The Married Couple

An anecdote.

A husband and wife went for counseling after 25 years of marriage. When asked what the problem was, the wife went into an angry tirade, listing each and every problem they had ever had in the 25 years they had been married.
The wife went on and on giving a long list of unmet needs she had endured over the course of their quarter century of marriage: “Neglect, lack of intimacy, emptiness, loneliness, and feeling unloved.”
Finally, after allowing her to talk for a sufficient length of time, the therapist stood up, walked around his desk, and told the wife to stand up. He then embraced her and kissed her passionately on the mouth.
The woman shut up and in a daze, quietly sat down. The therapist turned to the husband and said, “This is what your wife needs at least seven times a week. Do you think you can do this?”
The husband thought for a moment and replied, “Well, Doc,
I can drop her off here on Mondays and Wednesdays, but on the other days, I play golf.”

COMPREHENSION (Answer these questions in complete sentences.)
1. Why did this couple go for counseling?
2. NOUNS ADJECTIVES
a. neglect neglected
b. emptiness _______________
c. loneliness _______________
d. length _______________

3. Why was the wife unhappy? How did she feel? (Answer with adjectives.)_________________________________________
4. How many years had they been married?
___________________________________________________
5. How many years is “a century”? ____________________
6. How many years is a half a century? ___________________
7. How many years is a quarter of a century? ______________
8. What did the therapist do?
___________________________________________________
9. What did the therapist tell the husband to do to solve this problem?___________________________________________
10.How did the husband respond to the therapist’s suggestion?
___________________________________________________
10. (Talk to your partner.) Do you think the therapist’s suggestion was good? If not, what would you suggest to help this married couple?
___________________________________________________
___________________________________________________
___________________________________________________
VOCABULARY
1, to go for counseling
The answer is given. Please write the question?
Q: _____________________________________________
A: I went for counseling at school so I could plan my college
courses. [I talked to a counselor.]

Q: _____________________________________________
A: The couple went for marriage counseling with the hope that
they could save their marriage.
2. What is another name for “a marriage counselor”?
______________________________
3. What’s an angry tirade?
a. a long, angry speech against something
b. a flat tire
c. an angry woman

4. I can drop her off. [to drop someone off]
a. to let something fall to the ground
b. to drive someone to a destination and then leave
c. to get angry with someone and then leave

5. neglect (can be a noun or a verb)
a. to feel sad
b. to think
c. to pay little or no attention to
d.
6. What’s another word for “embraced”? (past tense of to embrace)
He embraced her. _______________________________

7. In a daze The woman stood there in a daze.
a. in her bare feet
b. by herself
c. confused, not really knowing what’s going on

8. How many times is at least 7 ?
a. 7 b. 7 or fewer c. 7 or more
YOUR TURN Write a sentence using at least.
_______________________________________________________

GRAMMAR
1. How many past-tense verbs can you find? _______________
Underline (with two lines) all the past tense-verbs in the anecdote.


2. Embedded questions
The question word in the middle [who, what, where, when, why, how] makes the subject and verb follow in regular order.
I don’t know what time it is.
What is the real question?
What time is it? (The question turns the subject and verb around.)

A. Write the questions.
a. He asked what the problem was.
aa. _________________________________________
b. This is what your wife needs.
bb. _________________________________________
c. I don’t know where my keys are.
cc. _________________________________________
B. Write the answers.
d. How many teeth do you have?
dd. I don’t know how many______________________________
e. Where is the closest library?
ee. She told me where _________________________________
10. When will we be taking our test?
ff. I’m not sure when ___________________________________
C. Write your own “WH” question.
g._________________________________________________
gg. I don’t know ________________________________________

P.S. I Love You

http://awemusic.tripod.com/psilove.mid




(1934) Lyrics -- Johnny Mercer Music -- Gordon Jenkins

What is there to write? What is there to say?
[the]Same things happen every day.
Not a thing to write, not a thing to say,
so I take my pen in hand and start the same old way.

Dear, I thought I'd drop a line.
The weather's cool. The folks are fine.
I'm in bed each night at nine.
P.S. I love you.

