows a gasket!

Ceilia
Hmmm… let's not tell him straight away!

Download

You can download the drama from our Unit 16 downloads page.

Vocabulary

the calm before the storm
a quiet time before things get very busy or difficult

keep your cool 
don't panic / don't get angry

stay calm
don't panic

under control
sorted out in a calm way

act cool and collected
behave in a calm and composed manner

blows a gasket
suddenly becomes angry

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 16?

Congratulations you completed the Quiz
Excellent! Great job! Bad luck! You scored:
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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, Gordon's preparing something special in the kitchen but unfortunately there's one ingredient he's had too much of. What will the customers make of his new dish?

Session Grammar

View full grammar reference

Session Vocabulary

  • the calm before the storm
    a quiet time before things get very busy or difficult

    keep your cool
    stay calm in a difficult situation

    stay calm
    don't get in a panic/emotional

    under control
    sorted out in a calm way

    act cool and collected
    behave in a calm and composed manner

    blows a gasket
    suddenly becomes angry

View full vocabulary reference

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