Lesson 56: Unit 195 - Annoying Things And Irritating Habits. Grammar / Speaking
In this lesson you will learn to express criticism and dissatisfaction with irritating habits, using the Present Progressive with "always", the construction "wish + would" and criticism of past behavi
About this lesson
In this lesson you will learn how to describe irritating habits and annoying situations in English, using three key grammatical structures. You will be introduced to a dialogue between two partners in which one of them expresses dissatisfaction with colleagues, surprises and bad habits. You will learn how to criticise present habits with the Present Progressive + "always", how to express a wish for change with "wish + would" and how to criticise past behaviour with "could have" and "might have". Through practical exercises you will gain the confidence to talk openly about the things that annoy you.
40 minutes
What you'll learn
- Understand and use the Present Progressive with 'always' to express criticism of repeated habits
- Form sentences with 'wish + would/wouldn't' to express a wish for a change in someone's behaviour
- Criticise past behaviour with 'could have' and 'might have'
- Recognise and use key phrases and idioms related to irritation and annoying habits
- Take part in a conversation about the things that annoy you in everyday life
Lesson vocabulary
- annoying You are always arranging things without any warning. It's very irritating.
- irritating It's very irritating when someone makes plans without warning.
- to lift a finger I wish my colleague would lift her finger and do some work.
- up to her eyes in work She would pretend she was up to her eyes in work.
- to surf the Internet She would just sit and talk on her mobile, or surf the Internet.
- to cheer up It might cheer you up a bit.
- to invite round I have invited Bob and Gabby round for dinner this evening.
- for ages We haven't seen them for ages.
- without any warning You are always arranging things without any warning.
- that's not the point Of course, I like them, but that's not the point.
- to put up with And I don't have to put up with all that, do I?
- omelettes will do Some salad and omelettes will do.
- to be fond of I'm not fond of surprises like that one.
- hours on end My sister speaks on the phone hours on end!
- lying around He has an awful habit of leaving his clothes lying around.
In other languages: Български