Issue #42

Learn English Here!

Tips and Tricks for Business English Language Learners (B.E.L.L.)

Photo by Sudan Ouyang​

Broadway

Each week I will send out some handy tips and useful exercises for adults learning to navigate and use the English language. Please feel free to share this newsletter with friends and colleagues. For more in-depth language coaching, use the link below to schedule a 1:1 consultation.

Broadway is a theatre district in New York City. There are over 40 theatres in the district, each seating over 500 patrons. When a theatre is labeled “Off-Broadway,” it doesn’t mean it is not on the street named Broadway; it means that it has less than 500 seats.

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Vocabulary

Here are some fun theatre idioms to expand your English-speaking vocabulary:

1. Break-a-leg = Good luck.

Example – Break-a-leg on your presentation tonight.

2. Showstopper = Something that makes people stop and take notice or applaud

Example – Suzy’s presentation was a real showstopper!

3. The show must go on = Things have to continue regardless of any setbacks

Example – We can’t wait around for the sales report, the show must go on.

4. In the limelight = A person that has all of the attention focused on them

Example – Jack is always in the limelight at every marketing meeting.

5. Get the show on the road = Move forward with action

Example – Hurry! We will be late, so let’s get this show on the road!

6. Sing a different tune = Change your opinion about something

Example – Ever since the election, he has been singing a different tune about tax reform.

7. Upstage someone = To pull attention away from someone else

Example – She can’t stand it when people laugh at my jokes and so she will always try to upstage me.

8. A hard act to follow = The presentation before yours was very good, so it will be difficult for your presentation to be as good

Example – Wow! That is going to be a hard act to follow.

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Grammar

Conditionals are sentences with two parts. One part of the sentence describes a condition, and the other part of the sentence describes the result of that condition.

Example:

If you work all day, you will be tired at night.
(condition) (result)
or:
​You will be tired at night if you work all day.
(result) (condition)

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Notice that either the condition clause or the result clause can go first in the sentence. However, if we put the condition first, we must place a comma after the condition clause.

This week we will look at zero, first, and second conditionals.

Zero Conditional

Used to express real facts, general truths, and certainty.

Condition clause – simple present
​Result clause – simple present

Examples:

If the market goes up, people are happy.​
​If a country has high tax rates, it is less attractive to foreign investors.
He can’t concentrate at work if he doesn’t eat breakfast.
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1st Conditional

Used to express real or very possible FUTURE situations and their results.

Condition clause – simple present​
Result clause – will, going to, might, may(plus the base form of a verb)

Examples:

If you work hard, you will succeed.​
If I have time today, I will go running after work.
If I don’t have time later, I won’t go running.
I might arrive late if I don’t leave right now.

2nd Conditional

Used to express improbable or impossible PRESENT situations and their results.

Condition clause – simple past​
Result clause – would, might, could (plus the base form of a verb)

Examples:

If I were** you, I would talk to her about it.

If I had millions of dollars, I wouldn’t have to work.​
​I might miss my country if I traveled a lot for work.

**Note that when we use the verb “to be” in the second conditional, we prefer to use “were” for all subjects.

Time to practice!

Choose the sentence that is grammatically incorrect.

1.

• If I lived closer to work, I’d walk instead of driving every day.
• If I live closer to work, I would walk instead of driving every day.
• I might walk to work if I lived closer.
• If I move closer to the office, I might start walking to work.

2.

• I will do some freelance work if I had more time.
• If I had more time, I could do some freelance work.
• I might do some freelance work if I had more time.
• If I have more time next year, I’ll start doing some freelance work.

3.

• Do you think we’d be more productive if we allowed people to work from home?
• Do you think we will be more productive if we allowed people to work from home?
• Do you think we’ll be more productive if we allow people to work from home?
• Do you think we might be more productive if we allow people to work from home?

4.

• I would talk to her in private about it if I were you.
• I’d talk to her in private about it if I were you.
• If I were you, I’ll talk to her in private about it.
• If I were you, I’d talk to her in private about it.

5.

• If they ask me to extend my trip, I’ll tell them no.
• If they asked me to extend my trip, I’d tell them no.
• I won’t do it if they asked me to extend my trip.
• If they ask me to extend my trip, I won’t do it.

6.

• We’d change suppliers if they didn’t have such competitive prices.
• We might change suppliers if they didn’t have such competitive prices.
• If they didn’t have such competitive prices, we would change suppliers.
• If they don’t have such competitive prices, we would change suppliers.

7.

• If Kelly weren’t applying for the position, you’d be our top choice.
• You’ll be our top choice if Kelly didn’t apply for the position.
• You’d be our top choice if Kelly weren’t applying for the position.
• You’ll be our top choice if Kelly doesn’t apply for the position.

8.

• If I got promoted, I’d buy a brand new car.
• If I got promoted, I might buy a brand new car.
• I’ll buy a brand new car if I got promoted.
• I’ll buy a brand new car if I get promoted.

9.

• I won’t like my job if I didn’t like my new coworkers.
• If I don’t like my new coworkers, I won’t like my job.
• I wouldn’t like my job if I didn’t get along with the people I work with.
• If I didn’t get along with the people I work with, I wouldn’t like my job.

10.

• If I were bilingual, I’ll have more opportunities.
• If I weren’t bilingual, I wouldn’t have as many opportunities.
• I wouldn’t have as many opportunities if I didn’t speak more than one language.
• If I only spoke one language, I wouldn’t have as many opportunities.

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Listening and Reading

This is a wonderful Ted Talk about the importance of Theatre Education. Watch with the subtitles to practice reading and listening.

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Weekly Challenge

Correct the sentences below:

1. He’s the one which has the blue tie on.
2. We like very much the new secretary.
3. Could you tell me how can I get in touch with Mr. Yamamoto?
4. We’re not sure he is enough experienced for the position.
5. She’s very sick and has been at the hospital for two weeks.
6. We talked during three hours this morning.
7. We’re using all the informations we have to make an informed decision.
8. They change often our seats at work.
9. They don’t let us to send our clients gifts without getting approval from management first.
10. Do we have some coffee or tea to offer our guests?

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