UNIT 26 1

Original Weddings

Tom - Margaret! I have just read an article about original

weddings. It speaks about a couple that got married in

an aeroplane. Would you like to do that? Marg. - Oh no! I wouldn’t like it at all. Tom - Well, the article speaks about another couple who got

married under water. In a lake. Would you prefer that?

Marg. - No! I wouldn’t like that either! Why do you ask me

such silly questions, Tom? I would like to have a normal wedding, of course.

Tom - Oh, but listen to this… Would you like to get married on the top of a

mountain? - or in a car going at full speed? - or - Marg. - What nonsense! What absolute nonsense! Tom - Don’t interrupt me! And don’t get excited, darling!

What do you think about a wedding in a spaceship?

Our names would be in all the papers!

And our families would be so proud of us!

People would point at us and say, “Look! Look! The

couple that got married in a spaceship!”

Darling! We would be famous! Reporters would ask us

for interviews!

Other couples would imitate us! We would start a new

fashion in weddings! Marg. - Oh, stop! Please stop! Tom - I know what we could do! We could get married in a

rocket - on its way to the moon! Miss Margaret

Taylor would get into the rocket - and Mrs Margaret

Hudson would land on the moon! Wouldn’t that be

splendid, darling? Marg. - No! It wouldn’t be splendid at all!

>>>

UNIT 26 2

(continuation) Original Weddings

Tom - What? Do you mean that you don’t want to be Mrs

Hudson? And all this time I believed that you loved

me! Marg. - Oh, Tom! I didn’t mean that! Tom - Then what’s the matter? Why are you crying? Marg. - Because I don’t want to go to the moon! Oh, Tom!

Please don’t say such things! Tom - Then what kind of a wedding do you want? Marg. - In a church, of course! With a white dress - and a

long veil - and lovely flowers - and all my friends -

and champagne - and a big wedding cake… and we

couldn’t have all those things on the - moon - Tom - All right! All right! Don’t cry! We’ll keep all those ideas

for our children’s weddings. Marg. - O-h-h-h! You were only joking! Tom - My poor little Margaret! Of course I was only joking! Marg. - Oh! Why can’t you be more serious? Tom - Because I’m Tom Hudson, I suppose.

Carmelo Mangano – http://www.englishforitalians.com

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UNIT 26 3

conditional

Fino ad alcuni anni fa, con i pronomi “I” e “we”, si considerava corretto usare “should”.

I should go = io andrei

you would go = tu andresti

he would go = egli andrebbe ecc. we should go

you would go

they would go

Oggigiorno la maggior parte delle persone usano “would” dopo

“I” e “we”, e non è considerato errore.

forma positiva forma contratta

I would go I’d go

you would go you’d go

he would go he’d go

we would go we’d go

you would go you’d go

they would go they’d go

forma interrogativa forma negativa would I go I would not go would you go you would not go would he go he would not go would we go we would not go would you go you would not go would they go they would not go

forma negativa contratta I wouldn’t go you wouldn’t go he wouldn’t go

we wouldn’t go you wouldn’t go they wouldn’t go

<<< >>> <<< >>> <<< >>>

UNIT 26 4

conditional

La forma contratta di “had” e quella di “would” sono uguali.

I would = I’d I had = I’d

Per non confonderle basta osservare che “would” è seguito dalla forma base del verbo...

I would study = I’d study (io studierei)

… mentre “had” è seguito da un participio passato.

I had studied = I’d studied (io avevo studiato)

<<<☺☺☺☺>>>

conditional sentences = frasi condizionali

1. present future If you study… you will pass your exam. (Se studi… passerai il tuo esame.)

2. past present conditional If you studied… you would pass your exam. (Se studiassi… passeresti il tuo esame.)

3. past perfect past conditional If you had studied… you would have passed your exam. (Se avessi studiato… avresti passato il tuo esame.)

<<< >>> <<< >>> <<< >>>

UNIT 26 5

conditional sentences Tom

When Tom was only a schoolboy, his father said to him one day, “If you study, you will pass your examinations… but if you don’t study enough, you won’t pass them.

Now Tom knew very well that if he studied, he would pass

his exams, but if he didn’t study, he wouldn’t pass them.

