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Unit 7: Unless
Tips for answering negative questions

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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

The White Elephant restaurant finally gets some customers but Gordon is late and they have to wait for their food. What can be done to stop them from leaving? Watch and learn some useful everyday phrases related to being late.

Sessions in this unit

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    Activity 1
  1. Activity 1

Activity 1

Drama: The White Elephant

Episode 7: Late!

Oh no, there are three customers in the restaurant and no chef to cook any food. While Peter panics, Ceilia tries to find a solution and Mary helps get the kitchen ready. But when Gordon finally turns up, will there be any customers to cook any food for? Find out in this episode.

Watch the video and complete the activity

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Ceilia
Has anyone seen Gordon at all?

Mary
He hasn't arrived yet.

Peter
Oh no! We've got three customers all at once – what are we going to do?

Ceilia
Calm down Peter. Have you given them all menus?

Peter
No! I haven't...

Ceilia
Oh dear - it's 7 o'clock, where is Gordon? (Her mobile phone beeps) Oh he's sent a text... he's broken down and he's going to be late. That's all I need. I'm going to have to call in the emergency chef...

Mary
I'll heat up the oven... and get the plates ready... and offer the customers a free glass of wine...

Ceilia
Great idea. And I'll hold the fort. Oh come on Gordon... this feels like an eternity.

Peter
They've already chosen what they want - 1 beef, 2 duck, 1 salad... or is it 1 duck, 2 beef...? Where is Gordon? What am I going to say to them? Oh dear.

Mary
Wine... (she gives a glass of wine to Peter)

Peter
Thank you (he drinks it).

Mary
That was for the customer.

Peter
Oh sorry.

Mary
Take this one to them... and tell them there'll be a slight delay while we search for the freshest ingredients.

Ceilia
Better late than never - we've got a big order on. You're going to have to make up for lost time.

Gordon
I know. I know. All in good time. Now I'll make one of my special chef sauces shall I? 

Peter
It's a bit late in the day for that.

Gordon
Why?

Peter
Everyone's gone. They said 'time is money', and they've run out of time.

Ceilia
And we're going to run out of money! Can't you just get on the bus next time you come to work Gordon - it's much more reliable.

Peter
You can borrow my bike if you like?

Download

You can download the drama from our Unit 7 downloads page.

Vocabulary

hold the fort
look after something while someone else is away

feels like an eternity
feels like a long time

better late than never
it is good someone has arrived rather than not at all

to make up for lost time
spend lots of time doing something now because it wasn't done earlier

all in good time
there is no need to hurry

late in the day
too late to do anything about it

time is money
time wasted could be used earning money

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 7?

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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 at The White Elephant restaurant, Gordon thinks it's a lucky day as he prepares a special dish but will his luck run out when the customers get to taste it?

Session Grammar

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Session Vocabulary

  • hold the fort
    look after something while someone else is away

    feels like an eternity
    feels like a long time

    better late than never
    it is good someone has arrived rather than not at all

    to make up for lost time 
    spend lots of time doing something now because it wasn't done earlier

    all in good time
    there is no need to hurry

    late in the day 
    too late to do anything about it

    time is money
    time wasted could be used earning money

View full vocabulary reference

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