Yesterday we had some rain,
but all in all I can't complain.
Was it dusty on the train?
P.S. I love you.

Write to the Browns just as soon as you're able.
They came around to call.
I burned a hole in the dining room table.
And let me see, I guess that's all.

Nothin' else for me to say,
and so I'll close. Oh, by the way,
everybody's thinkin' of you.
P.S. I love you.

I do my best to obey all your wishes.
I put a sign up. Think.
Now I’ve got to buy us a new set of dishes,
or wash the ones that have piled in the sink.

Nothing else to tell you, dear.
Except, each day feels like a year.
Every night I'm dreamin' of you.
P.S. I love you.
P.S. I love you.


This is a song from someone who’s by herself at home, writing a letter to her husband who had to take a train to somewhere.

VOCABULARY
1. What is your first clue that this song is a letter?

______________________________________________________
2. The idiom “drop a line” can be used in conversation.
Often it’s said like this: When you go back home, drop me a line.
a. let’s go fishing. b. write me a letter. c. drop down on the floor

3. What’s a synonym for “folks” as when it says, “The folks are fine.”?
a. family b. children c. parents

4. What does P.S. mean? _____________________________
5. Where would you write P.S. as part of a letter?
______________________________________________________
6. What does “All in all I can’t complain.”
a. I think everything is going wrong.
b. Almost everything is fine.
c. All I know is how to complain.

7. We use the word “the” in front of last names to indicate the family.
For example,
a. The Gatis live on Allston Way. The Gatis are the Gati family.
b. The Chens live in the Sunset District -- Mr. and Mrs. Chen and their two
children.
c. YOUR TURN Please write a sentence about your family, using the plural of your last name.
______________________________________________________
8. Who are “the Browns” in this song?
______________________________________________________
9. What does she mean when she says, “The Browns came around to call.”
a. The Browns telephoned.
b. Mr. and Mrs. Brown came over to our house.
c. Mr. and Mrs. Brown walked around the block.
10. “Write to the Browns just as soon as you’re able.”
a. when you have time
b. when you’re not sick
c. when you want to do it.

11. I’ll close means
a. Turn off the lights.
b. I’ll lock the door.
c. I’m finished writing.

12. “Each day feels like a year” means
a. I’m tired at the end of every day.
b. It’s been a year since you’ve been gone.
c. Every day seems like a long time.

13. What words rhyme?
Rhymes are words that have the same vowel sounds, usually at the end of the words.
For example. MEET rhymes with GREET and SEAT. (The spelling does not have to be the same, only the pronunciation.)
a. In the song, what rhymes with line? _____________________
b. In the song, what rhymes with rain? _____________________
c. In the song, what rhymes with table? _____________________
d. In the song, what rhymes with all ? _____________________
e. In the song, what rhymes with way? _____________________
f. In the song, what rhymes with dishes ? _____________________
g. In the song, what rhymes with sink? _____________________
h. In the song, what rhymes with year? _____________________


COMPREHENSION (Answer in complete sentences.)
1. How was the weather (as reported by the writer)? ______________________________________________________
2. What time does he/she go to bed every night?
______________________________________________________
3. Why do you think she burned a hole in the dining room table?
4. When would you say, “by the way.”
I would say “by the way”
a. after I’ve said “Good-bye” and then I think of something else I
want to say.
b. when I want to tell you the right way to do something
c. when I want to tell you the way to go somewhere


5. Please write me a letter.
a. Put your address on the top right (city, state, and zip code under your
number street apt. #)
b. Write the date under the address.
c. Write Dear Sally, (followed by a comma).
d. Indent your first line.
e. Tell me something interesting (at least two sentences).
f. End your letter with Sincerely, (followed by a comma)
g. Sign your name under Sincerely.
h. Add “P.S.” and tell me something you forgot to say in your letter.

FEWER OR LESS

“What can I say? I was an English major.”
What do you see in this picture? Please write your answers in COMPLETE sentences.

1. Where do you think this takes place? ____________________________________________________________
2. Have you ever seen this sign?