But boys are often very foolish and so, instead of studying, he spent his time playing football or going to the cinema.

That year, Tom failed most of his examinations. But his

brother James, who hadn’t wasted time playing, passed all his examinations with good marks.

Then Tom understood how foolish he had been and said

sadly, “If I had studied, I would have passed my exams too.” ===

to fail an examination = non passare un esame

marks = voti

Millie

- Last Sunday I made such a nice dish for lunch (and so economical too!). Just carrots, potatoes, rice and a few mushrooms, all cooked together. Mother gave me the recipe.

If I had bought meat, it would have been much better, of

course, because Robert always wants meat for lunch, especially on Sunday. But I had so little money, and meat is so expensive.

When Robert saw the dish he shouted, “You know that I

hate carrots! Why couldn’t you buy some meat?” “I know that you prefer meat, Robert,” I said, “and if you gave me more money, I would buy meat every day. Then, perhaps we would have a little peace at mealtimes.” After that he didn’t shout any more. He only said, “If I gave you more money, you would only waste it.” What nonsense! I’ve never wasted money in my life.

===

carrot = carota mushroom = fungo recipe = ricetta

<<< >>> <<< >>> <<< >>>

UNIT 26 6

verbi Tom

Se si conosce il paradigma di un verbo, cioè: “base form” -

“past” - “past participle”, si possono formare gli altri tempi.

Paradigma work - worked - worked

infinitive = to work (lavorare)

infinito

gerund = working (lavorando)

gerundio

imperative = Work! Don’t work!

imperativo (Lavora!) (Non lavorare!)

present simple = I work - you work - he works

presente semplice (io lavoro, tu lavori, egli lavora...)

present continuous = I am working - you are working -

presente continuo he is working (io sto lavorando...)

present perfect = I have worked - you have worked -

passato prossimo he has worked - (io ho lavorato...)

past = I worked - you worked - he worked -

passato remoto ( io lavorai...) imperfetto ( io lavoravo...)

past continuous = I was working - you were working - passato continuo he was working - (io stavo lavorando...)

past perfect = I had worked - you had worked - trapassato remoto he had worked trapassato prossimo (io ebbi - io avevo lavorato...)

future = I will work - you will work - he will work

futuro (io lavorerò...)

conditional = I would work - you would work -

condizionale (io lavorerei...)

<<< >>> <<< >>> <<< >>>

UNIT 26 7

just = solo – esattamente - giusto

1. I have just one friend. (solo)

2. I know just ten German words. (esattamente)

3. A judge must always be just. (giusto)

just = appena I have just read an article about original weddings.

Con il “present perfect” si indica un passato immediato.

Debra and her Mother

Mother - Debra, where is Abel? Debra - He has just gone out. Mother - Where has he gone? Debra - He said that he was going out for just an hour. Mother - I really don’t understand this boy. I have just told

him that before going out he had to tidy up his room. But I’ve just been in his room and it is still a mess.

Debra - Don’t worry, Mom, I’m going to do it for him. Mother - No. As soon as he comes back, tell him to tidy up his

room immediately. Debra - All right Mom. ===

to tidy up = ordinare (mettere in ordine) mess = disordine Abel’s room is a mess. or Abel’s room is in a mess.

<<<☺☺☺☺>>> traduzione di “appena”

1. He has just gone out. = E’ appena uscito.

2. As soon as he comes back. = Appena torna.

<<< >>> <<< >>> <<< >>>

UNIT 26 8

to get - got - got

1. to get = to become = diventare

seguito da un aggettivo

> It is getting cold.

I’m getting bored.

When Robert gets hungry, he gets angry too.

Last week Millie was ill in bed, but now she is getting better.

My poor father gets tired very easily lately. He is getting old.

2. to get ricevere - prendere - comprare

ottenere - capire - arrivare seguito da un nome o da un pronome Yesterday Abel got (ricevette) a letter from his cousin Ivan.

- Debra, go and get me (vai a prendermi) a bottle of water, please.

My shoes are getting old, I must get (comprare) a new pair.

When Abel listens to loud music, he gets (prende) a headache.

In winter Millie gets (prende) a cold every week.

- If you speak so fast, I can’t get you (capirti).

- What time shall we get (arriveremo) to Paris?

