Close menu
4

Unit 4: 5 ways to use 'would'
Pronunciation : sound like a native English speaker

Select a unit

  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

The kitchen of The White Elephant restaurant is a busy place - and Gordon the chef doesn't like it. Watch and learn some useful everyday phrases related to being annoyed.

Sessions in this unit

12345

Session 5 score

0 / 3

  • 0 / 3
    Activity 1
  1. Activity 1

Activity 1

Drama: The White Elephant

Episode 4: Annoyed

Poor Gordon - he just wants to cook but there's so much activity in the kitchen he's getting annoyed again. What's making his blood boil - and what does Ceilia, the boss, reveal about her past with Gordon? Find out by watching episode four and listen out for the phrases they used to talk about being annoyed.

Watch the video and complete the activity

Show transcript Hide transcript

Mary
Are you OK, Gordon?

Gordon
Yes. Just leave me to cook.

Mary
OK, don't bite my head off.

Ceilia
Is everything OK?

Gordon
It's this recipe - I can't get it right. It's doing my head in.

Ceilia
Maybe I could help?

Gordon
What do you know about cooking?! Don't forget: I'm the chef.

Ceilia
Well, I used to cook for you at home, when we were married - before I became your boss.

Gordon
That was beans on toast - this is very different.

Peter
Table three... or is it two... wants to know where their food is.

Ceilia
Maybe I could just help you...

Gordon
For crying out loud! You're driving me crackers! You've ruined it! What am I going to do now?

Peter
Maybe... I could go and get something ready-made from the supermarket?

Gordon
From the supermarket!!! Don't make my blood boil more than it already is. Do you think world-class chefs buy ready meals from the supermarket? Honestly!

Mary
OK, don't blow your top. When I was young my mum would add a spoonful of mustard into all her cooking and it made everything taste so nice. Now, why not give that a go?

Ceilia
Go on Gordon, give that a go, and maybe it will stop you getting so hot under the collar. 

Gordon
Very well. Hmm, doesn't taste bad. I think I've created something good here.

Peter
Well done Mary - we should name the dish 'The Mary Miracle Meal' after you!

Gordon
No, I don't think so. We'll call it 'Gordon's Greatest Goulash'.

Download

You can download the drama from our Unit 4 downloads page.

Vocabulary 

don't bite my head off
don't speak to me in an angry way

it's doing my head in
it's making me annoyed and angry

for crying out loud!
said by someone to express their annoyance or irritation

you're driving me crackers!
you're making me annoyed

don't make my blood boil
don't make me angry

don't blow your top
don't get angry

hot under the collar
annoyed or 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 4?

Congratulations you completed the Quiz
Excellent! Great job! Bad luck! You scored:
x / y

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

In the next episode of The White Elephant, Gordon is unusually happy. What's making him so cheerful - and how long will it last?

Session Grammar

View full grammar reference

Session Vocabulary

  • don't bite my head off
    don't speak to me in an angry way

    it's doing my head in
    it's making me annoyed and angry

    for crying out loud!
    said by someone to express their annoyance or irritation

    you're driving me crackers!
    you're making me annoyed

    don't make my blood boil
    don't make me angry

    don't blow your top
    don't get angry

    hot under the collar
    annoyed or angry

View full vocabulary reference

Download centre

Latest course content