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17

Unit 17: Word stress
Learn about participle clauses... and word stress!

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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

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? Learn some phrases related to timing.

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    Activity 1
  1. Activity 1

Activity 1

Drama: The White Elephant

Episode 17: Timing

Something smells good in the kitchen – Gordon is preparing a special meal but unfortunately the red wine he's using isn't going into the cooking pot. Will the customers ever get to taste it – and will they want to? Watch this episode and listen out for the phrases related to timing.

Watch the video and complete the activity

Show transcript Hide transcript

Ceilia
Something smells nice.

Gordon
Ah, that'll be my 'coq au vin' – I've created a superior dish to attract a better type of customer.

Ceilia
It's about time you did. I'm glad that we actually have got a customer tonight so make it snappy otherwise they'll escape.

Gordon
Ceilia, it can take all the time in the world to make something as special as this. Now, one for the pot… and one for me.

Peter
Customer on table four says they haven't got all day so hurry up.

Ceilia
Give them this to keep them sweet.

Gordon
I'll take that thank you… for the food of course.

Ceilia
Come on Gordon, every second counts. Oh, thank goodness you're here Mary. Just in the nick of time. I think I'm going to need your help.

Gordon
Ah, lovely Mary… did I ever tell you, I love those rubbery gloves?

Ceilia
There's a customer out there who's waiting for his food and Gordon is in no fit state to cook.

Gordon
Mary, have you tried my coq au vin?

Mary
Hmm, right. Leave this to me.

Peter
The customer's not happy… he says he's only going to wait for five more minutes.

Ceilia
It's a race against time. Mary, can you do it?

Gordon
You smell lovely.

Mary
Made it – with seconds to spare!

Peter
That was a close one.

Gordon
Smells delicious… that's better!

Download

You can download the drama from our Unit 17 downloads page.

Vocabulary

it's about time
you should have done this earlier

make it snappy
be quick

all the time in the world
lots of time available to do something

every second counts
don't waste any time

in the nick of time
at the last moment

it's a race against time
there's a limited amount of time to finish something

with seconds to spare
just in time

that was a close one
we just managed to avoid something bad happening

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 17?

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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, there's an important customer in the restaurant that Gordon wants to impress. Can he cook something that will 'exceed his expectations'?

Session Grammar

View full grammar reference

Session Vocabulary

  • it's about time
    you should have done this earlier

    make it snappy
    be quick

    all the time in the world
    lots of time available to do something

    every second counts
    don't waste any time

    in the nick of time
    at the last moment

    it's a race against time
    there's a limited amount of time to finish something

    with seconds to spare
    just in time

    that was a close one
    we just managed to avoid something bad happening

View full vocabulary reference

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