3. to get (up - out - away - in - down - back - on)…

Il significato di “get” dipende dall’avverbio o preposizione che

segue.

> Abel gets up at seven. si alza He gets out of his house at eight. esce Get away! Vai via! Get in! Entra! Get down! etc. Scendi! ecc.

<<< >>> <<< >>> <<< >>>

UNIT 26 9

to get Abel’s Day

Every day, except on Sunday, Abel gets up at

seven o’clock, puts on his slippers and goes to

the bathroom. He takes off his pyjamas and

gets into the shower.

si alza

si mette nella Ten minutes later, he gets out of the shower,

dries himself, combs his hair and goes back to

the bedroom.

esce

While he dresses, his sister gets breakfast

ready. He doesn’t like to eat in a hurry, and if

his mother says to him, “Hurry up!”, he gets

irritated. And sometimes he even gets angry,

too.

prepara

si irrita

si arrabbia

After breakfast, Abel and Debra go to the bus

stop. When they get there, they find some of

their schoolmates waiting for the bus, too.

arrivano

When the bus arrives, they get on it. If there

isn’t much traffic, in twenty minutes the bus

gets to their school and they get off.

salgono

arriva - scendono Lessons begin at nine and finish at one. At

a quarter past one Abel and his sister get on

the bus again and at about half past one

they get home.

salgono

arrivano a casa

<<<☺☺☺☺>>> I am getting bored. Mi sto annoiando. I am getting tired. Mi sto stancando. They are getting married next summer.

Si sposeranno l’estate prossima.

It is getting late. Si sta facendo tardi. It is getting cold. Incomincia a fare freddo. It is getting hot. Incomincia a fare caldo.

<<< >>> <<< >>> <<< >>>

UNIT 26 10

not… either = nemmeno

I wouldn’t like that either. = Non mi piacerebbe questo nemmeno.

Robert and Millie Millie - Why aren’t you eating your dinner, Robert? Robert - Because I don’t like tuna. Millie - Well, you could eat the lettuce, at least. Robert - I don’t like lettuce either. I’m not a goat. Millie - What about the carrots? They are nice and fresh. Robert - I don’t like carrots either. I’m not a rabbit. ===

tuna = tonno

goat = capra

rabbit = coniglio

<<<☺☺☺☺>>>

1. top = cima the top of a tree - the top of a mountain Tom would like to get married on the top of a mountain.

1. top = parte superiore

at the top of the page - at the bottom of the page

bottom = parte inferiore; fondo the bottom of the sea = il fondo del mare from top to bottom = da cima a fondo top secret = segretissimo top speed = velocità massima

<<<☺☺☺☺>>>

aeroplane = aeroplano (UK) airplane = aeroplano (USA)

<<< >>> <<< >>> <<< >>>

UNIT 26 11

1. way = modo - maniera The best (wrong, right, etc.) way of doing something.

2. way = cammino - via Can you tell me the way to the train station, please?

Tom and Margaret Marg. - Tom dear, if we are going to visit Rome and Athens on

our way home, we will need two good guide books, won’t we?

Tom - Why? We can always ask a policeman to tell us the

way to the things and places that we want to see. Marg. - But the best way of seeing everything interesting is to

buy a guide book, dear. Tom - In a way I suppose you are right. But I have always

found guide books so boring. Marg. - Don’t talk in that silly way. If we lost our way, a guide

book would be very useful to us. Tom - In what way? Marg. - Well, guide books have maps in them, haven’t they? Tom - If we lose our way we can always ask a policeman to

help us, can’t we? ===

guide = guida

Which way? = Da che parte?

This way, please! = Da questa parte, per piacere!

in a way = in certo modo

to lose one’s way = smarrire la strada; smarrirsi

I have lost my way. = Mi sono smarrito.

to lose (lost - lost) = perdere

<<< >>> <<< >>> <<< >>>

UNIT 26 12

traduzione di “terra”

1. earth = terra (globo terrestre) The earth is a planet.

The earth moves round the sun.

