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Construction
建筑

Date: Sep 03 2010

Themes: Work

Grammar: Gerunds vs. Infinitives

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Intro

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Along with dentists and tax collectors, construction workers must have one of the most hated professions. What they do is essential, but it’s also pretty annoying. Whether it’s waking us up early, delaying traffic or forcing us to take a detour, construction disturbs our day-to-day lives in countless ways. On the other hand, without the hard work of construction workers, our cities would fall apart!

Summer is the worst season when it comes to construction. Most construction work is done then, when it’s more likely that the work won’t get delayed by bad weather. Ella and Jeff are both fed up with all the construction happening in their city right now. Find out how they’re managing to grin and bear it.

Dialog

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

Ella

Jeff

Ella: So there’s been tons of construction by my house, and it’s causing me to take so many different detours, it’s loud, it’s annoying, I just…I can’t stand it.

Jeff: I think I’m on the same page with you. Since I’ve lived here, there’s been constant construction. In the winter, in the summer…usually in the summer.

Ella: It feels like it’s never-ending. Is it even worth it to file a complaint, I mean what do you do?

Jeff: I think that’s just how cities work. It’s beyond me. But we need to have some upkeep, make improvements. And we have to sacrifice our daily schedules because of it.

Ella: So, what do you do to just kinda tolerate it and not let it get to you?

Jeff: It’s frustrating, but I just try to grin and bear it. I try to take detours, but it seems to be everywhere. And everybody else is thinking the same thing, so you take a detour and it ends up becoming the same deal. Although I’ve always wanted to use a jackhammer.

Ella: What do you want to do with a jackhammer?

Jeff: You know, construction stuff, like go get a big gut, hang it over the top of the jackhammer…

Ella: Sounds a little unpleasant.

Jeff: Be a pro at it.

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Discussion

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There has been a lot of construction happening near Ella’s house recently, and she is getting fed up with all the noise and traffic it’s been causing. She is so annoyed, she is even considering filing a complaint with the city. But Jeff doesn’t think that will help. Construction is just one of those things we all have to learn to live with.

Sometimes construction work causes traffic delays. So Jeff tries to take detours in order to avoid it. But detours don’t work when everyone else has the same idea. You still end up sitting in traffic, just on a different road.

Is there a lot of construction where you live? How do you deal with it?

Comments

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juanchomusic

Colombia

they free u from pains but they make you hurt while you heal… and the tool's noise is unpleasant

Miss Fabulous

Germany

im sorry, but why are dentists hated? they free you from your pains!!!

XIAOBIN

China

I like beautiful buildings,but i can't stand the noisy of it

eng_fabio.jesus

Brazil

Well, I really like constructions, it is because I work with it, I am a civil engineer so it is normal for me, to live inside this kind of activity, I agree that it is too much unpleasant and boring to the people, to the traffic, so it is good for the development of the cities, I like it.

blue_bear

Taiwan

The building I live in has construction, too. It's a bit noisy, but the new look of the building is nice!

pokemon2003

China

There has been tons of construction happening in China everday. Although I know maybe there would be modern buildings or flat and wide road after constructions have been done, I am still fed up with them especally when it comes to delaying traffic on the way home. It is furstrating, but I would get used to grin and bear it.

becmoon

Mexico

I do not mind construction if it means my city will be nicer. Especially if they are building malls jaja!

alexbrasill

Brazil

HERE IN MY CITY THE TRAFFIC IS QUITE COMPLICATED TOO… THE JAM OFTENTIMES HAS 10 OR 15 KM ALONG…AND IT'S GETTING WORSE DAY BY DAY BECAUSE OF THE CONSTRUCTIONS. THE CITY LOOKS LIKE A BIG CONSTRUCTION…REMINDS ME OF DUBAI, CONSTRUCTIONS WHEREVER YOU LOOK.

ahmedghieth9

Egypt

me too suffer this problem , im really wanna to see another apartment, i don't know why the municipality loves to start working to upkeep the rood after 2 am

masiran

Iran, Islamic Republic Of

there are lots of constructions where i live in tehran but the noise is one problem and other problem is that none of them are standard they have to rebuild again after a while
mahsa

Tariq Awwad

Jordan

I need to take a lot more time to get to destination.

Khulood

United Arab Emirates

I agree with Jeff when he said that constructions are important to rebuild our cities. Here in Dubai you can find lots of constructions and projects are going on, breath taking skyscrapers, attractive sightseeing and so on.

What is more, Abu Dhabi is on its way to beat Dubai with its amazing coming projects that everyone will talk about!

Mohager

Palestinian Territory, Occupied

In my village , there is an expanding ,so you can see the construction process every where but it is very interesting to see that , It means there is a development and people owns money to construct . I'm not fed up with all the noise and traffic it's been causing . I hope to see tons of constructions in my country .

fatiha nabli

Tunisia

i'm fed up with constructions specially when it happens in the day and you have to take detours to go to work.I don't stand it in winter or in the summer.IT'S JUST TOO MUCH.

nad_rome

Italy

Of course there are construction in rome, but not enough for the damage in the streets and buildings. Simetimes construction works happen in the night, it's not bad.

mitty0967

United Kingdom

It happens in London everywhere, and it is also slow to progress. I feel like it will never finish.

bystander :-)

Hungary

I am listening these noises from April in my house…almost 6 months..under the pretext renovation, they destroyed the whole building, the whole walls, every morning I woke up with the noises of wall-driller, jackhammers…you never know when you are left without electricity, gas or water…

After the first month I get angry, after the second, desperate, after the third I wanted to move…now I am just thankful when the noises are not so loud :)