__________________________________.
If so, where?
____________________________________________________________
3. What is an “English major?” ____________________________________________________________
Circle your answer.
4. The words “What can I say? I was an English major.” were spoken by
the ( customer / cashier ).
5. The word “fewer” was written by the ( customer / cashier ).

6. “What can I say?” means “There is nothing more to say except. . .” so the meaning of “What can I say? I was an English major” is this:



GRAMMAR A. Let’s make a list of nouns. Work with a partner.

1. COUNT (plural) NON-COUNT











2. Why did the cashier cross out the word “less” and write in “fewer”?
He crossed out the word “less” and wrote in the word “fewer” because ______________________________________________________________________ .

COMPARISONS WITH FEWER and LESS
B. Use the word “fewer” with count plural nouns
such as fewer potatoes, fewer people, fewer classes .
1. She eats fewer potatoes now than she used to because she wants to lose weight.
2. There are fewer people here when it’s bad weather.
3. I am taking fewer classes this semester than I did last semester.
4. How many items can you have if you go to this cashier?

5. YOUR TURN Write one sentence using FEWER with a count plural noun.


C. Use “less” with non-count nouns such as less rice, less homework, less time.
1. My husband eats less rice now than he did when he was younger.
2. Sally gives us less homework than Mary does.
3. I have less time for watching TV now than I did when I was unemployed.

6. YOUR TURN Write one sentence using LESS with a non-count noun.

________________________________________________________________________
YOUR TURN
Choose two more nouns (one count and one non-count) and write two more sentences.

7.

8.______________________________________________________________________

Happy New Year 2010

HAPPY NEW YEAR! 2010

New Year's Eve has always been a time for looking back to the past, and more importantly, looking forward to the coming year. It's a time to reflect on the changes we want (or need) to make. The new year is a time to resolve to follow through on those changes. If you haven’t made any new year’s resolutions, here are ten ideas.

1. Spend more time with family & friends.
2. Fit in fitness.
3. Lose weight.
4. Quit smoking.
5. Enjoy life more. Have more leisure time.
6. Quit drinking.
7. Get out of debt.
8. Help others.
9. Get organized.
10. Learn something new.

VOCABULARY
1. reflect (verb) It’s a time to reflect on what has already happened.
a. give back some money b. review; study c. think over; contemplate

2. resolve (verb) The new year is a time to resolve to do something.
a. to ring a bell b. to solve a problem c. to decide

3. From the short reading above, can you tell me what a New Year’s resolution (noun) is?
4. What does the verb “fit in” mean in #2?
a. be the right size. b. make enough time for c. be comfortable

5. fitness (noun)
a. good health or physical condition
b. happiness
c. able to ride a bicycle

6. What’s the difference between these two words?
lose (verb) [pronounced LOOZ] and loose (adj.) [pronounced LOOS]
Can you write a sentence for each one? YOUR TURN

lose ______________________________________________________________

loose _____________________________________________________________

7. leisure (adj.) [pronounced LEEzhur]
a. for sure; certain b. free time; freedom from work or duty c. tight clothes

8. debt (noun) [pronounced DET]

GRAMMAR

The verb in each of these resolutions is in the form of a command. It comes from the infinitive (base form), but as a command, it is directed to another person.
For example: Spend more time . . . is a command for someone else to spend more time doing something.

In the case of a resolution, it is you, yourself, you are talking to.
You say to yourself: I SHOULD SPEND more time . . .


What is the verb in each of these resolutions? Some are two-word verbs.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.

CONVERSATION

1. How can you spend more time with your friends and family?
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
2. How can you “fit in fitness”?
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
3. How can you lose weight (or control your weight)?
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
4, How can you quit smoking or how can you help someone else quit smoking?
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
5. What can you do in your leisure time?
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
6. How can you quit drinking or quit gambling or help someone quit.
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
7. How can you get out of debt?
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________


8. How can you help others?
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
9. What can you do to get more organized?
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
10. How can you learn something new?
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

11. Talk to your partner and find out two resolutions your partner made.
Write them down.

1. __________________________________________________________________

2. __________________________________________________________________


12. Write two resolutions YOU made for 2010.

1. __________________________________________________________________

2. __________________________________________________________________

White Christmas

BING CROSBY singing in HOLIDAY INN 1941


I’m dreaming of a white Christmas
Just like the ones I used to know.
Where the tree tops glisten
And children listen
To hear sleigh bells in the snow.