2. land = terra (coltivabile o edificabile) A peasant is a person who works on the land. A landowner is a person who owns a lot of land. ===

peasant = contadino

landowner = proprietario terriero

Nota

to land = approdare; atterrare The ship landed at the port of Southampton at 4 p.m. The aeroplane landed at Kennedy airport at 5 a.m.

to take off = decollare

<<<☺☺☺☺>>> speed = velocità at full speed = a tutta velocità (lett. a piena velocità) Tom would like to marry in a car going at full speed.

to speed = guidare più veloce del limite legale di velocità speeding = eccesso di velocità He was fined for speeding. (Lo multarono per eccesso di velocità) If you are driving a car, and you speed, the traffic police may stop you and give you a fine for speeding. ===

fine = multa

<<< >>> <<< >>> <<< >>>

UNIT 26 13

What is the matter? = Cosa c’è che non va?

What is the matter with you? = Che ti succede?

What is wrong? = Cosa c’è che non va?

What is wrong with you? = Che ti succede?

Abel and Debra (Saturday Afternoon)

Debra - What’s the matter Abel? Abel - What do you mean? Debra - What’s wrong with you? It’s Saturday afternoon.

Aren’t you going skating with Barbara? Abel - I don’t think so. Barbara can’t come. Debra - Why? What’s the matter with her? Isn’t she well? Abel - No, she is all right. But there is something wrong

with her skates. Debra - That’s no problem. I can lend her mine. Abel - Are you sure you can? Won’t you need them? Debra - No, I won’t. Abel - Debra, you are the sweetest sister in the world. ===

to lend = dare in prestito to borrow = prendere in prestito There is something wrong… = C’è qualcosa che non va…

*** Remember!

It doesn’t matter. = Non importa. It doesn’t matter to me. (to you, to him, to her, to us, etc.) (Non mi importa. Non ti importa. Non gli importa. ecc.)

<<< >>> <<< >>> <<< >>>

UNIT 26 13

modals

can could may might Esprimono l’idea di “potere”.

must shall should ought to Esprimono l’idea di “dovere”.

will would Esprimono l’idea di “volere”.

I “modals” hanno le seguenti caratteristiche comuni:

1. Alla 3a persona del singolare non prendono la “s”. He can speak French. - He should study more.

2. Nella forma interrogativa precedono il soggetto. Can he speak French?

3. Nella forma negativa aggiungono “not”. He cannot speak German.

4. I “modals” vanno seguiti da un infinito senza “to”. We can go to the cinema.

Eccezione: “ought to” He ought to study more. = Dovrebbe studiare di più.

<<< >>> <<< >>> <<< >>>

UNIT 26 15

modals can - could - to be able

1. “Can” ha solamente due tempi:

present can = posso, so (fare una cosa) past could = potei, potevo - seppi, sapevo

2. Per gli altri tempi si usa “to be able”

infinitive to be able = potere; saper fare qualcosa future I will be able = io potrò

conditional I would be able = io potrei

Attenzione! to can I will can Errore!

I can = I am able (I am able è più formale di I can.)

Margaret can speak French fluently.

A camel is able to go without water for months.

I could = I was able

Se diciamo che qualcuno “was able” di fare qualcosa, vogliamo dire che aveva la capacità di farla e la fece.

1. Last week Debra was able to pass her history examination

with good marks. (…Aveva la capacità e lo fece!)

2. When Tom was at school he was a very intelligent pupil. He could have passed all his examinations with good marks.

(…Poteva averlo fatto ma non sempre lo fece!)

<<< >>> <<< >>> <<< >>>

UNIT 26 16

modals may - might

1. possibilità - probabilità

There are many clouds in the sky. It may rain soon. Ci sono molte nuvole nel cielo. Può piovere presto. (può darsi

che piova)

If we hurry up we might still catch the train. Se ci sbrighiamo potremmo ancora prendere il treno.

***

differenza fra “may” e “might”

may esprime possibilità I may go to Paris next week. (70% di probabilità)

might esprime una possibilità più remota I might go to Paris next week. (40% di probabilità)

2. permesso

may Si usa per chiedere, dare o rifiutare un permesso. May I smoke here? = Posso fumare qui? You may smoke, if you like. You may not smoke here.

Nota Per chiedere, dare o rifiutare un permesso, si usano pure

“can” e “could”. L’uso di “may” e “might” è piuttosto formale.

