Gerunds and Infinitives

Intro

1. Learn Vocabulary - Learn some new vocabulary before you start the lesson.

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• spicy
• flour
• appeal
• plain

• feast
• potluck
• picky
• bond

• intestine
• menu

2. Read and Prepare - Read the introduction and prepare to hear the audio.

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Food brings people together like nothing else. It’s something we all have in common, since everybody has to eat. And sharing a meal is a natural way to spend time with others, whether it’s a romantic dinner for two, a big family feast, or a low-key potluck with friends.

But picky eaters make it difficult to bond over a meal. We all have our likes and dislikes when it comes to food, and not everyone is an adventurous eater. But picky eaters often have trouble finding anything they like on a menu, and they usually don’t enjoy trying new things. Find out if Amy and Jason are picky eaters.

Dialog

1. Listen and Read - Listen to the audio and read the dialog at the same time.

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2. Study - Read the dialog again to see how the vocab words are used.

Jason

Amy

Jason:  Want to go grab some lunch?

Amy:  Sure, yeah, where do you want to go?

Jason:  There’s a Thai place that I want to try.

Amy:  Oh, Thai, I don’t know. I don’t really like spicy food.

Jason:  Oh, OK. How about sandwiches? There’s this good sandwich place that I heard about.

Amy:  OK, yeah. That could be good. Do you think that they have, like, some bread that doesn’t use regular flour? ‘Cause I’m kind of trying to stay away from that. And I don’t really like mayonnaise either, and they put mayonnaise on sandwiches a lot. But I’m sure I can find something.

Jason:  Um, I have no idea what kind of…if they have special bread or if they don’t use mayonnaise. It sounds like you’re a pretty picky eater.

Amy:  Well, I like stuff that I make for myself. But to be honest, it is hard when I go out to eat to find things that, you know, that I like. I mean, I just…I don’t know, there are a lot of things that really just don’t appeal to me, like mushrooms, onions, anything spicy…

Jason:  What’s so bad about those things?

Amy:  I guess I like kinda plain foods. I don’t like anything with too much flavor.

Jason:  Wow.

Amy:  Well, what about you? I mean, you just eat everything?

Jason:  Yeah.

Amy:  There’s nothing you don’t like?

Jason:  Yeah, I mean, I ate sheep intestine in Turkey and bugs in China. Put it in front of me, and I will eat it.

Grammar Point

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Lesson MP3

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