I’m dreaming of a white Christmas
With every Christmas card I write.
May your days be merry and bright,
And may all your Christmases be white.

VOCABULARY
1. glisten (verb) “tree tops glisten”
a. listen carefully
b. glitter; be shiny
c. stand tall

2. white (adj.) white Christmas
a. snowy
b. for white people
c. pretty

3. What words rhyme?
a. snow rhymes with ______________________
b. listen rhymes with ______________________
c. white rhymes with ____________________________________

4. How do you pronounce these words?
a. dresses b. dishes c. watches d. churches e. boxes
f. buzzes g. garages h. fences i. Christmases
What is the rule? _______________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________

GRAMMAR
1. Make a list of the verbs. Tell what tense and give the infinitive.
Subject verb tense infinitive

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.


3. the ones I’m dreaming of a white Christmas, just like the ones I used to know.

a. I like Fuji apples. They are the ones I usually buy.
b. The 30 Stockton and the 45 are the busses I take to school, but they are the ones that
are always crowded.
c. I am taking Sally’s Grammar/Listening/Conversation class this semester. It’s the one
I’m going to take next semester, too.
d. I like Kung Fu movies. They are the ones I always go to see.
e. Toyota makes good cars. They are the ones you see everywhere in San Francisco.

YOUR TURN Please write a sentence using the one and the ones.

the one ____________________________________________________________

the ones ____________________________________________________________

4. USED TO (infinitive)
something you did (or was) before but don’t do (or aren’t) any more.

a. I used to smoke, but I don’t do it any more.
b. I used to be a teacher, but now I’m a student.

YOUR TURN Please write a sentence using USED TO and DIDN’T USE TO

used to ____________________________________________________________

didn’t use to ___________________________________________________________________
5. You can wish something good for someone by using
MAY and a VERB:
a. May your days be merry and bright..
b. May all your Christmases be white.
c. May you be happy and healthy in the year to come.
d. May you have a very Happy New Year.

Try the above sentences with I HOPE. (I hope that + a clause)
aa. I hope your days are (will be) merry and bright.


bb. I hope_______________________________________________________


cc. I hope_________________________________________


dd. I hope _________________________________________


CONVERSATION
1. What are you dreaming of? [day dreaming = fantasy thinking while awake, especially about happy, pleasant thoughts, hopes or ambitions about the future or reminiscences of the past.




2. Do you celebrate Christmas? If not, are there any holidays when you get together with friends or family and exchange gifts?

To Lie Down

to lie down

lie/lies lay (have/has/had) lain
(am/is/are/was/were) lying



(pres. continuous)
1. The lion and the lamb ____________________ next to each other.



2. (past)
Two dogs _________________________ on the grass.



3. (past)
Yesterday was a beautiful day, so my friend Susan
___________ on her back in the sun.






4. (present)
He always ___________________ on his side when he sleeps.


5. (past continuous)
The baby _____________awake in her crib waiting for her mom to pick her up.


6. (past)
She was so tired when she came home from work that she just
_________________down on the couch and fell asleep.



7. (past)

The protesters got out of their car and ____________ on the ground.

YOUR TURN (Write a sentence using the verb to lie down.
____________________________________________________
____________________________________________________
____________________________________________________

Down by the Riverside

I'm gonna lay down my burden
Down by the riverside (3)
And study war no more.

CHORUS
I ain’t gonna study no more
Study war no more (2)
I ain’t gonna study no more
Study war no more (2)



Gonna lay down my sword and shield.
Down by the riverside (3)
And study war no more.

CHORUS

I’m gonna walk with the Prince of Peace
Down by the riverside
And study war no more.

CHORUS