Can/could I smoke here? Posso/potrei fumare qui? You can smoke. You cannot smoke.

<<< >>> <<< >>> <<< >>>

UNIT 26 17

modals may - might

possibilità Tom and Margaret Marg. - If you are going out for a walk, Tom, take your

umbrella with you. It may rain soon. There are many clouds in the sky.

Tom - No, I won’t take an umbrella with me, because it may not rain at all. The sun may come out again in a few minutes.

Marg. - But even if the sun comes out again in a while, it might rain later, mightn’t it?

Tom - Yes, dear, it might… but it also might not. And remember that we are in Spain. Not in England.

===

in a while = fra poco

permesso Tom and Margaret Marg. - When we are married, Tom, may I keep a few pet

animals? Tom - No, dear, you may not. I don’t like to have animals in

the house. Marg. - Mayn’t I at least keep one small dog? Tom - No, dear, you may not. Marg. - But why mayn’t I? Tom - Because I like peace and quiet, and small dogs bark

day and night. Marg. - Well, then, may I keep some small tropical fishes? Tom - Yes, you may keep some little fishes, if you like,

because they don’t make any noise at all. === pet animals = animali di compagnia

to bark = abbaiare

mayn’t = “may not” (è poco usato)

mightn’t = “might not” (è poco usato)

<<< >>> <<< >>> <<< >>>

UNIT 26 18

modals must - to have to

1. “Must” ha solamente un tempo: il “present simple”:

I must io debbo etc. we must

you must you must

he must they must

2. Per gli altri tempi si usa “to have to”. (avere da)

present I must etc. io debbo

I have to… io debbo past I had to io dovetti – io dovevo infinitive to have to dovere future I will have to io dovrò

C’è poca differenza fra “must” e “have to” - Entrambi

esprimono l’obbligo, la necessità di fare qualcosa.

Con “I” o “we” “must” implica che il soggetto è d’accordo con

l’obbligo. I must wear a helmet when I go roller skating. (Penso che sia una buona idea mettere un casco, quando vado

a pattinare.)

Con “I”, “we” o “you”, “have to” implica que un’altra persona è

responsabile dell’obbligo. I have to wear a helmet when I go roller skating. (Debbo mettere un casco, quando vado a pattinare, perché mia

madre mi obbliga.)

Quando “must” è usato con “you”, è una specie di ordine. You must wear a helmet when you go roller skating. (Devi mettere un casco quando vai a pattinare. - Devi ubbidire!)

<<< >>> <<< >>> <<< >>>

UNIT 26 19

modals must - to have to (continuazione)

Con i pronomi he - she - it - they, la differenza fra “must” e “has to, have to” è minima.

Nota Quando si è in dubbio conviene usare “must”.

<<<☺☺☺☺>>>

modals must not - don’t have to - needn’t

è necessario

I must get up early tomorrow.

(Debbo… e sono d’accordo.)

I have to get up early tomorrow.

(Debbo… non posso farne a meno.)

non è necessario

“Don’t have to” “haven’t got to” e “needn’t” si usano per

esprimere la mancanza d’obbligo di fare qualcosa. I don’t have to get up early tomorrow. It is Sunday.

I haven’t got to get up early tomorrow. It is Sunday.

I needn’t get up early tomorrow. It is Sunday.

è proibito

“Must not” si usa per esprimere l’obbligo di non fare qualcosa.

You mustn’t smoke. It is bad for your health.

You mustn’t tell anyone. It is a secret.

You mustn’t park here. This parking space is reserved for

buses.

<<< >>> <<< >>> <<< >>>

UNIT 26 20

modals should - ought to

“Should” e “ought to” corrispondono al condizionale del verbo

dovere.

> You are getting fat. You should eat less. Stai ingrassando. Dovresti mangiare meno.

You are getting fat. You ought to eat less. Stai ingrassando. Dovresti mangiare meno.

forme negative

should not = shouldn’t ought not to = oughtn’t to

Nota Nella “Unit 17” ci sono molti esempi sull’uso di “should”

e “ought to”.

<<<☺☺☺☺>>>

modals shall

1. shall Nella “Unit 18” abbiamo detto che “shall” si soleva usare per

formare il futuro con “I” e “we”.

