Unit 8: Mixed conditionals
Stop using the present perfect too much!
Select a unit
- 1 Go beyond intermediate with our new video course
- 2 Reported speech in 90 seconds!
- 3 If or whether?
- 4 5 ways to use 'would'
- 5 Let and allow
- 6 Passive voice
- 7 Unless
- 8 Mixed conditionals
- 9 The zero article - in 90 seconds
- 10 The indefinite article - in 90 seconds
- 11 The. That's right - the! Learn all about it in 90 seconds
- 12 The continuous passive
- 13 Future perfect
- 14 Need + verb-ing
- 15 Have something done
- 16 Wish
- 17 Word stress
- 18 Different ways of saying 'if'
- 19 Passive reporting structures
- 20 The subjunctive
- 21 When and if
- 22 Inversion
- 23 Phrasal verbs
- 24 The future
- 25 Modals in the past
- 26 Narrative tenses
- 27 Phrasal verb myths
- 28 Conditionals review
- 29 Used to - review
- 30 Linking words of contrast
Session 5
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? Watch and learn some useful everyday phrases related to being lucky.
Activity 1
Drama: The White Elephant
Episode 8: Lucky
Gordon is preparing something special for the customers but there's one ingredient that might not be to everybody's taste. Find out what happens and see why Mary's washing-up skills come in very useful.
Watch the video and complete the activity
Gordon
Mary, today is your lucky day!
Mary
Oh really Gordon, why's that?
Gordon
I have made a fabulous meal using just one large pan. So not much washing-up for you!
Mary
Oh, lucky me!
Gordon
Yes and it's nearly ready - just one more chilli for luck. Peter!
Peter
Yes Mr Gordon... you called?
Gordon
I want you to take that pan to table 3 and watch their faces light up with amazement. Be careful!
Mary
Do you want a hand?
Peter
It's OK Mary, leave this with me.
Gordon
This is my signature dish - the recipe fell into my lap years ago when I worked at one of the world's top restaurants - you wouldn't have heard of it.
Mary
Oh wouldn't I? Well, it has got a lot of chilli in it so it's not to everyone's taste.
Peter
Water! Water!
Gordon
Where's the fire? Where's the fire?
Peter
No fire... chilli... too much chilli. They don't like it...
Gordon
Idiots! They don't know good food when they've seen it!
Peter
They want something plain... simpler...
Gordon
Boring you mean. Right, I'll have to make spaghetti bolognaise. Well, now I'll need some pots and pans...
Mary
There's a stroke of luck - I've washed all these!
... better luck next time!
Download
You can download the drama from our Unit 8 downloads page.
Vocabulary
(someone's) lucky day
a day when good things will happen to someone
one more (something) for luck
an extra (something) for good fortune
light up
(here) suddenly look happy or amazed
fell into my lap
obtained without any effort
a stroke of luck
a good thing that's happened unexpectedly
better luck next time
(an expression of encouragement or sarcasm)
hope you have more success next time
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 8?
Help
Activity
How much did you understand in The White Elephant: Episode 8?
Hint
It's not listed in the recipe!Question 1 of 3
Help
Activity
How much did you understand in The White Elephant: Episode 8?
Hint
There was less work for her to do.Question 2 of 3
Help
Activity
How much did you understand in The White Elephant: Episode 8?
Hint
Look at the vocabulary reference.Question 3 of 3
Excellent! Great job! Bad luck! You scored:
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, Ceilia has a secret she can't keep to herself but what happens when she tells someone in confidence? Find out in the next episode of The White Elephant.
Session Vocabulary
(someone's) lucky day
a day when good things will happen to someone
one more (something) for luck
an extra (something) for good fortune
light up
(here) suddenly look happy or amazedfell into my lap
obtained without any efforta stroke of luck
a good thing that's happened unexpectedlybetter luck next time
(an expression of encouragement or sarcasm)
hope you have more success next time