> Margaret says, “We shall have a nice big house.” Tom says to Margaret, “I shall buy you a pair of rubber

gloves.”

2. shall

In frasi interrogative, “shall” si usa per fare suggerimenti, per chiedere consigli, pareri, o per offrire un servizio.

Nota Nelle “Units 18 e 19” ci sono vari esempi sull’uso di “shall”.

<<< >>> <<< >>> <<< >>>

UNIT 26 21

modals will - would

1. will - would

“Will” si usa per formare il futuro. (Vedi “Unit 14”)

> I will go = andrò

“Would” si usa per formare il condizionale.

> I would go = andrei

2. Will you…?

“Will you…?” Si può usare per fare una richiesta.

> Will you pass me the sugar, please? Mi passi lo zucchero, per favore? Will you stop shouting? Vuoi smetterla di gridare? Will you be quiet? Vuoi far silenzio? When you go out, will you buy me the newspaper, please? Will you come in?

3. Will you…? - Won’t you…? “Will you…?” e “Won’t you…?” si possono usare per fare offerte

e inviti.

Quando si offre qualcosa “will” è seguito da “have”.

> Will you have some tea? = (Vuoi del tè?)

“Won’t you” è una forma molto cortese.

> Won’t you sit down? = (Si accomodi prego.)

<<< >>> <<< >>> <<< >>>

UNIT 26 22

Violet Hilton

I hope that you haven’t forgotten me. I’m Violet Hilton -

the Scottish girl from Glasgow. The girl who sat in her

room every evening, reading historical novels… the girl who

didn’t want to marry - until she fell in love with Richard.

And then her ideas changed completely.

Oh! Richard and I were so happy! - for weeks and

weeks! Life was wonderful! But now…!

Richard and I have begun to quarrel! We quarrel nearly

every day! It is terrible! And what do we quarrel about?

About the little home that we will have when we are married.

I would like to live in a quiet old street, far from traffic,

shops and noise. But Richard wants to live in a modern

flat, with ugly modern furniture! And he says that the flat

must be “in the heart of the town”!

When I say, “But I want to have a house with a little

garden - and modern flats have no gardens!”, he always

answers, “A garden isn’t important. Who would want to sit

in the garden?” And I say, “Well, I would like to sit in the

garden reading, in the morning… and in the evening we

could sit there together and look at the stars. It would be

wonderful!”

But Richard has quite different ideas. Sometimes he

seems to be a different person - not my darling Richard

at all!

My mother says that Richard is just “growing up” - that’s

all! “After all,” she says, “he is still only a boy.” What does

she mean? Richard and I are the same age! We are both

nineteen. And I am not “still only a girl”. But Mom says

that boys and girls are different.

>>>

UNIT 26 23

(continuation) Violet Hilton

Last week Richard and I were talking about our wedding.

I said, “I’ll keep my wedding dress and my white veil

always. They’ll be souvenirs of the happiest day of my life

- the day when I was a bride! Sometimes I’ll look at them

and remember every single moment of my wedding day!”

And Richard suddenly began to laugh!

“Well! I didn’t know that you had such silly ideas, Violet!”

he said. SILLY IDEAS! Oh! I can’t tell you how much those

cruel words hurt my feelings! I was so offended, so angry,

that I said bitterly, “So I am silly, am I? You are modern,

of course! I suppose that you would like to get married in

an aeroplane, instead of in a church… because then your

name would be in all the papers! And that would make you

very happy, wouldn’t it?”

And do you know what he answered? He said, “Of course

it would make me happy! It’s a splendid idea, darling!

Imagine it! A wedding in an aeroplane! My clever little

Violet! I’m proud of you!”

Oh! That was too much! I cried and cried for hours!

Well, my mother says that I mustn’t worry. She is sure

that Richard’s ideas will change. Oh! I hope she is right!

===

to fall in love = innamorarsi (lett. cadere in amore)

<<< >>> <<< >>> <<< >>>

UNIT 26 24

Optimists and Pessimists

What is the difference between an optimist and a

pessimist? Well, for example, when it is raining, an

optimist says, “I am sure that tomorrow the weather will

be fine.”

A pessimist, on the contrary, says, “What terrible

weather! Now I suppose we shall have thunder, lightning

and hail! And I am sure that the bad weather will continue

for days and days.”

If the optimist’s wife is a bad cook, he just eats as little

as possible and says, with a smile, “Too much eating is bad

for the health.”

But if the pessimist’s wife cooks badly, he says, “One day

the food that she gives me will poison me, I am sure.”

If an optimist has to work from morning to night, he

says, “The more I work, the more I earn… and the more I

earn, the richer I become.”

But when a pessimist has to work too much, he says, “All

this work will surely make me ill. Perhaps it will kill me!”

A pessimist says: “English pronunciation is so difficult!”

An optimist says: “English verbs are so easy!” ===

The more I work, the more I earn.

(Quanto più lavoro, più guadagno.)

Tongue-twister

(scioglilingua)

There is a ticket and a packet in the pocket of my jacket.

(C’è un biglietto e un pacchetto nella tasca della mia giacca.)

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UNIT 26 25

Lydia

Oh! I must have some new clothes! I have absolutely

nothing to wear! George (my husband) says that I have a

lot of clothes. How ridiculous! How can I wear those old

things? But George never understands anything.

I want some new, elegant, splendid clothes. Some silk

dresses for afternoon and evening, a crocodile skin

handbag, a pair of crocodile shoes, some fashionable hats…

yes, and some real pearls!

When I look at all my old clothes, absolutely out of

fashion, I feel so unhappy! Without fashionable clothes I

can’t go anywhere! - because I’m afraid that my friends

will laugh when they see me.

Do you know what George says? - “If your friends are

so stupid, Lydia, why do you care about them?” Oh! it’s

quite useless to talk to George.

But now listen to this! Yesterday evening I put on the

best of my horrible clothes and went into the living room.

George was sitting there watching television. (He does

that, and only that, all the evening and every evening!)

I said, “Come on George! It’s a beautiful evening! Can’t

we go somewhere?” And he answered, “No, I don’t want to

go anywhere this evening, Lydia. There’s a very interesting

boxing match on the television programme. It will begin in

five minutes. Don’t you want to see it, too?”

Imagine it! A boxing match! For a woman as sensitive as

I am! Well, I was so angry that I suddenly began to shout,

“We never go anywhere! We never see anybody! We never

do anything interesting! I have nothing to wear! I’m at

home alone from morning to night! I go nowhere! I do

nothing at all! I’m tired, tired, TIRED of my life!”

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UNIT 26 26

(continuation) Lydia

George, of course, remained quite calm, as always, and

said, “Why do you say these things, my dear? You can go

somewhere interesting every morning. You can go to the

market. Markets are very interesting places. And you can

do something useful right now - you can go and wash

the dishes. And if you want to do something interesting,

you can learn to cook. I’ll buy you a cookery book

tomorrow.”

What a terrible surprise! George had never been rude to

me before! I couldn’t say a word. I just looked at him in

astonishment. Then I suddenly had an idea. I took the

newspaper from the table and read the evening television

programme. And what do you think I read? -

At 10 p.m.

Useful Advice for Men (3rd episode)

“Husbands must not be too kind.” I understood everything! I didn’t say another word. But I

already had a very good idea. Listen to my idea!

Every Monday morning an old man comes to our street.

He buys old things. - old shoes, old clothes, old furniture

- and he pays very well, too.

Well, when George comes back home on Monday evening

he won’t find his television, because it won’t be here! It

will be out of the house for ever! And I’ll have some money

to buy some clothes! At last!

===

right now = proprio adesso

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UNIT 26 27

Translation 1. Traduci oralmente.

2. Copia tutta la pagina.

1. - What were you doing all the morning?

2. I telephoned you at least ten times!

3. - Well, don’t get angry about it! I was at the market.

4. Look! I have bought so many things!

5. - You always buy too many things.

6. And I see that you have forgotten to buy the bread!

7. - You are right! I always forget something.

8. What can we eat instead of bread today?

9. - There are a few biscuits, but I’m afraid they are too sweet.

10. - Oh good Heavens! Then I must go out again and buy

some bread.

11. - Would you like to live on the top of a mountain?

12. It would be good for your health.

13. - No, I wouldn’t like it at all.

14. There would be no theatres, shops or restaurants.

15. There would be nothing to do all day.

16. I prefer town life.

17. I would like to live in a small town…

18. … where I know everybody…

19. … and where everybody knows me…

20. … the little town where I was born.

21. - I always get up very early.

22. But I have breakfast very late, because my wife is very

slow.

23. Sometimes I say to her, “Be quick, my dear!”

24. But then she gets nervous and burns the toast.

25. So it is better not to speak to her at all.

26. I would prefer to have a coffee and a sandwich at a café.

27. But my wife would be offended. And she would cry.

28. Some women behave like children.

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UNIT 26 28

Translation 1. Traduci oralmente.

1. - Che cosa stavi facendo tutta la mattina?

2. Ti telefonai per lo meno dieci volte!

3. - Bene, non arrabbiarti per questo! Ero al mercato.

4. Guarda! Ho comprato tante cose!

5. - Tu sempre compri troppe cose.

6. E vedo che hai dimenticato di comprare il pane!

7. - Hai ragione! Sempre dimentico qualcosa.

8. Che possiamo mangiare invece di pane oggi?

9. - Ci sono alcuni biscotti, ma temo che sono troppo dolci.

10. - Oh Santo Cielo! Allora debbo uscire di nuovo e comprare un po’ di pane.

11. - Ti piacerebbe abitare in cima ad una montagna?

12. Sarebbe buono per la tua salute.

13. - No, non mi piacerebbe per niente.

14. Non ci sarebbero teatri, negozi o ristoranti.

15. Non ci sarebbe niente da fare tutto il giorno.

16. Preferisco vita di città.

17. Mi piacerebbe abitare in un piccolo paese…

18. … dove conosco tutti…

19. … e dove tutti conoscono me…

20. … il paesino dove sono nato.

21. - Io sempre mi alzo molto presto.

22. Ma faccio colazione molto tardi, perché mia moglie è molto lenta.

23. A volte io le dico, “Sbrigati, mia cara!”

24. Ma allora lei s’innervosisce e brucia il “toast”.

25. Così è meglio non parlarle affatto.

26. Preferirei prendere un caffè e un sandwich a un bar.

27. Ma mia moglie si offenderebbe. E piangerebbe.

28. Alcune donne si comportano come bambine.

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UNIT 26 29

Vocabulary

aeroplane eE rEp le in aeroplano (UK)

airplane eEple in aeroplano (USA)

to arrive t u E r a iv arrivare

as soon as Az su :n Az appena

to bark t u ba :k abbaiare

to borrow t u bØ rou prendere in prestito

bottom bØ tEm parte inferiore; fondo

carrot kArE t carota

dish d iS piatto (pietanza)

exam i gzAm esame

examination i gzAmine iSEn esame

excited i k sa i t i d eccitato

to fail t u f e i l non passare (un esame)

to fetch t u f e tS andare a prendere

fine f a in multa; splendido; bene

goat gou t capra

to imitate t u imi te i t imitare

to interrupt t u i n tE rúp t interrompere

interview i n t Ev ju : intervista

just dZús t appena

just dZús t solo; esattamente; giusto

lake l e ik lago

land lAnd terra

to land t u lAnd atterrare

landowner lAndounE proprietario terriero

to lend t u l end dare in prestito

mealtimes mi: l t a imz ora dei pasti

mushroom múSrum fungo

normal nØ :mE l normale

to obtain t u Eb te in ottenere

>>>

UNIT 26 30

Vocabulary

to pass t u pa :s passare (un esame)

peasant pezEn t contadino

pet animal pe t An imE l animale di compagnia

to point at t u pØ in t A t additare; indicare

prescription pr i sk r ipSEn ricetta medica

rabbit rAb i t coniglio

recipe r e s ip i ricetta (di cucina)

rocket r Øk i t missile

spaceship spe isS ip astronave, nave spaziale

speed sp i :d velocità

to suppose t u sEpEuz supporre

to take off t u t e ik Ø f decollare

tongue-twister t úN tw is tE scioglilingua

top t Øp cima; parte superiore

traffic t rAf ik traffico

tuna t u :nE tonno

veil ve i l velo

way wei modo; maniera

way wei cammino; via

Carmelo Mangano – http://www.englishforitalians.com

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